Any Reason NOT to buy a 5 stringer?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by awilkie84

Try different strings. Try a longer scale. Try a different bass.
The sound of my Spector's B is quite clear & usable above the 5th fret.

I'd rather just not bother with it

[Gaolee]

Spending money to make noise is always worth it. If you want a five and can think of reasons you would use it, then there's no reason not to have one. I don't have one, mostly because there hasn't been a reason yet. Having more notes without moving your hand is useful, but I don't mind the sound of higher notes on the B string, especially on a neck-through. Nothing I play for the time being needs a low B, so no 5. As a mediocre hack, technical virtuosity and string muting, whether somebody else thinks I'm any good or what they think of my bass and gear are all irrelevant to me.

[Gaolee]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I'd rather just not bother with it

As a cranky old man, I approve of this post.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Bottom line...either you want the gig or you don't, and if the leader doesn't want a 5, they'll just find someone else who won't insist on playing a 5, arrogant turd or not. Righteous indignation doesn't pay the bills

You play way more pro/paying gigs than I do so you know more than I. I would hope that you get hired for your playing and not your bass. Fortunately, no one has ever told me what bass to bring/use/play for a gig.

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

I originally wanted 5 string for extended range down low, but once I got accustomed to it I realized that extended range in every fingering position -- even those above the 5th fret -- is the true advantage. I use fiver for everything, even when I never go below low E.

Me, too.

Originally Posted by Moe Monsarrat

I see no disadvantage to having more options with position, fingering and note selection.

I agree.

I have a Roscoe fretless 5 (Merry Christmas to me!) and am having a Roscoe fretted 5 built as we speak. I plan to use them a lot. I will probably keep my Geddy Lee for now. You never know. If I run into a situation where I have to use a passive 4 string jazz, I'll have it covered.

[Mike M.]

I use a 5 string bass (still play my 4 string too) and have come to really like it.

Reasons why not to get a 5 string? I can see it if your someone who's spent thier life developing a sound, a style and a technique on a 4 string that's very recognizable. People like Jeff Berlin, Michael Mannring, Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Chris Squire, Geddy Lee....why should they play a 5 string bass? These guys could no doubt play a 5 string bass with ease, but why should they?

But for someone like me who'll never be known outside his community....why not?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by SteveC

You play way more pro/paying gigs than I do so you know more than I. I would hope that you get hired for your playing and not your bass. Fortunately, no one has ever told me what bass to bring/use/play for a gig.

Our singer hates my Realistic violin bass and barely tolerates my Dano Longhorn. I don't care...he's right...the Fenders work better for the band. I bring them sometimes just to knock the dust off, but by and large I stick with what works.

[dalo320]

I think each person has to decide whether or not a 5 string works for their playing style. You really just have to take your time to try one and see if it works for you.

That being said, I rock a Fender P5 and absolutely love it. Mine sounds great and is fairly light weight. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quality 5er. I've never found muting or having a wider neck to be a problem.

[ksandvik]

If I would have modern country music gigs, or gospel music gigs, a fiver is a must due to the soundscape needed. For the rest it's not necessary.

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I'd rather just not bother with it

Ignorance is bliss, I guess.

[hibachiduck]

While I could pretend to be surprised that people are being told they aren't allowed to play 5'ers on stage, I'm not. Usually the people who flap their jaws about 5 vs 4 strings (I'm saying unprovoked. If someone like the OP is legitimately asking for fellow bassists' opinions that's a completely different story) aren't bassists and have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. A lot of people have this notion that you play bass because you aren't "good enough" to play guitar. It's a supremely ignorant opinion, but that's the people you have to work with unless you're playing with a tight-knit, stable band. Somehow they think that the closer you are to 6 strings the closer you are to the talent level of a guitarist or something else just as silly (or they think that you look like a metal musician or whatever other stereotype they want to lump you in with that actually should have NO influence on whether you want to use 4 or 5 strings). If I had a nickle for every time someone has told me something that alludes to x person being better than y person because x person plays 5 strings, or that I'm somehow "too good" to be playing a 4 string.....well, I'd have enough money for Fodera to custom-build me a brand new bass.

One thing I've learned in the military is that when the person in charge tells you to do something stupid and it won't end up hurting somebody, go ahead and do it. Don't try to make it fail to prove a point because they'll just say it's your fault. Go with it, do the best you can, do a job you can be proud of. THEN tell them "hey, so it could've gone better if I'd used a five string bass instead of a four". Now they know you know what you're talking about, you've proven yourself, and they're more likely to listen. If they still won't budge then guess what? You're still making money. Smile and be happy you've got gigs in a crappy economy.

Back to the main topic, 5's to me add more ways I can play the same riff. I don't go below 5th fret much (though it's an option) at all. Instead of sliding down the neck I can just fret and stay either in the box or near it. I read that somebody didn't like the sound past 5th fret on the B string. I had that same problem with my Ibanez SR-605. I played a Ray35 and the B string sounded great. Same price range but one brand just did it better than the other. You really have to shop around on 5-string basses. Just like with 4's, more $ doesn't equal more awesome.

That being said, even though the Ray35 sounded good on the B string, I still like the sound of strings fretted as low as possible (most of the time), meaning I'll take fretting the D string at 1 over the A at 6 (unless I want a thicker sound. It _really_ depends on the song). That's one of the things that got me into trying a four. It forced me to change how I compose my parts. Now that I'm in the habit of writing the way I do, I may perhaps go back to a 5 someday. If this thought process doesn't make sense to you, don't worry about it, because it makes sense to me and everyone thinks differently

[boristhespider9]

I'm still trying to figure out how Wooten does what he does on a 4 string.

[TolerancEJ]

Originally Posted by boristhespider9

I'm still trying to figure out how Wooten does what he does on a 4 string.

Trhis is true, but at a show he performed with Bela Fleck in Vancouver, he only used his YinYang 5-string all night, except for a few tunes where he grabbed a fretless.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by boristhespider9

I'm still trying to figure out how Wooten does what he does on a 4 string.

1. practice
2. big ears
3. see #1

Without a 5-string, I wouldn't have been able to fire the keyboard and guitar players

strung E-C

[hibachiduck]

Originally Posted by nostatic

1. practice
2. big ears
3. see #1

Without a 5-string, I wouldn't have been able to fire the keyboard and guitar players

strung E-C

You forgot #4: Because he's one of the most passionate players on Earth

Also, it's nice to see a like minded person when it comes to tuning a 5-string high rather than low. Gorgeous bass btw

[onosson]

Originally Posted by hibachiduck

Also, it's nice to see a like minded person when it comes to tuning a 5-string high rather than low

Both my 5s are E-C, way more useful for me.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by hibachiduck

You forgot #4: Because he's one of the most passionate players on Earth

Also, it's nice to see a like minded person when it comes to tuning a 5-string high rather than low. Gorgeous bass btw

Well, that too.

That is the prototype MGS from NAMM last year. This one is mine (not the most flattering shot). Both of those are packed in the gig bag and I'm heading out the door to flog them both on stage for a few hours.

[chuck3]

I have found this to be a very interesting thread. I play in a couple of bands and have to cover a *lot* of different styles. My 4-string Jazz was my main player for a long time but I found that the narrow neck - much as I loved it - was leading to hand cramps. But at the same time I eventually gravitated to the P bass sound. It's so right for a lot of what I do. Now it's the only bass I use with my secondary band.

With my main band, I use the P bass when the guitarist is playing acoustic, but when we go flat out rock I've been playing an EBMM Stingray HH 5. Now that's a very nice bass but I just haven't been satisfied with the intonation on the B string. And yes I go for those low notes, that's one reason I like a 5.

I thought I would try to have both the P bass sound and a better B string, so I have a trade pending with a fellow TB'er - that Jazz even up for this 35" scale Lak:



Should have the Lak on Friday and I'm looking forward to it. Nothing against Fender 5s - obviously I love Fenders as I have several of them even after trading the Jazz, and the P 4-string gets a lot of work.

[chuck3]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Well, that too.

That is the prototype MGS from NAMM last year. This one is mine (not the most flattering shot). Both of those are packed in the gig bag and I'm heading out the door to flog them both on stage for a few hours.

those are beautiful, and made right down the street from me here in Brooklyn.

[boristhespider9]

Originally Posted by TolerancEJ

Trhis is true, but at a show he performed with Bela Fleck in Vancouver, he only used his YinYang 5-string all night, except for a few tunes where he grabbed a fretless.

That may be true, but anytime I get frustrated with the 5, Wooten reminds me how much of a world there is to learn on the 4.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The best reason to choose what you play is because you want to. No other justification needed.

I prefer 5-string because I'm used to it, like the option of fretting a low E or playing higher up on the neck and prefer not to tune down when doing songs in Eb or D. I like the extra low notes when used well.