Anyone Play A 5'er With A High C?

[77PBass]

I am doing more soloing and thinking about getting a 5 string with a high C. Comments and experiences from high C 5'ers would be appreciated.

[BassAgent]

I do!

The low B on this bass wasn't brilliant so I put a high C on it. It took some getting used to but it works great Here's how it sounds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtmYzr4pcD0

[77PBass]

Nice, that was beautiful. Exactly one of the reasons I am looking at a High C, to get a baritone guitar sound or play in the cello range and to do chordal work.

Originally Posted by BassAgent

I do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtmYzr4pcD0

[khutch]

A lot of people here string E to C. It will do everything you expect of it plus one more: make you want to get a sixer to have both tunings at once.

Ken

[Eric Cioe]

I tune in fifths and get most of the range of a 6 string on a 4 string. Plus you get more common overtones and the bass rings better as a result. Try that.

[BassAgent]

Originally Posted by 77PBass

Nice, that was beautiful. Exactly one of the reasons I am looking at a High C, to get a baritone guitar sound or play in the cello range and to do chordal work.

Thanks! Coincidentally, I'm recording this very song in a few weeks.

[St Drogo]

Originally Posted by Eric Cioe

I tune in fifths and get most of the range of a 6 string on a 4 string. Plus you get more common overtones and the bass rings better as a result. Try that.

Hey, quick question: when you tune in fifths, do you use a standard set of string? Or do you buy four individual strings of mismatched thickness to get a better feel in tension?

Edit: also, puik werk, Hidde!

[77PBass]

I have been trying out the Ibanez 6er's at GC lately. They make amazing instruments that do not cost very much. How they get that thin neck to to be straight and stable while evry Fender I play at GC is like a boomerang is beyond me.

I don't know if I'll go to 6 strings though. I get the ease of playing first position E scales but generally don't like the feel of the B string.

Originally Posted by khutch

A lot of people here string E to C. It will do everything you expect of it plus one more: make you want to get a sixer to have both tunings at once.

Ken

[77PBass]

Originally Posted by Eric Cioe

I tune in fifths and get most of the range of a 6 string on a 4 string. Plus you get more common overtones and the bass rings better as a result. Try that.

I studied cello as a kid and always thought the tunings in 5ths made for less position changes.

[khutch]

Originally Posted by St Drogo

Hey, quick question: when you tune in fifths, do you use a standard set of string? Or do you buy four individual strings of mismatched thickness to get a better feel in tension?

I think Eric is a little optimistic about the range you get from tuning a four string in fifths. You get half a step more range than a five string so it is like 5.2 strings. I also tune in fifths and I warned the OP about six-string-itis because up tuning one of my fours from CGDA to GDAE gave me five-string-itis so that I could have both tunings on one neck. A five string tuned in fifths gives you three half steps more range than a six string which makes it a 6.6 string bass and that is most of the range you would get from a seven string.

Anyway, I buy individual strings from BassStringsOnline.com using gauges selected to give me about 40 pounds tension on each string. I would consider Circle K Strings as well if I ever wanted rounds, or if they ever decide to make flats. I use the Circle K and D'Addario tension charts to estimate the tensions you would get with other brands of strings.

Ken

[MrLenny1]

I changed one of my 5 Low B to a Hi-C so I could play melodies, chords
and tapping.
I started this after seeing Rob Gourlay playing some original compositions
on a 5 string Rob Allen bass.

[Eric Cioe]

Originally Posted by St Drogo

Hey, quick question: when you tune in fifths, do you use a standard set of string? Or do you buy four individual strings of mismatched thickness to get a better feel in tension?

Edit: also, puik werk, Hidde!

I get custom strings. I've been using the same set for a long, long while. I think it's .125, .090, .055, and .035. I could be wrong.

Originally Posted by 77PBass

I studied cello as a kid and always thought the tunings in 5ths made for less position changes.

I agree and disagree with this. You have more of what DBers call pivots, because you have six notes to cover before an open string instead of four. But yes, a lot less actual position changing. Some keys are really easy to play in. Some keys, not so. Not unlike fourths, really.

Originally Posted by khutch

I think Eric is a little optimistic about the range you get from tuning a four string in fifths. You get half a step more range than a five string so it is like 5.2 strings.
Ken

That's true. I guess I don't really care about the top few notes at the top of the A string. You get higher notes two positions closer to the nut. Maybe a useful way to think of it is that you get much more range in one position. The absolute top is of almost no importance to me anyway. Having two octaves under the hand without moving, plus, and this is a real big reason for me, getting a more open tone, that's what I value about it.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by khutch

A lot of people here string E to C. It will do everything you expect of it plus one more: make you want to get a sixer to have both tunings at once.

Ken

I did the 6-string experiment for about 20 minutes then sold it. Not my cup of tea - too much real estate to work with.

My E-C 5'er has a drop tuner. Close enough for the things I do and I rarely find myself needing the three lower notes. I can also deal with less notes in a single position - for me having one less string is a good compromise.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by khutch

A lot of people here string E to C. It will do everything you expect of it plus one more: make you want to get a sixer to have both tunings at once.

Ken

Originally Posted by nostatic

I did the 6-string experiment for about 20 minutes then sold it. Not my cup of tea - too much real estate to work with.

My E-C 5'er has a drop tuner. Close enough for the things I do and I rarely find myself needing the three lower notes. I can also deal with less notes in a single position - for me having one less string is a good compromise.

I am struggling with both these ways of thinking. I'd like a C string for some solo range, but I love having a low B as well - at the same time as the C - think Yellowjackets/Jimmy Haslip - not that I play anything like him but I like that sound.

Not sure what to do. Right now I have a nice pair of 5 strings - fretted and fretless strung B-G.

[nostatic]

Easy - string the fretted E-C (shouldn't need to modify anything). That way you have the low B on the fretless (where you might not want the high C - harder to intonate), and high C on the fretted for comping.

Some people find it easy to switch between 5 and 6. I really did not like the width of a 6-string neck but ymmv. Truth be told I'm covering most of what I need with a 24-fret 4-string.

[DiabolusInMusic]

Originally Posted by 77PBass

I have been trying out the Ibanez 6er's at GC lately. They make amazing instruments that do not cost very much. How they get that thin neck to to be straight and stable while evry Fender I play at GC is like a boomerang is beyond me.

I don't know if I'll go to 6 strings though. I get the ease of playing first position E scales but generally don't like the feel of the B string.

Stop playing Ibanez for you low B, check out Dingwall or Carvin. The Ibanez B is better than many but far from world class. A good B will make you appreciate the B string again.

As far as the original question, yeah lots of guys do it. If I had a 5 I would probably do it as I prefer the C more than the B but I like to chord.

[Jim Carr]

Originally Posted by nostatic

...string the fretted E-C (shouldn't need to modify anything). That way you have the low B on the fretless (where you might not want the high C - harder to intonate), and high C on the fretted for comping...

hmmm...my 34" scale Valenti fretless 5er is strung E-C and my two 35" scale 5ers, a 55-01D and an MTD Kingston MM passive, are both strung B-G. IMHO, the high C on the fretless sounds great and is no harder to play in tune than any of the other strings.

Clip of the Valenti: http://www.jamescarr.net/basses/stea...ealthBossa.wav


Pics, just for fun:

[chuck3]

agree with nostatic on 6-strings - just too much real estate to work with, feels weird to me.

my 5-string is B to G, and I definitely like having a B string, for all the usual reasons.

the cello tuning (an octave down) is of real interest to me, though, and when I find the time I am thinking of adding a neck pickup to this fretless and doing the cello tuning. (This is obviously not a bass I use much or I wouldn't go to tuning in fifths on it, but I'd like to learn that style on bass. I play mandolin which is also tuned in fifths.)

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Easy - string the fretted E-C (shouldn't need to modify anything). That way you have the low B on the fretless (where you might not want the high C - harder to intonate), and high C on the fretted for comping.

Some people find it easy to switch between 5 and 6. I really did not like the width of a 6-string neck but ymmv. Truth be told I'm covering most of what I need with a 24-fret 4-string.

Problem is I like/need/use the low B at church and I think the fretted will be my church bass most weeks - although this week I'm using my fretless as there are a few tunes that work great with fretless. See, there's the problem. I want to have a low B on both of my current basses as I tend to use them both they way they are on a fairly regular basis.

This is why I'm thinking I "need" a 3rd bass. I'm pretty sure it will be fretted. My current fretless is great for church needs, and would work well for jazz standards, ballads, etc. Where I like the C string is for my "contemporary jazz" type playing - where I try to be Jimmy Haslip.

I like to be able to take it low for the groove, but like the idea of the C string for soloing. This is what makes me lean to a 6 string. Although in practicality (gigging) I could probably cover the groove fine with a 5 and still have the C for soloing.

I tried a 6 for a couple months. While Roscoe makes a very comfortable 6 string neck, there's still a lot of fingerboard/neck there. Maybe I didn't give it enough time, maybe I just feel more comfortable on a 5 string. I don't know what to do.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by chuck3

Sweet little combo. I use one (with an extension 110) for my jazz combo gigs with no PA. Great amp.