Seriously Thinking About A 5-String ...
 

... is there anything I should know before I buy one? Things like the strings cost more*, or effects don't like them; than kind of thing. Basically, anything that would make it a waste of money.

*(I already know)

Thanks in advance!!

dont buy anything yet. if you have the means and are seriously considering it, it would be worth your time to go to as many shops as possible and play as many 5'ers as you can. most importantly, imho, is let your hands and ears be your guides.

First of all ask Yourself if You really need a "fiver" and why.Good luck

Nope. They're pretty much the same as 4's, minus the fact that they have an added B (or C) string. You probably wouldn't want to use an octaver on the B string, though. And you might need to be a bit more careful about not blowing out a speaker by playing too aggressively and loudly on the B string.

I recently took the same steps. I went out and played a fair few to make sure i liked them and they like me. Looked at what i could get in my budget. Bought a Vintage V905, by far not the best but looks, plays and ultimately sounds great. Already planning my next purchase which will be a higher level 5 for sure :)

Seriously Thinking About A 5-String ...
 

It's about time. Anyway, the downsides:

• Yes, strings cost more- but there are more of them.
• They tend to be heavier.
• They may cost more than the same model 4-string.

The upsides (which far outweigh the downsides):

• You can play further up the neck where the frets are closer together and still grab a low E at the 5th fret.
• You have access to some really bitchen low notes.
• You won't look like an amateur playing some silly 4-string - all the pros play fivers these days.
• You can weigh in on the debates surrounding the mythical "floppy B" right here at TalkBass.

My advice? Play a bunch of them down at GC, then buy one.

I've never found a compelling positive argument for that question.

Too many problems and nuisances, and the whole concept is just marginal by my standards of what constitutes bass instrumentation.

When people start talking about why they want fives I just immediately know we're just not on the same page about this whole bass thing. More strings, more pickups, more electronics are just more geekery to me and digressions from the true point. "Bass guitar," and all that. :rollno:

LMFAO

I don't think that you can or will know why you want a fiver until you spend a fair amount of time with one.

All my reasons for loving fives as much as fours are all shallow and personal preference. Hate tuning down, don't like hipshots, and more position options. Do I NEED one ? Nope. Do I own one? Yes, and I love it.

Oh and to make matters worse, there are far too many manufactures that think that it is perfectly acceptable to just add a low B. I hate to say it, but there are a lot of fivers out there with crappy sounding B's.

Music is a journey. If you think that the 5 appeals to you, find one and camp it for a number of months to see how how it suits you.

I sometimes think about buying a five string, but I usually come to my senses.
The few times I didn't, the fiver didn't last long. In fact I bought an acoustic 5er last week and have already traded it for a 4. They're not for everyone and I myself never cared for the tone of a low E on the 5th string. This latest experience reminded me of that.
To me there are only two types of five strings... those on which the string spacing is too narrow and those on which the neck is too wide.

GHS 5 string set about $32.
Low B is the balls for a bass player.
No more silly D-tuners.
Great thumbrest.

meandering back to the OP's question...

since getting into 5 strings I've noticed it helps to get slightly more physical with the low B string. not more aggressive, just a bit more purposeful. it helps to produce a good sound. there are subtle differences in the way we pluck each string, according to its size and tension. most players hardly think about it because it becomes so natural. the problem is that, when switching from 4 to 5 strings, some players (like me) will pluck the B string with the same physicality they used to use on the E. they do this because it's the lowest string and that's what feels normal. you have to give consideration to the B string's larger size and learn to pluck accordingly. once you start doing this, you'll notice fewer basses with the celebrated "weak B" defect. rule out technique, then blame the tool.

Strings typically cost $5-10 more per set, depending on the brand.
Scale length should be a consideration in your purchase. Most 34" 5 strings tend to have low tension on the B string (the dreaded 'floppy B'), although there are exceptions(I hear fender does a good job with this). A 35" scale accommodates the low B much better, but if you have small hands or have a lot of long reaches in your music, the increased fret spacing may be troublesome for you. If you plan on going lower than B, however, 35" should be a minimum.

I just put a balanced set of Circle K strings (.136 B) on my L-2500. Zero floppy B. I had same set on my TL-5. Circle K has sold me.

BTW, L-2500 is the easiest 5er I've played. It truly feels like a standard 4 string to me. I have large palms but short fingers too.

I went in to buying a 5'er thinking I was getting a make of a particular maker. By the time I had run the rack for many months, I ended up with a completely different maker & model and couldn't be happier.

Just did the drill, and some tips before I forget:

Yes, stopped, shopped and played GC and the other local shops for months, still do every few weeks.

Besides scale length difference 34 vs 35", you will also see nut width differences, like Jazz vs Precision.

Once I got the thing, I noodled on it daily. A 1-2 hour rehearsal unveiled a poor set up and high action.... which I fixed just prior to the first gig. The string set appear to be similar to my four - round Markley lights.

Also discovered.... I was strapping on my bass too low on my body, as moving it up suddenly helped my left hand reach and my right hand finger picking.

Four hour gig was great, as expected a few grabs to the B string expecting the E, and totally blew a 2 measure scale, but not going back at this point.


Under $400-500 typically used

35/narrow nut - Some Spectors, Schector
34/narrow - Ibanez SRs (some models)
35/wide - Ibanez BTBs (some models)

yea, tried all the Fenders and EBMMs, but they tend to be all 34/wides

Why 5? Needing the D for a few tunes, feeling like I'm hearing it in recordings. An unplanned bene is more access to upper frets, and there are a few more, giving me much more range and options for finding notes, ultimately making the job easier.

Plus its just a cool bass.

Then go try some and make your choice.
It's funny because I tend to not like the "traditional" Fenfer style neck on a 4 string, but I prefer it on a 5.
Strings and what setup you have for your low B make all the difference, too. I only buy and play 5'ers nowadays.

I've had a cort action 5, love the playability and feel of this bass, but the pups were weak and this was less than a year into me playing bass, had no idea you could upgrade pups at this point. sold this bad girl and miss her still, she'd have been a monster with some upgrades.

2nd fiver was a ibanez soundgear. hated everything about this bass.

was about to swear off 5'ers saying they're not for me then ended up joining a sludgy heavy southern metal band that plays in drop A, played a few gigs on a drop tuned 4 banger stingray it wasn't so bad, but I was in the market for a fender jazz so decided to get a fender jazz 5

and I've had her for over 2 years now. love this bass. the tone, the playability. only downside to it is the fact it weighs 14.5lbs. good thing i'm not doing 4 hour cover gigs or i'd be hurting.

moral of the story, all 5'ers arent created equal, play around.

I have. I played four string for over 20 years, but now I play five exclusively. I no longer own any fours.


Sanctimonious much? I can play that game, too: "a low B five string is a better bass instrument than a four because it has lower notes." That statement is no sillier than yours.

As I mentioned, I played four for decades but switched completely to five. Others try five but decide they prefer four. I will simply encourage you to try one.

Here's a big thing to think about (it was for me): string spacing. I prefer so-called "wide" five strings, because the strings are the same distance apart as traditional four strings, and that keeps my hands comfortable. Others prefer the feel of "narrow" five strings (but they feel too cramped for me).

The only disadvantage for me (aside from paying a little more for strings) was that it took some adjustment -- that includes having an extra string to mute. Once I got used to five I realized I could do everything I did on four, plus more.

P.S. A huge advantage to five is marketability: there are many songs these days -- even in traditional music like blues, pop, and country -- where the bass line drops below low E. You may well audition for a band and be told that their preference is for the bassist to play those low notes. Yes, you can get a Hipshot Xtender or manually detune (as I used to), but it was easier for me to play five.