4 for 5

[elavate7]

i play gospel and rock with 4 string. im playing on a 95 peavey combo amp at church and i think it should hold. i have played a 5 string before and i kinda like it. should i sell my 4 for a 5? i could really use that B for gospel

 

[Bongolation]

i could really use that B for gospel

Only if your amp rig and venue sound reinforcement can handle around 30.8Hz.

 

[elavate7]

Only if your amp rig and venue sound reinforcement can handle around 30.8Hz.

my church can, someone played a 5 on my amp at my church.

 

[Slaine01]

buy a Hipshot for your 4 string - that might meet your problem half way

 

[dabbler]

You didn't mention what bass you are playing now, other than it's a 4. If it were me, I'd KEEP the 4 and get an inexpensive 5 to live with for a while to decide (actually every bass I buy is inexpensive, but that's just the way I roll). I'd go to Rondo, and pick out a 5 similar to what I thought I wanted.

And in the final analysis, I think you should have both.

 

[dhagler]

You didn't mention what bass you are playing now, other than it's a 4. If it were me, I'd KEEP the 4 and get an inexpensive 5 to live with for a while to decide (actually every bass I buy is inexpensive, but that's just the way I roll). I'd go to Rondo, and pick out a 5 similar to what I thought I wanted.

And in the final analysis, I think you should have both.

+1. Nothing wrong with having two basses.

 

[whitespike]

James Jamerson only needed 3 for R&B!

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Only if your amp rig and venue sound reinforcement can handle around 30.8Hz.

Very few cabs are rated down to 31Hz- most of the great-sounding low Bs we hear live aren't played through ones that can.

 

[iamlowsound]

I suggest that you keep your eye out in the classifieds and ebay for a peavey foundation 5 string. Amazing basses that can be had for $200-250. Mine was so good that I sold my Fbass!

lowsound

 

[AgIdoc]

actually every bass I buy is inexpensive, but that's just the way I roll

ME TOO.

 

[SteveC]

Keep the 4 and add a 5.
If you can only have/want one bass I'd go with a 5 - active.
If I had a 2nd bass, it'd probably be a passive 4.

 

[Bongolation]

Very few cabs are rated down to 31Hz- most of the great-sounding low Bs we hear live aren't played through ones that can.

I don't quite understand your point.

That what we hear with "the great-sounding low Bs we hear live" exclude the fundamental?

Speaker ratings are wrong?

What?

 

[oldrookie]

I play a lot of worship music and have a couple of fivers now. Started on fours and went to fives. Just recently added a four back into the mix.

Played the four at practice today. Doable, but I'll be playing the five for services tomorrow. Just easier to play in the middle of the fretboard for most stuff and then to be able to walk down from E is pretty cool.

The other option is to string a four in BEAD. I have a fretless strung that way and I could use it for most songs, if I had more time with it. Just got it a few months ago and I'll keep that one at home...probably for a long time.

If you go with a five, and you aren't sure about an SX (I've had three, still have one and liked them all,) give the Squire Deluxe Jazz Active Five a serious look. Approx. $300 new and a really nice bass for the that money.

 

[dabbler]

If you go with a five, and you aren't sure about an SX (I've had three, still have one and liked them all,) give the Squire Deluxe Jazz Active Five a serious look. Approx. $300 new and a really nice bass for the that money.

Good advice. Just be aware that the Deluxe V is wide-spaced. Good if you want to slap it, but it will take more getting used to than a close-spaced five... at least it did for me.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I don't quite understand your point.

That what we hear with "the great-sounding low Bs we hear live" exclude the fundamental?

This. The fact that his rig or the venue sound reinforcement can't reproduce a 31Hz frequency will have no bearing on having a great-sounding low B.