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4 string or 5 string

#21
Anything that can be played on a 4 can be played on a 5. The only reason you shouldn't get one is if your hands can't handle the wider neck or if they're too heavy. Just make sure the B string is nice and tight and that it is at least in the same ballpark as the other strings as far as volume goes and you should be fine.

There are some great mid-priced 5ers out there, like the G&L 2500 Tribute or the Cirrus BXP. Ibanez usually has very good B strings on their midpriced basses.
 
#22
I started playing on a five string, got my first four string some weeks ago and first thing I did was plan how to string it BEAD to get access to the 2 octave positions etc. I will get it back tomorrow from the luthier who did the job, can't wait!!

I play a lot above 6th, 7th fret and use the B-string lots there. I also find it nice to be able to go down to Eb, D.. etc. in pop tunes when needed.

Five string bass - Either you like it, or fear it ...

D.Don
 
#25
sleepy_monkey said:
I play all of the above and a 6 string. I have no complaints on any of them.
Click to expand...

+1

If you want to have more options within a shorter reach; IMHO you'll go to 5 or 6...

Food for thought... Last Friday night I was what I've named "DOOBICAGO", The Doobie Brothers and Chicago concert at the Gibson/Universal Amphitheater in LA. Both Skylark and Jason Scheff played 4 strings!

Doobie's bassist Skylark: 4 String Alembic with red LED's and serious bottom end
Chicago bassist Jason Scheff: 4 String Lakland no memorable tone at all

Overal Skylark's tone lacked fundamental note/pitch but filled out the band like a powerhouse and Jason's lacked punch and was somewhat dull...I was sitting right behind the mixboard...

Sorry for the ramble and don't mean to derail the thread.... Basically, you can get what you "need" done out of a 4... IMHO 5 or 6 give more musical options...
 
#26
Personally, I play both four and five string. I find that the five is very useful for jazz playing or if I'm doing any chords. But as far as rock or most mainstream gigs go, I love the simplicity of the four. Plus I think the four looks cooler. I feel like people start on the four string, and if a less experienced player sees you on a four string, they may be more inspired than if they saw you on a five. People can relate to you more I guess, if you care about that at all.
 
#27
It is mostly a question of personal choice. The 5 string allows you to hold the same position and move across the strings, while on the 4 the same notes can be reached by going up or down the neck(Except those notes below low E which I seldom find a real use for). I have tried 5's several times, including a trade that kills me to this day, but for me it was always more comfortable to move up and down the neck that reach across it.

It also seems that to get a good tone and feel out of B string a larger scale was needed(35 to 36 inches). But adding length to the scale tightens up the other strings too tightly. I never found a satisfactory compromise so I strictly play 4's now, but I know many players who found a 5 that they loved and it sounds great in their hands.

(The only 5 that has really come close to feeling right to me was a Yamaha TRB5 fretles. You can't imagine how strange that was because I seldom play either 5's, fretless, or active basses. I do wish I had the money at the time because that bass would probably have become and remained my only 5.)
 
#28
LowBSix said:
+1

If you want to have more options within a shorter reach; IMHO you'll go to 5 or 6...

Food for thought... Last Friday night I was what I've named "DOOBICAGO", The Doobie Brothers and Chicago concert at the Gibson/Universal Amphitheater in LA. Both Skylark and Jason Scheff played 4 strings!

Doobie's bassist Skylark: 4 String Alembic with red LED's and serious bottom end
Chicago bassist Jason Scheff: 4 String Lakland no memorable tone at all

Overal Skylark's tone lacked fundamental note/pitch but filled out the band like a powerhouse and Jason's lacked punch and was somewhat dull...I was sitting right behind the mixboard...

Sorry for the ramble and don't mean to derail the thread.... Basically, you can get what you "need" done out of a 4... IMHO 5 or 6 give more musical options...
Click to expand...

I don't want to hear this.. I have started to look a lot on 6-strings, and when I browse threads here, more and more I find myself reading six-string related stuff...

I fear the worst...

GAS!

:D

D.Don
 
#29
After playing a 4 for so many years i went and got a 5 a couple of years ago. Its a Lakland 55-01 and it was the 5 string bass that i could finally play. Tired a few before but couldn't get on with the necks.

I like my 55-01 but went back to 4 (Lakland DD) early this year.
Now im thinking of going back to the 55-01. It just felt more comfortable and i do miss being able to play in D without having to transpose up the neck.

One thing i have found is that i now play me 4 string differently. my playing is not great anyway but having the lower note in the middle of the neck on the 55-01 taught me a lot more about note spacing and i find playing the 4 string a lot easier now.

Can i ask do any of you take both a 4 and 5 to a gig and use both? Im thinking of going back to the 55-01 but might take my DD as well this sat, just in case i get stuck.
 
#30
Can i ask do any of you take both a 4 and 5 to a gig and use both? Im thinking of going back to the 55-01 but might take my DD as well this sat, just in case i get stuck.[/QUOTE]

I play a 5- on the newer stuff that needs the drop notes and a 4- on the older music.. in a cover band.
 
#31
Rathead123 said:
Can i ask do any of you take both a 4 and 5 to a gig and use both? Im thinking of going back to the 55-01 but might take my DD as well this sat, just in case i get stuck.
Click to expand...

I play a 5- on the newer stuff that needs the drop notes and a 4- on the older music.. in a cover band.[/QUOTE]

That sort of what ill be doing. do you find it easy to swap from 4 to 5 at a gig?
While i can play either ive not had to mix them.
 
#32
I play both 5 and 4 and prefer 4, even tho my 5 does give me more options of where to play stuff, I just feel at home on a 4, its not a case of getting used to the instrument, as i'm as accustomed to my 5 neck as my 4 neck, but my 4 just has that little extra pull 4 me, so i guess what i'm trying to say is find whats for you.
 
#35
dave_bass5 said:
Can i ask do any of you take both a 4 and 5 to a gig and use both? Im thinking of going back to the 55-01 but might take my DD as well this sat, just in case i get stuck.
Click to expand...

I play a 4 for most music in my cover band, and play a 6 string (with a very narrow neck) for anything that normally uses different tunings like drop D or C. I actually haul a 2nd 4 string for anything that's just tuned down 1/2 step.

The folks that use a 5 string exclusively are my heroes. I have a much harder time muting, and I have small-ish hands, so I fall back to a 4 string when I don't need the lower notes.
 
#36
wagstaff said:
wel i've chosen a 5 sting as it still lets me play most songs i like although some songs i play require the c string and the b. but i couldn't find a reasonably priced 6 string. i've gone witht he peavey millenium 5
Click to expand...

Which Millennium 5 did you choose - the passive one with Jazz pups or the active one with soapbars? If you chose the Millennium 5 AC then you've got the same pickups they use in their USA Cirrus basses. You could replace the stock Millennium 5 active preamp in your bass with a USA Millennium preamp for about $75 - you'd have sweepable mids and better sound.
 
#37
fourstringbliss said:
Which Millennium 5 did you choose - the passive one with Jazz pups or the active one with soapbars? If you chose the Millennium 5 AC then you've got the same pickups they use in their USA Cirrus basses. You could replace the stock Millennium 5 active preamp in your bass with a USA Millennium preamp for about $75 - you'd have sweepable mids and better sound.
Click to expand...

i chose the one with the jazz pick ups
 

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