5-string bass with high C?

[OnlyJerry]

Hello fellow TBers,

I was just wondering if there are 5-string basses that comes with the high C string instead of the low B? Everywhere I look in online stores etc. there's only 5-stringers with low B added.

If I were to buy a 5-stringer one day, should I try and find one with high C(probably more expensive) or would it work out fine if i bought a normal 5-stringer and stringed/tuned it EADGC?

 

[jetbike]

Why? It's a bass, not a treble.

 

[Aspidites]

You can restring a 5'er EADGC. My G&L L1505 is set up that way.

 

[rustindeth]

I bought a new set of bass strings EADG and then found an ebay seller who sold indiviual C strings.
I also used a heavy guage of strings, that way I didn't have to replace the nut.

 

[lyes4string]

with a little intonation the high c string will work fine. when i had a 5er thats the only way i would string it since my band played in drop B. having the higher string gave for some fun fills and what have you.

 

[spade2you]

I don't think you'll find many (any?) 5 strings with a stock high C. It's not that hard to change. You'll just need a new nut and change new setup.

 

[Aspidites]

I don't think you'll find many (any?) 5 strings with a stock high C. It's not that hard to change. You'll just need a new nut and change new setup.

You don't usually need a new nut either.

 

[chris lykins]

Especially if the bass has a zero fret. I go back and forth on my MTD all the time and even with lights you just need minor setup changes.

 

[elavate7]

Why? It's a bass, not a treble.

i had the idea of string my 5 with a high C....until i can to this realization lol.....now im diggin the low B!!!!

 

[Aspidites]

i had the idea of string my 5 with a high C....until i can to this realization lol.....now im diggin the low B!!!!

This is why you need more than one 5'er.

 

[spade2you]

This is why you need more than one 5'er.

Or a 6 string.

 

[Aspidites]

Or a 6 string.

Or both.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Why? It's a bass, not a treble.

Yes, and when Coltrane was playing his tenor sax, he never should have played out of "tenor" and taken those brilliant upper-register solos. Great thinking there....

 

[49sfine]

Here's my E - C five string, a Wishbass in mostly purpleheart. It came strung the normal way, but at 31" scale in fanned frets, the low B was (duh), pretty dead. I rebuilt/refinished the bass, replaced the nut and bridge and it plays great now! Put D'Addario half-wounds on it too. I bought the C string separately from the other 4, all from 'Just Strings'.

 

[Aspidites]

Yes, and when Coltrane was playing his tenor sax, he never should have played out of "tenor" and taken those brilliant upper-register solos. Great thinking there....

I was in a French restaurant in Seattle last year with the better half and A Love Supreme was playing. All of a sudden it was turned off and smooth Jazz put on, when I asked why they changed it they said they had too many complaints on the music.

 

[DougD]

You don't usually need a new nut either.

+1
Just buy a 6 string set in what ever flavor you like and toss the low B. You'll be fine. If the nut is too wide for the C string you can use a piece of paper to fill it in. That way, if you decide to go back you wont have to change anything. Also It's probably cheaper to buy a standard 6 string set than to buy a 4 string plus the high C. IMHO

 

[Mushroo]

I bought a 6-string set of strings and switch back and forth between BEADG and EADGC depending on the gig. No truss rod or nut adjustment is necessary on my bass. It's a fretless; if the bass had frets, I would definitely check the intonation each time I switch. Other than that it's no big deal.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

+1
Just buy a 6 string set in what ever flavor you like and toss the low B. You'll be fine. If the nut is too wide for the C string you can use a piece of paper to fill it in. That way, if you decide to go back you wont have to change anything. Also It's probably cheaper to buy a standard 6 string set than to buy a 4 string plus the high C. IMHO

Toss a B? The B is usually $9+

Toss em' my way please!

It shouldn't cost more than a High-C to add a High-C to a 4 string set. Not sure why you think it costs more than a 6 string set?

 

[kellyrojo]

My old 5 string fender jazz was tuned EADGC.....The low B was just too flubby. I never had to truss rod because of the change or renut it but you will need to monitor the intonation. That high C comes in handy for chordal playing and soloing

 

[Tampabass]

why not? It's a bass, not a contra-bass.

but seriously, when I first started playing a 5, I thought that going with the high C would be the way to go, for soloing and chording in jazz contexts, etc.

After becoming dissatisfied with that - felt like the string (feel and sound) was too "thin" or something - I went back to using the low B. Despite the fact that I very seldom used a B, C or C#, I did get quite a bit of great use out of the D D# and fretted E, and, as many will tell you, it's quite useful to be able to play so many patterns in the same position. And hitting those sub-E notes added some nice depth to the overall band sound.
(BTW, I was using a Lakland 5502 - highly recommended)

And then, after experiencing all that, I went back to playing strictly 4s.

If/when I migrate back to a 5er, I'll go with the low B.