5-string bass with high C?

[iamthebassman]

Yeah, first 5-string bass with a high C wasn't made 'til 1965.

 

[spade2you]

You don't usually need a new nut either.

Depends on how tightly cut the nut was in the first place and/or preferences. I once switched a low E to the low B slot and there was just enough rattle to annoy me. I just did it to test that out once.

Or both.

True dat.

 

[DougD]

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?

Example. Cost of a 4 string set of DR highbeams is around $25 depending on where you buy them, cost of a DR C string around $4 bucks, plus shipping (not many local stores carry a single high C string) total cost around $35 bucks give or take a buck or 2. Plus tax if you buy local. Online a standard 6 string set will run you around the same (depending on where you buy) and most times you can get them with free shipping. At the worst it will be a wash and you'll still save by buying a 6 string set. Less hassle and or running around= $ savings IMHO

 

[MrJack]

Warwick sells a set of tenor strings under the Yellow Label brand. It's heavier gauge, so the nut is no problem.

 

[DougD]

Warwick sells a set of tenor strings under the Yellow Label brand. It's heavier gauge, so the nut is no problem.

I never tried those strings before. How are they?

 

[bottomzone]

Fodera sells a Matthew Garrison (whose been playing with his bass strung E-C for a while) set.

http://www.fodera.com/Shop/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemID=352

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

 

[MrJack]

I never tried those strings before. How are they?

Oh, they're fantastic. Like someone slapped the strings off a Wick 6'er and put 'em for sale. They're rounds but they have this strange matte-like feel to them, makes playing like butter.

 

[SPYD3R #9]

i recently convert my 4str fretless to 5str fretless EADGC, the string spacing was pretty tight, around 15mm. but it works so good, because I play a lot of chording, fingering, and soloing with my fretless..
I keep my fretted 5str strung BEADG, string spacing 19mm, mostly for slappin' n groovin' around..

 

[bassmancai]

49sfine - that is one wacky bass! How does it play?!

 

[Jim Carr]

Nino will build you one, if you wish. I love EADGC, but I also have a BEADG 55-01 and MTD Kingston MM passive. My favorite EADGC strings for fretless are light gauge "Ken Smith Slick Wounds." TI Flats are good, too.

 

[eneye]

As noted above, of course it's possible.

I strung my Carvin 5 string fretless EADGC for a number of years. At that time I was gigging with a Warwick Fortress 5 with BEADG and then on certain songs I'd whip out the fretless with the higher EADGC range.

Jeff Mangone, one of the bass instructors at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh used to string both his fretted and fretless Fender American Jazz 5's that way and then he had a hipshot d-tuner on the E-string for extended low range.

Personally, I prefer the low B to a high C now. I'll just pick up a 6er if I want to go back to the world of high C.

 

[bassbenj]

As noted above, of course it's possible.

I strung my Carvin 5 string fretless EADGC for a number of years. At that time I was gigging with a Warwick Fortress 5 with BEADG and then on certain songs I'd whip out the fretless with the higher EADGC range.

Jeff Mangone, one of the bass instructors at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh used to string both his fretted and fretless Fender American Jazz 5's that way and then he had a hipshot d-tuner on the E-string for extended low range.

Personally, I prefer the low B to a high C now. I'll just pick up a 6er if I want to go back to the world of high C.

Same here. I had my Carvin semihollow AC50 fretless strung EADGC for quite some time. It used nylon wrapped strings and finding a decent C string was a trip but I finally did.

I did it because I was doing blues and needed the range for solos and Blues Nazis would take a fit when I brought a 6er.

I didn't change the nut, though I probably would have had a new one cut if I had kept it strung this way forever, but I had no buzzes. Worked out great!

But like eneye after a while I no longer needed the upper range extension anymore and missed the low B (not the low notes but the ease of playing in any key) so I switched it back which is how it is now.

But I've got the strings so it's easy to switch back and forth any time I want to extend the range up rather than down if I'm not going to use a 6 for some reason.

 

[Raptor0427]

GHs Boomers makes a 5 string set with a high C. My Washburn XS-5 was set up with a low B when I got it but I just used it for a thumb rest. If you like the spacing better on a fiver then setting up with a high C is the way to go. I used the C in solos and fills and my five string is a little faster then my 4 stringers.

 

[tkozal]

My Carvin, strung E-C, when I was in my Steve Swallow is god phase, circa 2004 or so.

I have another Carvin fiver, strung E-C, circa 1988, not as pretty, used to play it at my gigs at the Grand Concourse in Pittsburgh

 

[SPYD3R #9]

i recently convert my 4str fretless to 5str fretless EADGC, the string spacing was pretty tight, around 15mm. but it works so good, because I play a lot of chording, fingering, and soloing with my fretless..
I keep my fretted 5str strung BEADG, string spacing 19mm, mostly for slappin' n groovin' around..

this thread need more pics

 

[bassbenj]

+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

+1
I sometimes string my Carvin semi-hollow acoustic E-C. Just get 6 string sets. I didn't bother with a new nut. That lets me switch back and forth. If I left it E-C forever, I'd probably have a new nut cut. I never had any buzzing or problems with the wider nut slots though.

E-C is just what you want for solos and chords. On the other hand the bass is currently B-G because I get lazy want want the convenience of playing it like a 5 string across the neck when I don't need the extended upper range (it's 24 frets anyway).

Hence the beauty of a 6 string set and not fooling with the nut.

 

[BrBss]

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

The same reason that basses have more than 4 frets. :scowl:

 

[Marlat]

My ACG is a 32" 5 string strung E-C. Its amazing!

 

[bongomania]

I was in the "why go higher when you can go lower" camp until I got a 30" scale sixer. On that, the high strings sound great! But I still have my long-scales with the low B.

 

[nataku333]

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'.

My god, sooo pretty!!!!