5-string Bass

[Cubeface]

Hello,
I'm quite new to bassing (started about two months ago), and am confused about 5 string basses.
I have two questions about them: What is the 5th string compared to a 4 string bass (i.e. does it have one string lower or higher than a 4 string) ?
And, how much wider is a 5 string bass' neck compared to a 4 string?

Thanks,
Cube

 

[Ryan L.]

Most 5 string basses are set up with a low B string (one string lower), but some have a high C string instead. A 5 string bass's neck is a bit wider than a standard 4 string, but this depends on the string spacing of a particular bass as well. Some 5's have very narrow spacing (string to string), thus having a neck that is not much wider than a standard spaced 4 string bass.

 

[Cubeface]

Thanks,
Yeah, I heard not to get a "string to string" 5-string bass, because it makes slaping much more difficult. He also said that wider spacing is called "fender spacing" (or something like that)