5 string basses: are they worth it?

[spade2you]

WOW, I am amazed that the vast majority of people say "yes" to this as whenever a poll is taken, 4-string players on TB seem to vastly outnumber 5-string players.

I have played since 1980, currently have 8 basses, and all of them are 4's. I have tried a 5 several times and I just hate the feel of the necks. No question that there are very valid reasons for playing a 5 (assuming you enjoy it), but be very sure that it is for you.

I love the simple elegance of 4-string basses. They are home to me and maybe someday that will change, but for now, no need.

BTW, during the times where I was trying out five strings, I just felt that having the low-B (that I used maybe six or 8 times a night) was not worth the extra weight and change in feel of the bass. A five string neck is a fairly significant piece of lumber IMO (I am only 5'6" and have small hands) so I have stayed with a 4.

Just a different opinion and frankly, the only one that matters in this situation is yours. Play one for awhile and decide for yourself. Cheers.

I'm also 5'6" and weighing in at a buck twenty-eight soaking wet.

I was lucky enough to pick up a 5 about a year or two after picking up bass. These days, I'm just as comfortable with a 35" scale 6er as I am with a 30" scale 4 string.

 

[mimaz]

Ah, someone here said a 5 string enabled him to play in Eb easier. It probably does, but you can still play in Eb on a 4 string, eh?

You don't have a problem muting open strings? Well that's great but I spent half my time doing that. If I got a 5 string it would give me more to mute. I suppose I should improve my technique

I wasn't refering to playing in Eb, you can do that regardless of how many strings you have. I was wondering what you meant by "Just add more bass to your sound. That'll give you the deeper octaves!"

As far as muting is concerned, it's not a problem, just a part of the technique that's required for the instrument.

Seems that only 5 players have responded to this, when in reality the majority of bass players still only play a 4. I am one of them. I've owned three 5'ers in the past and played dozens more.

I find the B string muddy and "flubby" if that's a word, no matter what fret you are on. And I find this in every recording of a 5 I've ever heard as well as every 5 I've ever heard being played live.

I'm sure I'll get some flack for this, but the dude asked and it seems no one spoke up but guys that love 5's.

My opinion would be to try a D-tuner on a 4 before deciding if you need that low range. 5's are definitely not for everyone.

Not sending any flack your way.........but if you've never heard a good B string, keep listening, they are definately out there! By the way, I have nothing at all against the 4's (I still own plenty of them!), but I have only gigged with the 5's since around '99 or '00..........and 2 of the three 4's that were my primary gigging basses previously did (and still do) have D-tuners installed. You do make a good point........5's are not for everyone...........nor are 4's, nor are 6's.........it's a matter of personal preference and what the particular gig requires. Hey, it's a bass, it's all good!

 

[Dan Knowlton]

ACTUALLY, THEY ARE NOT..... you really NEED a 9-string! That way you can tell all the guitarists that you can replace them!

This is (IMHO) a stupid thread - you can't apply my reasons for playing what I do to your playing, you have to decide for your self.

I play 5'ers because I need/want to - you play what you want/need to and I'll be just fine with that. LOTS of valid reasons to play them, LOTS of valid reasons not to do so.

Dan K.

 

[Gabriel51]

I just bought my first 5 string (Cirrus) and I like it. I took to the low B right off, the G string is weird now, I keep tripping on it
I like the strings being closer togeather at the bridge also.
The neck is a little wider too but I like the playing much better.
I'm lazy and don't need to move all over the neck now.

 

[spade2you]

Not sending any flack your way.........but if you've never heard a good B string, keep listening, they are definitely out there!

I can kinda see where he's coming from. When I first started bass, the only 5-6 strings that stores in Omaha stocked were poorly set-up cheapos. There was no consistency between the E and B string, entirely too much flop, and I didn't like the idea that I'd hafta use such a delicate touch on the low B string compared to the rest of the bass.

As luck would have it, my store got a 5 string Cirrus in one day and the B sounded OK with the stock strings. When I swapped them out, the B sounded KILLER and the rest is history.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Its all about setup, and where you pluck really. I moved my bridge back to be able to properly intone the low B (downed to an A ), and I pluck over the bridge pup. The bridge move basically equaled 10mm more speaking length (and a slightly higher tension), and plucking over the bridge doesn't cause the string to move as far. If I pluck over the bridge pup or the neck/body joint my B sounds "meh", and overpowers all my other strings. I get a more even volume over the bridge pup. Again, its all in the setup, I just don't feel like changing mine LOL

 

[spade2you]

Its all about setup, and where you pluck really.

Oh, there's a little more to it than that. Once you try something really high end, you can appreciate the little tricks luthiers can do to make a B sound very articulate and tight while being very useful for at least the first octave up the fingerboard. It's gonna be really hard to get any entry level 5er to be able to compete with something like a Curbow for example, no matter what you do to it.

 

[Darkstrike]

I think neck construction has a lot to do with it too, a solid neck really make's it sound better & keep tune better.

 

[Chad Michael]

One nice thing about playing a 5 string is that a quality set of strings will run $10 more than the same set for a four .

However, it's worth it .