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5 string players - any advantage to picking up a 4 string for any reason?

#81
I played mostly 5-strings for years, until replacing my main 5-string with a Fender 62 reissue Precision bass, which I liked (and still do like) very much. It took a bit of time to get used to, but I don't think much of it now.

Besides the already-cited (and obviously applicable in my situation) reason of, the particular bass you want not being available in a 5-string version, one other advantage, however minute, is that string sets are a little cheaper, which is especially nice for trying out a bunch of different strings.

There are some string sets only available in 4-string sets, and even when the manufacturer makes it, if you ever need to buy locally, there's a better chance of the 4-string set being in stock.

Also, there are some pickups that are only available in 4-string configurations.

I don't know these items are worth actually owning a 4-string bass if that's not what you want. I've gotten quite used to 4 strings now, and especially appreciate the narrower necks. But there are also still times when a 5-string is called for, or even more strings than that.
 
#82
Tony cook said:
That's my take on a 5 string. My band plays in C standard so my 5 string I tune up like a half a step versus tuning down 2 full steps on a 4 string.
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Tuning up to C or even C# makes a world of difference if your low B is floppy. Much easier than going to 35". I keep my baritone guitar in C or C# anyway, my 4-string is tuned up to C using the bottom 4 or 5.
 
#83
5 string advantages:
#Low B, can be useful in Electronic Music
#More strings means more chords
Disadvantages:
#Thicker neck
#Trickier to slap
And one by famous YouTuber Davie504 — less strings force you to be more creative.
 
#85
5 strings are nice for fingerstyle and chords because the spacing is tighter, but I find 4 strings easier for slap because its easier to get your fingers under the strings that way. But like others are saying, every bass has its own unique sound so sometimes what you want is only available in 4 string.
 
#86
Just started playing in a band tuned to drop d and thought id have to bring back out the 4 . Ended up using the 4 for one Jam and going ADADG on the 5, which ive never tuned to before (The last two bands i was in before this were in A# so i was in A#,F,A#,D#,G#). Its a lot more fun than i thought it was going to be. Granted were currently a 3 piece and the guitarist likes her high mids so ive the lower register all to myself :-)

Then i went home and played the s#!t out of my 4 string because it got a clean and set up before the first jam and sure if she isnt playing fine lad.
 
#87
BassFishingInAmerica said:
The advantage to playing a 4 string over a 5?

When you don't play a single song that requires a 5. It just becomes unnecessary overkill.

I'd need to play at least ten or more songs that need a fiver before investing in one.
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Exactly- I have tried them and often contemplated on getting one, but really the only songs I would use it on would be E-flat songs. And I can't justify modifying my technique, and re-learning the extra string for one note (that honestly doesn't sound half bad on the 6th fret anyhow).
For Drop D songs- the only way to play them in my opinion is on a Drop D 4-string.
 
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#89
I've never had a four string and been playing for 20 years. That doesn't mean I don't need it, it means I don't know. I've been playing a Warwick 5's for just as long and finally picked a Sire V7 Jazz Bass and realized I've been missing out on some very cool sounds. You have try it to get the experience.

I do have a Sire V7 in a 4 string coming in today, so I'll let you know.
 
#90
Frankly I'm surprised at the number of folks who say they, "only play a 5 when the song requires it". It seems to me that you guys are missing out on much of the utility your 5-string if you only play it when you need one of those 5 low notes. YMMV.

I do think its useful to keep a 4-string around so you can stay comfortable on both. There might come a time when you need to play & the only instrument available is a 4 string.
 
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#93
FuzzFacetious said:
Is there more to lose than gain by getting a 4 string?
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I vacillated between 4, 5 and 6 string basses and eventually gravitated towards a 5 as giving me all I need without too much. Since then, I can not play 4 string basses at all, and currently own none. Yes, I will miss out on owning some classic or vintage basses, but I don't but it unless I'm gonna play it, and since I have not touched, owned or played a 4 sting bass in probably 4-5 years that ainlt gonna happen. Nothing against them or those who play them, but my playing style has changed to the point where I have to have a 5 and would likely be more comfortable on a 6 than a 4.

There are plenty of reasons to own a 4, especially if you are a full-time, working and/or on call bassist. Much like there are those who only want bassists who play a Fender, there are those who only want a 4 string bass (though oddly they never specify standard 'E' tuning...).

LaXu said:
My beef with many 5 string basses is that they come with a longer scale and the same 19mm string spacing as 4 string models do. I really hope multiscales become more common as they fix the issue with uncomfortable scale length should you want that low B string.
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Actually....one of the biggest issues with finding the right 5 string is that they have such a wide variety of specs. Too many, perhaps. Fenders are 34" scale and 18mm spacing. Laklands are 35" w/19mm. Others have much narrower. Manufacturers make 34" and 35" basses with 16, 17, 18 and 19mm spacing. Finding the right fit is usually a huge part of whether or not one feels comfortable on a 5.
 
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#94
G On Bass said:
I vacillated between 4, 5 and 6 string basses and eventually gravitated towards a 5 as giving me all I need without too much. Since then, I can not play 4 string basses at all, and currently own none. Yes, I will miss out on owning some classic or vintage basses, but I don't but it unless I'm gonna play it, and since I have not touched, owned or played a 4 sting bass in probably 4-5 years that ainlt gonna happen. Nothing against them or those who play them, but my playing style has changed to the point where I have to have a 5 and would likely be more comfortable on a 6 than a 4.

There are plenty of reasons to own a 4, especially if you are a full-time, working and/or on call bassist. Much like there are those who only want bassists who play a Fender, there are those who only want a 4 string bass (though oddly they never specify standard 'E' tuning...).



Actually....one of the biggest issues with finding the right 5 string is that they have such a wide variety of specs. Too many, perhaps. Fenders are 34" scale and 18mm spacing. Laklands are 35" w/19mm. Others have much narrower. Manufacturers make 34" and 35" basses with 16, 17, 18 and 19mm spacing. Finding the right fit is usually a huge part of whether or not one feels comfortable on a 5.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the "finding the right fit" part is big. I went thru a lot of 5 strings to find that.
 
#96
Ahzidal Engineer said:
5 strings are nice for fingerstyle and chords because the spacing is tighter, but I find 4 strings easier for slap because its easier to get your fingers under the strings that way. But like others are saying, every bass has its own unique sound so sometimes what you want is only available in 4 string.
Click to expand...
All my 5's (Sadowsky, Lull, Gibson, MTD) are 19mm -- same as most 4 strings.
 
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#97
Based on my experience, it really depends on how much of a collector you are. Growing up when I did and learning to plan when I did (70s-80s), basses had 4 strings and so did the iconic instruments I craved but could not afford back then. I went away from music for some time, and when I got back into it, I could afford to buy lots of gear, and I did. I think I topped out around 17-18 instruments. Most of these instruments were 4 strings.

However, the bass that always went to the practices and gigs was a 5 string (Lakland Skyline 55-64). I could use it cover the widest variety of ranges (lots of Eb, D and Db keys where I had to go lower vs. higher to have a good place in the mix), and the simple P bass tone of the 55-64 sat well in just about any setting. Yes, I had all kinds of basses that could cover almost every conceivable tone, but I wasn't going to bring multiple instruments to practices or gigs, nor was I inclined to change out instruments from song to song.

In the end, I had most of what I had because I could have it, not because I needed it. For a few years, I was fine with this accumulation of stuff (in fact, very proud of my collection), but I ultimately started to think that it would be better for someone else to have what I wasn't utilizing, so I went down to just 2 basses. For example, my #12 bass would see a lot more use as someone else's #2 or #3 (assuming my bass didn't go to another collector). I still have the 55-64 with flats, and I have another 55-64 that is fretless with rounds. That's enough for me, and that's why I think 5ers are enough. People using 6 or more strings or those using only 4 strings exclusively will of course disagree.
 
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#98
I started as a four string bass player and later on, I switch to playing a five string only for about five or six years. Now I play both four and five but I'm mainly back to the four string ones, it just feel better for me now. I use the five string for when a five string is required only.
 

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