5-string players with a 4-string?

[DaveAceofBass]

For me it is the complete opposite situation. Im going back to a Lakland 4-94 with a hipshot d-tuner which works for most of my playing duties. I play at your sister church, but Im not familure with what your weekly song list or style consist of. If they are what we are doing at north a 4 is what seems to be on the recordings of the newer songs. On occasion if we do something that has a little more of a gospel feel that requires that low B,C or Db or that modern tone I will pull out the Roscoe 5.
IMO: Keep the MOD.

Wow, small world. Do we know each other?

What do you think of a Pedulla Thunderbass ET5? That's what I was considering getting to replace the Mod. I normally play a Sadowsky 5-24 or a Kinal SK5. My fretless is a Hamer Cruisebass 5 w/ 2Tek bridge. I also have a Linc Luthier Impression that is tuned E-C.

 

[pbass62]

No, we have never met,
I just noticed 1st , I used to play a Kinal MK5 and saw that you were Kinal enthusiest(great basses Mike builds but after my left elbow reconstruction surgery) I had to sell due to the neck length.

2nd I saw on your profile that you play at main. I have been playing north for about a year so we share the same minister, it is a small world.

Back stage at north they have a video monitor of mains service so we see ,but do not hear your music service when we are not playing, not enough bass or guitar shots IMO

To answer your question about the pedulla thunderbass, a friend of mine who used to play at 1ST Assembly in Concord played one and of course loved it. I have played their fretless buzz and Pedullas work is 1st class. The stock spacing I beleive is 17mm on their 5s though

Maybe one of these days we will formally meet, good fortune on your bass hunt, PEACE

 

[LiamPodmore]

I gig on a 5, as it is my best bass. If my best bass was a 4 (albeit with a hipshot drop tuner) it would be my main gigging bass. I intend to get a 4 string and still debating in my head whether to get another 4 with it or a 5.

Liam

 

[jfh2424]

I hear people saying that, but can't imagine my .105 E strings(typical medium string) going all the way down to low B without being floppy, and sounding like crap - regardless of the device that gets it there... FWIW, I have Hipshots on 2 of my basses, and they work vey well - but I don't see any bass string being capable of such a tuning drop without some issues...


- georgestrings

The way the Hipshot is designed, it puts pressure on the string so it isn't as flopppy as if you just detuned your E string yourself. And I use a .95, imagine.

It actually works great. I didn't believe it either, but it does.

John

 

[Baron Von Vik]

Sooooo.... is it your Modulus VJ? (profile creepin' )

 

[DaveAceofBass]

Sooooo.... is it your Modulus VJ? (profile creepin' )

Yep. Still on the fence about it, but a serious buyer might persuade me to let it go.

 

[Kai Sanchez]

Hey Dave, if you have a bass that sounds good do not sell it because even if later you get another one it might not sound the same. I have a 78' fender jazz and the more I play other basses I realize how much more I love the tone on my jazz.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

Hey Dave, if you have a bass that sounds good do not sell it because even if later you get another one it might not sound the same. I have a 78' fender jazz and the more I play other basses I realize how much more I love the tone on my jazz.

True, but it never gets played.

 

[zeb_bass]

...but many people I've played with say it's my best sounding axe.....

here you answered your question yourself. Believe me there is simple NO 5 string on the market that will beat a good quality 4 string in the mix soundwise PERIOD.

I ve been playing many 5s in the last 15 yrs. I think one can can trick oneself believing, that now you found the do it all great sounding 5er. But that´ll last only for a limited honeymoon period. ( I think the longest honeymoon with myself was about a couple of years where I was 4-less)

BUT I always come back and realize how great a 4 string sounds!

I think it is just inevitable that the bigger neck of a 5 string sucks some live out of the tone. You may need some time to realize this. But its definitely there and audible... I personally will never want to be without a great 4 string Jazz Bass.

Don´t get me wrong I myself still play 5s and there is a place for them. But the benefit of the B string does not outweigh the loss of soul, mojo, character, vividness in sound a good 4 will offer.

pure IMHO.

Plus the whole style thing. Since the 90s we face the ongoing trend to more traditional vintage style instruments in popular music. You´ll definitely will loose gigs if you only have a fancy 5 string. Yes you can argue that. But I definitely agree and appreciate that cats like Lenny Kravitz will not allow his bassplayer to rock a 5er. When have you seen Darryl Jones rocking a DJ5 with the Stones?

 

[DaveAceofBass]

here you answered your question yourself. Believe me there is simple NO 5 string on the market that will beat a good quality 4 string in the mix soundwise PERIOD.

I ve been playing many 5s in the last 15 yrs. I think one can can trick oneself believing, that now you found the do it all great sounding 5er. But that´ll last only for a limited honeymoon period. ( I think the longest honeymoon with myself was about a couple of years where I was 4-less)

BUT I always come back and realize how great a 4 string sounds!

I think it is just inevitable that the bigger neck of a 5 string sucks some live out of the tone. You may need some time to realize this. But its definitely there and audible... I personally will never want to be without a great 4 string Jazz Bass.

Don´t get me wrong I myself still play 5s and there is a place for them. But the benefit of the B string does not outweigh the loss of soul, mojo, character, vividness in sound a good 4 will offer.

pure IMHO.

Plus the whole style thing. Since the 90s we face the ongoing trend to more traditional vintage style instruments in popular music. You´ll definitely will loose gigs if you only have a fancy 5 string. Yes you can argue that. But I definitely agree and appreciate that cats like Lenny Kravitz will not allow his bassplayer to rock a 5er. When have you seen Darryl Jones rocking a DJ5 with the Stones?

I agree with everything you just said. However, while I'm as good as or better than many pro bass players like Lenny Kravitz's or Daryl Jones, I don't have that gig. I'm a middle school band teacher and pro jazz bassist in Charlotte--not exactly a place where I'll land a gig like that. Now if and when I move back to a big city like Miami or Nashville for grad school, I may never wind up in a position where these factors matter. And, we're talking about a Modulus VJ, which while it sounds incredible and looks stunning, it won't fit the bill for that sunburst Fender look that you're talking about. So now let's hear your two cents!

 

[chadds]

here you answered your question yourself. Believe me there is simple NO 5 string on the market that will beat a good quality 4 string in the mix soundwise PERIOD.

I ve been playing many 5s in the last 15 yrs. I think one can can trick oneself believing, that now you found the do it all great sounding 5er. But that´ll last only for a limited honeymoon period. ( I think the longest honeymoon with myself was about a couple of years where I was 4-less)

BUT I always come back and realize how great a 4 string sounds!

I think it is just inevitable that the bigger neck of a 5 string sucks some live out of the tone. You may need some time to realize this. But its definitely there and audible... I personally will never want to be without a great 4 string Jazz Bass.

Don´t get me wrong I myself still play 5s and there is a place for them. But the benefit of the B string does not outweigh the loss of soul, mojo, character, vividness in sound a good 4 will offer.

pure IMHO.

Plus the whole style thing. Since the 90s we face the ongoing trend to more traditional vintage style instruments in popular music. You´ll definitely will loose gigs if you only have a fancy 5 string. Yes you can argue that. But I definitely agree and appreciate that cats like Lenny Kravitz will not allow his bassplayer to rock a 5er. When have you seen Darryl Jones rocking a DJ5 with the Stones?

This might be true if it was all about the instrument.
If it where, I'd still respecfully disagree. Some basses out there aren't 4s with a B slapped on. Some are so balanced across the spectrum that all the strings punch.
But you know it brings me back to my point. It's the player who makes an instrument speak. If you can't make a 5 do what a 4 can, that's you. To be balanced here, there are individual instruments whether they be vintage or new, boutique or mass produced, that speak above all the rest. Doesn't really matter how many strings they have.
What qualification your argument needs is genre of music. There are certain forms where a 4 is so perfect. The space that the 4 doesn't take up makes it fit so well in the mix.
This is the internet and folks say stuff like it's gospel. It happens here all the time. Because we can't see or hear each other play what we say can sound dogmatic.

"anyone who needs more than 100watts is excessive"
"the only amp for music is the SVT & Fridge"
"how could you need more than 1x12?"
"a P-bass is all you need for any kind of music"

 

[georgestrings]

here you answered your question yourself. Believe me there is simple NO 5 string on the market that will beat a good quality 4 string in the mix soundwise PERIOD.

I ve been playing many 5s in the last 15 yrs. I think one can can trick oneself believing, that now you found the do it all great sounding 5er. But that´ll last only for a limited honeymoon period. ( I think the longest honeymoon with myself was about a couple of years where I was 4-less)

BUT I always come back and realize how great a 4 string sounds!

I think it is just inevitable that the bigger neck of a 5 string sucks some live out of the tone. You may need some time to realize this. But its definitely there and audible... I personally will never want to be without a great 4 string Jazz Bass.

Don´t get me wrong I myself still play 5s and there is a place for them. But the benefit of the B string does not outweigh the loss of soul, mojo, character, vividness in sound a good 4 will offer.

pure IMHO.

Plus the whole style thing. Since the 90s we face the ongoing trend to more traditional vintage style instruments in popular music. You´ll definitely will loose gigs if you only have a fancy 5 string. Yes you can argue that. But I definitely agree and appreciate that cats like Lenny Kravitz will not allow his bassplayer to rock a 5er. When have you seen Darryl Jones rocking a DJ5 with the Stones?

I totally disagree with most of the above... As an example - an EBMM StingRay IS one of the tones of rock, and their 5ers don not sound inferior to their 4 strings in any way - same thing for Spectors, too...


- georgestrings

 

[Roy Vogt]

If you do any teaching at all, I would keep it. It's easier for a beginning student to get their head around what you're telling/showing them without thinking through extra strings.

 

[Nikoubis]

I have both. My main bass is the 5 string currently, but my next purchase is very likely to be a 4 string.

 

[Roscoe East]

I have a question for all you 5-string guys. How many of you still have a 4-string, and how often do you play it?

Um, perhaps this is a semantic quibble, but: Why would anyone call themselves a "5-string guy" if they played/owned anything other than 5-string instruments?

Me, I'm a "bass guy". I play/own 5-string instruments, and 4-string instruments, and 6-string instruments, and 8-string instruments...

 

[bassmeknik]

I have played 5's for 25 years but started playing my 4's again because my present band plays mostly classic rock so all I really need is a 4 with a hipshot detuner for the drop D. I have 2 5ers and 4 4's. 3 of the fours are "performance grade" and have the detuner. Recently I have been playing the 4's and leaving the 5 at home.

 

[zon6c-f]

As others have posted, unless you need the $$ or don't like your 4-string; KEEP THE BASS.

I own a Fender AB-1; strung with flats, Rick 4001-s with flats, Fender AM ST P-Bass, Zon Sonus 6 fretless and Squier Jazz 5-active. All serve a specific function of their own.

Regardless, I believe that 90% of oldies, pop, classic rock and classic country is done with a 4-string. When I play along with those genres, my 5 string is of little use, with exception of; Loggins-Messina's "Angry Eyes", or Nillson's "Jump Into the Fire". Another exception is Electric Blues, where tuning may be a half or whole step flat. In that case, I prefer to use my 5-er as opposed to de-tuning.

With that said, I believe that 90% contemporary country, rock, electric blues, pop is done with a 5-er, where a 4- string bass may sound deficient....just my opinion from listening to radio.

 

[J.KEEFE_bass]

I have a question for all you 5-string guys. How many of you still have a 4-string, and how often do you play it?

I'm considering parting with my last decent 4-string and need your opinion. It doesn't see much play time anymore, but many people I've played with say it's my best sounding axe. I'm torn about what to do, and I have to decide QUICK!

If at all possible save it! I played 5 string basses for 10 years exclusively.. and I held on to my 4 string basses. Within the last year I started playing my 4 strings again. We change with every season. Its better to have the bass waiting on you, So you do not take time away from your playing and have to search again.

 

[MycooLeeyun]

yeah i would definitely say keep the bass... I lean more towards agreeing with zeb_bass than not. I recently picked up a 4 after being a 5 string player for a couple of years and it just felt more alive and resonant. It had a vibe to it that I've never felt on the 5 strings. I still play 5 string basses in my band but I'm about to pick up a 4 string jazz. Anyway... I've owned a pedulla thunderbass and they are great instruments, but it's not for everybody. I believe there is always a place for a 4 string jazz in the arsenal, especially a nice VJ. The day will come where you might want to use it for recording or jamming with some people or playing some old classic tunes.

 

[stflbn]

I keep wanting and trying 4-strings... then I get them, play them and realize "oh god... what I have I done, this bass is inferior, it has no B-string"

Then I sell them and in all likelihood forget and go through the same thing 6-months later.