5-string vs. tuning down

[Jack Butler]

I use drop D since I very rarely need the notes below that. I just have so much muscle memory on a 4 it’s not worth switching for me since I rarely need the low notes. But for you I’d actually recommend a 5 forn2 reasons. First because the music you play does use those lower notes quite a bit. Second because you seem relatively new to bass so the muscle memory of a 4 is much less of a factor.

 

[Bill Murray]

If you haven’t had to then more power to you. I don’t know what you normally play, but the only two brands I’m familiar with that didn’t benefit from some fine tuning on the nut and a small truss rod adjustment were Yamaha and Music Man basses. This doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get away with it. But IMO it’s a better idea to do it right rather than het by with hood enough. Especially when better than half the nuts you find on mass produced basses are either cut too high or too low to begin with. But maybe that’s just me. I don’t present anything I suggest as being an absolute truth that’s carved in stone. Because I only offer suggestions based on my own experiences. And the phrase “YMMV” is always applicable when it comes to music and music gear.

Had no issue on a Stingray, Sterling, P-Bass, Carvin, Schecter, Peavey, BC Rich, or Ibanez. All of those basses did need a subtle truss adjustment and obviously I had to adjust the action as well.

I’m sure there is some benefit from filing the nut, but i’d argue that sometimes good enough is just fine. As in this case where OP is uncertain which path to go in, why mod a bass when they might decide to just get a 5 string later down the road?

As you said though YMMV, personal tastes and goals make a world of difference and there is never one answer to rule them all.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I haven’t tried alternate stringing on a 4 but I would personally avoid putting the higher tension on a 4 string neck.

What higher tension? A low B is almost always lower-tension than a high G, so there would be no increase in tension in going BEAD.

 

[Bassman Spiff]

Disclaimer... I freaking love 5-strings.

The standard 4-strings that we all love are still there, and the additional B-string just gives SO many more options in terms of notes and convenient fretting positions. I rarely dip below D (and that D is oh so sweet), but I don't have to de-tune to get it.
I love 4s too, but given the option I MUCH prefer a 5er. YMMV.

 

[groooooove]

sigh...


either option is fine.

5 string can be very practical. BEAD four strings can be super cool as well.

 

[Mike Sorr]

Buy a good tracking Octaver that you can switch into low frequency mode, like on the EBS Octabass. The notes will cover the range of the 5 string that you're missing on the 4. I saw Scott Devine from Scott's Bass Lessons do this and tried it myself, and was surprised at how well it worked.

 

[metron]

What higher tension? A low B is almost always lower-tension than a high G, so there would be no increase in tension in going BEAD.

Well then I made an incorrect assumption. Learning new things is good.

 

[socialleper]

Sometimes getting a 4 string down can be difficult. The nut slots have to be right, you have to be able to intonate the bridge, the saddles have to the right size, etc. Plus, I personally think that 35" scale is the right way to do a B tuning.
But I suppose it depends on the tone you want. If you are playing doom or stoner metal, a split single coil four string is sort of the de facto standard.

 

[MrAB4003]

You're missing the DGCF option. It may not be right for you but my 5 gets a lot less use since I set one of my 4s up in D standard.

This is what I did. I don't normally play below D1 and the open low D string sounds incredible!

 

[Scotty4string]

I play in three bands with music ranging from oldies to country to hard rock and metal. In my metal band the two guitarists both use three guitars. Standard tuning, half a step down and drop D. I just use a five string for all tunings and just use one bass. Unless, of course, I just want to change basses for whatever reason.

 

[yaksonator]

If you’re comfortable on a four just get another one and set it up to tune down. 5 strings are overrated and unnecessary if you don’t even use the lower notes but once or twice.

 

[Bassman822]

I've defined my E to D on occasion, played in drop Eb and D, used BEAD tuning, and have several 5ers. I've also tried tuning in 5ths (CGDA), but the long run, I keep coming back to my 4s in standard tuning

 

[Jhengsman]

Due to your thoughts about being able to access most current educational material I would say a 5 string over restringing to BEAD or drop tuning a single string which would give you a different pattern across the 4 strings. At a latter date you might determine that BEAD is best for you.

Now many start with a 4 and start developing a feeling for when to jump up an octave. And many eventually start drop tuning a string or down tuning all 4 strings for a specific performance but still have the catalog of instructional material available by just tuning up but that doesn't get you below a D in most cases.

 

[6Bass101]

I primarily play 5-string, but in my latest band, I play a 4 tuned BEAD. Mostly because for our songs in don’t need go to g string notes, so why bother with a 5 if a 4 will be lighter and have a thinner neck.

 

[BlueTalon]

Foreword - This is a follow-up to my prior thread. (4-string vs. 5-string) Again, I'm a newbie, so this isn't intended to start a fight. It's me trying to figure out the best way to move forward.

As noted in the other thread, I like to play a lot of metal. In fact, my favorite band in the world is Type O Negative, and they tuned their guitars to B-Standard. Therefore, the bass was tuned to BEAD. So if I want to play along, I need to hit the sub-E2 notes.

So the question is this: if I want to play along, would it be better to restring the bass to BEAD tuning? Or just buy a 5-string?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

When I started playing, 5-strings didn't exist on the open market. Then they were, but rare and expensive. That sort of thing really impacts what instrument you want to buy. These days, however, they are ubiquitous. So my advice to someone beginning would be to start on a 5-string. It's a little bit more to learn how to use, but only a little. The upside is that it will eventually feel like home, and home will allow you to play a larger variety of songs. For me, home is a 4-string, and I'm fine with that, but it has limitations. If you're just starting out, you may as well start with fewer limitations.

Regarding the neck width, different guitar makers make necks of different size. Next time you get a chance at a music store, try playing an Ibanez 5-string (from the SR line, not one of the cheaper ones).