After switching to 5+ string basses, what did you do with your 4-string basses?

[Johnny StingRay]

True story, not trying to come across as some kind of benevolent, kind hearted bass playing soul……….an awesome musician friend of mine’s grandson was diagnosed with emotional impairment. He was constantly in trouble with the law and extremely oppositional. (FYI: I’m a certified teacher of the emotionally impaired….retired Detroit teacher.) my friend took his grandson with him one time when he needed some new strings. His grandson gravitated toward the bass section and fell in love with bass. I had just started playing a StingRay 5 and had a Yamaha four string with a Crate practice amp. I gave the Yamaha and the amp to my buddy’s grandson in hopes both could be used for some type of music therapy (that I had training for at Michigan State University). The kid fell in love with the Yamaha and started becoming a player with mini lessons from me and his grandfather. Unfortunately, he ended up deep in the drug culture, using and selling, and is now incarcerated. It turned out that he sold the Yamaha and amp for a few bucks to get a hit. Because of my gesture toward his grandson, my buddy gave my granddaughter (she is autistic) his Alvarez guitar. My buddy was diagnosed with brain cancer and before he lost all his capabilities, he wanted to make sure his music legacy was passed on to my granddaughter. Once my granddaughter gets older and her hands fit the Alvarez, I’m hoping to teach her the basics and get her to start playing guitar…..if not bass! She does hold it and play……..she loves the movie “Sing”….especially the porcupine that plays guitar!!!! She imitates her………so the legacy continues…..that’s my story.

 

[Flatwound]

Years ago, during a period of unemployment, my wife and kids got together and bought me an SX Jazz Bass. I forget what year, but it’s old enough to have the Fender style headstock, with“Custom Handmade” printed on it. So obviously I can’t get rid of that one. It’s had a set of Chromes on it for 6+ years, and sounds great every time I pick it up.

But I rarely play it, since I’ve been playing fivers exclusively for years.

 

[fhm555]

Essentially the title. I played 4-string basses for well over a decade before switching primarily to a 5-string bass last year. I'm conflicted about how to proceed with my collection of 4-string instruments.

Did you keep your favorite 4-banger around for sentimental/practical reasons? Did you purge your collection of all basses without 5+ strings? I know 5-strings float in and out of vogue around here for some, and others have completely converted one way or the other.

I'm interested in how you all feel.

I’m faced with this situation but it’s scale length rather than string count. I can no longer play a 34” scale on anything but the simplest of lines. After four years of struggling to adapt after left wrist and elbow surgery i decided to try a 30” scale before giving up completely. I’m still adapting to 3 left fingers instead of 4 but i’m improving with time so i’m optimistic i’ll be back up to full speed soon enough.
In the meantime I’ve got a few 34” j basses that i’ll never practically play again. I’m trying to decide if i want to keep my #1 i’ve had since 1990 and sell the rest or just accept my fate and purge them all.

 

[Medbo_BassBoy]

I am for selling all basses you don’t need and buying new ones when you need something new, if able. Keeps my wife happy too.

What a good feeling to not have too many basses and be able to go to a guitar store and know you will be buying a new/used bass without the “too many basses” regrets in your head.

Exception: If it’s your first bass that your mom bought you when she shouldn’t have because she was broke but wanted you to be musical. That bass I have feelings for and won’t sell. Besides, you never sell your first..

 

[Blankandson]

A fellow bass player had a son about to turn 8 or 9, and that son wanted to learn bass. But Dad's basses are all expensive ones. I sold my 5-string beater bass to him for $25 and as far as I know the son has played it off and on for several years now.

 

[Shindig73]

For the music I play and/or how I play (with a huge affinity for those lower register notes), I just wasn't playing my 4 strings, and felt "confined" musically when I did. Over time, I also simply preferred the narrower string spacing (and perceived ability to play faster) and the B strong thumb rest.

In my view, it's ultimately player and music dependent. For certain genres or simply how someone wants the bass line to be played or heard, there may not be a need for the low B.

I do have a 4 string, but it's restrung BEAD (just really wanted a P bass with telecaster headstock).

 

[Barticus]

sold them ALL - no 4's in my stable

 

[A9X]

True story, not trying to come across as some kind of benevolent, kind hearted bass playing soul

Nonetheless, a kind, wonderful yet sad story. You did a good thing. God Bless.

 

[GoetzAtHome]

Different basses for different reasons. Ol' Bessie is always in E Standard because so is a lot of recorded music. Deathhammer is tuned in A-flat because my metals like the low range, but don't need the highs a 5-string brings.

 

[Pings Bass]

I just keep all the basses, but I'm running out of room

 

[SleepyShark]

You'll throw your 5+ away when you start playing your 4s again.

I'LL SHOW YOU!

...

To be fair, I am getting older. It's just a matter of time before the Fender P 4-string, cargo shorts, and lawn mowing sneakers become my exclusive gigging ensemble.

The only 4 I have in my possession is my first bass, a Fender Zone. My mom bought it for me about 20 years ago, at a Mars Music closeout sale. She died in 2008. It would take a very good offer to pry that one off my wall, but I haven't played it seriously in ages.

I used to take it to gigs for Sober, but now-a-days I just play that tune of the 5 string, especially since we often rapidly move to Everlong afterwards, so now for a backup I just bring either the SR655, the BTB675 (lol heavy), the Tbird 5 (lol heavy and bird), the dean 10 string (lol heavy), or the SRC6, which I'm falling out of love with. Plus with how nice the dingwall 5 plays, my backups hardly come out anymore.

I had honestly never heard of the Fender Zone - what a neat moment in Fender history. They look pretty rad.

The point is, use your own criteria about the instruments that work for you. There's no one size fits all answer for this type of question.

Yeah, I was more or less just curious how every here approached the situation. There's definitely no right answer.

I imagine a lot of it even comes down to home size. If you've got a dedicated music room, you can probably have as many instruments as you want (within reason). If you live in the central business district of a big city, you might have to keep it to a small handful.

 

[BtaylorTheRogue]

I'LL SHOW YOU!

I had honestly never heard of the Fender Zone - what a neat moment in Fender history. They look pretty rad.

I love it, light as a feather with a nice, narrow neck. I just wish it was a 5.

 

[A9X]

sold them ALL - no 4's in my stable

You should get rid of the one in your avatar too. Preferably by giving it to me.

 

[Giffro]

I'm sure they just lay around talking about the bloke who plays them.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Keep the 4 strings...you never know what you may be in to 5 years from now.

 

[BtaylorTheRogue]

Keep the 4 strings...you never know what you may be in to 5 years from now.

I can see the threads now... "What did you do with your 4 string basses after switching to 6 7 8 string basses?"

 

[lokikallas]

I use my 5 string bass when I need it, but if I can get away with a 4, I'll prefer it every time.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

You could always convert your 4's to 5's!
Special Edition Build off - Goya 4-5 conversion
New parts build. 4 to 5 conversion
Special Edition Build off - Blue Flame Maple PJ 4-5 conversion

 

[MrLenny1]

I let them collect dust then sold them.
30 years later I bought a 4 string for fun.

 

[ed morgan]

I have restrung most of mine to BEAD. The appeal of the 5 string to me is the B string so I can do without the G string.