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am I a 4-stringer for life?

Tampabass

Tampabass

Going Viral By 2080
Feb 16, 2006
3,454
710
Tampa
www.acmejazzgarage.com
#1
I'm interested in hearing from those who switched from 4 to 5 (or 6) but then decided to go back to strictly 4.

I've been a 4-stringer for 35 years (fretted and fretless), and for several years I've thought that I should make the switch to 5, for reasons of extended range and because I thought I might make worthwhile gains as a player - more options to play different kinds of patterns and add to the sonic palette, etc.

So in the last year I've bought/sold/traded several fivers, recently settling on a Lakland 55-02. Great bass - feel and tonal range are ideal for me. I initially tried stringing from E to C - it felt okay and nice for upper-end soloing and chording, etc. Then I switched to B to G, because that was the standard that seemed to be so popular and so useful to so many bassists. Feels okay, I like being able to play some low notes high on the B string, but I don't feel like I have much use for anything lower than the D. I've done a sit-in with it, but not yet a reading gig.

I pulled out my Marcus Miller Jazz last night, played on it a long while and it felt like going home. Also felt like I wasn't really missing that much by NOT having the extra low string (or high string). Part of that feeling, I know, is natural, since I played only 4-string all those years.

So you think I just need more time on the 5 for it to feel natural, like "home"?

For those who've returned to 4 - do you have regrets about not staying with 5 or 6? Do you find yourself in situations where you feel like the music would REALLY benefit from having those extra low or high notes (metal or punk wouldn't apply to me, but I have and probably will play about every other kind of music).

Just wondering what people are thinking about this.
 
#2
I played 5's for years and shunned 4's (don't ask me why, bit of a head trip I suspect) until I had to buy a couple of 4 string basses I liked because they weren't available in 5 versions.

If your reading, 5's come into their own, it's definitely nice to have 2 octaves in one position, no doubt about it. I found I wasn't using the B enough to justify having an extra string to mute/get out the way of plus I like the uncramped feeling of 4's so I ditched the B string and if needed tuned E down to D for a few things (this involves a few interesting fingerings) but miss the B? No, haven't thought about it since, fours are cool to play.
The exception for me is fretless, because I don't play the clickity clackity thumb stuff on it, spacing isn't a problem, low notes on a fretless are cool and the B is another reference open string to practice intonation against.....that's my story and I'm sticking to it! ;)

+ Having the extra range in one position is better for my intonation rather than having to make the big shifts too often.
 
#5
Happiness with n-Strings is in the ears/eyes/hands of the beholder. Everyone has a different taste. I enjoy 5-strings and up. There are some basses that I would like to see issued as 5 or 6-strings (I listed a bunch in a different thread yesterday). Then again, there are some basses that should remain as a 4-string. A few that I feel should remain such as Gene Simmons Axe or Punisher bass, Alembic Stanley basses, Fender's Jaco Pastorius, Steve Harris, and Stu Hamm basses, Hofner Violin basses, & Yamaha Billy Sheehan models.
 
#6
I'm right there. I bought a G&L L2500 a few years ago because I felt like I ought to make the switch, and that it would make life easier, etc...

I finally traded it a few months ago because I just never really felt at home on it, and I perform better on a 4. It was handy for one musical pit that I did, but I wouldn't have needed it. I actually found that i got a bit spatially disoriented with reading gigs when switching to the 5 and I ended up spending more time on the music than I would have on the 4.

ohhh, it was handy for modern gospel gigs though. I played with the UNC girls glee club once and it was perfect for that.
 
#8
I played a 4 exclusively for a long time and still mostly play on 4's by necessity, not choice. I shunned 5's and more for a long time, but I keep wanting more. I want to expand into the upper reaches, especially on a fretless.

However, the few times I played a 6, it took me about 15 minutes to adjust. I anchor in my mind from the G so the inclusion of that high C throws me for a loop. I kept going for the A, not the E. It'd be worth it if I bought one, but I'd need to get used to it. Now 4's and 5's feel at home to me. Why couldn't a 6, a 7, or a 12? :p

Anyways, I feel like it allows me to expand creatively into zones I don't normally foray into, but to be honest, I don't use the extra notes 90% of the time but I do use the ability to use one hand position instead of moving all about.
 
#10
Depends a lot on the gig, IME. For the "oldies" trio, I'd rather not have the low B (though I do make frequent use of a Hipshot detuner).

With other groups, however, that extra low B range - and/or the extra timbre option above the 5th fret - are nearly indispensable for me.

Obviously a total YMMV thing - nothing's for everyone. But your 5'er might take a lot better if you can find a situation where you can use the extra range more extensively.
 
#11
I am on my way back to strictly 4 strings.... I have played in a metal band for 4 years now and I'm looking for something different than metal... 90's alternative rock is my fav.!!!! so I'm gonna jump back on the 4 stringer because I feel more at home on it.... string spacing feels more natural and although the low b is nice but isn't a necessity... i own 2 5'ers and 1 six string, i will end up keeping the 2 5'ers but will probably sell the six string.....
 
#12
Tampabass said:
I pulled out my Marcus Miller Jazz last night, played on it a long while and it felt like going home. Also felt like I wasn't really missing that much by NOT having the extra low string (or high string). Part of that feeling, I know, is natural, since I played only 4-string all those years.
Click to expand...

I've never been a 5-string player and don't plan to be. Sounds to me like you're built to be a 4-string player and perhaps keep one 5-string in the closet for use only when absolutely required.
 
#15
Thanks for the thoughts/feedback.

I'm inclined to go on back to 4 exclusively, but for a coupla reasons: 1)I have the feeling that I just haven't given it enough time to get fully comfortable, and 2)I might find those lower notes useful for jamband and reggae (or reggae-ish) settings.
 
#17
I think a 4 and 5-string basses work well for those players, such as myself, who rather hold a solid groove than play solos or the like. I mean, even with the 5 string, I use it solely for the low D and E-flat, and I can survive without either. So you can see why a 6-string+ bass would be useless for a player like myself.
 
#18
I started on a 4 because I hoped it would feel similar to playing my ukulele.

While it's massively different, they seem to share the same proportions, so I was immediately "at home"

2 months later, I tried a 5 string. Hated it. The neck was wayyyy too wide.
 

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