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Any 5 string Players happy going back to 4 String bass?

#181
mbell75 said:
Funny this thread was bumped, I was just thinking about this while playing my 5 string today. First time I tried a 5 string was years ago, a Fender Jazz 5. Didn't like it at all no matter how hard I tried. Pretty much because of the wider width, that 1.87" at the nut just didn't like my smallish fingers. Just wrote them off basically. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when a thread popped up here asking if a 5 sting was a need. I said nope but members here brought up some good points that got me thinking. Then a few days later, friends I jam with wanted to cover a song in drop D and one in drop C. I play sub short scale basses (Fender P Junior). So I did the down tuning my E to D and then C# thing and it worked ok but it was hard to remember that the usual frets for my notes had all moved. I still think more about what fret I move to next rather than the actual note. So I started thinking I would try a 5 string again so I could keep my EADG tuning and just add in the lower notes I needed on the B string. Got an Ibanez Mikro 5 string for $199, no tax and free shipping. It only has a 1.77" width at the nut and that one inch less width compared to the Fender 5 I had played makes a massive difference. Much easier for me to play. Long story short, I love it and I haven't touched my Fender P since. Just has a great tone I love and its very versatile with the two pickups. Even when Im playing songs in standard tuning Im finding I like the B as a thumb rest and I REALLY like having the E string where it is on the 5 as opposed to the bottom string on the guitar. Easier for me to play it more aggressively and not worry about pushing it off the fretboard when I bend which would happen at times on my 4 string. I dont think I'll ever be without a 4 string, but I have certainly warmed up to the 5 very quickly and I dont see switching back anytime soon.
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I think your story is far more common than people think. Just reading TB there are all these stories about people who try 5 and hate everything about it that is different from a 4. And unlike you they never give it a second chance. It takes some time to actually get used to new things which is why when I try something new I try to buy one to live with it for a while before I reject it.

The other thing is I used to play short scale and subshort scale a lot. But I found the B string on 5 versions to leave something to be desired unless you forked over some big bread. So I find it interesting that you have no complaints about the tone of the B string on your Mikro 5. And the price is right which means one can get one and live with it for a while to see if it works out. I may have to try this!
 
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#183
el_Bajo_Verde said:
For me, the only reason to play a 5 was literally the range. Whatever bass allows me to hit notes from C1 to about G4, I will take it! Whether it's a standard BEADG 5-string or a CGDA 4-string
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When I played 4s and was chaffing under the limitations, it never occurred to me to tune CGDA! So I went 5 string. But now looking back I can see that had I gone with the CGDA tuning on a 4 string I might never have gone 5er. It would have mostly solved the range problems I was complaining about without adding levers or tunings or weird scales and patterns (other than starting point). I think it would be an interesting experiment even now to go back to a 4 tuned CGDA and see what happens!
 
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#184
bassbenj said:
When I played 4s and was chaffing under the limitations, it never occurred to me to tune CGDA! So I went 5 string. But now looking back I can see that had I gone with the CGDA tuning on a 4 string I might never have gone 5er. It would have mostly solved the range problems I was complaining about without adding levers or tunings or weird scales and patterns (other than starting point). I think it would be an interesting experiment even now to go back to a 4 tuned CGDA and see what happens!
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There is a whole thread on the subject here! :) The Fifths Tuning Club

I just fished out some strings from a 6-string set I had until my Kalium strings get here (taking forever)

I really like the new scale shapes, and also the new octave fingering is really fun
 
#185
I've switched back and forth a few times, currently using the 5er pretty much exclusively since I put Bart pickups and preamp in it... My 5 has 19mm spacing at the bridge which really helps switching back and forth. For me I prefer the added flexibility of the B string. There are songs in F that it's just so much less effort to stay on the 6th fret. And songs in B where I want the tone of being up on the neck but don't want to have to jump to the 2nd fret when I want to throw in the low F#... I don't play below an E often if at all. I've been happy playing my 4s when I have made the switch back because it's fun to play a different instrument from time to time, and because frankly it's just a little bit simpler on the brain when I have fewer strings to look at.
 
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#186
nostatic said:
...and have a 6-string on the way.
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I have my Roscoe 6 back...again...and it really feels good this time. Maybe 3rd time is the charm agates all.

I played a Reverend Decision the other day that I liked a lot...better than a USA P, J or PJ actually. The neck profile was nice. Big fat "P" tone as well.
 
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#187
bassbenj said:
I think your story is far more common than people think. Just reading TB there are all these stories about people who try 5 and hate everything about it that is different from a 4. And unlike you they never give it a second chance. It takes some time to actually get used to new things which is why when I try something new I try to buy one to live with it for a while before I reject it.

The other thing is I used to play short scale and subshort scale a lot. But I found the B string on 5 versions to leave something to be desired unless you forked over some big bread. So I find it interesting that you have no complaints about the tone of the B string on your Mikro 5. And the price is right which means one can get one and live with it for a while to see if it works out. I may have to try this!
Click to expand...

The thing about string tension on shorts and even subs is highly overrated. When I went to test some new amps, I took my Mikro 5 in with me and played it alongside a Fender Jazz 5 and Ibanez SR505 just for fun and to compare. B string sounded pretty much identical on all 3 and I noticed zero difference in the feel of it really. Couldn't be happier with the Mikro.
 
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#188
I think I would rather play a 4 string over a 5, but my current band kind of needs me to have those lower notes accessible. I may eventually go to a 4 stringer tuned BEAD, but since I JUST bought another 5 string bass, I gotta wait a while (or so the wife says!)
 
#189
I don't miss the fiver I had. I feel more comfortable on four strings. Used to think I needed those low notes, but that wasn't the case. If I want to end something on a low note, I precede that with something in the tenor range (5-12, the sweet spot) of my instrument.

I feel much happier, comfortable and like I can navigate my fretboard easier. Not so much on my old five, even less so on my old six. Both of which are gone.
 
#190
I switch between a Lakland Skyline 55-01 and 44-01 on a regular basis. I don't feel a difference between the two which surprises me because I feel like there is a mile difference when the string spacing (neck & bridge) is different by a millimeter or two.

It seems to me that Lakland had the right idea when it came to building a 5 string. Instead of taking an existing 4 sting neck and making it into a 5 string, they did the math and and made the neck wider while keeping everything else the same.
 
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#191
Lots of stuff is easier or more comfortable on a 4 string, which makes me a better player.

Other times the 5 string is easier, which makes me a better player.

You can't do a triple Octave note with a 4 string without tapping but you can all over on a 5 string.

A lot of stuff is more fun for me to play on a 4 string. I sound different too since I'm more likely to glide into a note than keep a single hand position.
 
#192
I sometimes want to be a 4 string guy. I found a couple that I like - the new Fender Pro jazz and the Reverend Decision - but my gigs right now really make use of the extended range. At church we do a lot of D and some occasional Eb and C works well. Would it be OK up an octave? Probably as we have a keyboard player who can hit this low notes as well. The pop band that we are looking at starting has some tunes on the potential list that would also make good use of lower notes. These things keep me on a B string equipped bass. I wouldn't go BEAD as I use my G string too much. Not just for range, but finger patterns, timbre, etc. I actually use my 6 string more than my 5 these days. Not so much for the C string (but I do use it at times) but because it sounds so good. It has "jazz" pups while my 5 has soap bars.

We'll see how it goes with the pop band. Maybe my 5 or 6 will be fine, maybe it'll feel odd and a 4 might fit the bill better - even with the loss of a little range - and ease of changing keys and saving familiar finger patterns.

There's a lot to think about when talking number of strings. And sometimes your thinking changes. Sometimes, age creeps in and those big necks aren't as comfy as they used to be.
 
#194
I think at least 1 5 string is a must have if you are a pro player, in fact that is all I used the last couple of years. Grabbed a 4 string Pbass and now it's all I play. Most of my career I played 4 strings, so it makes sense.

I barely have any sessions that require a 5 string,so I think I will get something less expensive, like a passive P bass and just use it as a backup. I firmly believe in having a 5 string bass though, but I just love how the 4 feels in my hand. Advantages to both, but for me when it comes to bass and basses, less is more.
 
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#195
AngelCrusher said:
I think at least 1 5 string is a must have if you are a pro player, in fact that is all I used the last couple of years. Grabbed a 4 string Pbass and now it's all I play. Most of my career I played 4 strings, so it makes sense.

I barely have any sessions that require a 5 string,so I think I will get something less expensive, like a passive P bass and just use it as a backup. I firmly believe in having a 5 string bass though, but I just love how the 4 feels in my hand. Advantages to both, but for me when it comes to bass and basses, less is more.
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I am the same way, I played a nice 5 for years & years, I bought a beater Squier VM 4 for $150 to practice scales, then started playing it at open mic/guitar jams. Now its all I play. I recently bought a modded MIM Fender P to replace the Squier. Plus a 4 string fits better at the small/more acoustic gigs I play at. You also said, less is more, Yes, my 5 has a 3 band active EQ so its 5 knobs, Fender has 2 knobs,,,,I am old school in tones, so it fits me well.
 
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#196
pappabass said:
I played a nice 5 for years & years, I bought a beater Squier VM 4 for $150 to practice scales, then started playing it at open mic/guitar jams. Now its all I play. I recently bought a modded MIM Fender P to replace the Squier. Plus a 4 string fits better at the small/more acoustic gigs I play at. You also said, less is more, Yes, my 5 has a 3 band active EQ so its 5 knobs, Fender has 2 knobs,,,,I am old school in tones, so it fits me well.
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I struggle with this a lot. I have been playing "more than 4" for a long time. Mostly 5 and more 6 these days. They sound and play great and work for my needs. No one complains when I pull them out for a gig or church.

That said, I do enjoy fingering the 4's at the store when I go and noodle around/kill time. While I use the range a lot at church, many "CCM" guys tour and play passive 4's these days. Not that what everyone else does matters really, but there is a certain draw or pleasure to a slim and "fast" 4 string neck.

Less is usually more. I do like that I have every option at my disposal when I use my 6 string...and it sounds great. That's why I have been playing it. I don't use the C string much at all, but I do use the B string when appropriate.
 
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#197
Wfrance3 said:
Nope. In fact, If I was only going to be allowed 4 strings, to me, the low B String is way more useful than a high G String. I have a BEAD bass and play it regularly. I mean, 5 is better, but BEAD 4 is pretty cool.
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This is what i wanted to do before getting a 5 but I play sub short scales and dropping to B would be way too floppy. The furthest Ive gone is C# and I think any lower wouldn't sound good but then again, Ive never tried. I should.
 
#199
el_Bajo_Verde said:
You've gotta use a 5-string set and ditch the G. Or if you have 4-string sets, just grab a low B
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Yea because I tried to tune BEAD on my P Junior and my A string turned to spaghetti at E :laugh: Im going to order an extra set of the strings for my 5 and try that on my 4 and see how I like it. I have really taken to the 5 string much more than I anticipated though. Thought I would only grab it for songs in drop tuning but I find myself using it exclusively now. Thanks
 
#200
I blame three musical styles for the nessecity of a 5 string (joke)...

Gospel when the root of the bass wants to go below the bass singers and give you that low C.
Rockballads from the 80s.. high pitched singing in D-minor. You simply need that low D to give you that broad fat sound.
Nu-metal. Which are crazy people not even content with low B so they tune down to low A.
For the rest a 4 banger will do with possibly an E-flat tuning for the deeper baritone singer or with a hipshot D-tuner an a 110 string for those D-minor rock ballads :)
I guess i am old an narrow minded
 
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