Bassists have this idea that if you play 5, you must stop playing 4. I have a 7 string and have never stopped playing 4.
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Any 5 string Players happy going back to 4 String bass?
- Thread starter GRoberts
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I love playing my 5's and 4's.In fact I just pulled the trigger on another Carvin PB Model. I love my PB5 but also wanted it in a four string. I changed up a few things on the PB4 like adding a hipshot detuned and the radious is 12% instead of 14%. It should work out great on my Fast Moving Bass Lines.
Me! I've been playing for more than 45 years, and have 10 bass, 2 are 5's and 1 of those is fretless. I purchased my first 5'er in about 2006, and the second shortly thereafter.
I enjoy playing them both, and played them nearly exclusively for a few years.
At nearly every gig, I bring two basses, a 5'er and a 4 string. About 2 years ago, while playing a 5'er, I broke a D string. I finished the song, and switched to the 4 string until the break when I replaced the broken string on the 5'er. Next set I was back with the 5. I played that set with the 5 and at the next break I switched back to the 4 sting, and have been playing 4's, again, as my first choice, since.
I like the thinner neck, and, until I was forced to switch after breaking the string, I never noticed how much more comfortable the 4 sting is, for me.
I still bring a 5'er to every gig, and even use it for certain songs during the show, but I default to the 4 sting.
My last 4 bass purchases were 4 stings.
There is one exception, I'm looking to purchase a Fender (probably a Squier) Bass VI. Which will probably be my next bass.
- Jul 3, 2004
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- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball MusicMan Guitars
Love them both. When learning new stuff I always grab the 4, since I started on one in the 70s, but live I always use the 5.
I use a 5 in my primary band, which has a range of material that pretty much requires a 5, including going below E on some songs and going up the neck on the B string on others. However, in my secondary band, which mainly does classic rock (a/k/a "oldies") and blues, I use a 4 as it fits that material.
And I use an upright (4 strings) for jazz or Americana when I get those calls.
All good ...
And I use an upright (4 strings) for jazz or Americana when I get those calls.
All good ...
I play both and have no issues going between them. Thankfully I never had issues going between them other than the occasional mess up in the beginning (7 years ago I started using 5ers). My preference is to play the 4 whenever I can, it is my desert island choice, but I will use the 5 (which I love and is in my avatar) as the situation calls for it.
I was fine with it, I really liked my 5 and had no trouble playing it, but going back to a 4 felt like I was able to play faster more easily.
- Feb 8, 2005
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- Endorsing Artist: Bag End - Dean Markley - Thunderfunk
As someone who lives in Branson, I concur. A 5er is my default bass. There's just too many situations where I would need the extended range, it just makes sense. Had a fellow fill in for me on a show last month and he brought a four string and it was a legitimate problem. There were several tunes that were specifically written with those lower notes, and them not being there irritated the MD.
Of course, there's a lot of shows where I'll switch between a 5er and 4 string EUB. Or another where I'm playing my old P bass with a pick, it all depends on what the gig calls for.
But of course if you don't know what you will be asked to do (which happens to me a lot), it's best to show up with a 5.
I would do so when I get my new 5 stirng bass am changing it to a high C again. Then again having a 6 stirng just defeats the reason of having another five stirng.
Not surprisingly, a full time working pro makes the most sense. A five is simply a tool that allows a musician to do certain things. A musician who needs a five, should use one. Some folks are really handy detuning or retuning as needed. IMO, how you get the job done is a non-issue as long as you do it well.
I'm happy w/just about any functional bass and a gig. If said bass does everything I need it to do, I'm ecstatic.
Edit: Perhaps more on-topic, I'm playing my six in church this morning- I got ALL the strings I need.
Edit: Perhaps more on-topic, I'm playing my six in church this morning- I got ALL the strings I need.
This shows what I think is the problem with the 4-5 discussions. My view is that a 4 string bass and a 5 string or 6 string bass are different instruments (though similar) played in different ways and used in different musical effects.
To me it's like saying which is better a saxophone or a clarinet? Yes, they are very similar instruments with much of it played in the same way, but really they are also different. So why say things like "I found I was able to play the saxophone faster than the clarinet"? Does that make a sax "better" or even "better for you"? I don't think so. It just means that you are better on one instrument than the other. some people play both equally well, and some do better on one than the other.
The point is that each instrument and gear setup has certain advantages and disadvantages which can help/hinder in any given situation. There is no "best" here. You just try to get the best fit of your gear to the music you are trying to play.
- Feb 8, 2005
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- Endorsing Artist: Bag End - Dean Markley - Thunderfunk
True. For a few years before I switched, I was using a Hipshot. Originally tuned to D then to C (which made for an odd transposition).
It can be done and I was able to get by for a few years that way, but just got to the point where I thought to myself if I'm constantly using that (and I was flipping back and forth a lot), then obviously the stuff I'm doing calls for a lot of low notes, so I should just make the switch.
For me anyway, making the switch to a 5 was MUCH harder than switching back once I got used to it. These days switching back and forth between songs is easy, you get used to it.
I owned only 5'ers (B-G) from 2000-2010 (played 4s before that). I frankly couldn't pick up a 4 and play one during those years - was lost on it since I keyed off things relative to the B-string. I decided that was sub-optimal, and forced myself to relearn 4 and in fact start over on the instrument. Eventually I found that I was playing simpler (and better) lines on the 4. I'm back to having a 5 in the house but it is strung E-C specifically for chordal stuff. I've got D-tuners and that covers most of what I need in the various bands I play with. But I have to admit that I'm struggling with this question at the moment. I do like having a B-string for something. It is a different feel/color and is totally appropriate for some tunes. But for whatever reason I don't like going between 5 (B-G) and 4 on a gig. And over the past few months I have been at gigs where I've got my 5 E-C and was wishing that I had my 4 in my hands. I personally think it would be easier for me to have 6 and 4. The 5, being kind of in-between, just makes my head hurt 
I kinda abandoned 5 strings for that reason. Sure, it would be nice to have a B-G 5, E-C 5, and 6 string. I don't think I could explain it to the wife in a way that wouldn't get me kicked out.
I played 4 strings for a few years, played mostly 5s for a decade. Now at 32 i go back and forth between playing a 7 and a 4. The 7 is my main bass for my originals hard rock band. It's tuned g#beadgc instead of using a low f# or high f so its kinda like having a hipshot xtender but the string tension is more consistent because of the tuning and having different string gauges. the low b is the same reach as your average 6 string, and the low g# is a nice thumb rest when I'm not playing it. The 4 string is fretless. I don't need the additional low notes on fretless. I mainly got it because i love the sound of fretless. I never go back and forth within a gig. I do hope to get a fretless 5 eventually for eadgc and will probably add a bass xtender to it just for the heck of it. The 4 is fun but not having the high c i do accidentally play the wrong string from time to time on the fretless. I do think not having the high C on both basses makes it somewhat difficult to switch back and forth between my 7 and 4. When i had 4s and 5s it wasn't a problem going from a eadg 4 to a beadg 5. I don't have any problem going into a music store and playing a 6 now that I'm used to my 7, but additional low strings are out of the way. Not having a high C moves every string over one on the 4.
I have been playing 5 string active basses for the last decade but I am slowly going back to 4 string passive basses right now. I am getting a J custom 4 string passive bass from Eliezer Lara and I just purchased a used Fender special P bass. I will keep two of my 5 string basses plus the two 4 string ones and should be ok for a while.
- Feb 8, 2005
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- Endorsing Artist: Bag End - Dean Markley - Thunderfunk
IME, an active 5 plus a passive P bass will cover 95% of the situations an electric player will encounter.I will keep two of my 5 string basses plus the two 4 string ones and should be ok for a while.
