Seriously! All I see on here is men. Also, I really want a 5 string bass. But my hands have enough trouble fitting around my 4 string once I get to, like, the 15th fret. What do you guys or girls say? Should I, once my playing improves, eventually get a fiver?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
any other girls besides me?
- Thread starter BassPlayer95
- Start date
I'm one. :waving: 
There are quite a few women on here, but they're just not obvious. Hard to tell by someone's user name.
I've played around with 5 string basses over the years but I just don't like the wider necks. Most of the music I play though I can get away with a D-Tuner anyway.
There are quite a few women on here, but they're just not obvious. Hard to tell by someone's user name.
I've played around with 5 string basses over the years but I just don't like the wider necks. Most of the music I play though I can get away with a D-Tuner anyway.
I've seen a couple of people use a normal P-bass neck and then add the 5th tuner, a new custom 5 string nut, and then 5 string pickups and bridge on the body.
It's a lot of customization, but it def gets the job done.
BTW I'm not a female bassist, but I think female bassists are awesome (ie Melissa Auf der Maur)
It's a lot of customization, but it def gets the job done.
BTW I'm not a female bassist, but I think female bassists are awesome (ie Melissa Auf der Maur)
I'm not a girl, but when I picked up my first 5, I couldn't handle it either. It had a 35" scale and a very high (flat) radius. The nut width was 1.875" and I ended up selling it and it took a long time before I started playing 5'ers again, but when I did, I chose a 34" one with a lower (rounder) radius and a 1.75" nut width. There were a few years in between, so my hands may have grown, but even today, I have small hands and I really prefer 1.75" nut widths and rather round radiusses (let's say maximum 12" for a 5-string).
I don't mind the string spacing. I am comfortable on 17.5mm, as well as 19mm and anything in between for 5-strings, but maybe you should experiment with that as well.
I don't mind the string spacing. I am comfortable on 17.5mm, as well as 19mm and anything in between for 5-strings, but maybe you should experiment with that as well.
Tat2dHeart
Only two strings away from an attitude problem.
I'm a girl (the av gives me away) and have short fingers. While I play mostly fours, I went to five with my Dingwall last fall. Love it! Love it! Love it! I still have a bit of a stretch at the top of the neck, but my fingers reach the B string nearly the full length of the neck.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,614
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Small women (and men) I know play upright bass brilliantly. Way bigger than a 34" or 35" scale 5-string with 19mm string spacing, in my humble opinion.
Get some technical pointers and a 5er if you want one. Have no fear of larger instruments.
Get some technical pointers and a 5er if you want one. Have no fear of larger instruments.
This!
Ibanez SR 5-strings have narrower necks than some 4-strings.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/ibanez-sr305-5-string-bass-guitar
I'm not a girl either, but I do have another suggestion re: 5 stringers. Re-string your 4 string bass with heavier strings, (110 or even 125) and tune to D standard, (D-G-C-F). Gets you a full step lower, and no real loss on the top end. Low B can be hard to hear without a huge rig, but low D is fat and friendly. The bass may need the nut filed a bit, and maybe a fresh set-up too, but it may be a good alternative. Just a thought.
I'm talking to a girl bassist on a dating site right now. I hope it's not you, because that would make this awkward. And a friend of mine is learning bass. She also has girl parts.
As for the 5, I have kind of short fingers and could wield a 6 with narrow spacing without any problems. Of course, I never tried to do much with the low strings above the 7th-12 fret. They start to sound really dull at that point. I basically mentally drew a line from the 5th fret on the B string to the 20th on the C and didn't play "above" that line.
As for the 5, I have kind of short fingers and could wield a 6 with narrow spacing without any problems. Of course, I never tried to do much with the low strings above the 7th-12 fret. They start to sound really dull at that point. I basically mentally drew a line from the 5th fret on the B string to the 20th on the C and didn't play "above" that line.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,911
- 142,393
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Not a girl! but I play one onstage
Lots of wonderful real women here tho, the CWB thread in bass humor is highly recommended.
- Jul 7, 2010
- 3,383
- 2,311
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist for: Duncan Pickups; Line6, Hipshot, GHS Strings, Somnium Guitars
forget the 5 string just get a 4 string you like and string it B-D without the g string.....you won't need it anyway, mostlikely...
If you are really interested in a 5 then go for it. It is often just a matter of spending the time practicing with the instument after making sure that it is set up correctly. Work on proper hand positioning.
You might also want to look for a 5 with an asymetrical neck, I personally find them more comfortable.
Here is quick info about asymetrical neck; Invalid Link Removed
You might also want to look for a 5 with an asymetrical neck, I personally find them more comfortable.
Here is quick info about asymetrical neck; Invalid Link Removed
I'm a girl!
If you really want a 5er, you will find one out there that suits you. Play as many as you can (standing up, with a strap) to get a feel for which one is most comfortable to you.
I'm not a lefty, so I don't know how much harder that might make your search... Perhaps begin looking at music stores that offer a good return policy and can order basses in for you to try.
If you really want a 5er, you will find one out there that suits you. Play as many as you can (standing up, with a strap) to get a feel for which one is most comfortable to you.
I'm not a lefty, so I don't know how much harder that might make your search... Perhaps begin looking at music stores that offer a good return policy and can order basses in for you to try.
Someone had posted about the Ibanez necks, which is a good suggestion, but what makes you want a 5'er? When you consider you are only missing 3 notes when your bass is tuned to drop-d, a 5'er sort of seems less necessary to some people. If you want one though, by all means get it...but yeah the necks can be difficult to wield if you are a petite gal.
+1
I've seen young ladies(and young men) standing no taller than 5 ft. playing full sized Celli and 1/2 to 5/8 sized DB. Technique goes a really long way.
I'm a girl and I too am looking in to the 5ers. My church band leader can't sing very high so he drops a lot of songs. I find there are time that a 5 would make sense. I tuned my 4 to drop D as it is but still feel like a 5 in certain songs would work better. I still don't know which model to get though.
