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Any players just can't get into 5'ers?

#42
I started on 4, played 5s, owned 5s, and will never turned back from 4. Mt problem with 5 strings was the spacing... I've never been able to get over it. Maybe it's because I started playing a 4 string when I was 12 (13 years ago...) and got really comfortable with it.

If you can't play metal in drop-D, then you don't know what the hell you're doing, period. That being said, whenever I play with my jazz group or any rock jam, I rarely need to tune out of standard E A D G tuning. I find that when playing metal or any of kind of hard rock, it sounds better NOT to play low, detuned notes, and rather match the guitars when possible. That way, I can 'drop bombs' so to speak without getting muddy in the mix and adding some excitement into the mix without sounding lame.
 
#43
I have a five and can definitely see how it could be useful. Aside from starting on the wrong string a few times, I immediately found the B string useful and very convenient.

I don't like the tighter string spacing, but I could get over that.

But I don't like the weight. I am worried about how it will feel by the fifth set. I seriously hurt my shoulder and have to be a bit careful about it now.
 
#45
Picked up my son's 5 Stein tonight and played along with a band practice CD for 1 hr. On the slow to medium things, no big deal. On anything with a bit of running around, the spacing is getting in the way. I REALLY WANT to get over this part of it. Been playing 4's since the 60's.

There are metal and country tunes with 5's fitting nicely. Some Satriani and Steve Stephens has been suggested as adders to the list. Neither is slow, both REQUIRE 5's.

Like I said, I REALLY want to make this work.

These help a 5er and ALL basses sound great:

ChefClatter.jpg
 
#49
I dislike 5ers for the most part, but I have one and I practice on it. Two things help make a better sounding B string...a longer scale, and a thinner string. Most 34" scale basses have a tubby sounding B string and 36" scale basses almost always have a good sounding B. But mine is 34" scale, so one thing that helped my bass is lightening up the string. Most stock B's are at least .125" or .130. I'm using a .120" right now and it's a great improvement over the thicker strings. The thinner gauge allows for more vibration, IMHO. It doesn't make the B sound perfect like a 36" scale bass, but it's a big improvement.
 
#50
i'm having some issues with fivers..
for the past 2 years i've owned a few in various different styles with different string spacing, pickup arrangements and so forth.

it seems the things i'm drawn to for a good solid lowB sound seem to make the rest of the bass too pokey for my likings.
i cant get them to sit back in the mix!!
currently battling a streamer jazzman5 but after trying everything i can think of to find a suitable tone, i'm about ready to move it on.

give me a 4 string passive slab any day!!!
 
#51
I had a 5 string and it was my main bass for about 2 years and was a really nice instrument. Then I went back to a four and got very comfortable on that. Now I just wouldn't want to play a 5 string, because if I'm going to encumber myself with the fatter neck for the B string, I might as well go all in and play a 6!
 
#52
JimmyM said:
I dislike 5ers for the most part, but I have one and I practice on it. Two things help make a better sounding B string...a longer scale, and a thinner string. Most 34" scale basses have a tubby sounding B string and 36" scale basses almost always have a good sounding B. But mine is 34" scale, so one thing that helped my bass is lightening up the string. Most stock B's are at least .125" or .130. I'm using a .120" right now and it's a great improvement over the thicker strings. The thinner gauge allows for more vibration, IMHO. It doesn't make the B sound perfect like a 36" scale bass, but it's a big improvement.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Most people say the opposite. Only one way for me to find out I suppose....
 
#55
Ah, after playing for 20 odd years I can still honestly say theres plenty of stuff yet to learn on four strings. The last thing I need is another string to have to worry about. However, my common advise is, if your just starting out on bass than you might as well start with five strings.
 
#56
bassrique said:
Interesting. Most people say the opposite. Only one way for me to find out I suppose....
Click to expand...
It's something I got from Doug Pinnick of King's X, which was told to him by Tim Commerford of Audioslave and RATM. They both use tuned down 4's, and Doug said he uses the regular .095 E he normally uses, even when he turns down to B. That's a little excessive, but a thinner string definitely helps it vibrate more. The thicker string is tighter and feels more natural if you use a medium set, but you get diminishing returns with vibration.
 
#57
I have tried a ton of 5's and only found one that felt and sounded good, that was a Sadowsky. Even then I still prefer my 4's. I tune one of my 4's B-E-A-D. I don't need the 5 to play the old favorites from Rush, Yes, Cream, Talas and so many other great songs. If I need more than 4 strings, I'd rather get a Chapman Stick 8 string SB8.
 
#58
In response to the OP, I actually liked the tone of the B string on my Sadowsky M5-24 much better than the tone of it's E string :hmm:.

In the end though, it had to go because I just didn't enjoy playing on 5 strings. I play for fun and I love the freedom that the familiarity of 4 strings brings me :).

Sure, there are stacks of reasons why 5 strings can be "better", but at the end of the day, I'm not trying to push any musical boundaries :rolleyes:. I just wanna sound competent and have fun with it :bassist:.

I'm not this guy, nor will I ever be ....
Link ...

;)
 
#59
fourstringbliss said:
I've been back and forth a lot but now I'm back to 5. I mainly play at my church and often have to play the lower notes so I'm not playing the same thing as guitars or keys or both.

I'd like to eventually get myself a G&L L2000 so I'd have a four and a five, but that's not a priority right now (I've got a Behringer amp that needs replacing!).
Click to expand...

:cool:
I know what you mean.
I've been playing with a slide guitarist who uses different tunings.
The low B come in handy.
 

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