Any Reason NOT to buy a 5 stringer?

[spade2you]

agreed! 5-strings just aren't "cool".

i've read where now nashville guys will stick with 4s, but tune them down to like C# or C and just transpose everything as it comes up, rather than bust out the 5-strings that bandleaders don't wanna see.

People actually think like that? They really want us to detune to whatever pitch, but NOT use a 5? That makes little sense to me. Part of why I like a low B on guitar and bass is so I don't need to retune for the flavor of the week.

Oh, also... B string eliminates the need fer the goofy ramps folk stickin on their basses tween pickups (goofy MY opinion, no offense meant),

That's now how ramps work.

 

[KJung]

To the OP, as many have stated, in an absolute sense, there is no downside to getting a 5 string, since you can literally play anything on a 5 string that you can play on a 4 string.

However, a couple obvious things to consider:

Neck size: The neck obviously will feel bigger, and if you get a model that has the strings spaced more closely together than the typical 19mm, then playability/feel will be a bit different than a 4 (not a better or worse thing, but something to consider).

Muting: This is BIG. Keeping the strings you aren't using at any given moment muted is exponentially more difficult the more strings you get. If you really dig in or are a slapper or whatever, this is definitely a trade-off. It can take a long time to keep that B string always muted and not ringing for many players. Worth the time for me, but for others, they never quite get comfortable with it. I was that way with the 6 strings... which is another whole different thing regarding neck size/dimensions and muting. I never could deal with it. Going from a 4 to a 5 way back in the late 80's or whever, it took me about one gig to 'be OK' with it, and then a year or two to relatively master the technique needed to play cleanly on the 5.

IMO

 

[The Nameless]

Tho some folk do use ramps for additional thumb anchor positions, the ramp was designed for a different purpose, I know. The B string onna 5 could be considered a thumbrest/anchor for a fourstring player, I trained myself on my first 5s this way, incorporating B naturally when needed. But truthfully, the statement was made as a joke, kinda. Sorry to those ramp users.

 

[almightycrunch]

I think my favorite thing about playing a 5 string, is having someone come up and go, " hey man can I sit in on a song or two?????" and then go, ohhhhh wait, thats a five string, sorry I cant play one of those.

 

[SteveC]

i've read where now nashville guys will stick with 4s, but tune them down to like C# or C and just transpose everything as it comes up, rather than bust out the 5-strings that bandleaders don't wanna see.

Plenty of country guys use 5 string.

Part of why I like a low B on bass is so I don't need to retune for the flavor of the week.

This is why I went back as well. I got by OK on a 4 and loved playing it, but having the B for alternate fingerings and transpositions is really handy.

 

[Fuzzbass]

...I have had my heart set on a Fender American Standard P. While I have been shopping I have begun to look at the P5 which leads me to the question:

Is there a reason NOT to buy the Fender American Standard P Bass V? Help a brother out.

Given that you like the P-bass tone, and want to play 5 string, then I can't think of a reason not to check out the Fender Precision V.

FWIW my choice is the Sadowsky P5, but if I couldn't afford it then I would happily play Fender -- I have played a couple, and they are very nice.

The Sadowsky P5 is 34" scale, just like the Fender. A 34" scale B string sounds fantastic on a quality bass, and both are quality basses. I say this because some incorrectly claim that 34" B strings are inferior to 35". I have owned 35" scale basses and have no trouble playing them, but prefer the more traditional timbre of 34". They sound great even when detuned a half-step (which I often do).

 

[JimmyM]

There is no reason to not get a 5 string bass.

But in all seriousness, id a band leader told me not to play my 5 string, I'd give them one hell of a look. Who do you presume to be, telling me what to play or not play? Are you the bassist? No! Then back off, you arrogant turd.

Eh, other musicians have thrown critiques and suggestions my way since I started and I do it to them, too. Bottom line...either you want the gig or you don't, and if the leader doesn't want a 5, they'll just find someone else who won't insist on playing a 5, arrogant turd or not. Righteous indignation doesn't pay the bills

 

[wrench45us]

a 5 string isn't neceassarily about the extended range, I'd say it's more about having 2 octaves under the same hand position.
There's probably less a justification in practice for the extended range, and if you've learned on a 4 string shifting position may be second nature, but I think there's something to be said for maintaining a position esp when the tone of the bass stays in the same timbre.

but I'm new to a lot of this so I'll let more seasoned opinions prevail

 

[portlandguy]

The more stings that you have, the more you have to keep quiet.

 

[Fuzzbass]

If you never need to go beyond the range of a standard 4-string bass, nor want to, then you have no reason to buy a 5-string bass.

I am not one of these people. I love the low B.

I originally wanted 5 string for extended range down low, but once I got accustomed to it I realized that extended range in every fingering position -- even those above the 5th fret -- is the true advantage. I use fiver for everything, even when I never go below low E.

I've considered six-or-more strings, but don't want to deal with either a wider fingerboard or narrower string spacing. If I did get a sixer, I'd tune it F#BEADG. Not kidding, either.

I think my favorite thing about playing a 5 string, is having someone come up and go, " hey man can I sit in on a song or two?????" and then go, ohhhhh wait, thats a five string, sorry I cant play one of those.

I once had a guy sit in who didn't notice that I played 5 string, and apparently didn't hear me when I warned him about the extra string. Some four-string players can adapt quickly, but I didn't when I first started playing five, and this guy didn't either. Fortunately it was a simple song and he got through okay, but he didn't have as much fun as he'd hoped.

 

[Fuzzbass]

a 5 string isn't neceassarily about the extended range, I'd say it's more about having 2 octaves under the same hand position.

but I'm new to a lot of this so I'll let more seasoned opinions prevail

You might be new, but I completely agree. Succinctly put, too.

 

[JimmyM]

You might be new, but I completely agree. Succinctly put, too.

Wish I could. I hate the sound of the B string played up past the 5th fret.

 

[Munjibunga]

Others have pointed out the ups and downs of playing five-strings. After switching over from four-strings in 1994, I've never looked back. However, I wouldn't buy a P-bass as my first fiver. The J basses are much more versatile, especially with active electronics. Wrench45us pointed out the main reason I like five-strings.

 

[Plantbrain]

That low B moves a heck of a lot of air.
Detuning works well a step or maybe 2, but a fatter B string will have a different fat tone vs a detuned E going down to B range.
Detuning also can fry the strings/tuning issue if you do not shorten the length on the windings to a min amount if you move back and forth in the song/sets. The min string length will prevent this somewhat.

The deep fat notes have some serious uses. Comes with some of the mentioned trade offs, but that deep feel of a B is used a lot. Studio players like them for as mentioned transpositions and for singers(say the singer cannot hit a few notes, so everything is moved down a step etc) and adjustments.

I went back to all 4's. I just have little need for it personally. The high C? I used it a bit more, but blah. I'm happy with 4 and I'm okay with that. Still, players might be wise to have a 5 or be able to play a 5 if they want certain gigs, I'd rather have a great 4 player vs a so so 5 player that said.
Try both and see. It's a personal thing. No wrong/right answer. Reggae players: a 5 would be a good idea.

 

[awilkie84]

Wish I could. I hate the sound of the B string played up past the 5th fret.

Try different strings. Try a longer scale. Try a different bass.
The sound of my Spector's B is quite clear & usable above the 5th fret.

 

[BobaFret]

While there are 34" scale 5'ers, mine was a 35" scale and I did not like it. Playability issues for me and I've just stuck with 4's since.

 

[kraigo]

I was pretty close to buying an American Fender P-Bass five. I absolutely fell in love with it and only the spousal disapproval factor held me off. I've always had at least one five string since 1995 or so, but I actually tend toward fours. That particular P-Bass was an outstanding example of a five string and I've played a LOT of five strings.

It makes me want to go home and play with my Skyline 55-01, which is a decent five string, but I liked the P5 better.

No reason not to get a five if you want a five. I like fours because you have a better variety of "character basses" - you can find semi-hollows and Beatle basses in fours, but not so much in fives. I also think that in my own case, my playing has more character when I'm on a four for some reason. But that's just me.

KO

Been saving my pennies and I am beginning to figure, if I am gonna shell out the money for an american standard, why not get a fiver



There is a sam ash and a guitar center kind of near me but they never have more then one out. How do you play several?



Nobody would ever compare me to anyone who plays well.



But some are good all the way around?

 

[Gorn]

The more stings that you have, the more you have to keep quiet.

^^^
This

And I don't like them.

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

I see no disadvantage to having more options with position, fingering and note selection. I play only 5s live.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Wish I could. I hate the sound of the B string played up past the 5th fret.

On my basses (the Sadowskys, anyway), I don't notice a change when going above the 5th fret on the B, and with a reasonably fresh set of strings I can go above the 12th fret. I was once noodling around at rehearsal and the keyboard player was amazed at how in tune B string was, even up at the 12th fret. He's aware of the imperfections up high from stringed instruments.

Sure, the G at 8th fret B string will have a slightly different timbre than 3rd fret E string, but that's true for equivalent notes on any two strings. I sometimes select the phatter timbre on the B over the more traditional E string equivalent, but in the heat of a live gig no one will notice but me.

Intonation is the biggest factor, IMO. Quality construction, too, especially fretwork and neck attachment. I'm currently having trouble getting proper B-string intonation on a set of Thomastik-Infeld flatwounds, but I've owned this set for 10 years and have had it on 3 different basses so the B is probably munged up.