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I played a 4 string for about 40 yrs, and bought a 5 around 10 yrs ago, wish I had done it yrs earlier, never picked up the 4 again, my son has it now!!
Thanks for all the replies. Interesting read! I always thought I preferred thinner jazz necks too, but after playing on my 5 with its 1.77" (45mm) width at the nut and tighter 16.5mm string spacing, I'm finding the 4s I have (both 1.5" and 19mm spacing) to be too small and not as comfortable. Guess you really do need to experiment with all kinds of dimensions. The dimensions of my 5 seem ideal to me now. I also LOVE having the E string 2nd now as opposed to the top string on a 4. I probably wouldn't like it if I used a pick and rode the E a lot but I don't do either.
I switched to 5 string about a year ago, and always feel weird picking up a 4 now. Unfortunately, my 5er is in for repairs now and the only other bass I have is my old 4. I really feel like I'm missing a lot by not having the B string, which means I'm GASing hard for a 2nd 5 string right now.
I switched about 15 years ago, and never went back to fours. Well, I'll play a four string upright, and probably would play a four string bass uke or something. Currently flirting with 6 string basses, but I don't think that'll ever replace my fives.
I bought my first 5-string in 1993 and have never had another 4-string. 4-strings are fine and I have nothing critical to say about them or anyone who plays one. I personally will never play one. My 5-strings do every thing a 4-string can and more. A 4-string requires too much attention for for me to play well and feels uncomfortably small.
I played 4s for years and always felt the limitation...even on upright. Once I discovered what 5s were all about it was like coming home! 
I soon discovered that 6ers are pretty much the same instrument as a 5er. But 4s vs 5-6 are two different instruments. Yes, both bass guitars but sort of like the difference between saxophone and clarinet. And I pretty much prefer clarinet! Which is to say the extended range basses. But that doesn't mean one is "better" than the other. You always have to ask better for WHAT? So mostly I play 5 or 6s and it's the kind of music I'm doing. However, 4's certainly have a place, and I can't say I've never looked back because on occasion when called for or for that matter if a 4 is all that happens to be around, I can play those too. But truth is that for me and all those years with a 4 string, I feel like with 4 string basses as far as I am concerned "It's been said!". So I gravitate toward new things to try like 5,6, or even 7 string and fretless and I'm loving what I find there. Who knows?One day all that new stuff may just get boring to me and I'll go into a "less is more' mode like some cats do from time to time. You just never know.
I soon discovered that 6ers are pretty much the same instrument as a 5er. But 4s vs 5-6 are two different instruments. Yes, both bass guitars but sort of like the difference between saxophone and clarinet. And I pretty much prefer clarinet! Which is to say the extended range basses. But that doesn't mean one is "better" than the other. You always have to ask better for WHAT? So mostly I play 5 or 6s and it's the kind of music I'm doing. However, 4's certainly have a place, and I can't say I've never looked back because on occasion when called for or for that matter if a 4 is all that happens to be around, I can play those too. But truth is that for me and all those years with a 4 string, I feel like with 4 string basses as far as I am concerned "It's been said!". So I gravitate toward new things to try like 5,6, or even 7 string and fretless and I'm loving what I find there. Who knows?One day all that new stuff may just get boring to me and I'll go into a "less is more' mode like some cats do from time to time. You just never know.Got my first 5 string in January 1992, a Fender Jazz Bass Plus 5, long gone, but never went back to a four string after switching. It took me about a week to get used to the B string.
Took me about a day. I was shocked how quickly I adapted to it and it just felt right to me, more so than a 4 string.
I've been primarily a 5 string player since 1992. But I do play a 4 string on occasion (including my URB).
I started on a 4, then went through a couple 5s then a 6. Now I'm back to the 4. I still have my 5 string and 6 string I just never felt as comfortable with them. Been thinking about taking the 6 out for a gig or two lately and seeing if I might change my mind.
I'll pick up a 4 stringer every once in a while, but I'm pretty much exclusively 5 strings at this point.
I bought my first decent five in 1987, and although I have owned lots of fours since then, a five string has been my go to bass ever since.
Switched to 5 three years ago. Picked up a cheap 4 string and tried to like it again but It seemed incomplete. Sold after a year. I'll stick with 5's, hope to get a 6 one day
