Are 5 strings on the way out?

[Doug Bright]

I have been a loyal and true 5 string guy since 1991, but there certainly seems to be a decline in 5 string popularity.
Is the 5 string out of Vogue in the session scene these days?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

The local Ibanez dealer has more 5 than 4.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

They seem to be less popular, especially with younger players. Things go in cycles. Many folks are crazy about flatwound strings these days, and I remember when almost everyone used rounds. Fives are practical instruments that will continue to have a place even if they are no longer the must have bass for many people at the moment.

 

[jd56hawk]

According to my sources, they're going the same route as rock!

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I have been a loyal and true 5 string guy since 1991, but there certainly seems to be a decline in 5 string popularity.
Is the 5 string out of Vogue in the session scene these days?

Depends on the genre. A lot of R&B and modern country players have a low B. They are much more rare in rock.

 

[spade2you]

Just as easy to detune/drop tune a 4 string some of the popular rock/metal tunes.

 

[HELLonWHEELS]

The local Ibanez dealer has more 5 than 4.

Not sure what this means... If there are more 5ers left does that mean they aren't selling well and therefore are going out of style?

 

[kesslari]

Mine are not. And that's all that matters to me.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

B-E-A-D

The thing about BEAD or lower tunings is that you have to give up the high notes. Using a five, there is an extended bottom, plus a full upper range of the instrument.

 

[beaglesandbass]

The thing about BEAD or lower tunings is that you have to give up the high notes. Using a five, there is an extended bottom, plus a full upper range of the instrument.

While that's true, the only notes you're losing are the 5 highest you'd have on the G string, since most of what is on the G string can be found out the D string, albeit just in different positions. I'd be willing to bed that 95% of bassists won't miss those 5 highest notes. I'd much rather lose them than lose B to Eb by not having a B string.

To the point, I don't see 5ers declining. In the cover band scene, I see more 5s than 4s.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

While that's true, the only notes you're losing are the 5 highest you'd have on the G string, since most of what is on the G string can be found out the D string, albeit just in different positions. I'd be willing to bed that 95% of bassists won't miss those 5 highest notes. I'd much rather lose them than lose B to Eb by not having a B string.

To the point, I don't see 5ers declining. In the cover band scene, I see more 5s than 4s.

If the players likes it, cool. Give me the full range even if so never use it.

 

[DJ Bebop]

You guys are playing 5 strings now?

WHAAAAT?

 

[Matty Koff]

I made the jump to a 5 string within the last couple months, and ended up selling two of my 4 strings to buy a 5 string fretless after acquiring my 5 string Sire P7. Went from 4 bass guitars to 3, two of which are 5 strings now. And I'm already thinking about a couple more >.<

 

[Samatza]

I don’t think they’re out I think they were hugely popular for a while and now they’re just like a 4 string.
I used mine heavily for about 15 years, that’s what the music called for, now I think there is one song on the set list that needs it.
I suppose it depends what music you’re playing, I use a 4 string mostly now and that’s great, I have more 4 sting basses to choose from.
Sometimes if space permits I’ll take a 4, a 5 and a fretless especially for production shows.

 

[Wisebass]

Hi guys

you're losing are the 5 highest you'd have on the G string

Give me the full range even if so never use it.

For me playing 5 string is not so much about having an extended range. It' s only 5 notes.

The 5th string allows me to play with less position changes. For me that' s the thing about playing 5ers!

A lot of players don' t realize how comfortable that is!

(because they never tried or because they don' t change their lefthand position?)


greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Depends on the genre. A lot of R&B and modern country players have a low B. They are much more rare in rock.

Yep . Also modern urban Gospel/praise worship and Broadway /theatre .

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

I sold almost all my 4 strings I just kept my Rick and a B.C. Rich Warlock bass I modded i just use the low b way too much and I use my high g constantly too so I can't do without either

 

[Nephilymbass]

I still enjoy playing 5 string. As for what I see with other people though, yeah I have seen the trend of a lot of people moving back to 4 strings. I think it’s for a lot of reasons. And it seems like different reasons depending on the genre of music.

For example a lot of modern rock and metal players didn’t actually give up the low B, they gave up the g string instead. Same with guitars players and extended range stuff. The guitar players I play with in my originals band like most of them in the original scene in my area have sold off their 7 string guitars and are using 6 strings tuned down to B instead now. Lot of the bass players around here are playing 4 strings in bead tuning.


In newer pop music it seems like everyone is going for more synthy tones. So they are using analog octave down pedals instead of 5 strings to get a specific tone. And even if those pedals could track a low b string it’s unusably low to go an octave below a low D even.

In country music the “stadium country” trend seems to be coming to an end (or maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part lol) I think a lot of old school country music fans are just getting tired of the rock/pop/county hybrid style that’s been around the last few years. I kind of am also to be honest. Modern country music is like the new sellout genre. It’s where rock guys who aren’t really country musicians are going because people stopped showing up to see them play rock music.

As for worship music. 5 and 6 strings have been a big deal in this style for a while. But it seems like the last few years a lot of church bands are sounding more and more like post rock/ shoegazer /ambient bands with bass players playing a vintage style 4 string and guitar players nerding out with their volume pedals and Strymon big sky and timeline pedals. In other words the emo kids grew up and found Jesus.

 

[el murdoque]

While that's true, the only notes you're losing are the 5 highest you'd have on the G string, since most of what is on the G string can be found out the D string, albeit just in different positions. I'd be willing to bed that 95% of bassists won't miss those 5 highest notes. I'd much rather lose them than lose B to Eb by not having a B string.

I play a 6 string because of tonal choices for the notes. When I want to dull things down, I play the short fat strings. To brighten up the Tone, I do the opposite. Having one string more in each direction gives me the chance to play most licks in mutliple positions.

 

[cnltb]

Are 5 strings on the way out?
I doubt it.