Back to 4 strings

[skidmarkbass]

I just got a MIM 4 string pbass after about 13 years on fivers. I mainly got the 4 string to mess around but I'm really finding it to be more fun to play/lighter. It is becoming my go to bass, however, now I have 4 5ers that are just sitting around. I feel a little guilty. I actually started out on 4 strings 30 years ago.

 

[Sonic]

I'd say keep at least one or two of your favourite 5ers. I've always been a 4-string guy myself. Have yet to find a 5er I can honestly say I'm in love with.

 

[Roscoe East]

I just started working with a jazz trio doing decidedly "adult" material, and so decided that a totally conventional 4-string bass would be the appropriate weapon of choice for this gig. Man, no matter how long it's been since I've picked up a 4-string it always feels like home when I do.

 

[skidmarkbass]

yes... feels like home. I think I jumped into the 5 string thing, just because others were doing it.

 

[Lowbrow]

"I actually started out on 4 strings" - this statement made me smile.

 

[sxaxsx]

I think I touched a five string bass once.

 

[Baird6869]

I flipped back and forth for years. I am now playing a 5er as my main bass and a fretless 4 as my backup. I use the B string quite a bit but don't really like a fretless B.

I will never get rid of my fretted '70's P and J basses though.

 

[Mike M.]

I actually prefer to play a 4 string. I mean hey...it's home!! I recently joined a band, played my 4 string for the first few gigs and all was fine. Thought I'd try my 5'er and they loved it! I still wasn't sure if a 4 or 5 would be best so I asked them and they were all in agreement about my using the 5 string. The drummer said "I like the fact that you don't over use the low B, but when you do it adds so much."

I guess that settles that!! But the 4 strings aren't going anywhere!

 

[inthebassclef]

I agree a 4 string is just home. Learned on a squire and still love my 4 string. Have one 5 string bass for whenever I do a set and the songs are in all flat keys but other than that I always grab my 4 string and go. There is something that is just right about it that no 5 string has ever been able to replicate for me.

 

[RedMoses]

I was a die hard 5 string 24+ fret guy for a decade but I had that Fender 4 itch and bought one for fun, that snowballed and ive been playing 4's exclusively for the past 7 yrs and I havnt looked back, I still have my main 5 but she rarely gets play.

 

[Runnerman]

4 is the number for me also. With a Hipshot drop D tuner I get everything I need.

I do own a 5 and play it regularly and use it as a backup bass but I can't say I'm in love with it like my 4's.

 

[MD]

Never played a 5er, but I bought a 6 a few years ago. Couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Nothing against 5+ string basses though.

 

[ddhm]

Hey, awesome! If the 4 does it for ya, roll with it. I'd certainly keep a 5 or 2 around. I wouldn't let weight be a factor though. There are very light 5 and 6 stringers out there.

You might also be feeling the "new" factor some. I'd not let that influence my decision making yet. Give it some time. I mean, you don't NEED to sell the 5ers, right?

Personally, I've not played a 4 in about 14 years... been 6'ers. 4's don't feel right to me anymore. I'm thinking about going to 7 or 8 strings now. Not for everyone, I know.

 

[bassbenj]

Never played a 5er, but I bought a 6 a few years ago. Couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Nothing against 5+ string basses though.

Well I actually started out playing 4s and I've ALWAYS had a lot against them! OK, the truth is I started studying piano. And then bought an upright bass. What the hell? I'm trying to play in horn keys and this thing called a "bass" doesn't even have a low Eb to play? What nonsense! And remember this was back before there were 5 and 6 string basses. I mean my piano and my left hand was far more of a bass than my "bass guitar"! What were these guys thinking?

And then I got my first 5er. Isn't this just what God intended a bass to be? And then a 6er. Sure not for everything, but where it works, it works. Even the symnphony dudes noticed the same problems as I observed with their uprights with those "extender" things on them.

To me I just don't see the point of limiting yourself like that unless the kind of music you play NEEDS that limitation to be authentic. In that case it all makes sense. As for me, I suffered quietly all those years with 4 strings and when 5ers arrived I couldn't get rid of the fours fast enough (except for my 8 string which is a different animal, but I'd really like it to be a 10 string)

 

[Dr Improbable]

I often forget my B string isn't just a thumb rest. 4's are super cool, but I don't know, it's great to have those low notes there when you need them.

 

[MJ_Sotti]

Never played anything but 4.

 

[Betrayer_Bass]

Started on 4, went to 5 as soon as I could afford it. I do understand the going back to 4 though, it's lighter and there are less things to worry about, but I'll never go back. I just mess around on my 4 every now and then.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Just keep 1 or 2 5-ers, you never know if you wanna use them again

 

[obimark]

Different strokes.... IN my opinion the benefits of the 4 outweigh the benefits of the 5 for what I play.

The only note I would like that I don't have is the low Eflat for certain songs, BUT I can turn the key to tune down that string in 5 seconds. SO for what I do it isn't worth the extra weight, extra stress on my hands having to deal with a wider fret board, the loss of slapping due to the strings being too close together for me.

Now I play mostly classic rock, funk and pop songs. If I wanted to be in a jam type band I could see the 5 string having its uses.

 

[Nobody]

I am wanting to go to 5 string and you have extra 5 strings sooooooooo ......... You should give me one of yours. It's a win win situation..... or somethjing like that ;-)