Back to 4!

[jaywa]

I am going to put a hipshot on my 4 though.

Yeah... to me, the occasional awkward position shifts of playing a 4-stringer in drop D are a lot easier to deal with than adjusting to a 5th string. A couple of gigs with a 5er playing WAY too many notes on the "wrong" string convinced me of that.

 

[calypsocoral302]

How much do you really need the notes below an E and how much do you play each of those notes? From what you have said I am guessing the answer to the first part of that question is "a lot" but the second part is worth considering. I tune my basses in fifths starting on C which totally eliminates the need for a five string -- except when I think I might be able to use a six string and then a fifths tuned fiver takes care of that. The fifths tuning isn't for everyone but my experience with those low notes is that Eb gets used A LOT, D gets used quite a bit and everything below that gets used once in a while because it is there. In fact my main player comes standard with a Hipshot extender key on the low string which I have set up to switch between A and C and I have never used that switch during a performance. I just have no real need for the low A, Bb, or B.

Ah, you're referring to Cello tuning (A-D-G-C, from top to bottom). I've been seriously considering that for a little while now for my Ibanez SR. I think the only thing holding me back is trying to find the string gauges that would maintain an even tension. That would likely require buying individual strings, instead of sets. I can do that (SIT, for example, sells individual strings), it'll just take a little research.

If you are only using the notes below an E occasionally then keeping a four tuned BEAD that you can switch to for songs that need it may be a better option than you think. Or if you use notes down to D a lot and lower notes not so much as myself and several others who have commented on this recently have found, the compromise tunings like drop D, DADG, noted above or D standard, DGCF, could be a good option for you. Converting one of your basses to an alternate tuning and selling one will probably be financially better than selling two and buying a fiver. And if the alternate tuning would work for all your playing then selling two and buying none will put your DB fund over the top even quicker. I don't think you would need to mod the nut to try the two D based tunings either.

I'll take that under advisement. My primary gig is playing classical on upright, but I'm still putting a few "feelers" out there for opportunities in blues, classic rock, hard rock, and metal, so I have some time to decide yet.

 

[Herrick]

So i went to 5 string about 2 years ago because everybody said that i should. I picked it up ok, but always felt meh about it. I no longer have the need for that extra string and recently went back to 4 and i feel reborn! I can't believe that i ever left 4's. Has anybody else felt the same way? I don't feel like i am missing out, in fact i feel liberated!

Wow that's a long time to play a 5-string without really enjoying it. Glad to hear you are playing what You want to play. That's how it should be

 

[Mark4]

I prefer the feel of 4s, so that's all I currently own, but 5s are nice for not having to move the fretting arm as much. Also, extended range isn't necessary for what I play.

 

[ExistentialJ]

This is an interesting thread...I'm back to 4 as well, BEAD. It's just easier. 5 confuses me.