"Begrudgingly" taking the plunge to 5 string ;) Advice needed!

[Bassamatic]

If you can find one, probably used now, a Fender Squier VM 5-string P bass should be on your list, considering the type of music you play. I managed to get one before they were discontinued (Why, Fender?) and it is just fantastic. No, it does not have an Ibanez slim neck, but it is a Jazz type neck and very comfortable for a 5-er and certainly has the sound. It is also beautifully made.

And, you are right - some things are much easier to play in the middle of the 5-er. Also - I find that low D comes in very handy sometimes.

BTW - I also have an Ibanez miKro 5-er sub-short scale and it is a lot of fun, great sound and so easy to play.

 

[Bassngtr]

I've owned a BTB 5-string for years (got one when they 1st came out - was looking for a 5er with similar string spacing to my 4s) but never played it much until I joined a new band 18 months ago where I play ONLY the 5. I strongly echo the idea to focus exclusively on the 5 for a while. It took me quite awhile ( a year +) to easily transition between 4 & 5...I just could not get used to that A string in the middle! I still love my 4s but love the 5 just as much. Looking at getting a new Sire M2 5-string for a backup (WOW are they nice - thanks TB!! Never would have known about Sire...).

I do NOT recommend this, but when I first got my BTB I tuned the B string to A, thinking it would help me learn since the notes would be exactly the same +1 octave only 2 strings away. An interesting idea soon abandoned because it removed a MAJOR bonus of a 5er: being able to play the same old shapes in new places rooted on the B string.

Re: 4 fret stretch. I think I can stretch farther now that I've been playing for several years...what seemed tough at first is now easier. I've played guitar and bass for ...well, a long time...and my fingers just seem to "get it" now. I'm not surprised your instructor and guitar hubby make it look easy. Don't push it for now, it may get easier on its own.

All the best!!

 

[somebrains]

Find a selection of CL basses under $400 in your local CL and we will peanut gallery opinions about which ones to run out to try.

Jazz 5's with a flat but wide neck feel like home to me, so that is my vote.

 

[mikewalker]

 

[Neon Scribe]

I had a 5 string for a long time before I got comfortable with it. The thing that finally put me over the top was putting away my 4 string and forcing myself to use the 5 string exclusively. For a long time I thought I would be strictly a 5 string player, but eventually I got dragged back to a 4 string. Now I mostly play 4 string, but the 5 string works fine for me when I need it. I still prefer the 5 string even when I don't need the extra range if I have to play in F. It's much easier for me to control the B string at the sixth fret than the E string at the first fret.

Spend time with some 5 strings in person at a store so you can get a feel for wide vs. narrow string spacing, and 34 vs. 35 inch scale length. However, your feelings about these proportions may change with experience. I was playing a 35 inch scale for a while and thought it was OK, but then I picked up a 34 inch scale bass and just felt a lot more comfortable. I decided to change permanently to 34 inches and have been there ever since. There is also the advantage of having the same scale on the 4 string and the 5 string. Likewise, string spacing runs from 16mm to 19mm. You need to pick something, but be ready to revisit your decision after you've gotten used to it. I'm pretty much committed to the Fender dimensions now, 34 inch scale and 18mm spacing.

 

[Cage]

Short version: I feel uncomfortably uneducated when it comes to the vast number of options available for choosing a bass and understanding which style and options may best fit my personal needs and limitations. Would be very grateful for any help any of you can give! Looking for recommendations on a decent 5 string, $400 or less, not overly heavy, can accommodate what I feel is a narrower palm width though I'm 6 ft tall so neck length is not an issue. Playing modern country and rock. I'm going to go and try a bunch out and see what feels good, but any direction or advice would be very welcomed. I know very little about what brands have the best quality basses at that price point, things to look for, etc. I'd be happy to buy used as well, once I know what I'm looking for.

Extended version: I started playing bass again about a year ago when asked to help out a small town local country/rock cover band. My only other experience was playing electric bass in my high school jazz band 15-20 years ago. I always really loved the bass but my husband and I were married young and with having 4 kiddos and living life, playing bass was sadly lost in the mix. I didn't play bass in college and have never owned my own. I played the school's bass which I don't remember the brand, and my band teacher's various Carvin basses (he was a bass player as his primary instrument.). I remember the Carvin basses (a fretted and a frettless) playing great, but being VERY heavy. When I was asked to play in this band I picked up a $250 - $300 Dean Edge 2, 4 string at the local music store. I didn't really have time to look around or put a lot of thought into the decision unfortunately.

I do like my Dean and it plays pretty nice but not having anything to compare it to, I'm not sure if something else would better suit my personal needs. I do feel like my hand width is narrower which makes a 4 fret spread difficult in the lower positions. I'm 6 feet tall so the neck length feels comfortable otherwise. My husband plays guitar and it strikes me that even though he's shorter than me, his palm width is such that his fingers are straight when setting them on the neck over 4 frets vs my fingers flaring out quite a bit to reach that same spread. My bass playing band teacher's hand was the same and I remember being frustrated with how much easier it was for him to reach certain notes and play certain phrases. SO! Are there options I "need" to or can consider that might better accommodate what I feel is a narrower palm width? Or do my husband and former band teacher just have abnormally wide palms? I feel like I end up "jumping" my hand around a bit more than I feel like I should...

And yes, I feel a bit begrudging about this purchase. I'm somewhat of a traditionalist who would be happy to play 4 string or ideally upright in a lot of the songs that we play, but the band is moving into much more modern country and even 5 minutes in the store this morning with the 5-string Dean Edge Pro ($700 so out of my price range), made it clear how much easier it would be to play some of the progressions the way I want to with the lower B-string in the mix.

I really appreciate any thoughts or recommendations! Thank you!

I have the 405 Ibby great for the money

 

[klokker]

IMO, the biggest deal about a 5 is getting a decent low B. I mean that's what you want a 5 for, so make sure its decent. Especially if your messing around with used basses which isn't a bad idea, just check the low B that it's not too floppy, or that it sounds a lot different from the other strings. There are some really bad low B's out there in all price ranges.

I like all of the Ibanez recommendations. Yamaha as well, those are the two I'm most familiar with. Some of the cheaper Fender 5's I've tried have had terrible B strings and some good.....nothing against Fender though, just check it out before you buy.

 

[knight of ni]

Regarding the hand stretch, practice and reasonable fretting hand exercise will allow you to do 1 finger/fret on any bass unless you have a condition/disability (I'm 5"3, took bass again at 48 and love my 6 strings 35" Yamaha).
Also for Ibanez or Yamaha but it's your choice.

 

[Ekulati]

For a local country/rock band, assume no lofty rock star aspirations, you do NOT need a 5, no matter what anyone says. (It gives you exactly 5 additional low notes, 2, 3 of which you may never play.) So... poppycock, if I understand your situation.

That said, I love my $400 Yamaha trbx305 although it may still be heavy for you.

 

[Eminor3rd]

For a local country/rock band, assume no lofty rock star aspirations, you do NOT need a 5, no matter what anyone says. (It gives you exactly 5 additional low notes, 2, 3 of which you may never play.) So... poppycock, if I understand your situation.

That said, I love my $400 Yamaha trbx305 although it may still be heavy for you.

Nobody NEEDS a five -- but those 5 additional low notes are extremely useful and open up a world of phrasing options. And up until the recent trend to make it, essentially, electro-hip/hop with a southern accent, you'd be hard pressed to find a genre that consistently used the Low B string more effectively than modern country. It's a substantially useful extra tool for the song-focused palette.

 

[Ekulati]

Nobody NEEDS a five -- but those 5 additional low notes are extremely useful and open up a world of phrasing options. And up until the recent trend to make it, essentially, electro-hip/hop with a southern accent, you'd be hard pressed to find a genre that consistently used the Low B string more effectively than modern country. It's a substantially useful extra tool for the song-focused palette.

Sure, all of that MAY be true for most people. But based on what she said about herself, her playing history, personal situation, etc. I don't think the OP is in that category. I could be wrong.

And I love my 5, especially playing higher positions while not having to shift, so I totally get the value, not even needing the 5 extra notes.

 

[KristinD]

Sure, all of that MAY be true for most people. But based on what she said about herself, her playing history, personal situation, etc. I don't think the OP is in that category. I could be wrong.

And I love my 5, especially playing higher positions while not having to shift, so I totally get the value, not even needing the 5 extra notes.

I agree! I absolutely do NOT need a 5 string.... but ... even just from the short amount of time I played around with them in the stores regarding some more modern set list songs I was finding challenging on the 4, I found myself instinctualy using that B-string as an accent on some phrases (that, to be fair, didn't absolutely need it), helping ease fingerings on other progressions, and making a huge difference in my ability to play several songs in G that wanted that low D used as part of the progression. Could I go up to the higher D and play the phrasing off of that? Of course!...did it feel like the most natural option musically and comfort wise? Hell no! As begrudging as I was at the start of this thread, playing the 5s I've tried has felt surprisingly natural in certain musical situations where my 4 string felt forced. Now it was only forced regarding what I was trying to play, and I understand that may be a self induced issue but still.... I play bass because I enjoy the hell out of it which yes, is much more what this is about than any sense of need.

 

[Bassngtr]

That low D is a treasure - best saved for special occasions when only the best (note choice) will do!!

 

[Jim Carr]

@KristinD — Two thoughts from an old bass teacher:

Concerning Fender 5-strings, they have improved over the years, but the body size and shape have at times been a source of complaint from younger people and also from adult female bassists. I suspect the shape and hang of the Jazz "offset contour body" does not jibe well ergonomically for some bassists' body size and/or shape. In fact, a number of jazz-like bodies from other brands typically feature a reduced body size, Sadowsky, Lakland and Sire come to mind, which makes them easier to manage, IME.

You may be steered away from longer scale length instruments. I feel this is a mistake. Scale length is negotiated by technique, not by stretching or hand size.

A 34" scale is a sort of "standard," mainly because Fender made it popular, and it works well enough. 35" scale also appears, as noted earlier in this thread. It spreads a small amount of additional length proportionally over the whole scale, so any adjustment to technique is minor. I taught double bass to kids (mostly grade 4th to grade 7th) for a number of years. They played double basses with scale lengths ranging from 36" to 38" with no problems—aside from those normal technical issues present by the instrument—which are none-the-less substantial.

If you blend classical upright (Simandl) 1-3-5 technique with guitar-style 1 finger per fret technique (1-2-3-4), and gauge which you use based on how it suits your hand on your instrument, you will be fine. Shifting is an essential part of bass playing. Don't avoid it or fear it. Good luck in your hunt for your first 5-string.

 

[KristinD]

Thank you @Jim Carr That was very helpful!

 

[chris_b]

And yes, I feel a bit begrudging about this purchase. I'm somewhat of a traditionalist who would be happy to play 4 string

Keep positive. I've made this move and while starting on the wrong string is an early part of the learning curve, the move to a 5 string has suited me down to the ground.

You can easily switch up if you have a set incorporating 5 string bass parts to focus on. I can't help with the bass but it sounds like you're making this move for good reasons. Good luck.

 

[MrLenny1]

Just Do It.

 

[Leo Thunder]

I agree! I absolutely do NOT need a 5 string.... but ... even just from the short amount of time I played around with them in the stores regarding some more modern set list songs I was finding challenging on the 4, I found myself instinctualy using that B-string as an accent on some phrases (that, to be fair, didn't absolutely need it), helping ease fingerings on other progressions, and making a huge difference in my ability to play several songs in G that wanted that low D used as part of the progression.

That's the real advantage, not the 2 notes that are sometime played and the 3 I can hardly recognise because they get so low.

 

[M Attacker]

I just switched to 5. Bought this thing in Febuary I think. First 2 weeks were rough....stupid mistakes. Then it started clicking. Still mess up sometimes, but altogether on my way. Yes do it exclusively. Even for recording I kept it.

Some of my songs I played in drop D, with a detuner. Those were the hardest....oh man muscle memory is a powerful thing.

Aside from the obvious transition problems, I had problems muting. Strings were ringing out because I wasn't used to the new breadth of strings. Fixed that one though. Now I think I have it under control. Then I get comfortable. Then I mess up, lol, stay focused!

So get tighter string spacing for your hands. 7.5mm is a common tight one. Slim necks too. I do recommend MusicMan, you'd be amiss not to try one. The necks should be good for you. The sound I love! But not for everyone. Hot and punchy I'd describe. Others might say harsh and clanky. There is def more tame options. They make cheaper models. I played one, I dug it.


Sounds like you want

 

[Bass Man Dan]

Hey Kristin, not sure if it's too late for this, but if this is anything like the Douglas 6 string I had, it's as solid as can be and will play and sound good, and if 8.5 pounds is correct, that's pretty darn light for a 5 string:

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