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I don't think you'll ever lose ability to play on a 4 string. I find it a bit like riding a bicycle. Sadowsky 5's are awesome though
Did 4-string for 25 years. In Y2K I finally bought a fiver (after being chicken about it for way too long), and once I got the hang of it I decided that normal-spaced five-string was Goldilocks for me. I was sad that my fours were just sitting in their cases so I sold them... but I don't recommend that anyone else do this!
I can still play four if I have to, but always miss the extra range that the B string affords (true over the most of the fretboard, not just below the 5th fret). I acknowledge that four has certain advantages (with my hands, one is comfort in the upper register), but for me the advantages to five outweigh them, and as a K.I.S.S. guy it's easier for me to just stick with five. No more GAS for vintage Fenders!
I did have a local guy build me a '58-style P5 and early-60's stack-knob J5, but that was a helluva lot cheaper than the real deal. 
As always, I'm not saying "5 string is better than 4" -- I'm only speaking for myself.
easy fix, just swap the bridge. going wider, big problem. going narrower, meh, no biggie.
Nice! So, how does this work? Ik have a 2004 Metro RV4, VTC later installed. It has hc pickups. Can the new pickups with the coil cut switch be installed? How does the coil cut switch work, where is the switch? I don't see any pickups on the Sadowsky website. Are you guys still selling them?
Did 4-string for 25 years. In Y2K I finally bought a fiver (after being chicken about it for way too long), and once I got the hang of it I decided that normal-spaced five-string was Goldilocks for me. I was sad that my fours were just sitting in their cases so I sold them... but I don't recommend that anyone else do this!
I can still play four if I have to, but always miss the extra range that the B string affords (true over the most of the fretboard, not just below the 5th fret). I acknowledge that four has certain advantages (with my hands, one is comfort in the upper register), but for me the advantages to five outweigh them, and as a K.I.S.S. guy it's easier for me to just stick with five. No more GAS for vintage Fenders!
As always, I'm not saying "5 string is better than 4" -- I'm only speaking for myself.
As of the last year I have been playing mostly 4's after years with 5's. Notice the strings on the 4 have a different response from each other. Especially the E string. The E totally sounds different from each other.
Hi BoogyBass,
This coil cut switch only works with our newest version of our stacked 5 string J pickup. You would have to rout your pickup cavities deeper to accommodate the depth of the pickup. At the moment, we are only offering this on new NYC custom builds. I am closing down my online store and will not be selling pickups. Hopefully, by the end of the year, a complete line of Sadowsky bass pickups will be available through Warwick distribution.
Did 4-string for 25 years. In Y2K I finally bought a fiver (after being chicken about it for way too long), and once I got the hang of it I decided that normal-spaced five-string was Goldilocks for me. I was sad that my fours were just sitting in their cases so I sold them... but I don't recommend that anyone else do this!
I can still play four if I have to, but always miss the extra range that the B string affords (true over the most of the fretboard, not just below the 5th fret). I acknowledge that four has certain advantages (with my hands, one is comfort in the upper register), but for me the advantages to five outweigh them, and as a K.I.S.S. guy it's easier for me to just stick with five. No more GAS for vintage Fenders!
As always, I'm not saying "5 string is better than 4" -- I'm only speaking for myself.
Once I went B, I knew I’d ALWAYS need B’s on my P’s
I wish that were the case for me, Vic. Unfortunately, my turn off isn’t the actual string spacing; it’s the aircraft carrier neck that goes along with it. I just can’t get with that feel aspect. Just my personal problem, that’s all.
My 5’s are all set at 18mm; and that neck profile feels perfect for me. My 6 is 16.5mm, and I can’t imagine another 0.5” of neck width added to that. Wow.
My 6 PJ is 19MM did take awhile to get used too, I bought it used, and yes the Neck is a bit of a beast but I am used to it now, and use this bass mostly as my practice bass and to learn new songs on.
I think if I had a 6 made just for me, I would go 17.5MM, My 5ers are all 19MM.
I think if I had a 6 made just for me, I would go 17.5MM, My 5ers are all 19MM.
Attachments
that’s unfortunate. I’ve been trying to get a set of stacks to replace my old splits for almost a year now. If there were any way I would jump on it
I know. And, I picked up a set of singles off of the classifieds that are working out pretty well
Did 4-string for 25 years. In Y2K I finally bought a fiver (after being chicken about it for way too long), and once I got the hang of it I decided that normal-spaced five-string was Goldilocks for me. I was sad that my fours were just sitting in their cases so I sold them... but I don't recommend that anyone else do this!
I can still play four if I have to, but always miss the extra range that the B string affords (true over the most of the fretboard, not just below the 5th fret). I acknowledge that four has certain advantages (with my hands, one is comfort in the upper register), but for me the advantages to five outweigh them, and as a K.I.S.S. guy it's easier for me to just stick with five. No more GAS for vintage Fenders!
As always, I'm not saying "5 string is better than 4" -- I'm only speaking for myself.
I was 5 str guy from the beginning - first 2 basses were 4 str and always dropped the E - couldn't wait for the first 5er, a Levinson's Blade, what I've used for 20 years continuosly. Never were better axe in my hands... except...
4 years ago I've tried a Metro in a German music shop... uhhhhh, wadda low B is this, OMG!!! Thought that never will have a chance for it, but this year I could afford one....
So I understand the 4 stringers (genre, style, size, weight, hand e.t.c.) but I think the main attraction of a Sadowsky is that low B...
that definitely makes sense. gotcha.
Here's my new Will Lee. Very excited about this one. I definitely prefer the Will Lee neck and electronics specs compared to my former Sadowsky basses.
