If you are serious about it, go all out on finding a GOOD one. I regret my first fiver simply because I could have spent more for a better one but instead spent less on a blind buy for one that looked "cool".
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Did You Regret Your First 5 String?
- Thread starter Misterwogan
- Start date
I was disappointed by my first five string but I never regretted buying it. It was a model I'd been curious about for years and I had to have it built. It was a fine instrument (and easy to play) but in the end the tone didn't work for me. I have played five string basses almost exclusively for the past three years and rarely feel the desire to play a four.
Edit: I just remembered, I actually had a five that preceded the bass mentioned above and I hated that bass. Wow - I'm surprised I forgot about it when writing my above post. It was a Warwick Thumb NT and it was awful. So yeah, I did regret buying my first five string after all!
Edit: I just remembered, I actually had a five that preceded the bass mentioned above and I hated that bass. Wow - I'm surprised I forgot about it when writing my above post. It was a Warwick Thumb NT and it was awful. So yeah, I did regret buying my first five string after all!
I didn't regret my 5, in fact it has become my main bass. I did, however, regret my first 6 and traded it in shortly after the 5 arrived. The 6 was just too much for me and my style of playing.
Nope. Love my 5ers and my 4s equally. The 6 I had briefly I ended up selling as the extra neck width was a bit too much.
I never regretted buying or playing fives. The first issue is mentioned a number of times above. B String tone it critical.
The second issue is that you have to give yourself a bit of time to stop using the B string as a finger rest.
I move back and forth regularly between 4's and 5's now, depending on mood and or song requirements.
The second issue is that you have to give yourself a bit of time to stop using the B string as a finger rest.
I move back and forth regularly between 4's and 5's now, depending on mood and or song requirements.
Sold mine after 3 weeks. It was an ESP LTD B-15. Lovely bass, in technical terms everything about it was fantastic for the money, but it just wasn't me. I couldn't justify £180 for 5 extra notes. I've since restrung one if my 4 strings to BEAD for the occasions I might need to go so low, and it's absolutely fine.
I don't regret buying my 5-string, but I bought a Peavey Millenium BXP on purpose because I knew that I was happy being a 4-string bass player. I have a 5 in my collection in case I'm asked to use it, but 99% of the time I play my 4-string basses.
I bought a cheaper 5-string because I knew that I wouldn't be playing it a lot. By the way, for a <$300 bass, the Peavey Millenium BXP isn't so bad, IMO.
I bought a cheaper 5-string because I knew that I wouldn't be playing it a lot. By the way, for a <$300 bass, the Peavey Millenium BXP isn't so bad, IMO.
I've owned a couple of five strings in the past, but never really tried to learn them, as they were guitars traded through or bought to sell.
I got my first "real" five string less than a month ago. I didn't do it the "right way". I didn't go try any out and I bought on line (ebay, used). I've played Jazz basses pretty much exclusively for several years, so when I bought a five, I bought a Jazz bass. I went MIM, used, just in case I didn't like the concept. When I first got it and hit the B string, I thought "Oh, hell!" Loose and rattley and, to me, useless.
Nonetheless, I spent the afternoon tweaking the neck, bridge height, and intonation, and got it dialed in where it plays and sounds great. I locked both of my four stringers away and played the hell out of the five for a couple of weeks. I freed my "number one" from her case a couple days ago and now the four feels weird. I just naturally gravitate to the five now when I pick up my bass. I love it! I plan to get a US model in a year or so, but there's no hurry.
I got my first "real" five string less than a month ago. I didn't do it the "right way". I didn't go try any out and I bought on line (ebay, used). I've played Jazz basses pretty much exclusively for several years, so when I bought a five, I bought a Jazz bass. I went MIM, used, just in case I didn't like the concept. When I first got it and hit the B string, I thought "Oh, hell!" Loose and rattley and, to me, useless.
Nonetheless, I spent the afternoon tweaking the neck, bridge height, and intonation, and got it dialed in where it plays and sounds great. I locked both of my four stringers away and played the hell out of the five for a couple of weeks. I freed my "number one" from her case a couple days ago and now the four feels weird. I just naturally gravitate to the five now when I pick up my bass. I love it! I plan to get a US model in a year or so, but there's no hurry.
This is my first post on this forum, but being that this particular subject seems rather apt for my situation, I figure that this is as good a place to start posting as any.
I used to play back in college for a couple years, but my studies and work wound up taking all of my time and I ended up not playing anymore. After the recession hit I become unemployed for a time, I finally decided to sell all of my basses(didn't play them and I needed the money). Anyway, my first bass was an OLP MusicMan fiver. It wasn't my main bass, but it was a good bass that was fun to play and being that I am lazy, I find it an excellent alternative to dropping my E on a four string bass.
Long story short, my financial situation improved and I started jonzing to start laying down some sweet grooves, so I decided to get back into bass playing again and I made the conscious decision to start out with a five string bass and here's why. First is the versatility, being that I wanted to be able to have that extra range without having to drop tune or buy any extra basses, a five string bass is ideal for this. Then there is the skill area, most five string basses have a wider fingerboard and tighter string spacing, if you manage to get good at playing on a five string, whenever you pick up a four string bass, playing will usually become that much easier(at least for me anyway).
I wound up getting myself a Washburn Taurus five string, and if you decide to go with a five string, I highly recommend it. It is relatively affordable as basses go(usually about $500 new at a guitar shop) and IMHO good enough quality to keep it as a main player as you get better down the road. From what I gather, opinions differ as to the sound, but being that it's a well built neck thru design, that issue can be solved by upgrading the hardware and electronics should you feel the need.
I used to play back in college for a couple years, but my studies and work wound up taking all of my time and I ended up not playing anymore. After the recession hit I become unemployed for a time, I finally decided to sell all of my basses(didn't play them and I needed the money). Anyway, my first bass was an OLP MusicMan fiver. It wasn't my main bass, but it was a good bass that was fun to play and being that I am lazy, I find it an excellent alternative to dropping my E on a four string bass.
Long story short, my financial situation improved and I started jonzing to start laying down some sweet grooves, so I decided to get back into bass playing again and I made the conscious decision to start out with a five string bass and here's why. First is the versatility, being that I wanted to be able to have that extra range without having to drop tune or buy any extra basses, a five string bass is ideal for this. Then there is the skill area, most five string basses have a wider fingerboard and tighter string spacing, if you manage to get good at playing on a five string, whenever you pick up a four string bass, playing will usually become that much easier(at least for me anyway).
I wound up getting myself a Washburn Taurus five string, and if you decide to go with a five string, I highly recommend it. It is relatively affordable as basses go(usually about $500 new at a guitar shop) and IMHO good enough quality to keep it as a main player as you get better down the road. From what I gather, opinions differ as to the sound, but being that it's a well built neck thru design, that issue can be solved by upgrading the hardware and electronics should you feel the need.
Playing at church several times a week, back in the 80's, I had a Hipshot D tuner on my 4 string. I soon found myself leaving it in D most of the time. Not really enjoying the change in tuning intervals between the low D and the next A string, I figured it was time for a 5. I bought a cheap Washburn, and soon changed out the EMG Selects for real EMG's, and built a great preamp for it. I moved on to a 35" scale Peavey Axcellerator, change the fingerboard on my Washburn, and moved the neck and bridge, making it 35" scale. I never played a 4 again since I made the switch in the late 80's, except for giving lessons. I don't use the G string all that much, so a 6 doesn't appeal to me, but that's strictly due to the style of my playing, and the music I play.
For years now, playing a 4 string feels limited and like I have a finger missing. I have several 5 strings, and two 4 strings. The 4 strings are rarely used, and again, only for giving lessons.
For years now, playing a 4 string feels limited and like I have a finger missing. I have several 5 strings, and two 4 strings. The 4 strings are rarely used, and again, only for giving lessons.
My first was a Peavey Millenium BXP, made in China. I played around with it to see if I could adapt. I did, hallelujah! I sold it and bought a deluxe 55-94. I haven't been without at least one fiver in the 'tool box' ever since. 
I don't think my brain could deal with a drop tuner. As long as I have a good fiver, I won't be going there...
I don't think my brain could deal with a drop tuner. As long as I have a good fiver, I won't be going there...
Regret, no. However, after the initial novelty wore off, I found that I didn't really have a need for the extra range. I tried multiple tunings - B>G, E>C, D>C - but it just didn't do it for me. I've got a 4 stringer tuned to drop D (.120), and that does the trick for me. In a pinch, I can drop it to C. I had it for 3 years. I ended up selling my 5 string and bought another 4.
I just bought my first 5er as a Christmas present to myself. I don't regret getting a 5 string, but I'm not all together happy with my choice. I got a really good deal so I bought one with a wider neck than I was really planning on, with the expectation that I would be able to get used to it, but Its very difficult.
So my advice would be to make sure you try one out for a pretty extended amount of time to make sure it is comfortable to play.
So my advice would be to make sure you try one out for a pretty extended amount of time to make sure it is comfortable to play.+1
Coming from classical guitar (started as "Yo dude, you play the classic using fingers, hell you can play bass!") I initially found the finger spacing on 4's to be too much and got a 6 string old Myung Signature for a really good deal back in 2000. I sold that sometime during the way but my main bass now still is a 6 stringer and I love it
as a lefty I never tried a bass in a store ... and I wanted a 5 strings for various reasons. I got one and stick with it as it was what I wanted.
Never regret it, never regret it when I went the 6 strings way.
Never regret it, never regret it when I went the 6 strings way.
