Let's crack open a can of worms here!
Ignorning the B string, do you find that 5 string basses sound different than 4 string basses?
It's hard to explain what I'm trying to get at here. I had a 4 paragraph post written out that went nowhere so I deleted that so let me try to sum this up and see where it goes.
Essentially, it just seems that I'm always chasing a 4 string that sounds as good as my 5 strings. I've had a lot of 5 strings (and a LOT of 4 strings) and it just seems that the 5 strings always have a deeper, clearer, stronger sound. Especially the E string. I just can't find that power from a 4 string bass, and I've had some NICE 4 string basses. And I currently own 5 of them. I always go back to my 5 strings though.
I thought maybe it was the scale length, as all of my current 5's are 35" scale. But then I remember back when I had a pair of 34" scale 5 strings and loved them as well.
Maybe I'm not finding the right 4 string, but it just seems that they all have a more upper mid sound and not as deep and clear like the 5's. But it seems that no matter how hard I try, after years of buying basses, I can't find a 4 string that I love the sound of, while incredible sounding 5 string basses just seem to fall in my lap...which literally happened...which is one reason I'm doing this thread.
Maybe I'm crazy?
What have you been smokin?
Basically you mean that if you took off the low B on a 5er, the rest of the strings sounds different? If all else equal you'll hear that the exact corresponding variant of each 4 and 5 string bass differs in density, and weight. The 5er weighs more due to (or thanks to) the added width of neck, added headstock dimension, wider pickups, wider body. If everything else is equal. I think you would find the same difference if compared the same 4er to another 4er with serial numbers right one after the other. Or any 5er. There are so many things "fluke" that one model of a bass can have that mojo in tone, while another totally dead, and you could ruminate until you die why it is so.
I would rather take that the added dimensions, density and weight plays a role - significantly - on ALL strings on the 5er. It isn't as easy as trying to find the same 5er (model brand) that has the same weight as the 4er. Or the other way around, because then you have to tamper and tinker with the wood, or thickness of the body and so on. It all resonates to some extent. I can very well think that the sustaining part of the other 4 strings is a tad longer, but it's so subtle that maybe only the distinguished player would take notice, while playing certain passages, and leaning in with finger attack. There's simply "more mass" involved in the 5 stringer. No matter how little. I am one of the few people who thinks the lightweight bodies of today, are detrimental to the low B's sound. Especially the open low B. The more rigid, dense, and "more mass" of the whole beam so to speak, the tighter and less flubby the sound. And yes, it comes as weight. You can't have it another way. My favorite thing to equal flubbiness out and equal tension among all strings, are fanned frets solution. There you have other factors to deal with. But not any of them detrimental, neither to weight or something else.
All this said, I think only the rest of the 4 strings sounds different only, not necessarily better.
