Do I need a 4 string if I have a 5?

[Fastfwd]

Is there some advantage to having both a 4 and 5 strings or do people just start with a 4 and then get a 5 and they just decide to keep the 4?

I don't have a bass yet. I was going to get a 4 strings but now i'm thinking how bad can it be to have and extra string that will be there if I ever need it?

On a guitar I would not want a 7 strings because I would not be able to play my chords correctly. Is it the same on a bass?

 

[bassteban]

I have 4, 5, 6 & 7 string basses. The 4 is the easiest to slap, the 5 I'm most comfotable with, the 6 is good for pretend-guitar type chordal stuff, & the 7(a fretless) is very challenging.

Edit: I don't need a bass at all, but I very much enjoy having several different ones. No right or wrong answer here(IMO); some are one-bass types, some like 'em all, some play flute.

 

[Figjam]

Some people feel more comfortable playing certain things on a 4. In my case, I had a 4 that I loved and now I have a 5 that I love. The 4 is a backup, I havent found a reason to play the 4 instead of the 5 yet. Some people like slapping on a 4 best. I actually find that my 5er is more comfortable for double thumbing stuff because the string spacing is tighter, and the neck pickup gives me something to rest my fingers on.

 

[Ruddwijk]

i'm buying a 4 string ric. i dont need 5 strings for what i'll be using it for, and i feel more comfortable with more string spacing when i use a pick

 

[Kenny Allyn]

I started with a 4 ... then asked myself the same question you did, and got started with 5s ... now except for my lone Warwick 5 (and I won't sell it) went back to 4s ... they just work for me.

 

[bigbajo60]

I feel much more comfortable "rockin' out" on 4.

I get much more $$ "giggin' out" on 5.

 

[Figjam]

I agree about the rocking out bit. Sometimes with my band its nice to use my 4 because a 5er requires a little more attention to detail and cleaner technique, but when i use a 4 i can enjoy myself a bit more. Also my sterling is lighter than my sr5.

 

[Fastfwd]

Ah great. Now I'm even more confused about what to get. I think I'll just keep playing bass with my guitar and the octave down on my multi effect.



I'm kidding.

 

[SamJ]

All I play is 4's, I have need for a 5.. The Double Bass has lasted for several centuries on 4 strings tuned EADG.. Bach, Mozart, one down to Elvis, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Rush made it on 4 strings...

I'm good.


Now, if you're playing with a synth band, I can see needing a low B.

 

[Dave Grossman]

Is there some advantage to having both a 4 and 5 strings or do people just start with a 4 and then get a 5 and they just decide to keep the 4?

It's sad but there are still some old-school jazz players who won't hire someone who plays anything more than 4 strings. That is, if they will even settle for anything other than a double-bass.

- Dave

 

[Ste_m3]

depends what music you wanna play i guess... (major generalisation ahead, be warned!) But unless your gonna play in a synth band, as mentioned before, or a slipknot tribute band your really not going to need more than a four. at worst you could probably drop down to D or C.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Now that I play 5s 100% of the time, I refuse to buy a 4 string. I know that I'll reach for a note on the B and it won't be there! The bad thing, though, is that it is tough, if not impossible, to find certain styles of basses in 5 strings. An example is a hollow body electric, like the Jack Casady, Ibanez Artcore, or Lakland. Bummer, I'd snatch a 5 string version up in a second..

 

[Freddels]

I feel much more comfortable "rockin' out" on 4.

I get much more $$ "giggin' out" on 5.

You get paid by the string? Interesting.

Could you elaborate a little?

 

[bassjus]

I play exclusivley 4 strings. I feel very comfortable with it. I never feel as though I need the extra range or the lesser amount of position shifts. I don't feel as though I'd use a 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12. And I don't feel as though I really need to give a solid reason why besides I don't like it.

 

[Thunder_Fingers]

even though i realy enjoy my 5 stringer, i much prefer 4 stringers, im not a big fan of wide fretboards... max 4 string p bass.

hey, whats enough for Geddy Lee, Steve Harris and John Entwistle...

 

[KeithBMI]

The feel (and look) of a sunburst Fender Jazz bass fits me like a glove. I've never needed another string, but I certainly wouldn't kick it out of bed if someone handed a 5'er to me.

 

[SteveC]

I have a 4 and a 5. I use them on different gigs, the same gig, whatever. Sometimes I switch just to play the other bass. I like them both. there are a few things that "require" a 5, but other than that I just like a change now and again.

 

[bigbajo60]

You get paid by the string? Interesting.

Could you elaborate a little?

Translation: The gigs that are covered using a 5'er are much more lucrative (weddings, corporates, etc.) ... but the gigs that I cover with the 4 are the ones where we get to play what "we like".

 

[Tom Howland]

I grew up playing 4-string basses.
I went from 4 to 6, played the 6'er for 3-years.
Went to a 5-string for two years.
Now back to a 4-string.
Nothing stays the same.
Play what makes you happy?

 

[Ed Goode]

I have 4's, 5's, 6' & 7's .... use them all for any of a variety of purposes. I use the 6's & 7's most, the 5 the least.

Play whatever you're comfortable with .... string count doesn't matter, use what you need and like .....