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Do I REALLY need a 5 string?

#41
It really depends on your genre and how much you are willing to use the Low B.

There are plenty of songs that my band does that I can play on the A string, but using my B instead gives it a much more heavy and present feel. Two things I can speak to, that have become givens on a 5'er for me, is a preamp and preferably active pickups. Companies that have been making pickups, cabs, speakers, and such for decades have no problem hitting the low E and doing it justice...the B can be a bit more evasive.

I've found I actually like lighter strings, due to tonal issues, than heavier ones on my active basses. I tune down to D on my Warwick 4 string with .045-.100 strings and it sounds amazing. Even when I would adjust my volume and EQ for HOURS, a .105 didn't find that happy medium between good tone and enough thunder without overloading my gear. I am currently working on finding that same medium for my new Peavey Cirrus, I will be getting the same DR style strings that are on my Warwick for it.

I would give the 5'er a chance, it's easy to pick up for some people....but you have to learn to utilize it to its fullest potential. Just like with a new effects pedal or perhaps a playing technique, the easy part is learning how to use it...the hard part is learning how to utilize it ;)
 
#42
I play in a hard rock band (mix of covers and originals) and I own only 5-strings. I've found that I maybe use the low string on 1-2 songs per set. It's mainly a convenience thing for me; it enables me to play songs that are below a D (mainly nu metal and similar) with the same bass without worrying about my intonation getting all wonky.
 
#43
I switched to 5 string in 1987 - had to order it (not many sitting around in music stores at that time in Ottawa). I have not gone back to 4 since and do not even own a 4 string. I use the B string in almost every song I play. I will often move up the range on the B string. I recently switched from playing alt. rock/pop originals for many years to country covers (yeh, I know a big change) and the B string really comes in handy I find.
 
#44
jgroh said:
I bought a G&L L2500 a few years ago after playing only 4 strings for 20+ years. Even though I do love it and will keep it for a long time, I found that I dont ever go below a low D. It just doesnt sound good to me even in my band playing covers that DID use 5ers and lower notes. Weird. So that is leading me to think about just getting Hipshot Detuners instead for when I need it.
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I usually take an L2500 to my main gig but lately I have been taking a 4 with a d-tuner and it works for me. Do miss that G&L tone though... That's the curse of G&L, once you go there you may find yourself wishing that all your basses sounded like one!
 
#45
Munjibunga said:
For me, playing a 5-string is less about the low notes than the ease of playing 5 frets up the neck. All but one of my 15 basses are 5-strings.
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+1 5 strings are not just for dropping bassbombs. I pretty much use it for position playing. I've just recently picked up a 4 string but I'm not going to be getting rid of the 5 that's for sure. When the song is Eflat, I'm very glad I've got a 5'er.
 
#47
I have one foot in each world with 4's and 5's and it's beginning to tax me. I find I have latched on to 5's quite well and am just beginning to get mileage out that extra string. I am using it more often and especially when learning something new. I really have a hard time re learning stuff I do on 4 though. And since I double on upright I can't abandon it. Switching back and forth is doable, but it certainly adds baggage to the process. I am now really leaning to keeping a 4 and going deeper into 5'ers. I'm an older guy and my hands have lots of miles on them, I don't know if the 5 string format will hasten their decline or not.
 
#51
You're the only one who can answer that question. And do a search, since this is definitely one of those dead horse topics.

Personally, I thought I needed a 5 banger, but I found myself playing 4ers more often than not, so I'd say "NO, you do not need a 5 string." However, if you're more comfortable playing one it's far from us to stop you from doing so.
 
#52
I find the 5 string to feel unnatural to play. It's not symetrical. I find I have to concentrate a lot more when I play a 5. However I keep one around, and considering a second because it is nice to have the oprion.

To me even numbered strings make sence just because that is what I learned and have played for 20+ years. But the 5 string is starting to grow on me though I can't see me ever using one for my main stick
 
#53
stflbn said:
You don't 'have' to play lower than E. 5-string gives you the option to play E higher on the neck on the B string and have access to more notes... also makes it very easy to transpose songs learning this way.

Personally, I don't care what was originally recorded with. Tasteful use of a B-string can add to ANY music style.

IMHO.
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I agree, I play a fretless 5'er with tapewounds.. Even though I rarely go below E. I use the B string for a deeper more thumpy tone from the fatter string and lower tension.

I use it for dramatic glissendos too, where I could only slide down a full step or two on the E string I can slide down a lot more on the B

But all in all, even though I don't use it THAT much, I never feel like it's in the way. It's always a place to anchor my thumb when playing the E. And I love the extra potential for additional tones and phrases..
 
#55
VanillaThundah said:
It really depends on your genre and how much you are willing to use the Low B.
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There are a 4 or 5 bass players at my church. One guy has a 70's pre CBS Fender jazz (4 of course). He is the best player out of the bunch. Unlike his counterparts, I find at times that he is playing on top of the music instead of under it. The keyboard player is sharing his musical space to often. With that observation, switching to 5's was a must. It just made more sense for my taste in the playing situations that are available for me.

4 bangers are awesome (Jaco, Stanley, Marcus, Victor) but I'm a five or more guy.
 
#58
ppal said:
5'ers are great for playing latin, country, or rock...anything that uses a strong dose of octave/fifth type of playing.
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I agree. I have played for nearly 30 years and have always been a 4 string player. I have kept a couple of 5's around thinking I would need them someday. I was very close to selling them a few weeks back and then I got a call from a modern country band. They sent me their charts and I tried to work through them with a 4 string and after about an hour gave in and pulled out my G&L L2500 and haven't looked back.
 
#59
I know it's a little ignorant of me but I always considered country music to be more "traditional" and not use lower notes. I see a lot of you 5-string bassists saying that 5-strings is great for country. I was surprised to see this. Do many country bands tune below E? I know next to nothing about country music.
 
#60
OP: the tool depends on the job. There are pro situations that require the lower register. But, they are pretty much in the minority. For most cover gigs, you can definitely cover the required role using a 4 with a Hipshot D-tuner. There are not a lot of cover tunes that require notes below the low D. The 4 is hardly outdated.

Beyond that, there are some very nice 5's and 6's out there, which can be a blast to play. The world is your oyster.

OTOH, there are also situations going both ways where the perception can matter. Going into auditions blind, one never really knows what the situation will call for. I've certainly seen bands that want the 4, and bands that have been militant that they want a 6. I think the perception/preference thing can be a lot more discriminating than the actual function of the different instruments. IME.

the thing I am currently enjoying is that the 4 with the Hipshot is an amazingly versatile instrument. Cracks me up.
 

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