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Do you have to have a 5?

#61
I played 4s exclusively for 30+ years. Switching to a 5 was initially a disaster. Lots of mistakes. In 2020 I hid the 4s and forced myself to use the 5. The band loves the tone, andI love the wider neck, as well. I still have the 4s, but now feel more comfy on the 5s and feel like something is missing when I switch back to 4s.
I think if I was just playing 70's rock covers, I'd stay with a 4. I can get far more aggressive with a 4 because it takes less muting effort, and I get around on it easier. BUT--- for playing pop, jazz, country (and rock) in a dance band, the 5 is the best (for me). I don't do the Billy Sheehan thing. I want a solid groove. Low freqs get butts onto the dance floor, and a low F sounds fatter on the B string than it does on the E string. All just depends on what songs you're playing. I prefer 5s now. I keep my 4s because . . . I just can't part with them yet. I need therapy for this, but they've been good to me and I occasionally pick one up and noodle around with it for a few minutes. Then I grab the 5 and practice the set list. I want to regain my fluency with the 4s someday though.
4s are definitely lighter, and cheaper to string. But 5s GRUNT. They're fatter sounding.
I can see the value in a 4 tuned BEAD though.
 
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#63
I like and play fivers almost exclusively though about half my basses are four stringers. The main reason I play fivers is because when I show up to play at church, sometimes the key previously selected ends up being too high or low for one or more of the singers. We don't rehearse as a group until an hour before the service starts so walking into a rehearsal has many unknowns for me. Having a fiver makes it that much easier for me to change keys, especially if the key is Eb or any other key that might require open strings being played.

Some of the music we play is "Gospel" music which makes having a B string fun and sometimes almost necessary. We have two other bassists on the team that rotate in and out as needed. I am the only one that plays a 5 string so when the WL picks songs for the week I'm playing, he keeps in mind I have the capability of using the B and picks songs accordingly.
 
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#64
yes. A lot of modern music theatre requires a 5 string, or at least, a bass that can play down to the low B. In my bands many of my lines are written using the B string, or it can provide additional positions to make lines easier and provide different tonal options.

and c'mon, playing a thunderous low B through a big huge PA is one of the best feelings there is haha
 
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#65
I prefer a 5 or 6 string these days. It's really not because of the added notes below E, although those are nice accessories to the arsenal. It's more because of the ability to get a greater range of notes without having to change positions as far or frequently. I find it much more comfortable to play an extended range bass because of that. I understand how others find the wider necks uncomfortable and unwieldly. I do not have large hands, but through frequent practice, I was able to overcome that obstacle, concentrating heavily on maintaining good technique. YMMV of course.
 
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#66
I owned a 6 string instead of 5 and hated it. The lowest tuning I use is drop D and that has gotten me by on any situation I come across on my 4 string. Granted I don't play much written in the aughts or even the late 90's. I used to have Hipshot Detuner but don't even use that anymore. Keep one my spares tuned to drop D if I need it. YMMV.
 
#67
I like having a 5 for a lot of reasons, but here's an example of how having one was recently beneficial to me. I play with a singer/songwriter/guitarist who until recently tuned down a half step, and to make that work I did as well (usually with 4-string P-bass). That was fine, and though I didn't really love the somewhat darker timbre I could at least have the benefit of open strings when playing songs in E, A, etc. However, this guy recently decided to start tuning down another half step, and rather than tune to D-G-C-F I opted to use a 5-string in standard tuning. That obviously requires transposing everything, but so far it's been ok, with a little more thinking involved of course o_O
 
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#70
groovepump said:
I lost fluency with 4s now, too. I hesitate to gig one because I go for notes on the B string that don't exist.
Click to expand...
I agree...I liken it to going from a 4 speed transmission to a 5 speed and then trying to go back to a 4 speed. You're always searching for that 5th gear.
 
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#73
Hawk256 said:
I owned a 6 string instead of 5 and hated it. The lowest tuning I use is drop D and that has gotten me by on any situation I come across on my 4 string. Granted I don't play much written in the aughts or even the late 90's. I used to have Hipshot Detuner but don't even use that anymore. Keep one my spares tuned to drop D if I need it. YMMV.
Click to expand...
I had a drop D tuner on one of my 4 stringers...I could never get used to it due to muscle memory, I guess.. I ended up taking it off and putting a "normal" tuner back on and threw the drop D machine in my parts bin.
 
#76
TheArchitect said:
I like the idea of having that low B string. As a practical matter though, what are the real benefits of it. I'm not sure if the perks of having those couple of notes out weighs the practical advantages of the lighter weight, smaller neck etc that would be in play 100% of the time.

I am considering options for a very "modern" bass. I have a 6 string and that neck is so wide the instrument is a beast to play. It is not really giving me a good read on the value of the low B. I am still leaning towards a modern 4, but I don't want any personal bias' from my experience with that 6 to influence the choice
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only for about 6 months, loan to be with the option to buy, couldn't justify buying it. I play Classic Rock music not much need for a low B
 
#77
TheArchitect said:
I like the idea of having that low B string. As a practical matter though, what are the real benefits of it. I'm not sure if the perks of having those couple of notes out weighs the practical advantages of the lighter weight, smaller neck etc that would be in play 100% of the time.

I am considering options for a very "modern" bass. I have a 6 string and that neck is so wide the instrument is a beast to play. It is not really giving me a good read on the value of the low B. I am still leaning towards a modern 4, but I don't want any personal bias' from my experience with that 6 to influence the choice
Click to expand...

No. Of course you dont need one.
 
#78
TheArchitect said:
I like the idea of having that low B string. As a practical matter though, what are the real benefits of it. I'm not sure if the perks of having those couple of notes out weighs the practical advantages of the lighter weight, smaller neck etc that would be in play 100% of the time.

I am considering options for a very "modern" bass. I have a 6 string and that neck is so wide the instrument is a beast to play. It is not really giving me a good read on the value of the low B. I am still leaning towards a modern 4, but I don't want any personal bias' from my experience with that 6 to influence the choice
Click to expand...

I do not have to have a 5.
 
#79
I've played 5s and 6s so long that a 4 is alien to me. I have monkey fingers so wide necks aren't a problem. The only problem I'm having with 6s anymore is the weight. As I get older that is the only issue playing a 3 or 4 hour gig. I may start a night with a 6 but, end up on a 5. I don't buy basses for color I like playability and sound like most. You have do what fits you and the music you play. For what I do I need a B string. Good luck!
 
#80
I don't own one presently, I used to.
I don't find frequencies lower than a low C# (I tune down a half step and then have a Bass Extender on the Low Eb which gets me to a C#) to be terribly useful in a live setting, so I have never felt like I needed a low C or B, frequency-wise.
The only time I ever "want" one is when I'm learning something new that was originally played on a five and I don't want to have to transpose the fingerings, but I usually just transpose them.
 
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