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Does a 4-string bass become obsolete after picking up a 5-string?

#241
Fair enough.. my argument is that no instrument is obsolete based purely on the fact that adding strings for someone who is already use to it and the learning curve might not justify the advantages (hence the 6 string mention) I'll address each line to not be ambiguous.

So no 1 BEAD bass would not accomplish everything- off the top of my head an open D strong alternating with the octave and 7b on the next highest string (which you no longer have) Even Billy Sheehan who primarily is USE to a 4 banger needs a double neck with the BOTH BEAD and EADG tuning...Billy is a pretty great player... why would he still need the standard neck (besides the obvious spectacle) if he could have done everything on a 4.. going back to ppl confusing being use to something and breaking out of comfort.

I'll only address a few out of time constraints.

I mention the ADGC bass only because it was brought up as a solution early... it's ridiculous.

And AGAIN.. it's not that the 5er makes anything obsolete.. don't mince words. Does having a 5 eliminate getting a 4 because something isn't covered.. you bet. Getting a 5er and getting familiar on it definitely eliminates HAVING to get a four.. That logic doesn't work the other way around. (I don't want to bust out an example of a local 3 string bass player doing everything HE does on it and not needing the 4 string... we'll be here all day)

Again the reason I think people are getting defensive is not necessarily because of the 5er vs 4 thing.. I think it might be more being familiar with the 4 and someone being told they NEED a 5 and they HAVE to relearn... that's not the case. No one should tell anyone that. Play what you comfortable with learning.. I was just starting some of MY thoughts on the advantages and why the work around for trying to achieve the same desired results might not be practical.

It's these applying logic trains to opinions that don't move the conversation forward.



blue4 said:
One BEAD 4 string would accomplish everything you need. If you don't need the C string, why would you need to bring two basses? Your reason for playing a 5 are simply preference, not a "need". Again, there's nothing in your post that renders a 4 "obsolete". Which is the argument of a few and the reason for any defensiveness shown by people.
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#243
shababy32 said:
Uhh, didn't Jaco play a 4 string? The greatest limited range bass player of all time! Seriously, I just like playing a 4 string bass. I do buy 5 string sets of strings though. The "B" string makes great "tobacco" pipe cleaners
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Yes and so do Geddy, Wooten and Clarke. I mean, their range is sooooo limited and they sound so average. Too bad they never play 5 strings, those amateurs! Those guys can do more with 4 strings effectively than any of us in here could do with 6...
 
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#244
bassbenj said:
Bad news dude. Everything Jaco did on his limited range bass has now already been said. Most of us are now looking for something new to say. ;)
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so you believe having more strings or octaves to be the way to say something new ? with that in mind lets get really into it and have everyone playing 17......no wait, 21 .....no 28 string basses Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!!

Better yet lets all play the Harp instead:D

To quote "the big guy" from an episode of WKRP " I would like to submit that progress is not always such a great thing"

You could get a stick, a tin can and some rubber bands and say something new, think about it
 
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#245
Dr. Cheese said:
Going to a four after playing a five along time is a good wake up call. I noticed four string players playing much higher up the neck than I usually do made me realize I was not using all of the fingerboard effectively. I also find it good to have to play a line in Eb, D, Db, etc. an octave up. When I go back to five, my mind is open to more possibilities.
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This.

A Four makes me play differently to a Five and vice versa. I notice different things musically when playing either. In my opinion, owning both and playing both can only make you a better player. One is not necessarily “better” than the other, nor does one make the other obsolete.

For the record I started on a Four, then committed to playing Fives exclusively for a couple of years. I now own and play a couple of each. Would like to own a Six but every time I’ve tried one my hands just tangle up! Maybe it’ll click into place one day...
 
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#246
blueacid4l said:
And AGAIN.. it's not that the 5er makes anything obsolete.. don't mince words.
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My responses were aimed towards the title of the thread and a few who make the same claims in every one of the these threads. I do think it's worth noting as I did in my post you originally responded too that many of the arguments made about 4 vs 5s applies as well to 5 vs 6s. Yet some seem reluctant to acknowledge that and use many of the same defenses used on behalf of 4s. " I don't use the C, I can find those notes on the G string, etc."
That's really all I'm pointing out.
 
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#247
JustRoots said:
Hey! This is my first post on TalkBass!
I'm about to purchase a 5-string bass. This definitely is something I can use, I'm playing a lot of metal that needs that low B, and it'll be nice to be able to play in lower keys that would usually require different tunings (like drop-D) without needing to detune. However, my original 4-string was a big investment for me, and I'm worried it'll become obsolete once I start playing this 5'er. Is there any situation you'd rather use a four stringer over a five stringer? The only ones I could think of would be that the 5-string requires more accuracy when playing slap style, and it's more difficult to play bass lines incorporating chords on a five string. However, both of those can be overcome with the correct technique. So, will I have any practical use for my four string? I'm a bit worried it will end up collecting dust in the corner and I'll only play it because I want to use it for something, not because I need to.

Sorry if this has already been covered, I couldn't find an answer to this exact question with a search. Thanks!
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Maybe, just maybe. I'm guessing now because, you know, 13 pages but I'd say no.
Carry on.
 
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#248
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#250
Does a 4-string bass become obsolete after picking up a 5-string?
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For me it did.

I decided that there was no reason to carry on playing a 4 once I was up to speed with my 5. I put my P bass in the case shortly afterwards and 28 years later it's still there.

Who cares what anyone else plays. Play either or both, just make sure you play the bass that is the best you can find for the job you need to do.
 
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#252
wesonbass said:
Yeah, how many times has a guitarist said "I hate that d@#$ 5 string when showing him a line. :smug:
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I used to have one 5er tuned BEADG and one 5er tuned EADGC which really confused a guitarist friend of mine.

I remember a particular jam night we were hosting where he wanted to play my bass on a song while I went to the bar. He assumed it was the BEADG bass. He was wrong. He proceeded to play the bassline a fourth higher than it should have been. The real comedy (although somewhat worrying) was that he didn’t realise until I shouted “play it like a 4-string!” from the audience :laugh:
 
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#253
I started on a 4, but started playing 5-strings late last year.
It's nice to have the low B, but 5's can't replace 4's, IMO. I like having the option for both, and for certain genres/songs, yeah, a 5'r is the way to go. But I love playin 4's way more.

Long story short, playin a 5'r feels like a job. And I'm capable of doing it with SOME level of proficiency.
But playin a 4 just feels natural and fun, and I tend to groove a lot better on them.

Just my 2 cents.
 
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#254
Both are fine- 4 & 5 stringers; even 6 or more strings if you wish. And playing a 5-string does not make a 4-string obsolete.
Simple. I play fretted 4's only, but that's just me.

My only issue- If I EVER again read someone post up "...If they only made that bass available in a 5-string..." I want that member BANNED for life!:roflmao:
 
#256
It didn't for me. I generally prefer the feeling of a 4 string, however after messing around for a few years trying to get a 4 string to sound right tuned BEAD, I have stuck to using a 5 for songs that need a B, and 4s for everything else. If 35" scale 4 string basses for more common, I may have made one work. It is just so hard to get the volume and tone even across all the strings when a bass isn't made for it.
By the same token, 5 strings have wider necks, which isn't always comfortable for me, and the string spacing is more narrow, so I have to play more carefully. I'm not interested in paying songs written for D or C tunings on a 5. Transposing is too much work.
 
#259
I mainly play 4 strings but I have couple of 5 strings.
I find myself use 4 strings 95% of the time, unless what I play really need that extra 5 semi tone or in some cases I can have better finger position and less stretch with 5 strings

So no, I don't think 4 strings will be come obsolete once you got a 5er
If you don't need that extra string, it will just get in the way.
 
#260
bluesblaster said:
so you believe having more strings or octaves to be the way to say something new ? with that in mind lets get really into it and have everyone playing 17......no wait, 21 .....no 28 string basses Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!!

Better yet lets all play the Harp instead:D

To quote "the big guy" from an episode of WKRP " I would like to submit that progress is not always such a great thing"

You could get a stick, a tin can and some rubber bands and say something new, think about it
Click to expand...

Actually my piano has 88 notes.

I always say: Tone is where you find it. If baling wire between two nails on the side of a barn does it for you, then hey <my quote>
 
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