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Comfort/playability, tone and affordability are far more important than the number of strings (looks are also really important for many people). There are some ways of moving around the neck that are typical 4 string that I really like the sound of and I do on a 5 despite the fact they're not the easiest way around on a five. Get the best bass you can afford that you really like and adapt - unless it's a genre/set list issue. My two bob's worth.
No, I have a really nice Adamovic Halo 5 string, and lately just took up Squier precision 4 string that sounds and plays surprisingly amazing
This. Going back to a 4 really opened up my creativity.
I still own and enjoy both. The 4-string gets 95% of the play time these days. It all depends what music you play and what does the job better.
Going to a 5-string doesn't make the 4 obsolete, but if you play the 5 exclusively for long enough, you may find you can't or don't want to go back. It's been 8 years for me and I've become so used to the bigger neck, the E string not being my lowest string, and being able to play all that F/F#/Bb/B stuff in the middle of the neck that I could never return to 4 strings. Every time I pick one up now, the neck feels tiny and I find myself playing the open low E like a gerbil trapped in a maze. I don't play a lot of notes on the B string but I've gotta have it, especially that D and Eb. And before you say "D-tuner" I'm too stupid to play in drop tunings. 
Imo it depends on the style of music you play. I was a 5er all the time untill i got a couple really nice sounding 4 strings. Depending on the style your going for, a four string can make the world of diffrence in your approach to bass lines.
On the other side a 5 can give you octave choices that you dont have with a 4.
I like to break it up and not let one collect dust. I structured my practice routine so i can be comfortable on both.
On the other side a 5 can give you octave choices that you dont have with a 4.
I like to break it up and not let one collect dust. I structured my practice routine so i can be comfortable on both.
I played 4’s for 20+ yrs, then switched to 5’s in 2014. Play 5’s most of the time now, really prefer them. They seem to sound beefier than 4’s- not even including the low B string. I think the wider necks & increased mass contributes to this thicker sound. To me, 5’s are also easier to play due to more available note choices from a given position. I do have a Fullerton 62 reissue P bass that on rare occasions i’ll play tho, & i still enjoy it, & I don’t think 4’s will ever cease to be popular.
Actually not a fair point. When those guys were learning to play, and early in their career there were no 5 string basses. It’s quite possible that many of them would have used a 5 stringer had they been available. The real point is you can be a monster bassist and never use an extended range bass.
Does a 4-string bass become obsolete after picking up a 5-string?
i have a hard time believing you're actually worried, but if you are: you'd be the only one!
4 strings will never be obsolete as long as there are guitar players who get confused by your fiver when they try to follow you through a song.
I see metalheads playing both. Detuning an estring for drop d tuning makes some riffs a lot easier. Also the string spacing on a fiver is a bit tighter than a four string. My playing is on hold for a bit while I work out some career stuff, but when I did play I used both almost interchangeably and find that some guys with five strings don't always know when it's appropriate to use that extra range - only time and discipline can really fix that.
Edit: you're also playing metal, where gobs of low end and a bit of grindey highs can be great.
Edit: you're also playing metal, where gobs of low end and a bit of grindey highs can be great.
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The only thing limited is your thinking--- I don't hate on 5s but 99% of every good bassline ever played was played on a 4. Marcus Miller is limited? Mark King is limited? the list goes on for miles. Ha, good joke.
IMO_ 5's are for lazier players who want to corner-camp at one position (usually 5th fret) and LIMIT their playing, vs more adventurous 4-string bassists who play the whole neck of the bass.
IME- The only thing I would want a 5 for is to play the low E-Flat tunes. But the extra weight, muting requirements, price, neck width, etc... isn't worth it for me- when I can tune down my 4- in 30 seconds.
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I was going to suggest this as well.
I had my 4 string tuned to BEAD for a while, but I started to miss the G string for some of the more melodical stuff I was playing so I compromised to DGCF and stuck a capo on the 2nd frets of all four strings if I needed open EADG strings, or just on the top three strings for drop D (DADG) without having to relearn the fingerboard.
I’m currently tuned in 5ths in CGDA to get even more range, but I’m playing a lot more classical/cello stuff these days. It may not work as well for metal (or anything written for typical 4ths tuning - unless you’re writing your own lines of course).
