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

[bluesblaster]

While playing with a classic rock band for a couple years I found that playing a few of the modern hard core style tunes that the Drop D (even drop C) sounded and was easier to play than when I tried the same tunes on a five, which led me to wonder if that's the way they were recorded as well.

 

[SmokinJoe992]

As a player that primarily plays in cover bands, I feel like a good versatile 5 is all I need. If I was playing originals, or only playing one specific genre, I would pick a bass that fit that style. However, IMO if you are looking for one bass to cover everything you cannot beat a good 5 string.

 

[Zimborg]

I'm not aware that I ever insinuated that any instrument was "more superior" than any other - although I do advocate using the right tool for the job at hand...

I infered but you’re right, I don’t think you actually said that.

 

[mesaplayer83]

If you're playing drop D and you need an open D, then a four string tuned accordingly is really the way to go. I play fivers exclusively, but I can tell you there are a few basslines out there that are really a bear to wrangle on an E-standard tuned 5. Everlong by Foo Fighters or Slither by Velvet Revolver are a couple I have played both ways. While neither is particularly difficult, without the open D they just don't come out quite right.

Or maybe I'm not any good. That's always a possibility.

Killing In The Name Of is another - those songs are a bastard to play on a standard tuned 5 string, but a breeze to play on a drop tuned 4...

 

[chaak]

I play in a band and our music is a mixture between rock fusion progressive metal and post rock. Depending on the songs and or passages /sections within same song (at least in the studio) fingering positions and it is either a Fender Precision 4 strings (sometimes even strung with flats) or my Spector NS 5 strings they both have varying specs timbre and I play different things on each. the 5 strings allows for fast fingering positions with minimal movement, and easier to play chords on it and a modern HiFi tone (due to the B string and the 16.5 mm spacing). Whereas the Fender more for slapping classic P rumbling tone . My rule is I make sure the basses I buy and I GAS for are of different specs, woods, strings spacing, pick ups,electronics ...

 

[funkinbottom]

Hey! This is my first post on TalkBass!

Welcome to talkbass. I hope you enjoy your stay, and visit often. Wow, is @40Hz the only one with manners? Eight pages in and only one person to welcomed the poor guy to TB, before we started bombarding him with the 4/5 string argument. That said, I'll jump right in also.

First off I'll say, I kind of think the whole number of strings a bass has is much fuss over nothing really. What ever works for you. Like most everythings in life, it's all a matter of preference.
The thought of one making the other obsolete? Myself, I don't think so. They're all tools. We all seem to find a way to get the job accomplished with the tools most comfortable to us. Whether it's more strings, effects that give extended range (octave pedals and such), drop tuning, what ever. Personally, I tend to subscribe to the attitude that it's more about what you can do with a tool, more than what a tool can do. A very close friend play 5's only and teases me about playing only fours. I tell him "I guess I'm just old school" His response? You can play "old school" on a on a five. Here's right. I could if that was my preference. So, if you feel four strings are limited, get a 5er. But it has it's limits, so get a 6er. Wait, those have limits so get a.... you get the Idea.

I can't argue that a bass with more than four strings will get a wider range, but at last check, there are still only 12 notes, and all 12 are found on anything from a Kala bass uke, to a 5/6 string bass. So, all and all OP, I personally don't feel a four string will become obsolete. If you're feeling the need for more strings, by all means go for it. Heck, there's a couple guy's out there that feel all you need is two strings. Bottom line......whatever works for you.

 

[flojob]

I don't think it's obsolete, but I could see how a 4 string is redundant.

 

[lbbc]

Not for me. I had a 5'er for a year and sold it. That was 15 years ago and haven't missed it at all.

 

[zachoff]

I've owned 3 5-string basses. I've sold 3 5-string basses. Biggest problem for me is the lack of choices for passive 5-string basses... Plus the fact I don't like playing them.

 

[dabbler]

Different strokes for different folks. Every bass has its place:

and I, for one like having all my bases covered!

 

[ofajen]

Unless you can magically play notes that aren't there on your instrument, then it most certainly IS limiting you... That's fine *if* the music you play doesn't require those notes, but some of us play music that requires more/lower notes than a 4 string can provide...

It's OK to admit that you don't have the ability to play a 5 string - we won't judge, lol...

Behold the superior, 3 1/2 octave fingerboard of my avatar Wishbass and bow before it.

Otto

 

[funkinbottom]

I don't think it's obsolete, but I could see how a 4 string is redundant.

Redundant. How so?
redundant
[ri-duhn-duh nt]
adjective

1. characterized by verbosity or unnecessary repetition.
2. being in excess; exceeding what is usual or natural: a redundant part.
3. having some unusual or extra part or feature.

Like a B string maybe?

 

[mbell75]

Believe what you want, I don't care...

Exactly. You can't name even ONE popular modern rock or modern country player using a 5 string as their main bass because there are none. Thanks for proving my point. Even guys playing in rock bands who down tune everything use drop tuned 4 strings rather than 5s unless they are in metal bands. 4 is more than adequate, if it wasn't, you would see a ton of guys playing 5s.

 

[Afc70]

Nope. I switch back and forth when the song calls for the right tool. I’m been using these two lately for my current set list...



View attachment 3036672

Nice Quantum!! Never seen a white one, it looks fantastic!
I love mine also, they sound amazing.

 

[mesaplayer83]

Exactly. You can't name even ONE popular modern rock or modern country player using a 5 string as their main bass because there are none. Thanks for proving my point. Even guys playing in rock bands who down tune everything use drop tuned 4 strings rather than 5s unless they are in metal bands. 4 is more than adequate, if it wasn't, you would see a ton of guys playing 5s.

You really don't know what you're talking about, but it isn't my job to educate you - remain ignorant if you wish, I don't care...

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Hi! Welcome to TalkBass.

I’ve owned a number of 4-string basses since I started playing back in the mists of time. I bought a Spector 5-string well over twenty years ago. It sees regular use. I’ve kept some of those old 4-strings and have bought more 4-string basses since I got a 5-string. Those also see regular use.

The point is one does not need to rule out the other. Different basses for different things. If one bass will do it for you then go with just one. Otherwise feel free to own as many as you can responsibly afford. There’s no rule about that.

I personally see my 5-string as a completely other type of bass instrument. I play it completely differently than I play any of my 4-strings. It’s not just a standard bass with an extra string to me. Fingering, neck position shifting, chord voicing, etc. are all different for me on a fiver. Even my musical friends say I sound and play like I’m a completely different bassist whenever I pick up my Spector.

So I think if you try to approach each bass you play as if it’s its own thing, and the only one in existence, their individual strenghts and qualities will become apparent very quickly. And once you realize that no two basses are ever going to sound or play exactly alike, your question pretty much will answer itself.

Exactly this !!

 

[glocke1]

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!

I've been playing 4 string for far longer than I care to admit and I can't ever imagine calling it obsolete.

Heck, unless I wake up tomorrow with some massive ability to play jazz like John Coltrane, I can't even ever imagine getting to the point where I'd say I've "mastered" 4 string.

 

[vindibona1]

Hey! This is my first post on TalkBass!
I'm about to purchase a 5-string bass. ...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?

Sorry if this has already been covered, I couldn't find an answer to this exact question with a search. Thanks!

Just posted YESTERDAY??? I didn't have the patience to read through all the responses. So I'll just give my own thoughts.

Until January I owned one single bass, a 4 stringer jazz bass. I even installed a Drop-D on it. But I got GAS for a 5 string and (avoiding the long story) ended up with three of them. It took me a few weeks to get acclimated to the 5er's and I still fumble a bit sometimes. Even though you just add an extra string on top, my orientation was from low to high. It's taken some time and I'm about 90% fully functional with 5er's. And while my 4 string bass isn't "obsolete" it's begun to feel a bit foreign to me and I can't think of a situation now where I'd grab it and go, except that with broken-in D'Addario XLBT's I can dial in a Precision sound when needed.

So to directly answer your question "will a 5er make my 4 stringer obsolete"? Maybe. It depends on what you buy and how you use it.

I don't know where you are in the search/purchase process, but I found the specs on 5 string basses varying wildly, much more so than 6 string guitars. Nut width, string spacing, neck profile, fingerboard radius- so many hugely different variables. And there is no variable that is solely important on its own without considering all the variables together. I never would have guessed.

Good luck

 

[zacharybass76]

IMO, a 5 string IS a bass. Six and up, are extended range. A 4 string is an LRB - limited range bass.

I agree with this statement 100%.

I know! I mean all those legendary bassists like Jaco, Geddy, Entwistle, Jamerson, McCartney and all the others with their 5 and 6 string basses! Why would anyone ever want to play a 4?! Oh wait...

Your opinion and advice is in a VERY tiny minority.

Dude, you would be surprised. You are probably correct about this opinion being a minority, because there are a lot of limited range bassists out there (and I am not saying that some of these bassists like the ones you mentioned aren't great, or even legendary, because despite the limited range, they are just that). I wouldn't say it's a VERY tiny minority though, because I know a lot of bassists, great ones, who won't touch a 4 string anymore. I, myself, have quite the variety of basses in my arsenal... I own a few 4s, 5s, a couple of 6s, and even an 8, and I make use of all of them, but in my opinion, the 5 string bass is the definition of a BASS. And I understand and accept all other differing opinions, and I will not argue because their points are valid as well, but I stand by my opinion.

Now, to the OP... I think you can always make use of your 4 string despite having a 5'er. If nothing else, make it your back-up bass at gigs in case something goes wrong with your primary or you (and I do this more frequently than I should) break a string.

 

[BaltBass5]

Not if you know what you’re doing with a 4 string.