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Does A 4 String Have A Better E Than A 5 String?

Does A 4 String Have A Better E Than 5+ String Basses?

  • Absolutely

    Votes: 33 23.6%

  • Absolutley Not

    Votes: 73 52.1%

  • Undecided

    Votes: 34 24.3%
  • Total voters
    140
#22
Otso said:
IT all depends on the position of one of Jupiter's moons. I can't remember which one but there was a topic about this some time ago.
Click to expand...

I think I recall there was a prominent player who said something to the extent that the E was better on either a 4 or a 5 (can't remember which). I have a few basses where I have 4 and 5 string versions and I never noticed one having a significantly different E string.
 
#23
I play a 5 and a 4 string. It's a matter of how the sound is set. I find that on the 4 string that I can dial in more on the low end for a fatter E string than on the 5 string. The reason being that if I try using the same bass tone settings on the 5 then the B string is too boomy. Instead, the bass is backed off until the B string sounds good, which thins the E a bit.

Different basses, different voicings...
 
#24
a_ribbon said:
this is actually a really good question. i'm a four string player myself, but i've kind of wondered what a 35 inch scale does to an e string. everyone is like ZOMG MUST NOT HAVE FLOPPY BBBBBBBBBBBB!!!!!1111:eyebrow: does anyone think of what that does to the other strings?

that's the only thing that i can think of... maybe the 35 inch scale makes the e a little too tight?

i hope someone more informed than me[/us?] answers this! :hyper:
Click to expand...

If you're worried about that then get a fanned fret bass. :smug:
 
#28
I think it has a lot more to do with more than just the number of strings,... as has been said construction comes into it,...

funnily enough I bought an OLP MM2 4 string because of its boomy E,... but the pickups are very bad for the D and G strings :(

yamaha rbx375 everything is powerful and tight, same goes for the K5 (though I think the K5 despite having slightly quiter output from pickups has a much better tone)

all in all I prefer the feel and output of the E on the OLP and the K5,... though thats just user preference and reflects nothing on the rbx375's E string at all :)
 
#29
Ok then...........scale differences aside, if we were talking about 34 scale 4s vs 34 scale 5+ stringers, would you guys with experience with those basses say the same......As a matter of fact, let's do a poll....?
 
#30
Ace Of Bass said:
Ok then...........scale differences aside, if we were talking about 34 scale 4s vs 34 scale 5+ stringers, would you guys with experience with those basses say the same......As a matter of fact, let's do a poll....?
Click to expand...


All my Basses are 34 inches, hasn't had any detrimental affect on the B strings either,... I think its more to do with good construction than a given, X many strings or X length...


that said im hopin the weak D and G strings on the OLP is just because of the pickup :hmm: otherwise its actually a really decent cheap bass!
 
#31
I can't see how there would be a difference at all between the E string on a 4 or 5. If the string tension is the same, the scale length is the same, the brand of string is the same, and the build quality is the same then there shouldn't be a difference at all. The only difference is that there's another string directly above the E and that may cause you to attack the E string differently since you don't want to hit the B accidentally. So I think if someone actually believes that 4's have better E's than 5's then it's all in their head IMO.
 
#32
capnsandwich said:
I can't see how there would be a difference at all between the E string on a 4 or 5. If the string tension is the same, the scale length is the same, the brand of string is the same, and the build quality is the same then there shouldn't be a difference at all. The only difference is that there's another string directly above the E and that may cause you to attack the E string differently since you don't want to hit the B accidentally. So I think if someone actually believes that 4's have better E's than 5's then it's all in their head IMO.
Click to expand...

I still think that the slight difference in size, shape & mass between a 5 & 6 will affect the way the string vibrates & thus will sound & feel different. Admittedly(IMO), the difference is probably more than 99.999% in one's head.
 
#33
capnsandwich said:
I can't see how there would be a difference at all between the E string on a 4 or 5. If the string tension is the same, the scale length is the same, the brand of string is the same, and the build quality is the same then there shouldn't be a difference at all. The only difference is that there's another string directly above the E and that may cause you to attack the E string differently since you don't want to hit the B accidentally. So I think if someone actually believes that 4's have better E's than 5's then it's all in their head IMO.
Click to expand...

only other thing I can think of is I use the B as a thumbrest on my 5 alot,... where as on my 4 string I don't have that luxury so I tend to 'attack' each E differently, find I actually have a bit more control on the 5er though,...
 
#35
My experience is that I prefer the E on a 4-string. Several times I have tried multiple 4 and 5 strings of the same brand (Stingrays usually). Each time there were at least two of each (4 and 5) and they were all played through the same amps/speakers.

I also have the same experience with basses I have owned. The E on a 4 string sounds fatter with a harder attack and less sustain. Kind of like the difference between a bolt-on and neck-through, although not as noticeable.

The stiffer, higher tension neck on a 5-string might contribute to this. It's not a night-and-day difference, and it's certainly possible that I am fooling myself, but I don't think so.

Lately I find I prefer the low-mid response and decreased sustain of a 4-string bolt-on. In fact, I think I might prefer my Fender to my NYC Sadowsky for the same reasons. Yeah, I can't believe it either.
 
#36
smeet said:
The stiffer, higher tension neck on a 5-string might contribute to this. It's not a night-and-day difference, and it's certainly possible that I am fooling myself, but I don't think so.
Click to expand...

See, if you say that the neck is stiffer on a 5'er more than on a 4 then what you're saying is that the build quality is different. That would make sense if that was the case. The Lakland 55-02's have graphite rods in their necks while the 44-02's do not so the tension would be tighter on a 5 than a 4, but if they were built the same then I really don't see where there would be a difference, other than maybe the whole higher mass bridge, but then again if you noticed it then you're way too sensitive to stuff like that.:D
 
#37
Yeah, I still can't vote from the options available. My write-in: 'No two basses are the same, even *identical* ones. A 4 will often feel and/or sound better to many, but I don't like blanket statements like the thread's title. So, sometimes- but it may or may not be due to the added string. Vaguely ambiguous & moreless uncertain, I guess...
:D
 
#38
I like the E of a 4 better than the E of most 5s, depends on the 5 though.

where I really notice a tonal and feel difference is on the A, my main 5 has a great range over all 5 open strings but to me and my hands/ears, I really prefer the sound of the A string of a Fender style bass, not on a 2+2 styled or a 3+1 styled but a good ol' 4 in line headstocked Fender styled bass, those open A's kick ass.
:bassist:




and there is an audible difference. very audible. and resonance in the hands as well. and to say there isn't.. well, that opinion is expressible in the spirit of goodwill towards silly differing opinions :smug:
 

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