Does the "E" string really sound better on a 4-string?

[Fuzzbass]

I don't know, but to me, a low D sounds much better on a dropped-D 4-string than on a 5-string.

Not that it's supposed to be relevant or something.

Yes, this is off topic but I gotta comment: when I first started playing back in the 70's I loved the tone of detuned strings (full step or greater) because it sounded Black Sabbathy, and as a n00b it was easier to play on wobbly strings. Wouldn't dream of it these days, but it was fun.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I'd wager that probably falls into the realm of "stuff only Paul Turner notices", and file it just alongside Stu Hamm's "I switch my pickguards because they give me different sound".

To continue to play devil's advocate, a TBer who had recorded with legendary engineer Tom Dowd said that Tom strongly believed four strings sounded better than fivers, and offered tape evidence to support his claim. However as much as I respect the man, I strongly disagree. I have not heard a consistent difference in tone between similar 4 and 5 string basses.

 

[frankieC]

I don't know that the E string sounds better on a 4 over a 5, but I do know that an open E always sounds better than the E on the low B. Open strings always seem to have more presence and sustain.
The open string, thing Might explain why and dropped D tune on a 4 string bass sounds better than a D on the B string, too.

 

[Blankandson]

On the other hand, I have grown to appreciate the different 'sound' I get from playing mid-neck. When I played in the 60s I never ventured up more than 7 frets. Now I might occasionally play down there. For one, as I age, I like having the frets closer so I don't have to use my wrist or thumb as much on the backside of the neck. As for using a 4- or a 5-string, many scores these days are written for a five-string, so having one will make life simpler in that setting. Otherwise, do what you enjoy.

 

[khutch]

Don't know if it sounds better, but I can tell you that a lot of the 5'ers I've played have had E strings with less tension than their 4-string counterparts. Some people prefer that, I kind of like tighter tension on mine. Totally personal preference though.

This is literally impossible. For a given string at a given length, tension is constant when tuned to a given frequency.

It is not impossible at all, but the right set of strings will fix it.

 

[conqr]

I'd wager that probably falls into the realm of "stuff only Paul Turner notices", and file it just alongside Stu Hamm's "I switch my pickguards because they give me different sound".

^thet raht thur

I don't know that the E string sounds better on a 4 over a 5, but I do know that an open E always sounds better than the E on the low B. Open strings always seem to have more presence and sustain.
The open string, thing Might explain why and dropped D tune on a 4 string bass sounds better than a D on the B string, too.

I get your point, but I'd replace 'better' with 'different'. There's a time and place when that muddier fretted note serves the particular tune better.

 

[spiritbass]

My very general observations: I've always chalked it up to differences in mass, but to my ear, the E sounds meatier on a five vs. four string. Five strings have a compressed feel to me compared to a four string. Four strings seem to be inherently punchier. In my book, fours & fives are similar, but not quite the same animal.

 

[LowBC]

as a producer/engineer friend of mine would say:

"Turn up your amp a little, you'll be fine!!"

 

[CoarseBass]

I've always wondered if the difference between 'equivalent' four and five string pickups might have something to do with a difference in output between basses that are otherwise very similar.

IE two Jazz basses one 4 and one 5, passive, using the same pickups, just appropriately sized.

The 5 will be a bit bigger, with different neck geometry, which might have a small impact on the sound...but nothing I'd worry about or be able to hear.

The pickups, though will be different. At the same resistance, the 5 has fewer wraps than the 4. At the same wrap geometry, the 5 has greater resistance (and inductance!).

The difference would be small...but I've seen people install brass heel plates for tone, so I'm sure someone out there really cares.

 

[IronSpatula]

One more factor: When playing a 5 with your fingers, they'll hit the B after you play the E, which is a different sound than playing the E on a 4 where there's no B string to hit.

This is what I was going to say. Things like the angle at which your fingers strike the string, and how much "follow through" each stroke gets add up to make a noticeable difference in tone. It's huge on an acoustic instrument like classical guitar, less so on electric bass but it's still there. Whether or not having a string behind the stroke is going to make a difference depends a lot on the particular player's technique.

 

[lowphatbass]

Yes.

Some feel like the extra room/not having a string above allows for a more aggressive/creative attack. There's also the fact that the E string is vibrating further toward the edge of the fretboard, and of course it doesn't have any additional pull/interaction from the pickup or pole-pieces that would be present on a 5 string.

 

[frankieC]

I get your point, but I'd replace 'better' with 'different'. There's a time and place when that muddier fretted note serves the particular tune better.

Good point, and I agree.

 

[phoenixjmw]

This is literally impossible. For a given string at a given length, tension is constant when tuned to a given frequency.

If this were true then every brand of string would sound the same, action level would not affect tone, bridge and nut changes wouldn't affect anything.

 

[Fuzzbass]

If this were true then every brand of string would sound the same, action level would not affect tone, bridge and nut changes wouldn't affect anything.

I'm pretty sure Ken was assuming that strings would be identical. If strings are not identical when doing A/B tests, then the results of those tests must be taken with a big grain of salt.

 

[khutch]

I'm pretty sure Ken was assuming that strings would be identical. If strings are not identical when doing A/B tests, then the results of those tests must be taken with a big grain of salt.

Oh, I am sure he was assuming a lot of things. He was responding to this post however:

Don't know if it sounds better, but I can tell you that a lot of the 5'ers I've played have had E strings with less tension than their 4-string counterparts. Some people prefer that, I kind of like tighter tension on mine. Totally personal preference though.

And there is no reason to assume that VanillaThundah is incorrect. He was commenting on the basses he has played. He did not say the strings were the same. He did not say that the scale lengths were the same either. He was only relating his experience playing random basses and not only is his experience not impossible it is, as you say, rather to be expected when key variables are uncontrolled.

 

[mikeswals]

Yes for me too. And at least for me it's never been based on a comparison of only one 4 and one 5...I've owned multiples of each of the same brand(s).

 

[Fuzzbass]

And there is no reason to assume that VanillaThundah is incorrect. He was commenting on the basses he has played. He did not say the strings were the same. He did not say that the scale lengths were the same either. He was only relating his experience playing random basses and not only is his experience not impossible it is, as you say, rather to be expected when key variables are uncontrolled.

Nobody can prove VanillaThundah wrong, but I've also owned/played a bunch of fours and fives and haven't noticed a difference in string tension when strings were equivalent. If strings are different, then sure, there will likely be differences in tone and tension. And I believe that's Ken's point: when the string, scale length, and tuning are identical, there won't be a difference in tension on the E string regardless of the overall number of strings on the bass.