Don't seem to enjoy a 5 string..

[Deleted member 165050]

So, I started searching around for a good 5er. Went to a local store today to try out a couple, not a single one felt good to me. They had a used Gibson EB5, Squier VM Jag V, Soundgears and a few others. None felt right, at all. I feel like I would be better off getting another 4 string, filing the nut and tuning it to BEAD. Is there anyone else that prefers doing it that way or is it just me?

5-strings I have liked (and I am fairly picky) are:

Yamaha BBS 5
Warwick Corvette fretless 5

I still have the Corvette.

I also liked a friend’s Ibanez 5, not sure of the model but not a budget one...

 

[micgtr71]

The only five I found immediately comfortable was a Modulus q5. I played that for a year and only that bass. I picked up a four and immediately felt comfort so I played it for a gig and ran into none of the hand issues that I had after gigging with the Modulus. I did find that I missed the d, but mostly missed the f, g, and a on the low string. I took my p to my tech for bead and never went back to the five.

 

[Gizmot]

I've had a few people recommend the G&L L2500 now, as well as Yamaha 5ers. Unfortunately, I'm in an area that doesn't seem to stock those G&L's. We have a couple small time music shops around and one guitar center. I did try a Ray 35 that felt like I could stand playing it for more than a few hours at a time. I am going to seek out a L2500, will be asking around if any of the local bass players have one I can try out since I can't find it in stores.

I've enjoyed my L-2500 quite a bit. I have had other G&Ls for 25 years and they provide real long-term satisfaction (that's the real test of how good the materials and workmanship are). It's range of tones and flexibility are outstanding too. There are lots of good basses out there, but you can't go wrong with a G&L.

 

[Les Fret]

I used to play six string for seven years. Then completely stopped it and only played 4 string for 15 years. Never liked 5 string basses and to me a 6 string seems more logical and symmetrical. I think because of my guitar background.

Now after 15 years I am thinking about buying a six string again. Now my only problem is buying a nice one with 34" and 16.5 or 17 mm string spacing. Not easy to find.

 

[japhy4529]

Check other stores. Check other models. You need at least 30 mins to an hour to familiarize yourself with the new string.

I’d say more like 30 months!

 

[bassbenj]

I've enjoyed my L-2500 quite a bit. I have had other G&Ls for 25 years and they provide real long-term satisfaction (that's the real test of how good the materials and workmanship are). It's range of tones and flexibility are outstanding too. There are lots of good basses out there, but you can't go wrong with a G&L.

I don't like my G&L L-2500 basses quite a bit, I absolutely LOVE them. The longer I play them the more I love, them, And that especially goes for my fretless L2500. It's the shiznit. It's my go-to. It's usually everything I want in a bass (unless I need 6 strings.) My biggest gripe is that it does not come in a 6 string model.

I also say that to me a 5 string bass and 6 string bass are pretty much the same instrument but where the 6 string gives you an extended upper end for chords and solos. If you don't need that, then 5 strings i pretty much the same thing. I never really got what a 5 string was all about until I bought a 6 string bass and then the light bulb went off. But 6 string neck is wider which bothers some people.

 

[Korladis]

So, I started searching around for a good 5er. Went to a local store today to try out a couple, not a single one felt good to me. They had a used Gibson EB5, Squier VM Jag V, Soundgears and a few others. None felt right, at all. I feel like I would be better off getting another 4 string, filing the nut and tuning it to BEAD. Is there anyone else that prefers doing it that way or is it just me?

I've never enjoyed playing 5-strings, either.

I have a few of my basses tuned BEAD.

 

[chris_b]

So, I started searching around for a good 5er. Went to a local store today to try out a couple, not a single one felt good to me. They had a used Gibson EB5, Squier VM Jag V, Soundgears and a few others. None felt right, at all. I feel like I would be better off getting another 4 string, filing the nut and tuning it to BEAD. Is there anyone else that prefers doing it that way or is it just me?

If you can be put off wanting a 5 string bass by a few minutes playing them in a shop, I'd ask what made you want to play a 5er in the first place.

Based on your comments it sounds to me like a 5 string bass isn't what you need.

 

[MrKeef]

If you can be put off wanting a 5 string bass by a few minutes playing them in a shop, I'd ask what made you want to play a 5er in the first place.

Based on your comments it sounds to me like a 5 string bass isn't what you need.

It's something of a necessity for the band I am playing with, quite a few songs they want to do require a 5 string. I may just buy a cheap SX Ursa 5 jazz, play it for those songs and not feel bad about putting down a lot of money on something I don't really enjoy playing. I have a strong love for 4 strings, been playing 4s for close to 15 years. Who knows, maybe I'll get used to the spacing and start enjoying it. Then I can go out and look for something a little more expensive.

 

[MrKeef]

I don't like my G&L L-2500 basses quite a bit, I absolutely LOVE them. The longer I play them the more I love, them, And that especially goes for my fretless L2500. It's the shiznit. It's my go-to. It's usually everything I want in a bass (unless I need 6 strings.) My biggest gripe is that it does not come in a 6 string model.

I also say that to me a 5 string bass and 6 string bass are pretty much the same instrument but where the 6 string gives you an extended upper end for chords and solos. If you don't need that, then 5 strings i pretty much the same thing. I never really got what a 5 string was all about until I bought a 6 string bass and then the light bulb went off. But 6 string neck is wider which bothers some people.

I actually quite enjoy playing chords on a bass, I loooove the sound of it. Would like to try out a Squier VI sometime, but I've read such horrendous things about the modern Indonesian made ones. I think I might seek out a 6 string to try. As you said, neck is larger, but if I adjust to it I'll have much more range.

 

[MrKeef]

The only five I found immediately comfortable was a Modulus q5. I played that for a year and only that bass. I picked up a four and immediately felt comfort so I played it for a gig and ran into none of the hand issues that I had after gigging with the Modulus. I did find that I missed the d, but mostly missed the f, g, and a on the low string. I took my p to my tech for bead and never went back to the five.

This is my last resort, I play a MIM Fender P and an SX Modded P. I absolutely love the feel of em. I could find another used MIM or something like A Yamaha P Bass and string it up for BEAD.

 

[chris_b]

It's something of a necessity for the band

I bought my first 5 and made myself get to grips with it. I put my Fender P bass away and then I had no option but to make the change work. It did and I've been playing 5ers for nearly 30 years. There is nothing that can't be overcome when switching to a 5. It will feel awkward and at times uncomfortable, but if you carry on playing it, those "issues" will go away.

My first 5 strung bass was an MM Sting Ray 5. Sounded good and was easy to get to grips with the differences in technique. I then move on to a Lakland. The Skylines are very good for the money. I now have a Sadowsky but the cheaper Laklands, MM's or even Fenders are very good instruments, IMO

 

[MrKeef]

I bought my first 5 and made myself get to grips with it. I put my Fender P bass away and then I had no option but to make the change work. It did and I've been playing 5ers for nearly 30 years. There is nothing that can't be overcome when switching to a 5. It will feel awkward and at times uncomfortable, but if you carry on playing it, those "issues" will go away.

My first 5 strung bass was an MM Sting Ray 5. Sounded good and was easy to get to grips with the differences in technique. I then move on to a Lakland. The Skylines are very good for the money. I now have a Sadowsky but the cheaper Laklands, MM's or even Fenders are very good instruments, IMO

I played a Sterling Ray35 at the store that felt decent, I know it's not quite as good as an actual EBMM. I'm afraid to put down a lot of money for a bass I might decide isn't for me down the road after giving it a go. I was looking at a Sterling SUB 5 online, cheap and seems the 4 string version is highly rated.

 

[erigod23]

I used to not like fivers, but I wanted lower tuned strings. I tried BEAD, but found that I missed the G string. I bit the bullet and went with a fiver. Quite a bit of time passed before I was comfortable enough with it, but now I really like it. In fact, I'm going so far as completely committing to them. The only 4 I plan on keeping is my fretless, mainly because I'll never come close to re-couping my cost on it.

 

[MrKeef]

I used to not like fivers, but I wanted lower tuned strings. I tried BEAD, but found that I missed the G string. I bit the bullet and went with a fiver. Quite a bit of time passed before I was comfortable enough with it, but now I really like it. In fact, I'm going so far as completely committing to them. The only 4 I plan on keeping is my fretless, mainly because I'll never come close to re-couping my cost on it.

That's a pretty big fear of mine, my ultimate goal is one MIA Jazz, 2 MIA Precision, 1 EBMM and a single 5 string... But I've been around long enough to know if I adjust well to a 5er I'm going to want to replace everything with a 5 string version. Different tones for different situations, lol. Wife won't let me have more than 5 or 6 basses in the house at a time.

 

[erigod23]

That's a pretty big fear of mine, my ultimate goal is one MIA Jazz, 2 MIA Precision, 1 EBMM and a single 5 string... But I've been around long enough to know if I adjust well to a 5er I'm going to want to replace everything with a 5 string version. Different tones for different situations, lol. Wife won't let me have more than 5 or 6 basses in the house at a time.

That is definitely a legit fear. My MIA Jazz was the first to go. My MIA Precision is currently on Reverb. I do have a MIA Precision 5, along with an Ibanez SRMS805.
I think that I'm going to sell pretty much everything I don't need and get myself an Elrick. That should be the end for me.

 

[MrKeef]

That is definitely a legit fear. My MIA Jazz was the first to go. My MIA Precision is currently on Reverb. I do have a MIA Precision 5, along with an Ibanez SRMS805.
I think that I'm going to sell pretty much everything I don't need and get myself an Elrick. That should be the end for me.

Ouch, I should probably avoid springing for MIA until I try out a proper 5 for any length of time.. Save me from the same fate.

 

[chris_b]

I would always start with a bass out of the classifieds. Get a new set of strings and a set up and you should be good to go.

 

[MrKeef]

I would always start with a bass out of the classifieds. Get a new set of strings and a set up and you should be good to go.

Yah, My intention was finding one in store that I like then buying used somewhere else.. Haha. I don't mind a little blemish here and there as long as it sounds and feels killer.

 

[ajkula66]

I started playing fivers back in the late 80s, and completely gave up on them - or so I thought - by the mid 90s. I could never find a neck that "felt right" for me, and some of these basses were very fine instruments...various Yamaha and Ibanez pieces, Thumb 5 NT...probably a few more that I've forgotten about along the way.

When I surprised myself by going back to playing to begin with a couple of years ago, an idea of re-visiting the 5-string concept was not something I entertained at the time. I tuned one of my fours BEAD and was quite content for a while.

Long story short, I ended picking up a fiver - 2013 Gibson EB - several months ago and am still undecided on its fate. I like the sound and the general feel of the instrument in question. But the comfort is still lacking when it comes to my fretting hand. Mental gymnastics of jumping from 4 to 5 and my right hand (fingerstyle player, no slap, no pick) are fine, but I haven't gotten used to the neck profile yet. In truth, I was very busy with other stuff and had very limited time to play *anything* over the past few months which definitely contributes to the aforementioned lack of comfort, but I'm not fooling myself into thinking that the lack of time spent with my new friend is the only reason for it either.

My point being, there's no telling whether one will find an instrument - especially when moving from 4 to 5 or 6 - that they'll find satisfying. Trying out as many different pieces as one can lay their hands on is the best course of action IMO.

My $0.02 only...