Don't seem to enjoy a 5 string..

[tfer]

Was for me. I felt lot of 5-strings were too narrowly spaced. I play mostly fingerstyle, so the spacing between is a big deal to me.

I went from a 4 to a 6er. I figured that if I was going to have to adjust to a narrower spacing, I was gonna go as far as I would be comfortable with, so I jumped 5 and went directly to 6.

Bought the bass, and gigged with it the next night.

I was very careful with it at first: used the B string mostly as a thumb rest, and ignored the C string altogether.

Now, I see the narrower spacing as a huge advantage. It’s so easy to do right hand rakes and play as quickly as I need.

Today, I pick up a 4, and it almost feels like a ukulele. But you’ve gotta spend the time with it.

 

[chadds]

When you actually listen to and into the bass you’re playing it will at that time feel like the only bass in the world.

It’s like singing chest tones then head tones. It’s different. Same body. Go in deep. You’ll see.

 

[tfer]

I am too used to the 4 string to the point that the low B gets in the way of me striking the E way I like to and the sound of the E string on a lot of 5's kinda sounds weak.
The 5 string basses I've used were a modified P-Bass and an Ibanez Soundgear SR 705. The P-Bass had the same floppy thing that I don't like on the Fender 5 strings and as a P/J setup it really didn't have the tone I was looking for.... sold it 14 years ago...

The Ibanez was actually a great 5 string that I played once in awhile.... I might still have it today if I ordered it fretless.

As a result.... if I needed to go low, I'd just set up a 4 string for BEAD tuning, and call it a day.

I can’t do that. I use the G string constantly.

If you commit to a 5 (or 6) it will come, but the commitment is vital.

 

[Korladis]

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.

Why don't you just tune a 4 to BEAD?

 

[bassbenj]

Why don't you just tune a 4 to BEAD?

Worth a try, but depends on what/how you play. long time ago I wanted lower notes and decided that for me mechanical detuners were just not the answer. And then I got the brainstorm that since I never used the G string that much why not just tune BEAD? And I did. The only problem was that on the gig I soon found out that I only THOUGHT I wasn't using the G string. Truth was it was more important to me than I thought. So I put it back EADG and bought a 5er. Like I said it depends on you. There are cats here who play BEAD tuning with no problem, so I'd say the answer is to just string up a bass that way and take to the gig to find out if you really don't need the G string or just thought you don't need it.

 

[Korladis]

Worth a try, but depends on what/how you play. long time ago I wanted lower notes and decided that for me mechanical detuners were just not the answer. And then I got the brainstorm that since I never used the G string that much why not just tune BEAD? And I did. The only problem was that on the gig I soon found out that I only THOUGHT I wasn't using the G string. Truth was it was more important to me than I thought. So I put it back EADG and bought a 5er. Like I said it depends on you. There are cats here who play BEAD tuning with no problem, so I'd say the answer is to just string up a bass that way and take to the gig to find out if you really don't need the G string or just thought you don't need it.

I mean, I play both EADG and BEAD. I generally don't need them for the same bands. In a band where I need a low B, I am very unlikely to need the G.

 

[Sonicfrog]

I just thought of a question for the OP.... How do you wear the bass???

It seems like the majority of full-time 5 string players tend to wear the bass high. If you are one of the low slung / bass-at-the-knees guys, that might make playing a 5er a bit more difficult. It might be interesting to play with how you wear the thing and raise it to see if that would make playing it a little easier.

 

[bumperbass]

I just thought of a question for the OP.... How do you wear the bass???

It seems like the majority of full-time 5 string players tend to wear the bass high. If you are one of the low slung / bass-at-the-knees guys, that might make playing a 5er a bit more difficult. It might be interesting to play with how you wear the thing and raise it to see if that would make playing it a little easier.

I did this and it definitely helped.

 

[whero]

A bit off topic but close enough for me to relate this story:

I learned on, and played (exclusively) 4-string basses for maybe 19 years before buying a 5er. The 5 was then my only bass for almost 25 years until I bought a 4 again a few months ago. It's only now I realise that over those 25 years I was never as good as I was on the 4. It might be due to a lot of things: poor technique on my part, the particular 5 I have, the setup, my weird brain (see second paragraph)... All I know is that listening to some old recordings, I played better 25 years ago and I'm playing better now. I'm quicker, more precise, better able to predict/find the right note when jamming or playing by ear.

Now, I fully accept that I may be the only person in the world who thinks like this, but when I switched from 4 to 5 I noticed that my left hand plays from the G while my right hand plays from the E/B. For example, to play a note on the A string on the 4, my mind (or body) somehow knew: push down on the third string up, and pluck the second string down. When I started playing the 5er, my left hand knew the A was the third string up, but my right was plucking the E. After years of occasionally glancing at my left hand and leaving my right to do its own thing, I was now staring at my right hand consciously thinking about what strings to play. It took me a few days of practising for a couple of hours a day before I could pick up the 5er and be "in synch" from the first note. Conversely, after playing only the 5 for so long, when I got the new 4 string it felt natural after about one minute.

 

[BigDrew]

A bit off topic but close enough for me to relate this story:

I learned on, and played (exclusively) 4-string basses for maybe 19 years before buying a 5er. The 5 was then my only bass for almost 25 years until I bought a 4 again a few months ago. It's only now I realise that over those 25 years I was never as good as I was on the 4. It might be due to a lot of things: poor technique on my part, the particular 5 I have, the setup, my weird brain (see second paragraph)... All I know is that listening to some old recordings, I played better 25 years ago and I'm playing better now. I'm quicker, more precise, better able to predict/find the right note when jamming or playing by ear.

Now, I fully accept that I may be the only person in the world who thinks like this, but when I switched from 4 to 5 I noticed that my left hand plays from the G while my right hand plays from the E/B. For example, to play a note on the A string on the 4, my mind (or body) somehow knew: push down on the third string up, and pluck the second string down. When I started playing the 5er, my left hand knew the A was the third string up, but my right was plucking the E. After years of occasionally glancing at my left hand and leaving my right to do its own thing, I was now staring at my right hand consciously thinking about what strings to play. It took me a few days of practising for a couple of hours a day before I could pick up the 5er and be "in synch" from the first note. Conversely, after playing only the 5 for so long, when I got the new 4 string it felt natural after about one minute.

I picked up a 5 string about a month ago. I have been playing bass for about 4 years now. At first it was definitely a struggle. I have sort of adjusted but I think the string spacing is now what is getting me. For example, playing the main riff of Limelight is sort of a struggle. However it is a Dingwall and the issue may be the extreme angle of the first few frets. I then pick up a 4 string and it almost feels like a toy! Fast and easy to play! I do want to beat this 5 string though!

 

[WoodyH]

B string on a 5er = thumb rest for me.

 

[Les Fret]

B string on a 5er = thumb rest for me.

What a waste. You could actually use that string.

 

[WoodyH]

What a waste. You could actually use that string.

I know, right! Some of us just don’t have it I guess. Lol

 

[Sav'nBass]

IME it takes a little time and effort to adjust to a 5 string and the neck profile and string spacing will be major factors. Beyond that I find my technique changes as well so the transition always took some time and practice before I could comfortably switch back and forth between them at will.

Some may never find a 5 string they feel completely comfortable with. Then your approach to stringing a 4 string BEAD might be a better solution. One bass strung normally and and another strung BEAD. I tend to prefer a 4 string and thought about that option but found that I like my G&L L2500.

I hated my first 5 string. I just could not get used to it. Now 5s are what I prefer..

 

[Wfrance3]

I started with a skinny neck Ibanez 5-er, then moved to a little less skinny schecter, (and still play it a lot), and finally have settled in on a little less skinny than that, 5-String VM Jag. I do wish it was a bit lighter like my schecter, but find the fb raduis, string spacing, scale length, to be what fits me perfectly. I don't really even like playing 4's anymore...

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I accept donations.

 

[Jeff Scott]

B string on a 5er = thumb rest for me.

Back in 2001 I had my two Martin Keith Elfin 5 basses (fretted and fretless) at POTR for MARF IV. I handed Chris the fretted one to try out and he was like "I can't play that!" I told him to think of the B string as a long thumb rest; he then proceeded to play it like he owned it.

 

[japhy4529]

It took me a long time to get comfortable on a 5-string. I'm at the point now where I can pick up either a 4 or 5 string for most situations, however, I'll always be more comfortable on a 4-string as that's all I played for about 25+ years. As Two Fingers and others have suggested, to quickly get up to speed on a 5-string (or presumably on a 6-string though I've never owned one) you need to hide, sell, lend out, etc. your 4-strings so you ONLY have the 5-string available. Then it's sink or swim time!

 

[B-Mac]

I have been told the trick is to play it like a 5-er instead of a 4 with an extra low string. I have 4 five string basses and I have been trying my best to follow this advice. Portamento, Classic 5, AGB205 and Jay Turser ABG 32" O.O.A.K. I typically try to play them across the fretboard from the B string 5th fret, which is E, instead of using the E string open like playing a 4 stringer. I still struggle, but it really has helped me at least with getting grounded as to knowing where I am on the fretbboard and then when I need that low B, C or D I know I just move towards the headstock from fretted E on the B string.

 

[countrybass5]

B string on a 5er = thumb rest for me.

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 played a 4 string for many years. I never thought of tuning bead...I ordered a Birdsong Hy5 which is a 5string shortscale bass. I had to learn how to use the extra string but once I did I enjoyed it tremendously. In October I am ordering a PJ bass from Kiesel...and with all the choices there I'm getting a 5 string. I just love the sound of the low B string. I don't think I'll go back to a 4 string.