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Experiences switching "back" to a 4-string after playing 5?

mattyb5000

mattyb5000

Guest
Apr 17, 2014
110
63
Boston, MA
#1
A few months ago I picked up a Fender American Vintage 1962 Jazz Bass reissue, spur-of-the-moment after trying it out and instantly falling in love with the tone. I've been playing 5-string exclusively for the past 3 years, after having been a 4 string player for nearly 20 years before that. Since I bought that bass, I've continued playing 5-string with my band but when I practice at home, it's all on my Fender 62 reissue. That tone makes me feel like a kid on Christmas morning. I love my 5-string Spector and will always own it, but I find that going back to a 4-string after playing 5 for several years has vastly improved my skills, and I play a 4 string much differently than before. The neck feels faster, and my fingers seem to fly in a way they didn't before I began playing 5 sting. I'm probably going to start incorporating the 4-string into our live set because I love the sound so much.

That was all a long-winded intro to say: anybody else have similar experiences switching back to a 4-string after playing on a 5 for a while? Please share!
 
#4
I'm in two bands now. One plays more recent rock and pop, and I play 5ers there; a John Toon custom and a Yamaha bb415 for backup. The other is classic/southern rock, and I play 4-bangers there; a Carvin sb4000 and an MIM j for backup. No issues, but I can get a bit confused sometimes playing songs on a 5 that I'm used to on the 4 or vice versa.
 
#5
I don't really have a problem switching between 4-string/5-string/fretless/fretted or even guitar. I think the key is to get down a good amount of practice time on all of them, really. If you ONLY play a fiver over a long period of time, then I'm sure a four-string will feel weird for a little bit.
 
#6
I played nothing but 5-strings for about 10 years. When I would grab a 4-string, I was totally lost. Then I decided that I was going to re-tool my playing and forced myself back onto a 4 to simplify a bit. I quickly adapted back and found a certain freedom when playing 4. Less worry about damping the B-string (I play floating thumb), and just less to mess with. I eventually added in a 5-string but strung E-C. I got into that when studying chords/comping but now just moved away from that and added back a traditional 5-string as there are some gigs where I want a B-string. That said, 4 still is what speaks to me and allows my brain to shut off when playing. ymmv.
 
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#7
My experience is pretty much like the OP. I have some very nice five strings, and they will probably always dominate my stage time. But I love my four string basses more. A four string is just more comfortable, more fun, more better. I just find the convenience of the five string too big a deal to walk away from.
 
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#8
I started on 4s, switched to 5s (and dabbled in 6s) for several years then switched back to 4s for good, and it was like a burden was lifted off my playing. I do miss the extended lower range but honestly, I'd much rather have two basses - one EADG, one DGCF - than a 5 at this point. I worry less and enjoy more, both with brain and fingers, with a 4 these days.
 
#11
I started on 4 strings and then went to 5 strings about 15 years ago. I recently started playing with a classic rock cover band and fell in love with
a Fender RW P-Bass - just sounds more "right" for this particular band. Anyways, I find that I am absolutely loving playing the 4 string again.
It just feels so comfortable. :)

I still play my 5's for other projects that lend themselves to the extended range.
 
#13
Well, my experience is the exact opposite.
I own both 4ers and 5ers and play 5 most of the time. I happen to own that Ibanez '78 P fretless that has such a sweet tone but i consider myself a 5 string player. All my thinking is centered around five strings.
i keep playing that Ibby in rehearsal as a kind of brain-practice because it's harder for me to adjust to four strings.
But my history is opposite to the OP, i've been playing 5ers exclusively for about 15 years.
 
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#15
I had a similar reaction to you when I used a 5 exclusively for a few years then went back to a 4. But now I only practice on my 5 occasionally and I've used it on a gig only once in the last 10 years for like one song. 4 is home to me, and I don't need the low notes, so the hell with the 5.
 
#16
I only use my 5s when playing with a keyboardist or a rather a song written on keys. (They love E flat and B flat). I have to train myself to play certain songs on 5s exclusively and others on 4s because I always end up flubbing by playing on the A string when I mean to play on the E string if I mix them up.
 
#17
I started on 4, then switched to 5 exclusively for a couple years. At one point I was at an audition for a new band with one of my 5 strings, and picked up the guitar player's beat up 90s Fender P-Bass. It was like coming home. Within a couple months I had sold all of my 5 and 6 string basses, and had bought three 4 string basses. I've never gone back to anything more than a 4. I've recently considered buying a 5 string again, but always talk myself out of it.
 
#18
lokikallas said:
I only use my 5s when playing with a keyboardist or a rather a song written on keys. (They love E flat and B flat). I have to train myself to play certain songs on 5s exclusively and others on 4s because I always end up flubbing by playing on the A string when I mean to play on the E string if I mix them up.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's one of the only things keeping me from totally switching exclusively back to a 4. We have keys in our band and do in fact have songs in Eb, and being able to play "under" the keyboard with some lower notes makes it worthwhile. But as others have mentioned, in the end I'm really gaining 5 extra notes, and I definitely feel more at home on a 4 string. It's kind of like going back to an old girlfriend who I wished I'd never broken up with in the first place. :)
 
#19
I have 2X 5 strings and 3X 4 Strings.
My band tunes to C#. One of the 5 strings is tuned up to C# on the top string. My main 4 string is tuned down to C#.
The rest of my basses are in BEADG and EADG. I don't really get confused because I keep that top string as the main top string on each bass.
 

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