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Experiences switching "back" to a 4-string after playing 5?
- Thread starter mattyb5000
- Start date
I enjoy playing both 4 and 5er. Picking up a 5 doesn't mean I have to stop liking 4s.
Or my left hand is missing a finger! Switched to 5s back in 1991 and never looked back. sure I still have my early "65" Jazz bass which I've had since "69" and still play it. But that freedom of 4 strings quickly turns into a feeling of limitation for me, I like the wider fingerboard and I use those "extra 5 notes " all the time and all up and down the fingerboard. Now 6 strings, that's a different story
Jim
I understand and respect everyone who plays a 5 - but with a 5 you only get 5 more notes. I also agree with others and would trade the G string for a low B any day.
I went from an Ibanez SR405 to a 4 string EBMM Ray.
The string spacing on the SR didn't work for me, or the sound come to that
The string spacing on the SR didn't work for me, or the sound come to that
I have played G&L since 86 4 string since 63. In 06 I went to a G&L 2500 and over yhe last few yeays thought maybe a 4 again?
Found a sweet 1990 G&L SB1 from the orignal owner at a sweet price.
Sound was amazing but it felt like I was trying to play bass on a guitar:-( its gone now only 5 strings for me.
Not right or wrong just right for me.
Found a sweet 1990 G&L SB1 from the orignal owner at a sweet price.
Sound was amazing but it felt like I was trying to play bass on a guitar:-( its gone now only 5 strings for me.
Not right or wrong just right for me.
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I went to 5's and a 6 in the early 90's, and played those as main basses until about 4 years ago. I avoided the HipShot, considering it a cheap substitute for players who couldn't afford a proper 5.
Man, was I wrong.
I started messing with the HipShot about 4 years ago and the lights really went on for me. As posted previously, this gives access to the low Eb common in horn tunes and the drop D common in heavy rock and modern country. And the thing I had not expected was that the detuned notes actually sound stronger than the same notes on the B string.
So, now I have returned the couple of 4's I had kept in the closet to gigging and the 5's and 6 are gathering dust. Doubt I will ever go back much since notes notes below D aren't needed for most of what I play. I may just keep the 6 and let the 5's go.
Man, was I wrong.
I started messing with the HipShot about 4 years ago and the lights really went on for me. As posted previously, this gives access to the low Eb common in horn tunes and the drop D common in heavy rock and modern country. And the thing I had not expected was that the detuned notes actually sound stronger than the same notes on the B string.
So, now I have returned the couple of 4's I had kept in the closet to gigging and the 5's and 6 are gathering dust. Doubt I will ever go back much since notes notes below D aren't needed for most of what I play. I may just keep the 6 and let the 5's go.
I didn't ever stop playing my 4 strings after getting 5s, 6s, and 7s. I can grab any of them and get the job done.
I'm another with some 5s and some 4s, and each one makes me play a little different (one of the 5s has a 135 B and hot pickups, the other is a 125 B; one of the 4s is a J, the other a PJ that's mostly P these days).
Here's the key bit: My playing style is quite different on each. On the (hot) 135 5, I play relatively softly. On the 4 PJ I dig in over the P bucker. On the J I'm staccato over the bridge PU. (I'm the same on guitar: I've a pointy 212 superstrat with a thin neck that makes me play widdly, and a crappy old strat copy I fell in love with that has a chunky neck that wants to play blues rock)
Why am I saying this? Well, each bass makes me play like a differently, so when I'm playing the 4s they're each a different instrument to the 5s, with different note choices and different tone. You make the tool work for you, and you give it what it likes best.
Having said that, I do sometimes reach for the low D when I'm not thinking well...
Here's the key bit: My playing style is quite different on each. On the (hot) 135 5, I play relatively softly. On the 4 PJ I dig in over the P bucker. On the J I'm staccato over the bridge PU. (I'm the same on guitar: I've a pointy 212 superstrat with a thin neck that makes me play widdly, and a crappy old strat copy I fell in love with that has a chunky neck that wants to play blues rock)
Why am I saying this? Well, each bass makes me play like a differently, so when I'm playing the 4s they're each a different instrument to the 5s, with different note choices and different tone. You make the tool work for you, and you give it what it likes best.
Having said that, I do sometimes reach for the low D when I'm not thinking well...
I debate this all the time. I have played mostly 5's for a long time, maybe 10 years or more. I did a stint on 4's for about a year about 2 years ago.
I didn't really miss the B string, but there were times when I "missed" it.
I have a really nice 5 (Roscoe) and it works fine. I only play at church these days so it's more than I need. I don't see myself "gigging" in the future and have thought about "downgrading/sizing" to a simple, plain passive 4 P or J bass.
The stuff I "play" at home is varied - from classic risk to modern jazz so a 5 is nice, but it's just fooling around at home. I could probably get by with a P, just wouldn't do much play along with Yellowjackets any more.
Of course my Roscoe has to sell before I can do anything so...
I didn't really miss the B string, but there were times when I "missed" it.
I have a really nice 5 (Roscoe) and it works fine. I only play at church these days so it's more than I need. I don't see myself "gigging" in the future and have thought about "downgrading/sizing" to a simple, plain passive 4 P or J bass.
The stuff I "play" at home is varied - from classic risk to modern jazz so a 5 is nice, but it's just fooling around at home. I could probably get by with a P, just wouldn't do much play along with Yellowjackets any more.
Of course my Roscoe has to sell before I can do anything so...
I'm another "back to 4" guy. I have a Godin A5 fretless and an SR5, but for the last year I've been playing my Fender '51 P reissue. As others have said, I feel more comfortable with it and the material I'm playing doesn't sound right with the deeper notes...nor do I feel that I am as expressive playing 'way down there.
I had my 5 string strung up first with a high C and then did the low B the rest of the time, nothing wrong with either one but I dicovered that most of the playing got done on the EAD and G strings, and its not because I didnt know how to incorporate them into my playing style, I will admit there is a certain convience to it but the C and the B strings in general were not played with same frequency as the traditional 4 string, so I therefore reasoned that I probably didnt really need them as much as I thought afterall. Sure all the kids were doing the ERB thing and I figured I had to get on with it too but it didnt turn out that way in the end. Thats my story
In addition to my post above: Ever since getting my pedalboard dialed in, I find that I can use an octave pedal and an HPF to cover most of what I need in the below-E department just fine. This certainly wouldn't work for everyone, but on the songs where I need those real low notes, I commonly find myself playing with overdrive, fuzz, etc. anyway, so using another effect to get there doesn't really bother me.
Anyone else notice (mostly country for me these days) that when you see them live the bass ayers seem to use 4 strings, but I swear on the recordings a 5 is used. And I hear the low notes live.
Tracks? Maybe the keys are getting it?
Whenever I play it's with a keyboard player so I know the "octave down for the last note" thing can be covered. And really, if that's all I use it for, is that a reason? I suppose it is.
The waffling continues.
Tracks? Maybe the keys are getting it?
Whenever I play it's with a keyboard player so I know the "octave down for the last note" thing can be covered. And really, if that's all I use it for, is that a reason? I suppose it is.
The waffling continues.
Steve, I'm currently gigging a modern country band that covers a lot of Carrie Underwood etc; and yes, there are most of the tunes that have the lower notes. Thing is you can get them on the 4 with the HipShot, because most do not go below D.
There are a few exceptions; Jason Aldean's stuff, for example. There you need the B string.
I just play at church. I could easily get by with a low D. I've thought about tuning a 4 string DADG, but I'd have to relearn a lot if stuff. A Hipshot is probably all is need.
When/if I have time I like to play along to stuff at home. Thees some contemporary/smooth jazz that I like that uses the B string a lot. I guess I'd just not play it or do it up. Sounds bad up though.
When/if I have time I like to play along to stuff at home. Thees some contemporary/smooth jazz that I like that uses the B string a lot. I guess I'd just not play it or do it up. Sounds bad up though.
As of the present time, playing at church is also my only gig where I use my SR505. I love it, it works great and the sound man loves it as well! That low B comes in very handy, especially if we end up playing songs in a key that's different from the original. (That happens a lot.) I make a point of not over using the low B and try to treat it as if it was an effect. If it's used at the right times it can add so much to the moment.
But for my own practicing at home it's pretty much on my 4 strings. I can't get enough of my 2009 AM STD Jazz bass. Also have an MIJ Classic 70's P bass as well.
