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Five string for 4 player
- Thread starter Peter - Oregon
- Start date
In 2012 when I needed a 5-string for the expanded repertoire of my party band, I chose the Ibanez. The 45mm/1 3/4-inch nut width and the neck profile is very similar, just a tad wider, than the 4-strings I had been playing and still do on occasion. All these years later I still play that bass as my one and only 5-string. It has made me a lot of money with weekend gigs over the years. It really doesn't matter which Ibby, because all the necks, whatever the model, are made on the same pattern.
On the issue of 4 string familiarity... I've sort of gone full circle. I've had many 4 strings (F-Bass, Dingwall, MTD - still have a Padalka multiscale 5er) and they are great and 5 string is worth the transition. Still, 4 string just feels more like home to me, personally. I setup one of my 4 string Js in BEAD (it did take some fine tuning - particularly pickup height - to get the B right in the upper register) and use that over the 5s almost all the time. Clearly not the right answer for everyone but a low/no cost option and a way to see if the low B is something one really likes before investing in a 5.
As a steadfast 4 string guy I was forced (yes, FORCED) to play a borrowed Ibanez SR505 on a trip to Mexico. I got used to it pretty quickly and fell in love with the idea of going 5. I got home and was shopping for another SR505 when I came across the Yamaha BB735a. It's a KILLER bass with a ton of features that plays great, looks great, and sounds amazing. I played it exclusively for a year until I got the Sandberg, but it's still my back up.
I'm sure the Sire would be an amazing option as well.
I'm sure the Sire would be an amazing option as well.
Your big decision is: similar neck width, or similar spacing?
Having tried a whole bunch of 5-strings over the years, I can say without hesitation that it's all about the spacing for me. The Warwick Streamer Stage I with its "Broadneck" 20mm spec feels like it was made just for me. (If you even have to ask about the width at the nut or the 12th fret... it's freaking wide!!)
YMMV. A lot of builders & buyers do 17mm or 18mm but that feels kind of delicate & guitar-like to me. (I'm a big-handed caveman who also plays double bass.)
19mm is also popular, and close enough for me.
Your 4-string neck preferences may inform what kind of 5'er to look for. If you avoid P-basses & Stingrays for their chunky necks, you'll probably want to steer clear of the wider 5s. A thin front to back profile might also help.
Having tried a whole bunch of 5-strings over the years, I can say without hesitation that it's all about the spacing for me. The Warwick Streamer Stage I with its "Broadneck" 20mm spec feels like it was made just for me. (If you even have to ask about the width at the nut or the 12th fret... it's freaking wide!!)
YMMV. A lot of builders & buyers do 17mm or 18mm but that feels kind of delicate & guitar-like to me. (I'm a big-handed caveman who also plays double bass.)
19mm is also popular, and close enough for me.
Your 4-string neck preferences may inform what kind of 5'er to look for. If you avoid P-basses & Stingrays for their chunky necks, you'll probably want to steer clear of the wider 5s. A thin front to back profile might also help.
My Carvin fiver has 17mm spacing and I go back and forth between that and my FSO's. No problem.
I kinda like the 17mm spacing.
I never could get used to the spacing on the 5502. 5 years I had it and finally sold it.
Can’t make a recommendation on a specific bass, although I find the neck on my Warwick Corvette’s Baseball bat neck easier to deal with than the wide thin thin plank like necks of some manufacturers.
One recommendation as you go though the acclamation process. Avoid playing the same songs on both basses until you get fluid on it. Muscle memory is hard to overcome and can get really frustrating.
I don't know what the new Sadowsky's are like, but if you can find a good used Sadowsky Metro, one of the basses Yoshi Kikuchi made for Sadowsky in Tokyo, they are fantastic instruments. Mine from 2005, sounded better in a comparison with a couple of chambered NYC's.
+1 on a Yamaha or find a used Ibanez ATK. Both would easily fit your requirements and preferences.
I’ll pile on the responses mentioning neck profile, string spacing, and scale length as being important to many on a 5 string. I’ve found that I can adapt to different spacing, profiles, and scale length pretty well, but my current spacing preference on a 5 string is a fairly tight 17-17.5mm.
Two of those that I have owned with the tighter spacing are the StingRay 5s at 17.5mm and the Schecter Elite 5 at 17mm. The ‘Ray exceeds your budget, but a used Schecter 5, one of the higher end models made in South Korea, can be found for ~$800-$1000.
I had overlooked Schecter as a “metal-specific” brand, but I was pleasantly surprised at how nicely mine plays and how versatile it is tonally.
I don’t disagree with the other recommendations so far, just throwing out another option that fits your budget. Whatever 5 string you get, you’ll obviously need to spend some time with to get comfortable, but one that feels good from a neck profile/string spacing/scale perspective when you first pick it up will likely be easier to transition between your 4 strings and one you’ll keep around longer.
Two of those that I have owned with the tighter spacing are the StingRay 5s at 17.5mm and the Schecter Elite 5 at 17mm. The ‘Ray exceeds your budget, but a used Schecter 5, one of the higher end models made in South Korea, can be found for ~$800-$1000.
I had overlooked Schecter as a “metal-specific” brand, but I was pleasantly surprised at how nicely mine plays and how versatile it is tonally.
I don’t disagree with the other recommendations so far, just throwing out another option that fits your budget. Whatever 5 string you get, you’ll obviously need to spend some time with to get comfortable, but one that feels good from a neck profile/string spacing/scale perspective when you first pick it up will likely be easier to transition between your 4 strings and one you’ll keep around longer.
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As a confirmed 4-string'er, my first impulse is to install a D-tuner into one or two of the instruments you use now.
I've looked at a couple 5-strings lately when futzing around a shop. I raised an eyebrow (the good kind of
) at a Yamaha TRBX - don't recall the model #, but it was comfortable and the B string sounded terrific.
G&L Tribute!! I went crazy with their M-2000 about a year ago - got a Tribute and then a U.S. model... kept the Tribute. It was spectacular, but eventually didn't quite fit my hands and now my guitar pal has given it a good home.
Between the G&L Tributes I've tried in recent years along with the LTD B-1004 Deluxe I have now as my clear #1, my reservations toward Indonesian builds have dropped off to zero. They're making really nice stuff these days. Your budget in the used market should put a really sweet array of instruments within reach if you're okay with those imports.
Oh yeah - keep an eye out for a Warmoth. Some in the used market can be a little odd, but many can be packed full of premium parts that have been assembled by skilled hands.
I've looked at a couple 5-strings lately when futzing around a shop. I raised an eyebrow (the good kind of
) at a Yamaha TRBX - don't recall the model #, but it was comfortable and the B string sounded terrific.G&L Tribute!! I went crazy with their M-2000 about a year ago - got a Tribute and then a U.S. model... kept the Tribute. It was spectacular, but eventually didn't quite fit my hands and now my guitar pal has given it a good home.
Between the G&L Tributes I've tried in recent years along with the LTD B-1004 Deluxe I have now as my clear #1, my reservations toward Indonesian builds have dropped off to zero. They're making really nice stuff these days. Your budget in the used market should put a really sweet array of instruments within reach if you're okay with those imports.
Oh yeah - keep an eye out for a Warmoth. Some in the used market can be a little odd, but many can be packed full of premium parts that have been assembled by skilled hands.
While Ibanez is best known for their SR/Soundgear series, they have made and currently make several other series with very different neck profiles. If you pick up a BTB or ATK expecting a broomstick neck, you’re in for a shock.
As a 4 string player, the most comfortable 5 I ever tried was G&L L-2500. It Beat out a Lull and an Alembic when I was trying them all out. Both in terms of comfort and tone. I couldn’t get a bad sound out of that G&L. So I’d I were forced to go 5 , I’d seek a G&L USA or tribute.
For me string spacings is important. Too close and I can't put my thumb in between.
Yamaha BB735a or G&L Tribute L2500. Both in price range, offer familiarity plus extended versatility, and are bags of fun to play!
I love BEAD, and for those of us who won’t miss a high G string, there’s no easier way to get that B0–Eb0. I tune my BB734A BEAD; as I said earlier, I tune mine funny.
Cool
I also had a brain fart there and meant to say I've had many 5 strings (love them - and sometimes a 4 in BEAD just feels better to me).
Yes, my Ibby 5-er is an SR series, 2011 SRA305, upgraded with EMG actives and an EXB. The neck is anything but a broomstick. It is a nice moderate C, very easy to transition to from a 4-string.
