Five string or D-tuner?

[Doublesixes]

If weight is an issue, consider a light 4 string bass, DGCF
Less stress on your shoulder, on your bass and meatier sound than EADG.

 

[monkeybass68]

As someone that stopped playing 5 strings & switched to 4's with detuners, I'd say get a lightweight 5 based on the playing u do. I stopped using 5's because of back & neck problems, but still prefer the versatility of them over the 4's with detuners.
These days, most of the music I'm playing doesn't necessarily demand a low B, C or Db, so I use the detuners & occasionally my octave pedal when needed, too. However, I probably would not have switched if the 5's I had were lighter weight. It was just a much cheaper solution to sell my 5's and put detuners on my 4's.

 

[monkeybass68]

PS- I do still own one 5 string, but its a fretless with sound chambers that is extremely light weight for a 5.

 

[malthumb]

5 string all the way, I doesn't like D-tuners...

My experience exactly. 5-string is about a lot more than the few notes below open E. You have a 6-string, so you already know that.

 

[basslayer]

Based off of what you are describing as your use, I would go for the 5 string or a 4 string tuned BEAD

 

[Skip_NJ]

5 string. Ive been playing a 4 string in a band that goes between E, drop D, and low B tuning. When I got the opportunity to get a new bass, I decided to go with a 5. Ill relearn the drop D songs on the 5 even though they might be a little more difficult to play.

 

[JEDI BASS]

I just jumped into an originals band that the guitarists both play high speed licks in CGCF and DADG tunings. I'd love to be able to play those licks on my 5ers but it's not possible. So, there's a time and place for both drop tuned 4s and 5ers.

 

[Up the dose]

If you like playing with me a loose E string that flaps around on the fret board and changing all your scales to play in a dropped D tuning then get a 4 with a hipshot. If this doesn't appeal to you then get a fiver.

 

[JEDI BASS]

I play DR Hi Beams 120-90-70-50 for CGCF and 110-85-65-45 for the DADG. I buy the 50-110 sets, 45-105 and single 120s and mix and match. I prefer a 110 E anyways and it's perfect for standard or D tuning.

 

[Ken J]

I prefer the drop D
I haven't spent much time with my 5 string.
This one is on my short scale Cortobass
The E string D-tuned stays tighter than my B string on my Brice short scale

 

[Herrick]

5-string.

If you're into Carvins, I think you can get an SB with a chambered body.

 

[MaddAnthony_59]

I have several 5's WITH D-Tuners on the "E"-String. You get the best of both worlds. I can usually get by with the "D" on the "B" String. But there are 3 or 4 songd the REQUIRE Dropped "D" on the "E" String. It usually requires some modifying of the D-Tuner, but it is well worth the Effort IMHO!

 

[BigRedBassPlayer]

5-string.

If you're into Carvins, I think you can get an SB with a chambered body.

You can! My favorite 5er I've ever owned.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I LOVE my D-tuner, and it's the first thing I mod on all basses I buy.
That said, if I had need of a 5 string and, more importantly, found one that felt good in my hands, I'd get the fiver.
Play a bunch of basses. Either find a 5 that feels right to you, or get the D tuner, but you won't know which way to go until you play a bunch of basses.

 

[iiipopes]

I tried the D-tuner. Too unstable switching from song-to-song. So I went out and shopped and shopped until I found "the" 5-string for my hands, my repertoire, and style of playing. Between the bandleader set listing songs that had signature riffs or motifs that included B-string notes, and having certain songs that as we have all gotten older we take down a step or two, and wanting to keep the bass line intact, I finally gave in a couple of years ago and got the 5-er.

I strung it with LaBella black tape regulars, tuned the B string up to C so it had better presence of tone, and I was off and running. Yes, I had some gaff moments when I grabbed the wrong string, having played conventional 4-strings for over 35 years before that, but those moments are getting fewer and farther between.

I got a 2011 Ibanez SRA305 which has a great lightweight body, but is not neck heavy, and the pickups in exactly the right places, great fit and finish, in tune as good as basses costing thousands more, and cheap as dirt on closeout. It is now my main gigging bass.

 

[Igotsoul4u]

I vote for a 5 string. You get the low D and more. I also like how the 5 string opens up scale patterns and octaves normally restricted on the E string of a 4 string. The hipshot also throws off scale patterns and octaves. I don't like the mental adjustment.

 

[raventepes]

If you don't need to go any lower than a D, I'd get a 5-string, a spare E, and tune it DEADG. If you need to go lower than that, just get a 5-string, period.

 

[mech]

I have several 5's WITH D-Tuners on the "E"-String. You get the best of both worlds. I can usually get by with the "D" on the "B" String. But there are 3 or 4 songd the REQUIRE Dropped "D" on the "E" String. It usually requires some modifying of the D-Tuner, but it is well worth the Effort IMHO!

This^^^

mech

 

[Wallace320]

The fact is that when I'm playing "typical" bass parts I rarely use the high C string (only two songs so far, Daytripper by the Beatles and Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder, both of which can be played by shifting but the C makes it easier). I also use it for a couple of classical pieces I'm working on learning, but the C ends up being more of an obstacle than a benefit 80% of the time. My low B, despite the fact that it's a big stretch to play comfortably or quickly, sees more use, but still not as much as the middle four strings. The B is mainly used for hitting the fifth or minor seventh without having to shift, chromatic leading tones for E, and playing in Eb with my horn player friends. I try not to play on it above the ninth fret because the tone gets weird up that high.

The other reason I'm considering a second bass is that the pickups and electronics on the bass just aren't my thing. Its got Bart soap bar humbucker and a Bart preamp, and it sounds like a thick J bass. The problem is that over the past year or so of owning it I've learned that I'm really more of a P guy than a J guy. The neck pickup is smooth and deep but lacks distinction, and the bridge has punch but lacks meat.

I don't plan on getting rid of the six, but I do think I'd make it more of a backup or secondary bass. The six is my first nice bass, and I like it for soloing and writing melodies and playing chord progressions, but playing it live can be a pain in the shoulder, even with a padded strap. I think that I'd take the six to jams where i can stand out a little more and take the four/five to actual gigs.

that's why I'm for a 4er with detuner

in my main band, we play a fullstep downtuned so I'd go D, G, C, F and, with a detuner, C, G, C, F
the handlin' of a 4er is undisputed, and of a Precision bass in particular
then, still my main band, when you consider that guitar mates both play seven stringers, you sure get I'd have a couple of 5ers (A, D, G, C, F)
but if you ask me what' I'd like most
my Sheehan Yamaha Attitude limited II with standard detuner,
they go exctly like this (C)D, G, C, F and are my go to live axe

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[Geri O]

I have d tuner on BOTH of my 5's. The low "A" is awesome if you got an amp the can do it justice.

And to answer the next question, "How often do you use it". There are 2 songs on my album where I use it. And if you've ever played with a choir and orchestra it comes in very handy.

Cool, I wondered if anyone had done this with a 5.

The church band does a lot of stuff in Bb and I've been going crazy not having a low Bb. My B string is a .135, so I think it would work at A.

I just might give this a try!