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General sound differences between 4-string and 5-string basses

#21
KJung said:
That has nothing to do with the instrument itself, but more about what the player is comfortable with. That's a different question (i.e., are some guys more comfortable playing a 4 string or a 5 string?).

There are a lot of guys who don't want to deal with the more complex muting issues of that 5th string when slapping, etc., and that is totally legitimate. And, of course, every bass sounds different, so directly comparing one of each configuration, even if spec'd similarly or identically, can result in hearing the basses sounding a bit different. This again, IMO, has little to do with the extra string when you compre the tone and performance of the 4 strings that the basses have in common.
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Interesting perspective!
However, Paul did mean that the difference was in the tone, not in the feel of the instrument. Here's the excerpt from the interview I mentioned.


"JamiroTalk.net: Do you have preference between 4 or 5 string bass’?

Paul: I do think 4s usually sound better. The E on a 5 doesn’t sound as good. Period. However I like playing 5 and enjoy having the option of the extra range of low notes without detuning."

Invalid Link Removed
 
#25
Everybody has there own opinion on it and they are all right. I know what my experience tells me and it makes it right to me. Ken's experience tells him otherwise and it makes it right to him. No big deal, (eventhough he's wrong;))
 
#27
As others have mentioned: On a four, the E is an outside string, and because it's more exposed you can thwack it around from all kinds of directions. On BEADG fiver, the E lies between B and A, so you have to use more caution playing it, just as you do the A string on a four. This is why some stick with four strings rather than five... they wanna thwack that E. And IMO it explains why some think the E sounds different on a five than on a four: you can't (ab)use it exactly the same way.

Really, I've played and owned both for many years... I notice no difference. I think folks that stick with four should just say they like it better, rather than coming up with bizarre rationales. :p You don't see guys like Vic Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Geddy Lee, Marcus Miller giving explanations or excuses! Not that they never have, but they don't have to, nor does anyone else.
 
#28
First of all, I'm not an expert or a bass wizard but the bass guitar has been my instrument of choice for 45+ (ugh) years. I've tried stand up's and electric uprights but really love bass guitars.

All good points re mass differences and accessability to the E string between 4 and 5 stringed instruments but IMHO "beefy" sound in an electric bass is more a function of how the instrument is constructed (build quality, design and material selection) and playing style technique. Is it a neck thru or bolt on, how is the fit in the neck pocket (bolt on). Headstock mass can effects tone. Pickup type and placement will effect your sound. Passive basses sound much different than active instruments. Pre-amps all have their own unique tone shaping qualities. AND don't forget wood cominations - this is it's own science and is arguably the basis for how an instrument will sound and be effected all these previously mentioned factors. How does the player attack the instrument. I don't think there is a simple answer to the question of beefy sound in a 4 vs. 5 string bass.

We didn't have a whole lot to choose from in the early 60's and I am very fortunate to have experienced the incredible evolution of bass guitars and equipment. Builders have tried pressboard, plastic, etc..... you name it and it's probably been tried. I tip my hat to the eternal quest for Meaty, Beefy, Pants shakin', window rattlin' kick yer ass bass tone.

my $.02
 
#30
I know that my old 5 string Jazz Bass never had any punch whatsoever. I never thought to connect any of that with it being a 5-string, but I'm not willing to rule it out. I think that for me, 4-strings give me a psychological advantage, as they allow me to play in a big, wide, aggressive playing style that I can't achieve on a 5 string. If you believe that tone is in your fingers, then you could probably chalk up a lot of tonal differences to that alone.
 
#31
dvh said:
No one's mentioned scale length differences - 35" for many fivers vs. 34" for four

(Yes, I know the Fenders and probably others are 34" for both fours and fives).

Isn't generally agreed short scale basses have have a different tonality from standard scale?
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....and sometimes the E of a 4 string set might be different than the 5 string set. Some companies use a .100 in their 5 string set and a .105 in the 4 string set.
 
#32
the only thing that i could see effecting any of the tone on a 5 string in comparison to a 4 string of the same model is the additional wood in the neck needed to accomodate for the fifth string. i could perceive that the addition could ultimately effect the string vibration accross the board and essentially "muffle" the overally frequency and range of the strings vibration. this is all just a theory of mine but i can honestly say that i have noticed this when comparing the sr 5000e and th sr 5006e made by ibanez. the difference however is almost completely unnoticeable and for me could really only be noticed between the 4 string and the 6 string models. i cant however see this effecting the overall "beefiness" of a recorded sound, that is after all why we have equalizers at our disposal.
 
#33
WOW..So it seems like a couple of you guys are saying what? That Paul Turner just doesn't know what he is hearing? For the record, I agree that there IS a difference in 4 and 5 strings. I have played on AND recorded THOUSANDS of tracks with both over the last 30+ years and there is definitely a sonically measurable and quantifiable difference. I suspect that Paul knows EXACTLY what he is hearing as do I. If you choose to disagree then that is great. However, I, for one would certainly appreciate the opportunity (as I am sure Paul would) to offer a different opinion from yours. I had the privilege of working with Tom Dowd on a lot of recordings over the years and he would have to be BEGGED to let someone use a 5 string if they were not going to play the B string at all. When he saw a 5 the first thing he asked was the player going to play ANY notes below an E. If the answer was no he was pretty insistent about NOT using it. He has recorded and played back a number of tracks for bassists who were overly insistent about the fact there was no difference. I know several well respected Studio bassists that started using 4s again after working with him. I am a 4 string player myself but I find that I HAVE to have a 5 for most of the things I am doing now but when I do pick up a 4 there is DEFINITELY a BIG difference to me....Just my $.02

Peace,

T
 
#34
tommixx said:
WOW..So it seems like a couple of you guys are saying what? That Paul Turner just doesn't know what he is hearing? For the record, I agree that there IS a difference in 4 and 5 strings. I have played on AND recorded THOUSANDS of tracks with both over the last 30+ years and there is definitely a sonically measurable and quantifiable difference. I suspect that Paul knows EXACTLY what he is hearing as do I. If you choose to disagree then that is great. However, I, for one would certainly appreciate the opportunity (as I am sure Paul would) to offer a different opinion from yours. I had the privilege of working with Tom Dowd on a lot of recordings over the years and he would have to be BEGGED to let someone use a 5 string if they were not going to play the B string at all. When he saw a 5 the first thing he asked was the player going to play ANY notes below an E. If the answer was no he was pretty insistent about NOT using it. He has recorded and played back a number of tracks for bassists who were overly insistent about the fact there was no difference. I know several well respected Studio bassists that started using 4s again after working with him. I am a 4 string player myself but I find that I HAVE to have a 5 for most of the things I am doing now but when I do pick up a 4 there is DEFINITELY a BIG difference to me....Just my $.02

Peace,

T
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Minimal at best. Trust me (us).

DSC00705.jpg
 
#35
People may or may not hear a difference. Sometimes I think I do, other times I don't. It may be in my head. I've had a lot of basses over the years, and there is something unique in the sound of each of them.
 
#36
I think the difference is the active pickups vs the passive pickups. I have a Yamaha 5 string (TRB) to get that "click fret" sound you are talking about. I also have 3 Fender Jazz basses. The 76 jazz has flatwound strings to get that old R&B "thump" sound. I have a 2005 Fender jazz with roundwounds to get a more modern blues sound and then I also have a new Fender Jazz 4 string with active pickups when I don't feel like playing the 5-string. BB Kings bass player, Reggie Rich, plays a Yamaha 5-string with active pickups and you can still get that beefy bass sound, but it still has a good bright sound for playing "live" The band I am in does a lot of blues, blues rock, R&B, both old and new and I usually try to just stick with just one bass, but I have played as many as 3 basses in an evening to get the perfect styles I am always seeking. Amps are Ampegs with SVT 4-PRO. and a few pedals thrown in for good measure. haha
 
#37
spade2you said:
Minimal at best. Trust me (us).

DSC00705.jpg
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You know what that is YOUR opinion and you are certainly entitled to it. As for me, No thanks. I prefer to have my own opinion and trust my own ears and experience than have someone tell me I am wrong or try to convince me otherwise. That is what is wrong with the world now everyone thinks THEY have to be right all the time...There are always 2 sides to everything and I guess we should just agree to disagree...I am cool with that.

Peace,

T
 
#38
KJung said:
Nope..... if anything, the increased mass of the neck should make the E-G fatter on the 5 string than the 4, but I don't hear any difference between similarly spec'd 4 and 5 string models.

As long as you can come to terms with the increased complexity of muting a 5 string (especially when slapping) and the larger neck width, there is no advantage to playing a 4 string that I can see (i.e., not using the B string when not appropriate for the tune literally results in a '4 string').
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+++1. I second that emotion.
 
#39
interesting thread... since I've got my 5 string (and now my six), I'm searching THAT growl in the E strings of 4 stringers, but couldn't find yet.
that doesn't mean that wider neck is better, but may mean that this is my sound.
I hope, once I can build a 4 string bass with THAT sound.

(no, it's not a pickup thing for me, I can absolutely hear it acoustically.
same strings, etc)
 
#40
tommixx said:
You know what that is YOUR opinion and you are certainly entitled to it. As for me, No thanks. I prefer to have my own opinion and trust my own ears and experience than have someone tell me I am wrong or try to convince me otherwise. That is what is wrong with the world now everyone thinks THEY have to be right all the time...There are always 2 sides to everything and I guess we should just agree to disagree...I am cool with that.

Peace,

T
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So you're telling me that with all of these extremely similar basses that I'm also wrong? The problem with this debate is that most 4 to 5 string comparisons have several other variables. These basses had about 1-2 variables apart and the E was consistent across the board. There were some tonal differences between basses. Besides, I also have some 5-6 string basses where the E also sounds the same despite even more neck/mass/voodoo.
 

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