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Gigging Professionals Question

#42
I had a Dean Edge-1 5 string. At $249 you won't be out a lot of money and you will find it to be a light weight, easy to play, good sounding bass. ;)

Dean Edge-1.jpg
 
#43
I got myself a 5 string to use in a New Country project. Did two gigs, then it fell apart. And the 5 went into the closet. Eventually I sold it. Then decided to give one another try. Sold that one, too. The good part of playing one was the key of D became kinda fun; but that, in the end, was not reason enough to keep one around.
 
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#44
Moving Pictures said:
I have found I needed one when playing country, CCM, some metal and pop. Honestly I like having one when playing with bands that transpose keys. Makes that transition much simpler. I generally play my 4s the most but a 5 is very handy at times. I will always have one in rotation.
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I've always found it so strange when I see country mentioned as a reason to own a five. I mean it's not technically challenging so it must only be that in "new" country, those five extra notes are just so prominent that it's altered the genre and you MUST hit, probably that low D and low C a lot. SMH on that concept but then I admittedly don't listen to new country. (I do own a five which to me is technically helpful in refingering complex lines in funk, jazz, some rock etc.)
 
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#45
Ekulati said:
I've always found it so strange when I see country mentioned as a reason to own a five. I mean it's not technically challenging so it must only be that in "new" country, those five extra notes are just so prominent that it's altered the genre and you MUST hit, probably that low D and low C a lot. SMH on that concept but then I admittedly don't listen to new country. (I do own a five which to me is technically helpful in refingering complex lines in funk, jazz, some rock etc.)
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A lot of country from the 90s onward is on a 5 string. Surprisingly it was almost always Stingray 5s but I'm not sure if that's still the case
 
#46
I’ve been asked several times to bring a 5, less often to bring something specific like a P bass. Most of my work is in production show/theater work and new country festivals and fly out shows. Sometimes the low B is just necessary as the music calls for it. Sometimes it’s nice to have for staying in one position longer. I would say it’s nice to have one available if you need it. You don’t necessarily need to spend a lot on one.
 
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#47
I’m now in the situation that we’re changing keys of the song for our singers voice.

I want to switch to a 5, but don’t want to park $5k worth of basses and learn the fiver exclusively.

I’ve been just playing at an other octave, and nobody notices.

Question, an octave pedal, is this a trick to use on gigs with a 4?

Never used one.
 
#49
Clark Westfield said:
I’m now in the situation that we’re changing keys of the song for our singers voice.

I want to switch to a 5, but don’t want to park $5k worth of basses and learn the fiver exclusively.

I’ve been just playing at an other octave, and nobody notices.

Question, an octave pedal, is this a trick to use on gigs with a 4?

Never used one.
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Its not quite the same, but could work depending on the sound you want. Where they really shine is copping synth lines.
 
#50
No longer feed myself thru music, but still gig semi-regularly and do fill-in work. I couldn't do as much without a fretted five. I hate it. And I love my defretted 4s. But a 5er makes playing some genres easier.

And Imma lazy sumbich. :laugh:
 
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#51
I have 2 fivers. Touring band required 5 string. I rarely play them in the studio though... usually play a 4 or the 7.
I would get one. They're a tool... someone may require that you have one.
Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

P.S. my new 5 is sweet... I'm just itching to use it in the studio...
SOLD - Warrior 5 string 2001 Namm show
Just getting a fresh setup from the tech first... could be the new go-to bass.
 
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#52
theduke1 said:
I switched to playing 5 string in 2006 & never looked back. I like the versatility of a 5 gives and can cover all of the 4 string and 5 string needs. Maybe it’s because of what I play!
Duke
View attachment 4635166 View attachment 4635167 View attachment 4635168 View attachment 4635169
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Oh man... look at that green fretless beauty.
That photo should be enough to convince anyone that they absolutely require a fretless 5 string.
Damn.
You could say that I'm "green" with envy.
 
#53
superheavyfunk said:
Hey y’all. This one is for those who gig for a living:

Do you find that you NEED a 5-string bass in your arsenal? I’ve been doing this a long time and there’s been only three occasions that an act or producer has demanded that I bring a 5 string with me. One of those was just this week and it’s got me thinking that maybe I should buy one just so I have it. But then again, the investment might not generate enough return to make it worth it, given that this has only happened three times so far in almost 20 years.
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It’s a funny thing, when 5 Strings first hit the market I really wanted one, but they were really expensive boutique basses, Alembic built some of the very first ones
for Jimmy Johnson, and then Fodera’s for Victor Wooten, along with Ken Smith and Michael Tobias. All for those instruments were way out of my price range. Then Lakland came along and they were not cheap either, but they were at the time at least reasonable. So I saved my pennies and bought a Lakland 55-94 in 1999. I’ve never been happier with a bass, it plays great, sounds great and is lighter than the 66 Jazz I no longer own, or the 1959 Fender Precision I still own. I have two main basses, both are Lakland 55-94’s a fretted maple neck, and a lined fretless ebony neck. Unfortunately, US Built Lakland’s have also gotten pretty expensive fortunately Lakland Skylines are incredible (I owned one before I got the US lined fretless) and cost about 60% less than their US versions. You owe it to yourself to try one. Just my take but they are available used at even lower costs. I know nothing about the Charvel San Dimas JJ’s.

PS Once I got used to a five string, the four strings stayed home.
 
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#55
musicman556 said:
I may be the only chucklehead who had an issue going from 4 to 5 or 5 to 4, but I doubt it. I'd recommend getting one now to fool with so you can be assured you know what you're doing with a 5 when you need to press it in to service
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This is exactly my line of thinking. There’s nothing worse than showing up to work unprepared.

I’m not without experience on a 5 string, that’s for sure. But certainly my technique isn’t as clean as it is on a 4 banger, and anything other than pretty much perfect just isn’t going to keep me employed in such a competitive market.
 
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#57
chris_b said:
If you are playing/working for others, and want to be successful in a career, you'd better be open to all requests and be ready for anything.

You have to be ready and up to speed. In many situations you don't get asked twice.

These days the option of a 5 string bass is a prerequisite for many gigs.
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Ain’t that the gospel truth!

I kinda feel like a lot of ppl on this thread missed the part about the needs of an actively working, professional bassist for hire… this thread isn’t about whether or not ppl like playing a 5 string, or what the industry was like in the 80s and 90s. But oh well.

There’s been a lot of good advice mixed up amongst it all… I’m gonna go buy the bass and get to practicing. :bassist::thumbsup:
 
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#58
superheavyfunk said:
Hey y’all. This one is for those who gig for a living:

Do you find that you NEED a 5-string bass in your arsenal? I’ve been doing this a long time and there’s been only three occasions that an act or producer has demanded that I bring a 5 string with me. One of those was just this week and it’s got me thinking that maybe I should buy one just so I have it. But then again, the investment might not generate enough return to make it worth it, given that this has only happened three times so far in almost 20 years.

That said, who’s to say that if I had a 5 banger for those three occasions that it wouldn’t have turned into more paying opportunities? So I ask you again, in your working life, do you find that a 5-string has been an absolute necessity, or have you been able to make do and get your bills paid without one?

(In case you’re curious, I’m considering buying one of the newish Charvel San Dimas JJ V basses)
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I have found it necessary to have a five string in my arsenal. There are so many great, affordable five strings these days that there's really no excuse not to have one. As a matter of fact, I'm using my modded Lakland 55-01 tomorrow for a wedding gig. There are a handful of modern tunes we're doing that the low B comes in handy for. Besides, I love this bass in its own right; it plays and sounds fantastic, even if ita little brighter than I'm used to.
 
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#59
I have most definitely been asked to bring a five string in certain situations depending on the music. I can’t say that I’ve ever been personally demanded to bring a five string (do it or lose the gig) but I always have one anyway so I never had to find out.
but
keeping a five string around is certainly handy.
I’m comfortable enough on a five to play one all the time if I chose to.
It’s most definitely a tool. And a preference.
 
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#60
Im not currently supporting myself off music, but i have some good sized modern country gigs upcoming that require a 5 for about 20% of the songs. Country, pop, jam, and metal often need extended range to copy album parts exactly. I used to fight the necessity of a b string to death, but after decades of being a 4 string diehard, gig requirements nudged me toward a 5, which i now play exclusively. Many people can get by without it, but im not one of them.
 
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