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Going on two years now and I can't even think about... [5 string content]

#41
I remember getting a five and after playing it for awhile I picked up my four and felt like I could dominate the smaller neck.

I parted ways with the 5 and have regretted it so I have another one on the way from Birdsong. Still primarily a four string player but I like having the five as an option.

Nothing (for me) beats the classic four string Pbass formula. Black and blonde, single pickup, volume and tone knob. Let's go!:bassist:
 
#42
dbsfgyd1 said:
Good thread starter. If I could add a comment, if you are going to switch to a 5 string or a 6 string, that you play songs where it is more convenient or the extra range is necessary.

If you play a 4 string, switching to a 5 string but playing songs that only require a low E as the lowest note, you're not likely to get the point of the exercise.
Click to expand...

Yep... If I can elaborate what pushed me over the edge. From time to time I play musical theater. Not because I'm such a tremendous bass player, but because I can read. I found that a lot of the arrangements were dropped to accomodate vocalists. Initially in one of the first gigs I was seeing a lot of low D's. I did put one of those Hipshot extender switches on my 4 string, but found it inconvenient and required too much ongoing brain power. It was time to start thinking about a 5er.

Subsequent gigs has tons of D's, C's and a couple low B's. But I think those charts came after I bought my first and second 5ers (a story in itself). During the transition period I did not resort to playing my 4 string and sort of became enamored with 5ers and picked up my 3rd. My 6er was purchased due to a deal I couldn't refuse. But it hung virtually unplayed for at least 18 months. The pandemic gave me some time to work with it. I think when I finally set it up right stuff started to click.

And here we are... waiting for things to get back to normal. Vaccine appears to be around the corner and hopefully will be produced and distributed as quickly as promised.

bass_family3.jpg
 
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#45
vindibona1 said:
Yep... If I can elaborate what pushed me over the edge. From time to time I play musical theater. Not because I'm such a tremendous bass player, but because I can read. I found that a lot of the arrangements were dropped to accomodate vocalists. Initially in one of the first gigs I was seeing a lot of low D's. I did put one of those Hipshot extender switches on my 4 string, but found it inconvenient and required too much ongoing brain power. It was time to start thinking about a 5er.

Subsequent gigs has tons of D's, C's and a couple low B's. But I think those charts came after I bought my first and second 5ers (a story in itself). During the transition period I did not resort to playing my 4 string and sort of became enamored with 5ers and picked up my 3rd. My 6er was purchased due to a deal I couldn't refuse. But it hung virtually unplayed for at least 18 months. The pandemic gave me some time to work with it. I think when I finally set it up right stuff started to click.

And here we are... waiting for things to get back to normal. Vaccine appears to be around the corner and hopefully will be produced and distributed as quickly as promised.

View attachment 4069565
Click to expand...

I hear you about the brain power it takes for drop D. It took me about a year and half to be 100% fluid. Then I bought a 5 string (of course with conventional tuning) and with short notice, I had to gig worthy in 5 days on 50 songs reading charts. Talk about brain cramps!!!
 
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#47
I bought a 5 string Sterling Ray25ca this summer. It's probably because I haven't spent enough time with it, but the 4 string basses just feel so much more natural. When I do pick up the 5, it's rare that the big string is used as more than a thumb rest. I can understand the advantages of extended range with shapes and scales, but muting is challenging. Besides, the music we play rarely (if ever) calls for the big string. Been thinking of selling it to finance a pedal board, but something tells me I'll need it one day. Maybe if I put my P and J in cases and forced myself to work on the 5 things would click.
 
#49
Similar story here. I've been playing for over 20 years and had the same Thumb 4 for 15 of them. My main player, but it was a bit heavy for me so I started looking for more basses. Found a warwick infinity, which is chamberd and then decided to try a 5 just to switch things up. Took a couple months easily, but now I'm with you. Playing a 4 feels strange now. Not only that, but I prefer the tighter spacing as well.

The horizontal range is just too damn good to pass up. Any scale in 2 octaves without moving hand position.
 
#56
I haven't played in 20 years. Pandemic forced unemployment seemed like a good time to learn six string. I'm probably about 6 months to a year from feeling comfortable on it but I'm thoroughly enjoying learning to play it. It is different enough that working through technique drills and all the basics I used to know isn't as much of a slog as it was the last time I tried to learn again.
 
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#57
My bass after a squire was a 5 string schecter. then my parents gave me an american jazz bass 4 in high school right before I made the long switch to upright. Now going back to electric I hear a huge difference between the 4 string and the B string so I'm prefering the 5 string now.
 
#58
When I first picked up a 5 string bass it was an experiment. I had no plan. I started by switching back and forth between it and my 4. I thought I was doing a better job by doing that, but the bands didn't like the delay and I discovered that switching around was causing more problems than it was solving. So I put the 4 string away. It was the right move because the 5 covers every thing I could want to play and a 4 doesn't. Also, I want the same geography under my fingers every time I pickup my bass. I want the notes in the same places, and, because I own a fantastic bass, I want the same great tone every time I play.

YMMV
 
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