I have 4-5 string basses ranging from a Pedulla MVP5 to a Squire 5 string. The only 4 I have left is a Michael Kelley Dragonfly. I play in a horn band and feel more comfortable having the ability to drop below the E. Those horn boys love the flatted keys!
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Has anyone here abandoned their 5 string basses totally for 4 strings?
- Thread starter HalfManHalfBass
- Start date
I dabbled in 5s and I never had more than 2 on hand. Now the only one I have is my Carvin LB-75 and its mainly for some sentimental reasons.
First, it was my first 5er
Second, my first semi-custom
Third, I've never owned a bass longer. I ordered it in either 91 or 92 and I've had it ever since. By the fall it'll be with me for either 20 or 21 years, I cant remember which. I cant picture looking at the stand and NOT seeing that one in there, even if I dont play it all that much.
From a band perspective, I play in a classic rock cover band and we pretty much play everything in standard tuning. Once in a great while we tune down a half-step but thats pretty rare for us. Fortunately, our singer doesnt need us to play in a lowered tuning.
First, it was my first 5er
Second, my first semi-custom
Third, I've never owned a bass longer. I ordered it in either 91 or 92 and I've had it ever since. By the fall it'll be with me for either 20 or 21 years, I cant remember which. I cant picture looking at the stand and NOT seeing that one in there, even if I dont play it all that much.
From a band perspective, I play in a classic rock cover band and we pretty much play everything in standard tuning. Once in a great while we tune down a half-step but thats pretty rare for us. Fortunately, our singer doesnt need us to play in a lowered tuning.
All that talking, spelling Wooten wrong, double spaced margins, and ignoring that many of these players still bring out a 5 string from time to time doesn't help your cause.
Pino has recorded just a few songs using a 5 string and recently got a Rob Allen 5 string.
Wooten still uses one.
Claypool will still bring his out from time to time.
Steve Harris hasn't written many tunes that aren't in Em using the same E-D-C progressions (and I like Iron Maiden).
I could go on, but you don't strike me as the type that learns.
After 20 years playing 4string basses I got a 5 string yamaha BB615... My main trouble is that I keep forgetting that the upper string is a B and not an E. I know i have to practice more to mentally learn it and while I do that the poor yamaha is in its case... My 4 string basses are happy playing all the time... 
I haven't gigged my 5 in quite a few months - just 4-strings. That said I've got a pair of 5-strings (one B-G, the other E-C) that should show up in a month or two and we'll see how they fit into the lineup.
Victor most certainly plays 5s - both his fretless 5 and NYC fretted 5 get gigged and recorded.
Victor most certainly plays 5s - both his fretless 5 and NYC fretted 5 get gigged and recorded.
Can we then shun upright bassists with the extended fingerboards?
they should be shunned, but not just because of their fingerboards.
i like 5 strings. when i first tried one it was an instant connection. 4 stringers feel strange and "too small" to me now. i know depending on the type of music the 5er is dismissed because it doesn't fit the image.
My first bass was a 4 string then 6 months later I bought a 5. I played 5 strings for probably 10-12 years(specifically a a Stingray 5). For the last 5 years I've played mainly 4's. Strange enough I'm now wanting a Lakland 55AJ. I prefer a 4 for most older rock and R&B but I love a 5 for fusion. Point being I like both.
OP kinda hit the nail for me. I started out on 5 strings and wouldn't even look at a bass unless it had 5 strings. One day we were playing a song at practice that was just easier in standard tuning, so rather than tune my Ibby I picked up my guitarist's Cort 4-stringer. I fell in love, not with his bass but with 4 string bass. I find I play more interesting stuff on 4 strings and it's just easier for me. Not sure why, because a 5 string is just a 4 string with an extra string on it, but whatever.
DOUBLE SPACINGS?!?! Dear god, I am so, so sorry. There's nothing worse than offending spacing standards.
And you can figure out what key Steve Harris writes in? (Even though they aren't "progressions." ) Wow. I only hope that I may learn more from you in the future.
You and all four of your posts and such strong opinions.
Yes, I know what key that Maiden songs are in. If I say Em, that's ~95% of them.
Feel free to offer more opinions, but the end of the day, you'll likely be on several ignore lists.
20:1 odds you've played 1-2 5 string basses at best.
Not to mention, your user name is spelled wrong too!
Should be "Vinnie Boom Batz". right?
For all these spelling and grammatical errors, you now must leave!
Not to mention, your user name is spelled wrong too!
Should be "Vinnie Boom Batz". right?
For all these spelling and grammatical errors, you now must leave!
QUIT TWISTING MY WORDS!!!!! I'm still mad at kids who had it better than me in high school.
+1
I started on 4's then played a 5 exclusively for 3-4 years. Moved to a 6 and played it for a year while owning a 4 string for non-jazz and gospel gigs. Went back to 5's and then moved back to 4's exclusively. I agree 100% that I too think Low B and really anything below a low D doesn't sound sonically pleasing to my ears and I don't have a place for it in any of the music I play or record on. Others may have a different experience, but for me it is only 4's for here on out.
yeah, right....I am pretty sure you WERE that guy....and that's why my post touched a nerve!
yeah, right....I am pretty sure you WERE that guy....and that's why my post touched a nerve!
Not really, I only got one Alembic and just a used Mercedes when I turned 16.
