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Help an Old Guy Change!

#41
mikeluch said:
I have been playing bass for 35 years and always played 4 strings. It became evident this week that the old guys (including me) need to sing in different keys, which makes it necessary to transpose many of our songs.
I am looking into some recommendations for (gasp) 5 strings. I have not tried many, but my concern is with my meaty fingers. I presently play a 4-94, sadowsky P/J and a Sterling as my main basses.
I have read about the string spacing and the scale sometimes being an issue, but would appreciate help from those who have made the move from 4s to 5s and maybe some recommendations.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Be very careful about scale length (has someone else mentioned this already???) - I too have been playing since before time, and when I made the big transition to 5, I went to 35" scales and regretted it. I'm now selling my 35" 5 strings and getting all 34"s. The problem is many builders only do their 5's in 35", so make sure you know what you're getting.

good luck - GO OLD GUYS!
 
#44
It has been mentioned, but deserves repeating - a lot of 5-strings use a 35" scale length, whereas most 4's are 34" scale. That extra inch makes a difference in the feel of the instrument. I found that the adjustment to 35" scale was nearly as much of an adjustment as moving from 4 to 5 strings.

The Sadowsky 5 has a 34" scale - a worthy consideration from my vantage point. However, it is a bit wider at the nut than my Lakland. In the end, I think I prefer the Sadowsky to the Lakland, despite the wider nut. But you should try both and see what works for you. You might want to consider the weight differential too - I have found most Laklands heavier in general than that Sads.
 
#45
I've been playing 4-strings myself for over 40 years (and boy, are my hands tired! :)), until last year, when I got a Sadowsky Modern NYC 5. Beautiful instrument...it took me a long time to get used to the presence of the low B, no fault of the bass, but now I don't even want to bother with a 4-string. Picked up my very nice Fender P/J 4 with Fralins yesterday, set it down after a few seconds. Eh. Of course, now I've got an Alleva-Coppollo LG-5 and that is my go-to bass. So I'd *definitely* recommend a 5-string, to my taste either an A-C or Sadowsky Jazz-like bass (with the wide nut). This from a dedicated P player of many years' standing. The peculiar high-frequency output of a J-style instrument has a juicy richness to it that offers greater clarity and definition (without necessarily intruding or protruding excessively) I just seem to require these days. Bands -- at least the ones I work with, with their synths, triggered drum samples, guitar fx, subs, and other extended-range thigamajigs -- don't sound like they did in the heyday of Jamerson, Duck Dunn and many of the other great P players.

-Steve
 
#47
I've been playing since 1966 (i think?) and I just switched to 5 string. I bought two new ones a 35" scale Peavey Cirrus and a Ibanez 405 QM 34" scale. I love how much easier it is to play than a 4, you can stay pretty much in the root area. However I must admit I'm having a little trouble with the string spacing (right hand), but it is getting better. I just ordered a new fretless (un-marked board) in 5 also. I'm hooked!!
One note! Ibanez makes a 5 that has like 4 string spacing at the bridge. I never have tuned down and I'm not sure why one would??
 
#49
steve9000gi said:
I've been playing 4-strings myself for over 40 years (and boy, are my hands tired! :)), until last year, when I got a Sadowsky Modern NYC 5. Beautiful instrument...it took me a long time to get used to the presence of the low B, no fault of the bass, but now I don't even want to bother with a 4-string. Picked up my very nice Fender P/J 4 with Fralins yesterday, set it down after a few seconds. Eh. Of course, now I've got an Alleva-Coppollo LG-5 and that is my go-to bass. So I'd *definitely* recommend a 5-string, to my taste either an A-C or Sadowsky Jazz-like bass (with the wide nut). This from a dedicated P player of many years' standing. The peculiar high-frequency output of a J-style instrument has a juicy richness to it that offers greater clarity and definition (without necessarily intruding or protruding excessively) I just seem to require these days. Bands -- at least the ones I work with, with their synths, triggered drum samples, guitar fx, subs, and other extended-range thigamajigs -- don't sound like they did in the heyday of Jamerson, Duck Dunn and many of the other great P players.

-Steve
Click to expand...

I too converted to 5 completely... but then started missing my 4's. I find that for some kinds of playing, a 4 just works better for me. I won't be getting rid of my 5s, but a normal old 4 string J bass is a damn handy thing to have, particularly for slapping.
 
#50
I started playing bass in '63 (guess that makes me an 'old guy' too :D ) and added a 5 (Carvin LB75WP) 18 months ago. I shedded for about 4 weeks before I brought it to a gig. Played it for 1 set (the set that had songs I knew best) - added a set every gig. Now, I can go back and forth from 4 to 5 without too much reorientation. I would like to add a Sadowsky 5 next... but I'll have to sell some of the stable first (NEVER A GOOD THING).

Old dogs CAN learn new tricks! Enjoy your BONGO - and have FUN! :cool:
 
#51
Get a 5 string bass that feels good in your hands. Then put away your 4 string basses. Only play the 5 for a while. Eventually the 4 string bass will feel wrong and the 5 will feel right. That's the way it worked for me.

All of my 5 string basses are 34"
 

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