Hey, 5-stringers!

[chris_b]

In the mid 90's I had to give up bands due to work and family commitments. I needed a bass challenge so as I was aware that 5's existed I thought I'd give one a try. I play low, under 7th fret usually so I figured the lower extension would be more useful to me. I bought an MM SR5. It was a lightening strike moment and I never looked back.

5 strings felt natural and the flexibility enhanced my playing rather than changed it. I bought my first bass in 1965 and I've now been playing 5's for longer than 4's.

That plan certainly came together.

 

[MacPark]

Hey I posted this is another thread but ill post again here to get some different opinions,

I have had the opportunity to play in a doom band. I have always been a 4 string player but I am looking at some 5 string options at the moment. I dont want to spend a crazy amount straight up and have been looking at some of the squier and ibanez 5 string basses. My question is between the Squier Deluxe Dimension Bass V, the Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass V and the squier modified vintage precision 5 string, whats going to be a better option? They have totally different pick ups and I am after something thats going to sound good low. I looked at the ibanez 5 strings too but I live in Australia and the Squiers are alot easier for me to get and they still have a look I like. I have played a fender pbass for years so the look and style are whats drawing me to the squiers over other brands. I play through a Orange OB1 500 and a Orange 410 cab. I come from a more stoner rock background and stepping up to a 5 string down tuned seriously low is all new to me.

Thoughts and any other options?

Cheers, Mac

 

[rodl2005]

Dunno re the others, but the VM P5 is a darn good bass. I use one regularly & it always does the job well

 

[Sav'nBass]

I was playing in church.. a lot of Eb ..... I like being able to resolve to the low B-Eb where possible... For me 5 string IS bass..

 

[bassbenj]

Hey I posted this is another thread but ill post again here to get some different opinions,

I have had the opportunity to play in a doom band. I have always been a 4 string player but I am looking at some 5 string options at the moment. I dont want to spend a crazy amount straight up and have been looking at some of the squier and ibanez 5 string basses. My question is between the Squier Deluxe Dimension Bass V, the Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass V and the squier modified vintage precision 5 string, whats going to be a better option? They have totally different pick ups and I am after something thats going to sound good low. I looked at the ibanez 5 strings too but I live in Australia and the Squiers are alot easier for me to get and they still have a look I like. I have played a fender pbass for years so the look and style are whats drawing me to the squiers over other brands. I play through a Orange OB1 500 and a Orange 410 cab. I come from a more stoner rock background and stepping up to a 5 string down tuned seriously low is all new to me.

Thoughts and any other options?

Cheers, Mac

You are right on that those are two completely different basses. The Fender-Fender clone basses are old school, traditional, classic sounding and looking and everybody knows what to expect. The Ibbies are more modern, humbuckers, fat sound, and smaller/thinner/lighter/ etc. They are both great in their own way. Which is why I own both. Each can do great things. But for the record my main Axes are G&L L2500 which are sort of half way between those two. Play 'em all and see what speaks to you. If you like the Fender look then why not? Hey I've got a Squier PJ 5 in burst, tort and flats and it doesn't get more Trad than that! (unless you take a string off of it which ain't gonna happen) But I still rather prefer my G&Ls unless I really want to cut an old school figure.

 

[_jojo_bass]

I made the jump 8 years after playing. Now, I can't go back. It takes a few months to really get use to it. Start at Eb and then D and keep going down. You gotta put some work in and it WILL NOT HARM YOU IN ANY WAY. You will only expand your adventure in the bass.

 

[howlin]

I made the jump 8 years after playing. Now, I can't go back. It takes a few months to really get use to it. Start at Eb and then D and keep going down. You gotta put some work in and it WILL NOT HARM YOU IN ANY WAY. You will only expand your adventure in the bass.

Actually, I had a 5-string for about 3 months that I got for a project last year. I wasn't sure about the gig and as it happens more often than not it went sideways pretty quickly, which was okay with me, partly due to the S.U.B. 5-er being so damned heavy. I had the bass for 3 months and it took 6 months of physio-therapy to work out the kinks in my neck, shoulder, & back. So, in all truth, it can harm you in very specific ways FWIW. Outside of that I really liked the string-spacing and the over all sound. That's why I've been thinking about jumping in the deep end again.

 

[_jojo_bass]

Actually, I had a 5-string for about 3 months that I got for a project last year. I wasn't sure about the gig and as it happens more often than not it went sideways pretty quickly, which was okay with me, partly due to the S.U.B. 5-er being so damned heavy. I had the bass for 3 months and it took 6 months of physio-therapy to work out the kinks in my neck, shoulder, & back. So, in all truth, it can harm you in very specific ways FWIW. Outside of that I really liked the string-spacing and the over all sound. That's why I've been thinking about jumping in the deep end again.

Got me there! Doesn't mean you cant find a light 5er with a smaller neck!

 

[IronLung1986]

One of my favorite things about 5 stringers is that they can sound kind of like short scale basses. For example, today I was getting a pretty good Glenn Cornick (early Jethro Tull) sound by using the A on the 10th fret of the B string as the tonic and centering my playing around that. So generally you're playing the notes on larger strings than you would on a 4 string, and it gets that tubby sound. I do it all the time because it's a great sound and fits a lot of mixes really well. It also makes active basses sound a little less active because it de-emphasizes the highs, which is desirable sometimes. If I want a normal 34" sound, I can obviously just switch back to one of the more conventional positions. Underrated aspect of 5 strings in my opinion. It's like having 2 basses in one, and it has nothing to do with switches and knobs.

 

[howlin]

Got me there! Doesn't mean you cant find a light 5er with a smaller neck!

I was thinking something like this...

 

[_jojo_bass]

I was thinking something like this...
View attachment 950239

Seen but havent tried! I'm sure it would be lighter! Ibanez is doing a lot of stuff right, im sure this is no exeption

 

[tfer]

Seen but havent tried! I'm sure it would be lighter! Ibanez is doing a lot of stuff right, im sure this is no exeption

I played one, but hate the distressed finish.

Sounds pretty cool, but the neck dives so hard, that it'll bruise your knees if you ever let go of it!

 

[Yahboy]

Own a 4 string Pbass and bought a 5 string Ibby last month.

And my purpose is clear, Pbass for old school vibe ; ibby for modern tone.