How long is the honeymoon?

[el jeffe bass]

I recently bought a five string bass after playing four strings for over 25 years. I was a bit nervous about being able to integrate the B string into my playing. Thanks to some great advice from my fellow Talkbassers I set about learning. I’m using the five string almost exclusively now. It’s not just the “four extra low notes”, it’s the 15ish extra notes on the B string that it affords me. After many years of being a four string player I think that I have become a five string player. How long should I give this before selling my four string basses and buying my dream fiver?
Cheers J.S.

 

[B-Mac]

I recently bought a five string bass after playing four strings for over 25 years. I was a bit nervous about being able to integrate the B string into my playing. Thanks to some great advice from my fellow Talkbassers I set about learning. I’m using the five string almost exclusively now. It’s not just the “four extra low notes”, it’s the 15ish extra notes on the B string that it affords me. After many years of being a four string player I think that I have become a five string player. How long should I give this before selling my four string basses and buying my dream fiver?
Cheers J.S.

Don't

 

[5StringBlues]

Keep a couple of fours, they're fun to bang around on.

 

[flannel cat]

keep your fours man! its great to jump back and fourth.. Ive finally got my brain wired to know the difference..

 

[Clark Westfield]

I want to play a 5 in the worst way, but refuse to just play the 5 after investing over $6k in 4 strings over the years.

I’ll just keep flipping this once and a while:

 

[two fingers]

Man, that's a tough one for us to answer for you. I'm almost exclusively 5 strings. But, I have kept a 4 string P with flats, a 4 string fretless, a 4 string parts P bass I put together as a fun project, a "pirate" jazz, and a hot pink 80s 4 banger.

They're just fun to have around. But my main 5 goes to pretty much every gig.

That said, only you can answer if/when you've turned the corner for good.

 

[Killing Floor]

it’s the 15ish extra notes on the B string that it affords me.

Should we have an intervention? No money notes way up there!

 

[B-Mac]

I recently bought a five string bass after playing four strings for over 25 years. I was a bit nervous about being able to integrate the B string into my playing. Thanks to some great advice from my fellow Talkbassers I set about learning. I’m using the five string almost exclusively now. It’s not just the “four extra low notes”, it’s the 15ish extra notes on the B string that it affords me. After many years of being a four string player I think that I have become a five string player. How long should I give this before selling my four string basses and buying my dream fiver?
Cheers J.S.

I Repeat...

DO NOT!

 

[sleddogn]

I say cut'm loose and free them to the 4 only players...like me

 

[Medicine Man]

I kept my 4 after i switched to 5. I play it for a few minutes every couple of years for nostalgia.

 

[el murdoque]

I'd say if you come here to ask, you are ready and just need someone to tell you so.

There are those that switch to five and never look back. There are those that have a strong preference for one, but will play the other if needed - in most cases those are four string players that have a five and bring it if asked.

If you are hooked on a low to mid level 5er already, just imagine what a good one does to you.

I'd keep a four string P with flats around, just because. The rest can go.

 

[bobdabilder]

Dump the 4's and don't look back.

 

[Al Rivera]

I have 2- 5 string and 2- 4 string basses, i enjoy both. Kinda like owning a pickup truck and a sports car,fun to have choices.

 

[chris_b]

I played 4 string basses for 31 years (and my Precision for 27 of those years) and then I switched to 5 string basses in 1996. I'm still in the honeymoon period. I love every second I'm playing my 5ers.

My approach is that I can play everything on a 5, but I can't play everything on a 4, so no contest.

Buy your dream bass as soon as possible and enjoy it for as long as you can.

 

[Leigh Semmens]

I own a fiver, but, on occasion, do play a four stringer. I have a ball playing to four. The fiver is useful for the extra low notes, but, in many cases, is not really needed. It's really only useful for those situations where you need than low note, which, in reality, is not really very often.

 

[Durham52]

I'd say keep a 4, you never know when you might want to play one. That's unless you need to move it, or them on, to cover the cost of the 5 you want.

I can't see anything wrong with having and playing both, plenty of people do. I know some folks around here sound almost evangelical about 4's or 5's, like once you've "seen the light", all others shall henceforth be an anathema to you, but come on. As Lee Sklar says, "they're tools", pick the best tool for the job.

Still, we're all just throwing in our 2 cents worth, you do you.

 

[tb-player]

Both/and not either/or

 

[akukulich]

It depends. Can your 4-string basses be easily replaced? If they are, take the leap anytime you want. You can always go back. If they're vintage or custom instruments that would be hard to replace if you end up missing them, I'd think a little more seriously about hanging on to them.

I made the switch to 5's in 1999 and played them almost exclusively for about 15 years. Then I switched back and expect that I'll stick with 4's from here on out. There aren't any rules. Do what works for you.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Screw it, your four strings are not the last four strings ever built and if you sell them you'll never be able to go back or you won't be shunned by the four string community. Get your dream five.

 

[baileyboy]

You can have more than one girlfriend, you know.