How long is the honeymoon?

[J Wilson]

I transitioned from four to five strings in the late 80's, and until a few years ago, I owned nothing but fives (I bought a Squier James Johnston on a whim as I was smitten with the matching LPB paint job).

As you've found out, it's a completely different instrument than a four: The muting is different, the extra string opens up the fingerboard in more ways, obviously a wider fingerboard, generally requires a more/better amp to steadily make low C's and D's on demand, and allows you play more across the fingerboard than up and down. I often sit around E on the low B, and anything lower or higher is just not that far away.

The usual jibes about having a built-in finger rest with the B or 'it's just a four with an extra string' tells me this is from someone that prefers a four, which is fine, or didn't spend enough time with it to see the difference which is OK too. I never understand these sort of defensive comments, never equated how many strings your bass has as some sort of test of musical masculinity. Play what's best for YOU !

I've never once considered going back to a four, the advantages and the way a five matches the way I think of the fingerboard just suits me perfectly. I'll toot around on the Squier four just for grins, but it's just a very occasional itch it scratches. After about a half-hour, it dawns on me that I'm missing the five, and that's that.

I'd also have to say for me, that a 'dream bass' . . . is a mirage, a constantly changing image.

 

[blowinblue]

You can have more than one girlfriend, you know.

Not according to my wife.

Not according to my wife, either. Even one girlfriend would have me starting all over again. Lol.

M. M.

 

[Element Zero]

Played 4 for 4 years. Bought a 5. Now almost 30 years later, I haven’t looked back. Don’t miss 4s one bit.

 

[blowinblue]

I made the transition from 4-string to 5-string in 2003. Was just beginning to seriously apply myself to singing lead and playing bass at the same time. Once I got over the hump of remembering that there was an extra string it became apparent that a BEADG fiver really makes it easier (for me) to sing lead. In spite of currently owning a great 4-string I've never played it for a whole gig since it was delivered in 2005.

M. M.

 

[Father Gino]

I’m in the process of trying one more time to bond with a 5 string. It’s only been 3 months and I told myself I’d give it a year, but it’s not going well. I figured I wouldn’t often use low notes below D but the ability to play further up the neck would be useful. It is, but I’m finding again that you’re in a whole other palette of tones playing even In G 5 frets up the neck. Obviously you can still play in G where you would have on a 4 string, but playing that B string is always a bit weird. I bought a Dingwall with a 37” B string to lessen that problem, but it’s still there.
I thought that teaching this old dog some new tricks would pleasantly exercise my feeble brain but playing a 4 string is joy whereas playing a 5 string is a chore.

 

[Thankful birds]

I played fives for several years after playing fours exclusively. I sold the fours because I loved the convenience, but I was always unhappy with the way the fundamental on a B string sounds. Ultimately, I got rid of the fives and have been back to playing fours for nearly twenty years. Certainly, that's personal preference, but I'd hold on to a four or two just in case your tastes change.

 

[misterCRUSH]

I got a 5 for Christmas in 21. Love love loved it! I play jazz and the ease of playing in the horn key (Eb) is a big selling point but I also love the low end of it and the feel of it. After about 3 months, I sold 3 of my four strings, and bought another fiver. The only bass I kept was the four string fretless that I learned on. That one has sentimental value to me. I don't play it, but I will probably keep it forever. I guess whatever fits for you. For me, five just made sense for all sorts of reasons.

 

[Dr Zee]

My rule of thumb is there never is a reason to get rid of musical equipment or photo gear.
Also, I usually spend a lot of time before I buy something in the first place. I still have and play my 4's and have
4 5ers.
I also have all my film cameras and will so long as I can get film and processing.
...but that's just me

 

[smogg]

Took me about a year to scale down to just 5ers. I have not owned a four in at least 20 years. That said I play these two exclusively regardless of genre.

 

[lomo]

I quickly divested of all 4s when I felt happy on a 5...never looked back....and have neither desire nor reason to play a 4 again. If selling your 4s is a necessary step to getting your dream 5, I say "break on through to the other side".

 

[Ayalt]

Keep them unless there are ones that you're really absolutely sure you're not gonna play. After years of playing 5 string basses almost exclusively I am gravitating back towards 4 strings. They have their own uniqueness and aren't just basses with one string less

 

[pbass2]

I have owned quite a few fivers since the late 80's. Everything from a fanned-fret Dingwall to a passive Fender P fiver and all kinds of others in between. There were times when I entertained the same thought, "I can do everything on a fiver, why keep the 4's?". Everyone has their own reasons but FWIW, I now only own four bangers (one with a d-tuner). I'd keep a four string around for sure, especially if you have a decent passive FSO that you like (especially a pbass). There will very likely be times when you're gonna want to have that on hand.

 

[Cleezmo]

I am in the 'keep the 4s and get another 5 if that's what you want'.

I play both, depending on gig/material. I played my main 5er 99% of the time for probably 10-12 years, then felt the urge to get a very nice 4 string again. Got my G&L M-2000 6-7 years ago and started playing that most of the time, then got a G&L JB a couple years after that. I now go through phases where I'll play the 5 most of the time for a few weeks, then it will sit for a while as I rotate through my 4s.

I know there are folks who are 100% in the either/or camp, but I like both, and like having both options around to change things up.

 

[Beej]

When I bought a five, I still had my jazz. By the time I bought a second five, I hadn't played my jazz in a long time. By the time I got a third, fourth and fifth fiver, the jazz had been in the case for years, kept only for nostalgia and the coolness of it being what it was. Eventually I sold it so that someone could play and enjoy it. Once I started building them regularly, I'd plan on keeping a 4, but then they would move on too. In my case, I love playing 5s. I also have a batch of sixes, but the fives are used most of the time. I find it quite often that songs usually played on a 4 can benefit from the odd note below E and I sneak them in all the time.

Sell them or keep them, only you can decide.

 

[Outbush]

My 5er is all about ergonomics for me (although I do use the B regularly and have come to love what it can do). It is physically easier and more comfortable to play than any other bass I have struck yet. If a bass fits you better than other basses maybe upgrade it, not replace it - the next bass you buy might not be as nice to play.

 

[darthplagis]

Started playing in 96... Bought my first 5 in 98.

I have one of my dream 5's (sandberg) as well as my first 5 (yamaha BBG) and my new main player... A £230 harley benton marquess (I actually want 2 more, one to defret and a 4 string also)

I still have 4's aplenty still some cheap some not so much...

They are very different animals, and for all I am at home on my 5's... Here is a time and place where the 4 is just more suited.

 

[Geogio]

"Wait 2 weeks, you probably will change your mind" - Dad

 

[FatOwlBass]

I would keep at least one four string. I have 4 ,5, and 6 strings and fretless 4 and 5's. I love going back and forth. Sometimes after you played a 5 or 6 you go back to the four string and inspiration strikes and vice versa. Sometimes I dont play my bass at all for a week and only play guitar. Then when I pickup the bass I have new ideas.

 

[Geri O]

From an avid 5-string player…

Unless you need the space and/or the money, I’d keep the basses you used to play, at least one of them anyway.

Even I own a Peavey T-40 that’s a 4-string bass. But it’s more about giving this 41-YO bass a good home than anything else.

 

[Lo-E]

I’ve been playing 5-string for about 25 years but I still gig primarily on 4-strings. I even had my dream fiver built for me in ‘99 but I kept my fours. Why? Because a fiver makes me play differently. When it’s the right bass for the job there’s no substitute and I reach for it right away but I play a lot of straight-ahead rock and I think a 4-string sounds better in that application (most of the time)*.


When I bought my first fretless I didn’t sell my fretted bass despite preferring to play fretless. I feel the same way about the fiver. I love it but it’s not for everything.

*I realize that there are countless players who use fivers for straight-ahead rock and many of them do an amazing job of it. I just prefer the tonality of a 4 in that context but it’s purely personal preference.