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I don't think I'll ever be able to play a 4 banger again

#41
For the first time in 12 years I do not own a single 5-string bass. Over that time, fivers were my main (and only bass). I never thought I would ever even want a four again. I was wrong. I'm feeling the music better than ever, and nobody I play with (or for) seems to care that I lost a string.

I've come to view the whole number-of-strings issue as a parlor game played mostly by the equipment-obsessed and propagated by non-players who know numbers but little else. The question should always be 'Can you make the thing sound musical or not?' Not 'How many strings ya got?' Dontcha think?

Bass is bass. It's a vibe, not only an instrument.
 
#42
I played 4 bangers for over 20 years and they always served me well. Made the move to 5ers about 12 years ago and they serve me just a little better. Sold off my last 4 string about 8 years ago.

It's not about better or worse. For me, it comes down to serving my needs and 5ers fill that slot just right.
 
#43
Back when i first started playing the first bass that found its way into my hand was a beat up ol' Squier P bass 4 string. I stuck to four strings for a year or two and then bumped up to a 6 string ibanez BTB. That thing was a goliath compared to what i was used to. I eventually decided to go fender and got myself a 4 string J cause i wanted to learn slap. Ive been on four stringers since and my playing has improved so much that i find myself wondering what would happen now if i had all of that extra room again. My next bass is definitely going to be at least 5 strings.
 
#45
capnsandwich said:
I guess I ought to tell you this about 2 of my bands. Both of them are "drop D" type of bands. It does make it a lot easier to play in that tuning with guitarists than switching back and forth between tunings.
Click to expand...

I've dealt with lots of "drop D" also. For some of tracks in D, I prefer the five, but for others I prefer drop-D on a four, which lends itself to different lines. (I could go drop-D on the five, but wouldn't bother.) To me, the five is vastly superior for tracks in E flat and C sharp. I used to play rock tracks in E flat with drop-D tuning, and it worked, but a five would have been much better.
 
#47
I'm usually a whatever works kinda guy, and all I need is four, that said, I *love* 5ers, so I play them anyway, all is well and good.

Recently, a friend who I recorded a bassline for, using a fretless 5er, asked me to tackle it with a fretted, and I brought one along, a four string, whoops, forgot, the bassline goes down to C#, so I had to heavily downtune, and pluck super lightly(playing an octave up would have ruined the effect), heh, made do, but not great.

First time I had missed a 5er. Its just so handy to get right low and under everything.

So, while I'd be perfectly fine with a four, for most things, I don't think I'd ever be without a 5er anymore, at least.
 
#49
I have 3 four strings and 2 fivers. I must admit that the fours see very little use nowadays (including my beloved 4001 - although that has so much sentimental value I will never sell it). My main 'go to' bass is my fretless fiver.

When I started using the fretless almost exclusively I bought a cheap Squier Precision V as a backup 5 string on the basis that it wasn't fretless but could cover 5 string duties if needed, but now whenever I play fretted I find myself turning to the Squier - despite having two vastly superior 4 strings (the 3rd 4 string is a cheapish ABG for unamplified practise).

I've played 6 strings and have no problem adapting to them, but ultimately decided that 5 strings are where I'm at.
 
#54
I learned on a 4 and then about 5 years ago went to a 5.
Now that I have been playing 5 exclusively, I really don't think I'll be comfortable with a 4 anymore. I don't have to use the Low B if the music doesn't call for it but it is there just in case, however, I use the Low B a lot with the music I play at church.
 
#57
Nedmundo said:
I've dealt with lots of "drop D" also. For some of tracks in D, I prefer the five, but for others I prefer drop-D on a four, which lends itself to different lines. (I could go drop-D on the five, but wouldn't bother.) To me, the five is vastly superior for tracks in E flat and C sharp. I used to play rock tracks in E flat with drop-D tuning, and it worked, but a five would have been much better.
Click to expand...

You bring up some valid points. I can think of a few instances where drop-d on a 4 string is the way to go. If I were ever to get back into a project that needed that, I would definitely consider putting a 4 string back in the stable. But for now if I really needed the D in the open slot I would just tune my E string down to D and my B string to A.

It really does come down to the right tool for the project(s) and 99% of the time I can cover it with a single 5er.

As always; IME, IMO, & YMMV :D
 

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