I'm kinda thinking about going back to a 4 string.

[therealting]

I think everyone here is at least partly right.

Yes, there are closed-minded musicians who won't hire anything other than a four-string player. If you're a four-string player, or don't mind using a four-string for those gigs, then great. If you're not either of those, there's nothing wrong with not playing for them.

If you feel you need more than four, also cool. I personally like having more than four strings and I only have one 26"-scale four string... but if I got a gig I would like to play which *required* me to get a four-string, I would have no problems buying it. Given an option, I would play my six though.

And there are situations where I've been sought out to play my eight-string: I run it into a wet setup EQ'ed to the mid-high frequencies to play guitar chords and lines, which some people like.

So it's all cool.

 

[Wademeister63]

Much as I like the little bit of extra range and couple more note options I have with a five string bass, I'm not sure if I use the B string enough to warrant owning a bass equipped with it. It's fun and all, but i really think I'd be just as happy with a 4 string and one of those D-Tuners from Hipshot. I might try to sell my 5 and get myself into a Corvette 4 string or something.

Anybody else ever gone back down to 4 after having been on a 5 for a while? Anybody ever regretted it?

I'm a fairly new bass player so this may be a bit of a different perspective for you. My first bass was a four but I thought the 5'er were SO cool I HAD to have that. I bought a 5, then another 5, sold the first one and bought a 4, then sold the other 5 and bought another 4.
I really like the feel of the fours better, although I also enjoyed playing on the 5er. I didn't just use it for the few extra notes, but I brought most of my open position playing up to the 5th fret. I miss having the B string sometimes and tried stringing one up BEAD but it wasn't quite right. Maybe I just tried it with the wrong strings, I don't know.
Also, I've been dealing with instruments under $500 so maybe I have just have found some 4's that sound good at that price but no 5's I suppose if I run into a 5 that really does sound and feel good to me some day I may get it but I'm not holding my breath at this point.

So my overall feelings, they're both good to have. Use what you can afford that sounds good and feels right to you. Don't do what I did and play somethiing just because you think it looks cool.

 

[shirojiro]

These debates seem to crop up every few months or so, and I never really understood why.

I play 5s and 4s depending on the gig, the type of music, and my mood. I have fretted and fretless 4s and 5s, no 6s, 7s, or 8s, but I can see why someone might want those kinds of instruments.

If I'm playing a rock, blues, or old school funk/Motown gig, I use a Fender 4 string. It just seems to fit. I play my fives when I'm playing jazz or more modern music where I'm soloing more or (rarely) if I need the extended low range.

Like others have said, I see the main benefits of a 5 string to be easier access to notes in one fingering position. I admit, I do like to be able to play in C or or D with a low root note, but it's tough on my amp/speakers and the notes often seems to get lost in the mix.

Personally, I don't feel the need to have a 6 or 7 string bass, but then, I'm not a soloing virtuoso. Plus, the rolethat I fill in my bands doesn't call for me to be wailing away in the upper registers like that.

They're all tools of the trade. One isn't better than the other. Personally, I think that I slap better on a 4 string because it's easier to mute the other strings. I can see why Vic Wooten, Marcus Miller, and others like to slap on 4 strings.

 

[Stephen Soto]

When I got my first 5 it took me months to start using the B. I just couldn't get used to it being there after just playing 4's. I use it more than ever now though, badass thumbrest too .
I would like a 4 however, for doing dropped tuning, if i needed/wanted too. I don't really like playing Drop D on a 5 BDADG, sometime's i'll do ADADG though.

 

[tekhna]

I play a 5 now for several reason-First is the incredible thumbrest it offers, but second because I love getting that wonderful tone from playing 3-14 frets on the 5 string. It just sounds better than using the E or A. Plus I can get 3 roots by fingering all the way across the fretboard. Makes chording more fun.

 

[Minimalist]

After going 5, I'll never go back. The B makes an amazing thumbrest.

Exactly!

 

[Bradweiser]

I thought I'd seek out some advice, but thought it might be better to bump this more informative thread than create an entirely new one.

Anyway, I've had a 5 string bass for about 2-3 months (not exactly sure) and I haven't touched a 4 stringer much in this time.

However, I broke a string on my 5 today (first time I've ever broken a string actually) and went back to the 4.
As soon as I picked it up I was more comfortable, more accurate, faster and in general just a better player.

Basically, after that little experience I thought about whether I should continue to play a 5 or not. I rarely use the B string and have trouble incorporating it into anything I try to write and I feel more comfortable with the 4.
Because of this I'm at a crossroads as to whether I should keep the 5 or get rid of it and upgrade to a better 4 string.

I should add that I am fairly comfortable on a 5 (except for slapping which is probably more of a practise issue).

 

[Marley's Ghost]

Yeah , I went through that for awile too after I got my first 5. The B was just a thumb rest. The neck felt too wide. I had trouble reaching the G. But then a funny thing happened. I started playing higher up on the neck, using the B more often. Plus, the guitarist in my band is very impressed for some strange reason that I play a 5!

 

[smitcat]

I have a cirrus 5 string and a fender jazz 4. I like to go back and forth between the two. Personally i prefer playing 4's. I just ordered another 4 actually. But for some reason, when i decide to switch it up, i feel that each one makes me play the other better. I don't know what it is, but when i go back and forth, i feel like i play better on either one. Maybe its just me?

 

[Minimalist]

I thought I'd seek out some advice, but thought it might be better to bump this more informative thread than create an entirely new one.

Anyway, I've had a 5 string bass for about 2-3 months (not exactly sure) and I haven't touched a 4 stringer much in this time.

However, I broke a string on my 5 today (first time I've ever broken a string actually) and went back to the 4.
As soon as I picked it up I was more comfortable, more accurate, faster and in general just a better player.

Basically, after that little experience I thought about whether I should continue to play a 5 or not. I rarely use the B string and have trouble incorporating it into anything I try to write and I feel more comfortable with the 4.
Because of this I'm at a crossroads as to whether I should keep the 5 or get rid of it and upgrade to a better 4 string.

I should add that I am fairly comfortable on a 5 (except for slapping which is probably more of a practise issue).

I experienced the same thing. My 4 & 5 are very different soundwise, so I use whatever bass I think fits the song/music. But I mainly use the 5 for practice.

 

[steverosati]

I had a 5 and a 7 I sold both and went back to the 4 string I might even be looking for a 3 hahaha. But any way now a days you can use a oct.pedal to reach lower notes than a 5 could get . It's all just prefrence where there is a will there is a way, so go 4 it.
Peace

 

[Eldermike]

I play live with 4's and record with 5. I like the 5 for recording because I don't have to play as many "open" string notes and it easier for me to be consistent in performance. This may not be an issue with other people but for me to be consistent, and end up with something that can be used without adding a ton of compression and gating, that's what I do. However, for live playing I like the 4 string.

 

[lowrez]

I have a Pedulla Thunderbass ET 5, I rarely touch the thing anymore and mostly stick to my old Sterlings.. I'd really love to dump the Pedulla for maybe another one of similar caliber minus a string..I guess in my old age I just like the slimmer neck profile, and my B I don't touch much anyhow anymore..

 

[_Unregistered_]

Too much thought is being put into the number of strings here. I have various 4, 5, 6, and 7 strings basses (and a 12-string - 4 w/double octaves). They're each a different animal, and I love playing each one for a different reason.

Sometimes the 4s are better for funk, but sometimes, even for funk I might need or want the added range of the low B that's available on a 5 string (if the key of the material dictates it)...or if I need to solo, I might prefer to use a 6.

I think if I had to play out on a gig (and wanted to bring only one instrument), and knew there'd be no solos, I just might bring only a 5 string. If I knew I'd have to solo, I'd probably want at least a 6 with me.

It's definitely is easier to think vertically across the fretboard (something easier to do in position as the number of strings increases), as it allows you to play more "in position".

With a 4, you tend to think more in terms of "up and down the neck" as opposed to across it - but even that can lead to totally different approaches to solos, etc. ...so I guess it's all good. It just depends what you're after at the time.

There's no right or wrong answers here. Maybe I'm just too much of a gearhound with a severe GAS problem, but to me the more the merrier - more strings, more basses...MORE!

More is more. Whoever said less is more didn't have GAS.

I suppose I don't feel the need to identify myself as a "4-string player" or a "6-string player", etc. I just play bass.

If I wanna make a certain noise, I'll play a certain bass.

I also don't view it as an either-or proposition. You might find after a while playing 6 (or 5) that you can positively FLY on your 4...and then after playing the 4 for a while, you might find it incredibly inspirational to have one or two more strings to stretch out on...so in effect, more can really be more (inspirationally speaking).

Just play bass! (...new TB T-shirt??)

 

[Big String]

I've got all fours right now and am pretty happy. Two of the three have Drop D tuners which I use about 15% depending on what new tunes we learn. The 5 has many advantages especially with the Eb stuff that is popular. Most of my needs are met by the 4 and it does have it's own MoJo just like a 5-6-7 etc., depends on what your like and what your doing. I've had a couple of real nice 5's like in my picture above was my Lakland 55-94 and excellent bass. I played it exclusively for 3.5 years or so. Eventually the wider neck and 35" scale got to me comfort wise, plus I'm smaller and older... doesn't help. I've really never played a 5er that had the solid feel of a four string (yeah Leo Fender) there IS just something about a four string that does it for me. In fact I was just debating last week about sending my new Sadowsky MV4 back before the trial period ended and getting an MV5. To the rescue my pal came over with his new Sad NYC 5 and let me play it for a while. Let me tell you...it was superb and I liked it a lot, but in the end I decided to keep the MV4. I don't really need 3 very alike basses but I'm enjoying all three right now.

 

[mcgraham]

I've been lurking these boards for a while now so I thought I'd share my opinion. FWIW, I have found 4 to be all I need. I play mainly for churches, youth groups, jam sessions, local bands and personal pleasure, depending where I am in the world at the time (home is Hong Kong but currently in the UK [studying Physics]). I own a 6'er (in HK) but I always find myself reaching for my trusty 4 string Fender Jazz Bass.
Having 6 strings (or more!) is great, I love seeing/hearing people make use of their extended range (JT, James Hart, et al) but for me, personally, I just feel a bit more comfortable not looking down and wondering where to start. I sometimes think 'hmm this part could do with being down an octave' but until the day it's at least half the pieces I play, I'm quite satisfied with my lowest note being an E.
Going higher on the other hand, I enjoy working with chords, they can add such dimension to a bass line IMHO, so a 5 with a high C is tempting, but the feel of a C string just isn't quite right to me. Maybe it's just my 6'er, but 5 is about my max and until I find a C that strikes me, 4 is just dandy.

 

[Bradweiser]

That's another thing that makes me think that I don't need a 5, I don't like using a C string.

I just figured if I don't want a C, and rarely use a B, I probably don't need to be playing a 5 string.

 

[SteveC]

I have tried to go back to a 4 string, can't do it. I like them and all, but everything I do on a 4, I can do on a 5, so why not have the 5 and have the extra string? It doesn't get in the way, and I like having some note and position options.

Actually, unless I need that "fretted" sound, I mostly play my fretless 6 anyway.

 

[Bradweiser]

The problem that I have with that (and I do agree with it), is that my slapping is nowhere near as good as it is on a 4.