is it worth buying a 5 strings ?

[vindibona1]

After playing 5ers for awhile I had to get a 6er when a killer deal found me. The 6er weighs less than my Deluxe Strat and the Yamaha and Strat have the same weight. One would think that the BTB (far right) with the longest scale length, widest nut and wide string spacing would be more difficult to play than the others, but no. And my overimproved, modified Squier (left) is so meticulously set up and refined, but it just gets played the least. I haven't gigged it in 3 or 4 years. I've been practicing with it more, but the buzz in my head keeps saying "where's the other string".

 

[groove pump]

Hello mates! One does really need a 5 ? I am interested about it but since I am intermediate player I dont want to slow down my learning or even complicate my already gained progress, but maybe the 5th also teaches me new things , like expand the scales and stuff...

Its easy to say " go get one" , just keep in mind that I dont have a big budget to own 2 basses so I would have to sell mine 4 string to get a 5.


What do you guys say?

Thanks!

Since you can't grab a 5-string to play in addition to your 4, I'd say don't worry about it. If you eventually know that you need to make the switch, you'll be able to do it without asking anyone for an opinion.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

For some styles of music, a five allows a bassist to bring another dimension the music. The line I am playing here would certainly sound good on a four string, but the extra bottom a five has really makes a difference on songs like the one I was rehearsing today.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I don't like them and they are all too heavy and they all have huge necks and they are all active and I see no need for it because I don't like them.

 

[Ric Vice]

I played a Fender Jazz (1966) for quite some time. When Jimmy Johnson played a 5 String Alembic I fell in love with that sound.
I got my first 5String in 1999/2000 a Lakland 55-94 just got my second a 55-94 Lined Fretless in 2021. I never looked back.

 

[Garret Graves]

it's totally okay to play a four. some bands even might not hire you if they see you with a 5-string.
.

It’s amazing to me that this thought even exists in anyones head in 2022. 5 string basses have been “normal” since the 80s. 40 years people. You telling me there are musicians in their 20s and thirties that snub 5 string basses? I choose to not believe this. I would have to hear someone in a band setting say this, I think it mostly lives in bass player heads, as an urban legend. The one exception I can think of is the ditzy guitarist that gets lost, needs to look at the bass players hands sometimes, to see what note he is playing, and reorient himself. If the bass player has a 5 string, guitar can’t look at bassist hands, it throws them off, so if they NEED the “crutch”, they might guilt you into playing a 4.

 

[Aloe]

You telling me there are musicians in their 20s and thirties that snub 5 string basses?

me? where? I think, you said it yourself, but I didn't.

I just stated there're bands where a 5 is a stopper. I've heard, Jeff Beck doesn't allow 5-stringed bassists, but didn't mention he's in 20s or 30s.

I've personally heard those talks several times, I recall, one person was fourty-something, the other one was eighty-something. not only young people can play music.

this all said, I play both a 5 and a 4 and I'm okay with that.

 

[Snert]

I've heard, Jeff Beck doesn't allow 5-stringed bassists

To get that gig, I'd revert to a 4, but not some local band.

 

[KaraQ]

I prefer 4s, but I have a couple of 5s, as some of the songs I play need the range. Most could be played on a 4-string in D standard, but are significantly easier on a 5

I'm an outsider on TB, but I'll tell you everyone on here loves 5-strings.
I find them way too heavy. The necks are massive to counter that extra tension.

Not necessarily. It really depends on the bass. The lightest basses I've owned have been five stringers.

My Thunderbird 5-string weighs only slightly more than my other Thunderbirds, about 9 & 1/3 lbs.

My old Ibanez sr885le is the second lightest bass I own (my Ibanez acoustic is the lightest), it weighs about 7 & 3/4 lbs.

But, to be fair, they both do have a tendency to "neck dive" (if you can't manage to hold on to it while playing )

 

[Kitsapbass]

This video has Will Lee talking about doing his latest tour, using a Hipshot set to low C, so he can get the notes (well, all but one) or a 5 but still using a 4.

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I guess from my perspective is a 5 string needed to play bass effectively? Not at all.

Is having a 5 string good to have in your arsenal as a player? Absolutely - at least, IMHO

 

[vindibona1]

I
My old Ibanez sr885le is the second lightest bass I own (my Ibanez acoustic is the lightest), it weighs about 7 & 3/4 lbs.
View attachment 4683676
But, to be fair, they both do have a tendency to "neck dive" (if you can't manage to hold on to it while playing )

Ya know, I think the light body of some of these Ibanez basses lends to the inherent resonance. My Gio 6 weights about what your 855 weights. Neck dive too. But because it's so light I can use an unlined wide strap and the friction of the rough suede inside keeps it on place. However, I had a neck dive problem with my Fender Jazz 5 (avatar). In that case I swapped out the tuners to the Hipshot Ultralites. I'm not sure how much weight it took off, but it was enough to balance this bass.

FWIW/FYI- While I have a few nice, lined straps, I bought several of these straps (for dirt cheap) so I can outfit all my guitars and basses with their own straps. The BTB675 and Fender 5 are the only ones with padded straps (I love Perris straps for the money- also Williams).The cheap ones come pretty stiff and basic, but I took time, did what I neeed to do to break them in properly and made them supple. They've taken on a texture and are actually pretty cool now, light weight and effective. The 3.5" width distribution for the lighter basses is great. I don't like the strap pressing on the vein in my neck, so I cut out a section so that the distribution is only where I want it. See the bottom photo. You can see the texture too. Looks distressed, no? My other straps don't look so beat up, but show a nice texture. I think the strap was $11 when I bought it. Can't beat the price, for sure.

 

[Spacewoman]

well to be more precise , I can afford to have 2. But here is the thing. If I buy a 5, I would buy a nice one, and for instance sell mine to get a cheaper 4 later. If I dont get a 5, I¡ll get another cheap 4 and keep my current 4.

I was going to say that you weren't ready for a fiver. But then I saw this post.

Every player needs to experiment with a 5-string at some point. But ...
1) If economic constraints require you to sell your only 4-string bass just to be able to experiment with a fiver, you're not ready
2) If you aren't prepared to spend a moderate amount on a fiver with a good B-string, namely, one that doesn't sound too 'thuddy' when strung with a string with at least 31~32 lbs of tension, then you're not ready.
But since these conditions don't apply to you . . . I say you're ready.

 

[thmsjordan]

your right. I forgot jazz

AND all theater work.

 

[factory presets]

I don't like them and they are all too heavy and they all have huge necks and they are all active and I see no need for it because I don't like them.

So when you say Low and Fat....?

He said in jest

 

[Flaked Beans]

Hello mates! One does really need a 5 ? I am interested about it but since I am intermediate player I dont want to slow down my learning or even complicate my already gained progress, but maybe the 5th also teaches me new things , like expand the scales and stuff...

Its easy to say " go get one" , just keep in mind that I dont have a big budget to own 2 basses so I would have to sell mine 4 string to get a 5.


What do you guys say?

Thanks!

Skip the 5 get a 6! And everyone have a budget for two basses (I have 16) but a good 5 string is a blessing.

 

[chris_b]

I've heard, Jeff Beck doesn't allow 5-stringed bassists.

I've heard the same with Lenny Kravitz and the late Garry Moore. I know a guy who auditioned for Moore playing a 6 string Warwick and was told if he was successful he would be playing a 4 string Precision. He said OK, but didn't get the gig.

I guess these guys are after a look as well as sound. Or maybe they just like total control!!

 

[Snert]

I've heard the same with Lenny Kravitz

I've heard the same and the guy with the 5 got the gig. I have it saved somewhere and will post when I find it.

 

[mcnach]

well to be more precise , I can afford to have 2. But here is the thing. If I buy a 5, I would buy a nice one, and for instance sell mine to get a cheaper 4 later. If I dont get a 5, I¡ll get another cheap 4 and keep my current 4.

You could keep your 4 and buy a cheap but decent 5 string to see how it goes? Buying used is the most financially wise option, as you can sell on without a loss if you decide that particular bass is not for you. But I have recently 'discovered' these Harley Benton basses, a budget line sold by Thomann in Germany. The JP and JJ models in particular are outstanding... I ended up buying one of each! (£180 for the active JJ, and £206 for the passive JP).

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jp_55op_sunburst.htm

The build quality is very good. They need shielding to quieten them a bit (a few minutes with some copper tape, done) but that's about it. You may even get some nice weight ones although if you buy unseen you can't choose that... My JJ is 9.8 lbs, and the JP is 8.5 lbs. The design is so well balanced that even the heavier one feels very comfortable with a decent strap.

Anyway, I just wanted to throw that out there, as they make trying a 5 string quite inexpensive without compromising terribly on quality. I'd choose the JP over the JJ, I like the pickups on that one while the JJ is ok but a bit polite.

 

[JPK_DK]

You could keep your 4 and buy a cheap but decent 5 string to see how it goes?

Was my advice exactly and also recommending the 55OP

First thing I did, however, was remove the pick guard. Good to see you did the same!
And then I changed the strings... but, otherwise, an astonishingly good instrument!

 

[Aloe]

I guess these guys are after a look as well as sound. Or maybe they just like total control!!

well, there're gigs that call for a specific look. we don't know anything of the OP's situation, maybe his dream is a Beatles tribute band or something like this, a beautiful 5-string coffee-table bass just won't look right in that case. or there're gigs that call for an upright and that's it.