is it worth buying a 5 strings ?

[beatdatthang]

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

Posts like this really disturb me. Does this stuff actually happen? If so, to whom? Sounds like some High School level clique gear snobbery BS to me I understand that sometimes keeping with a certain aesthetic based on a band’s/artist’s image may come in to play at the highest levels (if you showed up to audition for Garth Brooks or Shakira with a BC Rich Warlock or Ironbird I can understand maybe some angst), but what band that typically plays for crowds of a couple hundred or less in its right mind would disqualify a bass player based on the type of bass they play or even more, the number of strings on it?

That’s dumb and the world doesn’t need idiots like that and neither do you. I play Spectors and Dingwalls, both 4 and 5 strings, in a modern country/ southern rock band. I can assure you nobody, especially the paying audience, gives a rip about what instrument you’re playing.

It’s like all the folks that say a sound engineer will refuse to work with you if you aren’t playing a P bass or whatever. Bologna! It’s their job to do their job and your job to do yours. They get paid for that. Suck it up buttercup and mix the bass I like to play properly!

 

[Green Knight]

Playing a fiver for a year helped me understand the fingerboard more deeply—ie less intuitively—because the notes in every key are in one position. It also helped my technique bc cheating is harder… pinky pretty much essential.

 

[chris_b]

Posts like this really disturb me. Does this stuff actually happen? If so, to whom? Sounds like some High School level clique gear snobbery BS to me

I'm not disturbed. . . . if I wanted to do the gig and there were "rules" about using this gear or that gear, I'd comply if I could. Some friends have a Cream and Hendrix tribute band and they use 412 Marshall stacks. If they asked me to join I'd have to say no, I couldn't move those cabs.

I did refuse to join an authentic Rock and Roll band in the 70's because they wanted me to cut my hair short and slick it back. . . that was too much to ask!!

I get all my gigs from recommendations and, happily, no one has ever asked me to change anything.

 

[Snert]

It’s like all the folks that say a sound engineer will refuse to work with you if you aren’t playing a P bass or whatever. Bologna! It’s their job to do their job and your job to do yours. They get paid for that. Suck it up buttercup and mix the bass I like to play properly!

That made me laugh because it's true. Many moons ago I had a regular gig doing FOH at a bar where they had different bands almost every week (bar owned PA, monitors and mics). Soundchecks were almost non existent so I had to EQ and balance on the fly, so I'd ask they start their set with something simpler, but once they'd played there once, I'd consult my notebook and be close enough. I usually never knew what gear they had and would show up with. Today, I'd ask for a gear run down and some clean recordings of individual instruments sent to me so I could do a preliminary setting after hours the night before.

 

[beatdatthang]

I'm not disturbed. . . . if I wanted to do the gig and there were "rules" about using this gear or that gear, I'd comply if I could. Some friends have a Cream and Hendrix tribute band and they use 412 Marshall stacks. If they asked me to join I'd have to say no, I couldn't move those cabs.

I did refuse to join an authentic Rock and Roll band in the 70's because they wanted me to cut my hair short and slick it back. . . that was too much to ask!!

I get all my gigs from recommendations and, happily, no one has ever asked me to change anything.

I get aesthetics and gimmicks, but if you’d shown up to any of those gigs with say a 5 string Jazz instead of a 4, would they have cared? Would they have even noticed? Yeah, they probably wouldn’t want someone dressed like Marylin Manson playing bass for a Waylon Jennings cover band, but would it matter if the bassist was playing a 4 or 5 string instrument? If they’re that petty and controlling, you probably don’t want the gig unless it’s extremely lucrative.

 

[mcnach]

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!

Ha! Great basses eh?

It's a shame the pickup route is not clean, I really like the 'naked' look. I've got some cream vinyl I might wrap the pickguard on, but no pickguard at all would have been nicer.

For the blue JP, the tort just clashes, it's quite ugly in my opinion. A black one will be nicer, but again without a pickguard at all would have been nicer.

 

[mcnach]

Playing a fiver for a year helped me understand the fingerboard more deeply—ie less intuitively—because the notes in every key are in one position. It also helped my technique bc cheating is harder… pinky pretty much essential.

+1

Also my muting has got better since I started playing 5 strings regularly.

 

[Snert]

Yeah, they probably wouldn’t want someone dressed like Marylin Manson playing bass for a Waylon Jennings cover band, but would it matter if the bassist was playing a 4 or 5 string instrument?

Agreed, especially if the 5 was conservative looking, like a Sadowsky, the HB's mcnach mentioned earlier or an SR505. Even something fairly exotic like a headed Status Stealth (w/o the LEDs) would just be a black bass to anyone 2m away.

If they’re that petty and controlling, you probably don’t want the gig unless it’s extremely lucrative.

I've walked away from one gig like this before because the BL was a controlling (think of a very rude word here). I view my role is to turn up on time for rehearsals and gigs neat, tidy and sober, learn the material, help with gear, be a good team player and play well and bitch as little as possible. That wasn't enough for this guy, so I walked and felt bad as I think some of the others needed the shekels for the gigs.

 

[badinage]

Playing a fiver for a year helped me understand the fingerboard more deeply—ie less intuitively—because the notes in every key are in one position. It also helped my technique bc cheating is harder… pinky pretty much essential.

+1 (+1 w/ @mcnach too)

A five will change the way you play bass, both mechanically and artistically. It's a fingerboard education, a technique education, a creativity springboard, and all in a pleasant way as you simply explore, experience, and adapt to having those extra notes always under your fretting hand. For me five-string experience also transformed and improved my four string technique and creativity.

 

[Jefenator]

IME 5-strings are a pain in the butt. But I'm hooked. (Have been for 30 years.)
If you can learn songs & parts lightning fast, groove your butt off and maybe make occasional use of an octave pedal and/or detuner, you probably won't lose too much work sticking with 4 strings.

 

[chris_b]

I've heard the same and the guy with the 5 got the gig.

I think that was Gail Ann Dorsey. She's playing 4's with Lenny.

 

[frankie5string]

I think that was Gail Ann Dorsey. She's playing 4's with Lenny.

I thought the "4-string rule" came from a story about his audition of 200+ bass players to replace Jack Daley.

The rumour is that LK told the staff to have everyone take their bass guitars out and tune up, and the staff should immediately send anyone with more than 4 strings home.

I don't think it was actually LK who said that, it might have been his management. I believe his management even stipulated that the bass chair was for a 4-string bass player, so it was really just a test to eliminate all the auditions who didn't actually read the audition requirements. There was a time-crunch affecting how many they could reasonably get through.

Ultimately it was a job interview.

 

[Aussie Player]

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!!

Both your answers are correct. I think they are looking for a consistency in sound to their records and the play-ability of the bassist to stay with that formula. It is their sound that is trademarked to a degree and has to be maintained. Could also be habit as his background goes back to Phil Lynnot days in the 3early 70's where Phil used a Precision from early days.
The only bass player that strayed from Precision with Gary Moore was Jack Bruce and he is/was his own master.

 

[chris_b]

I thought 4-string rule.

Gail on that bass. . . . at 43:00

 

[frankie5string]

Gail on that bass. . . . at 43:00

"Yeah, I'd love to..." I bet that happened in parallel with whatever they were doing to whittle down what they were dealing with. They couldn't have picked a better person to join the band. She's an amazing musician and person.

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

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!

Sometimes I think maybe having the extra d# could be nice, or d, but I immediately realize that it would throw off the entire feel of the instrument and I could alternatively just have a second bass that’s tuned 1 or two steps down. I don’t play with any guitar players or anyone playing so low tuned that I need the extra string. I’d just save up for a second bass and detune if need be or save up for a five string. I wouldn’t sell a four for a five unless you’re super committed to that sound and find a five string neck worth it. That fifth string can get warbley on some basses too requiring you to have really wacky tilt angles on pickups or backing them off a ton. That’s why I never went for it. But some people love it! Those low lows are the whole point for some people and if what you’re playing requires it, you gotta do it. But also remember a five neck has different string spacing sometimes and sometimes is a lot thicker, a bass neck typically isn’t much more thick than a guitar neck, some of these guys got so many strings on their necks they’re basically fretting a dulcimer

 

[JPK_DK]

It's a shame the pickup route is not clean,

Yes, it's probably one of the time- and cost-saving things they thought would be hidden underneath a pick guard anyway...
I might try to 3D print something to fill the gap.

For the blue JP, the tort just clashes, it's quite ugly in my opinion.

I never gelled with tort and, yes, especially bad with the blue...

Do you have any tips what to do with the screw holes left in the body? I have a sunburst, so perhaps I try to blacken the holes with a sharpie... not sure

 

[mikeswals]

Posts like this really disturb me. Does this stuff actually happen? If so, to whom?

Several years ago I really wanted to go to Vegas for Blue Man Group band auditions. The gig requirements: must play 4 string, and must play with a pick.

I play whatever bass is needed for the gig, but I absolutely suck at playing with a pick.

 

[vindibona1]

AND all theater work.

Theater work is what pushed me into 5 string. I get hired, not because I'm a good bass player and probably wouldn't even consider myself average compared to some company on this forum. But I get hired BECAUSE I CAN READ... and my musicianship carries me the rest of the way.

The first time I got tagged to play bass I had my Squier VM Modified Jazz4... but there were written low D's. So I dutifully put a hipshot drop D tuner on it though I'm not good with alternate tuning, even though Drop D is the simplest of them. My Jazz4 even got a set of Aguilar noiseless pickups. It played and sounded amazing.

...The following year with this group a bunch of low C's and D's lots of place. It was time for a 5er. Since I've even seen a low B here and there. But even with the other groups I play in, where a 4 wouldn't be an issue at all, it's just nice not to have to jump around the neck sometimes. Also I would say with my worship group, probably a majority of the music is in the key of D. So nice to conclude with a nice low D one some tunes or just use it on occasion when the moment seems right. I've been toying with bringing my Jazz4 back a few times... But then again I want to try my 6er out on one of the gigs :0. I've only played the 6 out one time.

 

[thmsjordan]

Theater work is what pushed me into 5 string. I get hired, not because I'm a good bass player and probably wouldn't even consider myself average compared to some company on this forum. But I get hired BECAUSE I CAN READ... and my musicianship carries me the rest of the way.

The first time I got tagged to play bass I had my Squier VM Modified Jazz4... but there were written low D's. So I dutifully put a hipshot drop D tuner on it though I'm not good with alternate tuning, even though Drop D is the simplest of them. My Jazz4 even got a set of Aguilar noiseless pickups. It played and sounded amazing.

...The following year with this group a bunch of low C's and D's lots of place. It was time for a 5er. Since I've even seen a low B here and there. But even with the other groups I play in, where a 4 wouldn't be an issue at all, it's just nice not to have to jump around the neck sometimes. Also I would say with my worship group, probably a majority of the music is in the key of D. So nice to conclude with a nice low D one some tunes or just use it on occasion when the moment seems right. I've been toying with bringing my Jazz4 back a few times... But then again I want to try my 6er out on one of the gigs :0. I've only played the 6 out one time.

My experience was the same. I had to go get a five to keep subbing in the Theater world. It is good money and good work if you have the reading skills. Also in the electric Jazz scene I was increasingly being asked to get a five so I could play original parts to the tunes those guys were doing. Tunes like Grover Washington Jr's "Smooth and Easy" Just scream for that low C and sound off if it isn't there. The guys I was working with were next level players and there was no way I was going to be tossed aside for not having a five string.

I understand when bassists in here say that they have never needed a five. They are telling the truth, and they haven't. But when they say that no bassist ever really NEEDS needs a five and it's all just a matter of choice, I don't get that. It hasn't been my experience. I would have lost a lot of gigs had I not expanded into a fiver. Apparently those folks don't the same types of gigs as you and I do. I am glad that they haven't ever really found a need for a five and haven't had to spend the money and time to re-adjust their chops. Good on them, but don't post that no one ever NEEDS one. As the song goes - "It Ain't Necessarily So".