is it worth buying a 5 strings ?

[JeezyMcNuggles]

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!

They're wide, un comfortable, and create a wide variety of muting issues.

If you want one, get one now. Not 20 years from now. Get used to it, and develop your techniques early.

 

[Snert]

Or, you can do like I did in '91, just did it, never looked back, love every bit of it.

My experience too.

But, the OP should go to a store and try a few. Hell if he/she lived near me they could come over and try my 5s and 6s, just sit down with the stereo and play a long to whatever as long as they liked. My place has the advantage over many store in that mine are set up well, at least for how I like them.

 

[bmusic]

I had a 5 for a while. For me, that extra bottom felt like a gimmick. I just way overthought the extra string. And it felt unnatural in my brain, which was like "No. The lowest note is E." For the kind of music I play, and with the players I revere, I ultimately made a conscious decision that, for me, the bass is a 4-string instrument.

And for the record, it had nothing to do with the physicality of the instrument.

 

[QweziRider]

My place has the advantage over many store in that mine are set up well, at least for how I like them.

I did something similar for the kid of a dear friend. The kid was wanting to learn bass in general as a teen. No idea where he wanted to go. I told my friend "Take one of mine (I only had fivers at the time). He can keep it as long as he likes. This way, you know he has something to learn on that is set up, good quality, and one of my favourites. From there, he can decide what he does or doesn't like about it and find something of his own."

He had it for about a year before getting his own bass.

 

[JPK_DK]

Sorry for not having read all replies... with such a question, you are bound to get a lot of replies

Budget shouldn't hold you back, and I would advise you to keep the 4-string. If you want to try out a 5-string (and you SHOULD), check out the new Harley Benton JJ-550P - really a decent instrument for 200 Euro:

 

[Wolfhound32]

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!

Remember that a bass is an instrument; in other words it's a tool— designed to make stuff— in this case, music.

If you are getting work done with the tools you currently have, then you're good!

Only buy the tools you need to get the work done. Should a day arrive when you need four extra notes, then consider a 5-string

 

[Neon Alien]

I've been playing 5 string since I found it. I don't even own a 4 string anymore. Haven't since 2009.

Whenever I play a 4 string I feel like I'm eating a bologna and cheese sandwich with only half a slice of cheese. I need full cheese.

 

[cnltb]

less shifting when reading is a main benefit I see with 5 string basses.

 

[Snert]

I need full cheese.

He's here already.

 

[juggahnaught]

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!

I dont have a big budget to own 2 basses so I would have to sell mine 4 string to get a 5.

Do you like the current bass that you play? Are you comfortable playing it and do you like the way that it sounds?

If you're happy with the bass you have, stick with what you have.

Extended range basses are great options from both a musical perspective and from an academic perspective; you can definitely learn a lot from them. They can present some specific challenges in terms of playing which will generally make you a better player.

Because you can only afford to have one bass, I would keep the one you have - it's the least risky option. You can continue to learn and improve on that instrument. If in the future you decide that you need a new bass for other reasons, consider a five-string at that point.

 

[10emmanuel]

My experience too.

But, the OP should go to a store and try a few. Hell if he/she lived near me they could come over and try my 5s and 6s, just sit down with the stereo and play a long to whatever as long as they liked. My place has the advantage over many store in that mine are set up well, at least for how I like them.

are you in Hawaii? lol

 

[10emmanuel]

Do you like the current bass that you play? Are you comfortable playing it and do you like the way that it sounds?

If you're happy with the bass you have, stick with what you have.

Extended range basses are great options from both a musical perspective and from an academic perspective; you can definitely learn a lot from them. They can present some specific challenges in terms of playing which will generally make you a better player.

Because you can only afford to have one bass, I would keep the one you have - it's the least risky option. You can continue to learn and improve on that instrument. If in the future you decide that you need a new bass for other reasons, consider a five-string at that point.

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.

 

[jazzyvee]

A 5 is a 4 when you don't need the low B.
5strings since 1991.

In those cases the B-string is a lovely thumb rest.

 

[juggahnaught]

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.

Got it.

In that case - if you really, really like your current four-string, I'd say keep it. But if you're not attached to it and you feel like a cheaper bass could take its place without any issues (which is usually the case - especially with P basses), then I would say sell the four and get a five, especially if you'll pick up another four-string.

However, it may only be worth doing this if you have a specific plan for what you want to do. (I picked up a six-string early on because I specifically wanted to do melodic stuff that I couldn't do on a four.) I definitely think it's worth it to have an extended-range bass, but if you don't have a specific plan or a specific thing you want to accomplish with one it might not be entirely worth it. Hope this helps.

 

[pepj]

From the OP, nope, you aren't ready.

 

[_sky_]

My 2 cents...

I recently got a 5 string bass...and I love it! But take this into mind...you have to use that 5 string and not just for thumb rest. If your jamming/playing in a certain area in the neck, with a 5 string you can pretty much go up and down without moving your hand. With a 4 string, for lower notes you might have to move your hand across the neck.

But if you feel you don´t need that lower 4 notes (considering all standard tunning)...stick with 4 string.

I´ve even noticed my slap as become more accurate because of the string spacing.

PS: gotta love that open b string

 

[Outbush]

I think, as an intermediate player, if you really love/like/click with your bass keep it and keep developing on it. The best bass is the one that sounds good to you, is comfortable and you can play longer sets on. Oh, and even better if you own it. Those are the things that will assist in your development but there is a chance that when you sell to buy a 5 string that particular bass won't be all the above things - if you are on a budget and can't find the "right" bass in your price range that might be a backwards step for your playing.

Apart from practice and time on the instrument the biggest thing that has improved my playing has been to transition through a range of basses to eventually fine one that "fits" me. If you already have that bass keep playing it and save up any extra money you have for a better rig down the track. My thoughts anyway...

Good luck and as always the TB brains trust is throwing you a lot of really good ideas to think through.

 

[prowla]

Way back I used to have a set of bass pedals which I used to give me down to a C when I ran out of frets below bottom-E.
I've got drop-D tuners on some of my 4-string basses, to go down to a D, but you have to remember that the bottom string has now shifted by 2 frets.
I could string my bass B-E-A-D, but then I'd have to un-learn a load of stuff and change the fingering position up 5 frets for some stuff.
A 5-string gives all of that in one.
The downside of 5-strings is (of course) the neck tends to be wider; the nicest ones I've played are Status Graphite (super slim) and some Warwicks (I say some because some have thick necks), whereas I didn't bond with a Music Man and a Rickenbacker one (the Ric was a surprise, as they're normally my favourite bass).
You also have to lose the notion of bottom-E, as the E is no longer the bottom string!

 

[Acoop]

If you're busy making headway with your 4-string I'd hold off. ... I once played a Fedora 5-string Lincoln Goines that felt amazing and it didn't even fell like a 5-string, but an $11,000 instrument. ... Try a d-tuner on your 4-string, then you're only 3-notes away from a 5-string.

 

[NeonVomit]

I pretty much need one for the types of music I play. Virtually every producer I've worked with has told me 'go lower!'

There are plenty of people who never use them.

And anyone who says 'but Jaco only needed 4' needs to remember not everyone is Jaco and nobody cares what they think