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is it worth buying a 5 strings ?

#121
Do you NEED a 5? The obvious answer is NO! There have been thousands of hit records recorded and millions of memorable concerts and shows performed with 4-string basses. I bought a 5-string several years ago and tried to ease my way into getting used to it. I tried for two or three months, decided that it was more trouble than it was worth and put the bass in the closet. After two or three years, I got it out again and decided that the B string gave me some extra flexibility and I’m enjoying it. Right now, I’m looking at new basses and am not even considering a 4-string.
 
#123
Many people will tell you Jaco only need 4 strings :)
My answer at this point in your learning I would say no you don't need a 5.
And depending where your bass interest take you, you may require one, but for now keep it simple and moving along.
I borrowed one from a guy who wasn't using it, I figured let me test it out, I practice with it for about 6 months and gigged with it one time when I felt my B string muting was where it needed to be. If I played the B 3 times during the entire 4 hour Classic Rock cover show I would be lucky. I'm glad I learned it, but give it back because I really could not justify the purchase it just would have collected my dust instead of his ha ha ha.
Good luck with your journey.
 
#126
10emmanuel said:
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!
Click to expand...
I was an intermediate player when I got my first fiver, and I haven't played a 4 in over 20 years. If you have one, no need for 4, unless you're in some sort of traditional band that must have a certain old school look. It didn't hold me back - it opened up new things. Do it!

Like others have said, make sure it has a good B!
 
#128
10emmanuel said:
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!
Click to expand...

It's fun. I got a Glarry 5er, was worth it. I won't be switching over to 5, I don't use the low B enough and I like my wide string spacing with 4, but it's fun :)
 
#130
10emmanuel said:
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!
Click to expand...
I say why get 5 when you could just go straight to a 6! All the advantages of a five string, with the added advantage of always increasing your skills later, to include chords, different voicings and if you ever get to soloing, six strings are always better than five. But this is just me. I have two 5 strings, One fretted, one fretless. I rarely play them. I find the six string takes care of everything. Also if you just wanna play four strings you could just play those four strings too on a six string. Like all other changes it takes time to learn how to play five string or six string bass, but as long as you’re an intermediate player it shouldn’t take too long to master either.

The only other consideration is whether or not the bands you play in will want you to play anything more than a4 string bass.

Good luck with whatever you do. Just keep playing bass!
 
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#132
defdog99 said:
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.
Click to expand...
??? It’s only an extra ~30lbs…you don’t need much extra wood to “counter” 30lbs of tension. You are obviously allowed to not like them and have your preferences, but your justification is incorrect. Have you tried an Ibanez soundgear 5? Those are pencil necked. There are many thin necked 5s out in the world, perhaps you just haven’t encountered any yet.
 
#133
I've been to Extended Bass land and now I'm back. It was a physical issue brought me back to a 4 string and if I need to go and low note below E, I now have an octave pedal they can get there for me, it don't sound the same but it's kind of close and with lots of bar noise going on in the background... it worx.
 
#134
"This is just my findings and opinion"

First of all you DON'T have to have a 5 string to play any song.
Yes the low B makes some songs sound heavier but.
Now what I do because I personally don't care for 5's (even though I have played and recorded with an 8 and 12 string)
You can always play some of the notes on the E string for a tab bit more bottom type of feel.
No exactly the same but a deeper tone.
There is NO wrong answer here, just your tastes.

Actually I had recorded a few songs in drop D and played some of the mid range notes on the E string and I had people think I recorded it with a 5 string.

The bottom lines is to first get comfortable playing your instrument so it is a natural feel for you, then i you want to learn 5 string then go for it. (don't get an expensive one just a good playing one, then see how you like it)

Have fun!
 
#135
10emmanuel said:
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!
Click to expand...
I'd say in general the short answer is no, you don't need one. But if you think you will encounter sessions or gigs where it's required, that's a different story.

In a certain sense though, if you can only have one bass, and you anticipate occasionally needing that low range, a five instead of a four is not a bad way to go. It will give you everything a four will give you, plus extended range when you need it.
 
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#136
Is worth if your employer requests you to play a 5-string, and if you are going to use the fifth string. Remember to hone your muting skills and get one with the best B-string sound your money can buy. In the meantime, you can tune B-E-A-D in your current instrument to get the feeling (sound, string gage specially if you have light tough, etc.).
 
#138
I may sound like Bryan Adams (Summer of 69)... but "I got my first real 5 string..." in 1994, Musicman Stingray 5, and started using it for everything. Back then, a lot of musicians (mostly bass players) thought 5s were a joke and made fun of them. However, I was playing lot of contemporary music and felt the low B really extended my range for that style of music and the contemporary music of the time (I guess I mean AC) was using five strings to great effect, just emphasizing that low end using a bass and not a synth for the extra low notes. Yeah it did take a minute to get used to the extra string but eventually it becomes second nature. I mainly played a five for the next 15 years although these days I'm back on 4 strings. Instruments serve a purpose and that is what a 5 (or 6) does. If you want to try it out, go for it. I must say, one of the benefits of playing a 5 string is that when you get back on a four you can absolutely kill it - it feels so easy!
 
#139
defdog99 said:
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.
Click to expand...
I have and use over a dozen 5 strings. The only one with a "massive neck" is my Squier Pro Tone and that's because the spacing is the same as a 4 string Precision bass. None of my basses are neck heavy. Many are quite lightweight.
 
#140
I have a Laguna Ocean 5 string (TB75?)
It weighs 9.5 lbs and has a very slim, comfy neck (5 PC laminate). I believe the string spacing is 16.5mm at the bridge and 10mm or just a hair under at the nut.
Not a huge transition from a 4 string. If you don't overthink it, it's not hard to get used to it. It's amazing what you will adapt to if your brain doesn't get in the way.
For the longest time, I only had a 5 string and I was still able to noodle along with all the old Rush songs that I learned on a 4 string. I even learned a bunch on the 5 string and think there's only like 2-3 rush songs out of 6 million where you can actually use a B string.
You just get used to it being there and use it when you can. I think I used it as a thumb rest, so muting it when not in use just happens without much thought.
Anyway. Just try one. Just play.
Perfect is the enemy of good.
Overthinking is the enemy of progress.
If you fall on on your face, at least you're moving forward. And all that.
Ask me how I know.
 

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