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Made the plunge for a 5er for the 3rd time.

#21
BASSKADET said:
I keep getting one and then deciding that I'm a 4 string player. Then I get the gas again. I got this yesterday and I must say I like it. The B is pretty good and the tonality range is out there.


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That's my latest acquisition and I can hardly put it down. Great B string.

Play it or go back to 4-strings, either way, it's totally okay in spite of some things you hear around here.
 
#22
I've done this many times myself.
Convince myself I need a 5. Buy one. Decide I don't actually need it and let it go. Rinse and repeat.

But this latest time (being a month ago) I bought an Ibanez 5 for the first time. An SR1205e. I love it. This time it's sticking around. I've been using it for everything lately and I don't see that changing.
OP, I hope you get what you need out of your 5. If not, well, shouldn't be too hard to sell it!
 
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#23
I tried a few 5s without liking them much at all until I bought an EBMM SR5 HH by accident- I was sure someone would outbid me. For some reason, that one just did it for me. All of a sudden it didn't feel as awkward and I didn't have near as much trouble adjusting. The fact that I love its sound might have helped, but I've also come to really appreciate the extra flexibility it gives me. To me, once you've made the adjustment, 5s are easier to play. Disclaimer- I'm not very good, and probably don't know what I'm talking about, but that has been my experience ; )
 
#25
Geri O said:
I love it when you make a statement about what someone else "needs" or "doesn't need", then back-pedals with "no offense, to each his own". Pretty condescending whether you intended it or not. We got along without TalkBass for a long time, but here you are. No judgement intended...
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My comment was just highlighting "wants and needs", that's all, not condescending, no back pedaling, just my opinion. I sincerely wasn't taking a dig or making fun or talking down, just a simple comment. My apologies if it offended you.
 
#26
chris_b said:
Nice bass, but I'd say if you can't decide you're a 4 or 5 string player then you should probably stick with the 4.

If you really do need a 5 then put your 4 string basses away for a year while you exclusively play the 5. That will bed in the new bass so you're not feeling uncomfortable or unsettling your muscle memory by switching back and forth between 4's and 5's.

As Garp says, you have a free 4 string bass included. And as I said, very nice bass. Give it a chance.
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That's what I always say, too.

I wasn't able to make the complete and totally comfortable transition until I let go of playing my 4 strings and committed to only playing the 5. After I stopped playing in bands that required a 5 I went back to 4. I can still play a 5 now without any issues, but much prefer the 5.

If you only pick up the 5 from time to time, I think you're going to be in trouble. Commit to it until its second nature, then you'll be able to freely go back and forth. IME, anyway :).
 
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#27
Joe Nerve said:
That's what I always say, too.

I wasn't able to make the complete and totally comfortable transition until I let go of playing my 4 strings and committed to only playing the 5. After I stopped playing in bands that required a 5 I went back to 4. I can still play a 5 now without any issues, but much prefer the 5.

If you only pick up the 5 from time to time, I think you're going to be in trouble. Commit to it until its second nature, then you'll be able to freely go back and forth. IME, anyway :).
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Agreed. 5s are definitely their own instrument. You need to put committed time into learning one before saying they aren't for you.
 
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#28
RyanJD said:
I've done this many times myself.
Convince myself I need a 5. Buy one. Decide I don't actually need it and let it go. Rinse and repeat.

But this latest time (being a month ago) I bought an Ibanez 5 for the first time. An SR1205e. I love it. This time it's sticking around. I've been using it for everything lately and I don't see that changing.
OP, I hope you get what you need out of your 5. If not, well, shouldn't be too hard to sell it!
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I got my eye on an Ibanez SR1905E ... I need to know the pros and cons for getting a 5 string. The wife also need reassurance I will use it once I buy it. ;) I really want that B.
 
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#31
Gorgeous bass!

I did the same thing with fretelesses - bought and sold a fretless three times. :facepalm: But then again, I hang out on Talkbass and can easily be convinced to try something "new" even if it didn't work for me the last time. Sometimes I think this site would be better named BassRelatedEnablers.com. :D ;)

But, enjoy your new bass. I've had a couple different Jazz V Deluxes (including one of those fretlesses ;)) and they were great basses.
 
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#32
Nice bass. I have the J in natural and it is my favorite. I recently got an Elite Dimension V. Both have a phenomal B when compared to the other 5's I've played, but the D-bass has a slight edge. Pickups, I think. As far as being a 5'er. I am. I crave that 5th string when walking in the key E and like have the lower inversion at times in a song for punch and variety.

You have a really nice bass, enjoy and congratulations!
 
#35
I can play a fiver but much like the op, waft with wanting one and whether my style really requires it. I think I've had four five stringers in the past and have traded them all. My compromise that seems to work for now is I have a bass with a bridge D-Tuner, if I want low notes for a particular song, I just flip the switch. Not perfect of course, but satisfactory for now until I get GAS for another fiver.
 
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#36
After chasing this same scenario down last few years, my comprise is BEAD on a four string. Yes you lose a few higher register notes, but as a casual modern country sub it just didnt make sense to have a super nice 5'er that I only play for a few gigs here and there.
 
#37
T Bassman said:
After chasing this same scenario down last few years, my comprise is BEAD on a four string. Yes you lose a few higher register notes, but as a casual modern country sub it just didnt make sense to have a super nice 5'er that I only play for a few gigs here and there.
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I like the OP go thru the "I need a five" phase. I just went thru it and am again back to fours. I love 5s and want to have one but there is too much cost and tweaking for me to feel they are right. I'm now down tuning and if the need comes will string 4 string bass BEAD like you for the convenience.
 
#38
Yep, had two fivers and each time go back to fours. They seem fine in the lounge but at practice or gigs I revert to what I'm used to. I guess the only way at my age to "convert" would be to get rid of all the fours so there is no choice.
 
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#40
dbase said:
I got my eye on an Ibanez SR1905E ... I need to know the pros and cons for getting a 5 string. The wife also need reassurance I will use it one I buy it. ;) I really want that B.
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I'm a really big fan of the Ibanez Premium line. They can do anything I need them to and they're so smooth to play. In my mind the low B is just the icing on the cake. I don't use it too often, but it's nice to know it's there when I need it.

I'm not married, but I am in a very committed relationship that's heading toward marriage. I can still get away with purchases like that, for now. ;) I expect that to change and I have no intention of complaining about it!
 
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