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NBD! - Ibanez 2007 SRX595

MustangMan78

MustangMan78

Supporting Member
Mar 20, 2021
186
340
Douglassville, PA
#1
Well folks, I've made the foray into 5-string land! I had an SRX590 almost 20 years ago when I was young in my bass journey. I always liked the way it played and the price was right at the time. I ended up selling it to upgrade after a short time, but have always missed it. I've been on the lookout for another one for some time and I came across this one for a very reasonable price on Reverb. I thought hmm...a 5-string, why not? I know everyone says it's really only good for metal, but to my surprise, it came with flatwounds! I haven't plugged it in yet, but unplugged, they have a nice mellow tone. I think the action is going to have to come up a bit, as the low B buzzes whenever you lightly touch it. It'll be going in for a full setup soon, so no worries there. I'll probably have a graphite Tusq nut put on it while I'm at it to replace the plastic nut.

The bass itself is in immaculate condition. I can't find a ding or scratch anywhere! The bridge has lost some of the "cosmo black" finish (typical), but I've found a replacement bridge that looks new. It also came with the case, which I wasn't expecting at all! The only downside is the black pearloid binding is starting to yellow around the body. Strangely enough, the same binding on the neck looks like new.

So, any tips on switching from 4 to 5 strings? I find the biggest challenge is the string spacing (16.5mm), and wanting to hit the low B instead of the E (I kind of have to reframe my vertical positioning).
 
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#3
Ask, and you shall receive… I was too busy with work earlier to mess with it much.

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#4
Beautiful bass.
Start playing it like a 4, ignoring the B string. Once you’re comfortable with that, start adding the B string. I would advise staying away from your 4 string until you’re comfortable with the 5.
This method helped me tremendously because I needed to get used to muting an additional string in the process.
 
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#7
Pep said:
Beautiful bass.
Start playing it like a 4, ignoring the B string. Once you’re comfortable with that, start adding the B string. I would advise staying away from your 4 string until you’re comfortable with the 5.
Click to expand...
Work the B as the 5th string it is and use is with the other 4. Scales, chops, chord shapes, and entwine it musically with the other 4. You'll be delighted as to how much more music and expression is available.

The B will require a lighter touch when striking but, there's lotsa music to make there too.
 
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#8
P. Aaron said:
Work the B as the 5th string it is and use is with the other 4. Scales, chops, chord shapes, and entwine it musically with the other 4. You'll be delighted as to how much more music and expression is available.

The B will require a lighter touch when striking but, there's lotsa music to make there too.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Don't learn it as a "4 string + a B"....IMO you'll miss out on some of the advantages of the extra string. I would guess thats why some players give up on the 5 and go back to 4 ("It's only 4 extra notes").

Instead learn to use all of the B string and get used to using it normally just as you would the other strings. I think you'll find the additional note positions and tones available to be very useful.
 
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#10
P. Aaron said:
Work the B as the 5th string it is and use is with the other 4. Scales, chops, chord shapes, and entwine it musically with the other 4. You'll be delighted as to how much more music and expression is available.

The B will require a lighter touch when striking but, there's lotsa music to make there too.
Click to expand...
This^^^don't ignore it! Start to incorporate it into your playing right away. Spend time with the bass, If don't use it, (B) you may as well just stay with a 4 string.
 
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#11
Just play both the 4- and 5-stringers as much as you can. I routinely switch back and forth depending on my moods: initially learned on 5s, snuck in a 4 to play some open drop D songs, started playing nothing but 4s, and now I'm back to playing nothing but 5s. I'm comfortable switching between them during a gig, if necessary. Play, play, PLAY!
 
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#12
I played for about an hour the other day. I started getting better with it, but not gig ready, yet. My muscle memory from playing a 4-string for so long is killing me, as I have to stretch further to play the D and G strings, and keep plucking the A and D. It'll come with time.
 
#13
Pep said:
Beautiful bass.
Start playing it like a 4, ignoring the B string. Once you’re comfortable with that, start adding the B string. I would advise staying away from your 4 string until you’re comfortable with the 5.
This method helped me tremendously because I needed to get used to muting an additional string in the process.
Click to expand...
This is the exact method I used when I first got a 5. Sound advice.
 

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