Need some help with a few questions. 4 string player moving to 5 string... maybe?

[wazzel]

Of the 5ers I have played, my favorite is the EBMM USA Sterling. I am not a big guy so the thinner neck and smaller body make a difference when compared to the EBMM SR5 (I have one of those too). I like the 17.5mm string spacing on 5's, but on my 4 I got 19mm string spacing. Switching between bases is not a big deal. My heartfield DR5 has 19mm string spacing and it feels way to wide in my hands.

 

[Solude]

As for the amp....if what you want is your tone through Helix Native, but I would still suggest a powered speaker.

If the bass world had an array of IRs to choose from that would make sense but there isn't so even now I only have 1 cab with Helix Do we honestly think that monitors or a pa speaker can do the Ampeg SVT410HLF sound better than the real thing?

 

[Bill Murray]

If the bass world had an array of IRs to choose from that would make sense but there isn't so even now I only have 1 cab with Helix Do we honestly think that monitors or a pa speaker can do the Ampeg SVT410HLF sound better than the real thing?

than you need to update your helix! There’s a bunch of options. With the right PA/Monitor and if you have the Helix dialed in well, no one will have any idea you’re cabless. I’ve used the HX stomp directly into the PA for guitar and Bass and have had great success.

 

[cholyoke]

Lots of good advice in the thread. I have a Sterling by MusicMan Ray 25, which has a great B string. That led to me buying a used Ernie Ball Music Man Big Al, which also has a great B string. I have had some MIM Fender fives and strung Fenders BEAD, and the B string always seemed sloppy. Maybe the MIA Fenders are better. I mostly play four string Fenders and going back and forth from 19 mm (Fender 4) to 17 mm (EBMM 5) string spacing doesn't bother me.

My biggest issue was learning to mute the lower strings when playing the 5. I never had to worry about that problem when playing four string basses. Good luck on your quest.

 

[bigtone23]

you been reading my mail?


I tried BEAD, nah wasn’t for me.

I thought I would be smart and get a 6 and while I think the string spacing was possibly 17mm or so the fretboard was so incredibly wide and the bass was so ungodly heavy, I just couldn’t get along with it.

That experience got me very worried about neck width on a 5 string.

Covid hits and I’m not going to stores to try out 5 strings.

I run across a smashing deal on the local Craigslist on a Rickenbacker 4003, and learn how easy it is to convert to 5 string so I do that.

I haven’t measured the spacing between strings, but as I’m a 98% of the time pick player, I find it extremely comfortable to play.

I still would like to delve deeper into 5 strings at a later date but for now my 1 and only will do.

I have one bass that I did a BEAD setup, to give it a try. It's also not for me. I'm gonna switch it back to EADG or maybe try DGCF. I have a Hipshot Xtender for it in the mail, so that is going to motivate me to make the switch back much sooner.

6 string was even a bigger 'NO' than BEAD. I have no use for the high C string and the neck does start getting comically wide at that point. Even my widest Fenders (at around 1 7/8" nut width and 18.5-19mm spacing) don't feel clunky.

I have seen some 5 string conversions of Rics and Peavey T40s. They turn out cool. The spacing is narrow, but as you know, it's not such a big deal with a pick. I have a Bass VI and it's narrow, guitar-esque spacing is rather cumbersome to play with fingers, but a breeze with a pick.

 

[juggahnaught]

If the bass world had an array of IRs to choose from that would make sense but there isn't so even now I only have 1 cab with Helix Do we honestly think that monitors or a pa speaker can do the Ampeg SVT410HLF sound better than the real thing?

It does. Helix has cab blocks that are highly configurable (play with the cab microphone settings) and supports IR loading. There are bass IRs on the internet. Worst case scenario, you can forgo the Helix and go the Kemper route, profiling an amp/cab setup that you like.

A PA can do the Ampeg sound well enough that you don't need the real thing. 99% is good enough for me to leave that cab at home. (I'm never moving a 410HLF up and down stairs ever again. I'm never stuffing it in the back seat of a sedan ever again.) Also, Line 6 is owned by Yamaha, which owns Ampeg, so the models are good.

Edit: But you do you. If you don't like what the HX suite has to offer amp and cabwise, then I'd opt for the Markbass option that i suggested.

 

[Nedmundo]

On fives, I prefer narrower string spacing, like the 17.5mm on my G&L M-2500, and its tone (and that of the L-2500) would definitely work for Tool-like material. The MFD pickups have massive punch and grind, even the slightly underwound versions in the M-series.

Since you mention issues with reaching the lower strings, fretboard radius might be an important spec for you, as it is for me. I prefer flatter fretboards largely because there's less of a "hump" to reach over to access the lower strings. I'm very happy with the 12" radius board on my G&L, but on fives would gladly go flatter, and Yamaha makes some very flat fretboards. The TRBX505 and BB series fives have a 23.625" radius, which I've liked when I've tried them. I think their string spacing is slightly wider than my G&Ls, but I was comfortable with it.

The easiest reach to lower strings, I suspect, would be a narrow nut, narrow string spacing, and a relatively flat fretboard. Great fretwork, possibly with Plek fret leveling, would also help with this. I'm not sure which basses would provide the optimal blend for you, and of course other specs matter too, like the necks's rear profile and whether the fretboard edges are nicely rounded. So it's best to test as others have said, but you might be able to eliminate some that have more rounded fretboards, which I think of as those with less than a 12" radius (though I believe MM is 11" which feels about the same).

 

[Solude]

I am aware the Helix has "options". Can't think of an example for bass but... I'm Dave Friedman to your Pete Thorn

The problem is I only like the Mesa 610 and Ampeg 810 and neither deliver compared to the York IR I do use. TwoNotes has some Ampeg and Mesa IRs that would nice to try but I don't know if they're process is done by ear or it's a fixed process of mics at X" away from the baffle, Y" off centre at Z degrees... repeat for each cab. From what I can see they let the brand/artist do a lot of them so maybe they are all over the map? Don't know. Do know in guitar, I have used a lot of garbage IRs that the stock Helix cabs just obliterated

 

[Solude]

Oh forgot to mention, after my recent setup things are a lot easier. "Winter" effectively raised the action nearly 1.5mm or effectively twice what I normally play Back to my spec it's butter

 

[WillyW]

I have one bass that I did a BEAD setup, to give it a try. It's also not for me. I'm gonna switch it back to EADG or maybe try DGCF. I have a Hipshot Xtender for it in the mail, so that is going to motivate me to make the switch back much sooner.

6 string was even a bigger 'NO' than BEAD. I have no use for the high C string and the neck does start getting comically wide at that point. Even my widest Fenders (at around 1 7/8" nut width and 18.5-19mm spacing) don't feel clunky.

I have seen some 5 string conversions of Rics and Peavey T40s. They turn out cool. The spacing is narrow, but as you know, it's not such a big deal with a pick. I have a Bass VI and it's narrow, guitar-esque spacing is rather cumbersome to play with fingers, but a breeze with a pick.

My bass VI arrives Fridayish.....

I haven't been playing any music that requires a 5 string so far, so I haven't put the Ric through it's paces much, so far I just play it like a 4 string and later go "ohh yeah I forgot I have a whole 'nuther string"....

 

[Solude]

Unrelated to the thread and at the same time not thread worthy...

Sweetwater is just awesome. I ordered a set of pickups for the BB and an expression pedal yesterday. They arrived to my house in Canada today