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New to 5 string, now 4's feel odd

#41
madjazzbass said:
:smug: Well, before I move up/on to a 6 string (Bass :woot:), I think I'll take a "stab" at a Fretless, 4 or 5 I'm not sure at the moment, but more than likely it'll be a Fretless 5'er ... that won't be for a while though ... Unless I get a piece of that Mega Millions jackpot; then it's 5'ers on me for everyone on TB. :woot::hyper::bassist:
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Most likely, you'll always be looking at or asking for the 5 string variant of any bass you encounter. :smug:

In my case, to accompany my main 5, I've added: an acoustic 5, a fretless 5, a semi-hollow body 5, and the latest is a multi-scale 5. Still I'm GASsing for a fretless semi-hollow body 5... :nailbiting:
 
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#42
(OP) OK, So one of the main reasons ... actually the MAIN reason for me wanting a 5 string is because I prefer wider necks, which is why my favorite 4 string Jazz has a Precision Bass neck on it, and THAT'S why my newly acquired 5 string feels so comfortable to me 'cause I have rather large hands (so I've been told:cool:), and the wide neck(s) just feels ? natural :smug:. It's not so much about having the "extended range", for me a 5 string is more comfortable ... I just wish I realised that earlier on :cool:. The narrower string spacing is really not that big of a deal to me, I got used to it rather quick(ly):woot:.
 
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#43
Aidil said:
Most likely, you'll always be looking at or asking for the 5 string variant of any bass you encounter. :smug:

In my case, to accompany my main 5, I've added: an acoustic 5, a fretless 5, a semi-hollow body 5, and the latest is a multi-scale 5. Still I'm GASsing for a fretless semi-hollow body 5... :nailbiting:
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Let me guess, your favorite number is 5:laugh:
 
#44
madjazzbass said:
Let me guess, your favorite number is 5
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Mine is 137. Numerologically, 1+3+7 =11. 1+1 = 2. Therefore my fave basses are 6's because 4+2 = 6. Yay!

Confirmed;
The Count 6.jpg
 
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#45
madjazzbass said:
I've only had a 5 string Bass for (approx.) 2 weeks or so but I took to it quicker than I thought, and now when I pick up any one of my 4 string Basses it feels weird :cool:. I wouldn't say I've "mastered" the 5 string, but then (in over 25 years) I never "mastered" the 4 string either :laugh:, but the new 5 feels so right, so comfortable and sounds so good it feels (to me) like I've been playing it longer than 2 weeks; I'm guessing it's probably because the 5 is the only one I've been playing since I got it. Did/Does this happen to anyone else who strictly played 4 strings?
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yes yes yes

when I play a 4 it feels like the bass is missing a string
 
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#46
My Jazz Elite V is my main instrument but my Ric is getting in where it fits in (where I can play the song without missing the low B) I love both a 4 and 5 and enjoy the challenge of alternating them to see what songs might work with the new Ric (we play all originals). I have no desire at this time to try a 6 string bass, although I’d probably end up loving it. I’ve played 6 string guitar all my life as well. I’m trying to tailor the sound to the song so that’s why I went with a Ric for my 4 string. For a few minutes I had both 4 and 5 string Jazz Elites and it didn’t make sense after reflection. I needed a different sounding 4 string to justify putting down the 5r for some songs.
F3F1465D-73C0-4CED-9288-5161B46770E9.gif
 
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#47
21DaHoagie12 said:
Yeah once I started fives I see no need (for me personally) to play four strings anymore, unless for the purposes of teaching a beginner who is learning on a 4 which is usually the norm. Having a low b is so nice and if you only want to use four strings then just use four, you don’t have to hit the 5th string all the time but it’s there if you want so why limit yourself? It comes in handy all the time. No more, “gahhh, gotta tune to drop D” or “oh poop, they tuned a half step down when they recorded this.” I think what you’re experiencing is the norm for most of us who play a 5 string.
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Yep. but you know what; My very 1st 5 string I bought a couple years ago was a Squire VM5, I thought, Why not learn on this because it's not that expensive and it's a great looking Bass but I never really clicked with that Bass (and I LOVE Fender Basses) but that particular Bass just didn't do it for me and because of that I kinda swore off 5 string Basses. Fast forward to the present and my feelings/attitude towards 5'rs have definitely changed; my Lakland 55-02 is a COMPLETELY different animal; soundwise, comfort/feel and great looks to boot, I'm loving it. Next up for me is a Fender American Elite V in 3TS.
 
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#50
A9X said:
Playing across rather than along the neck or not having to retune for songs in a lower key. It's not hard to mute unused strings if you have decent technique.
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Apart from pit work or transposing, in most band situations, I've probably had to use a 5 string for 3 or 4 songs in 33 years. Many things that are easy to mute on a 4, are harder work on a 5, especially the slap stuff.
 
#52
Ooba Tooba said:
My Jazz Elite V is my main instrument but my Ric is getting in where it fits in (where I can play the song without missing the low B) I love both a 4 and 5 and enjoy the challenge of alternating them to see what songs might work with the new Ric (we play all originals). I have no desire at this time to try a 6 string bass, although I’d probably end up loving it. I’ve played 6 string guitar all my life as well. I’m trying to tailor the sound to the song so that’s why I went with a Ric for my 4 string. For a few minutes I had both 4 and 5 string Jazz Elites and it didn’t make sense after reflection. I needed a different sounding 4 string to justify putting down the 5r for some songs.
View attachment 4117541
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Cool, my feelings (right now) about 6 string Basses is that I have no real desire to "venture" up into that higher register, I feel like that's where the guitarist can take it from where my/our "G string" notes end. ... but that's just me, I don't wanna go that high up.:smug:
 
#54
madjazzbass said:
Cool, my feelings (right now) about 6 string Basses is that I have no real desire to "venture" up into that higher register, I feel like that's where the guitarist can take it from where my/our "G string" notes end. ... but that's just me, I don't wanna go that high up.:smug:
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Depends what you want to play. A lot of straight R&R, blues etc doesn't have a need for it, but the accompaniment I do for my main gig now gives me freedom to do all sorts of chordal and other stuff, and the SRC6 is especially great for that. Plus everyone thinks it's a guitar until I play a note.
 
#56
I also adapted to a five-string very quickly, and I completely understand why so many players switch and never go back to fours. For me, a five has been necessary in some situations, like two musical theater shows, a wide-ranging cover band, and one recording project. At other times, I just prefer a five either for the flexibility or because I want the hard-hitting tone of my fantastic G&L M-2500.

But I don't have any trouble going back to my fours. I still play them regularly, and often prefer the simplicity when I don't need a five. For example, in my last original band I didn't need a five and only preferred it for brief segments in a couple of tracks, so I usually played my fours. And sometimes one of my old-school fours is just perfect, like a short-lived Stones cover band project, for which I preferred my G&L SB-2. I never bothered with a five for that.

I doubt I'll ever convert entirely to fives, but I also doubt I'll ever be without one (or two) as long as I'm playing.
 
#57
Yes,similar experience here.. I played 4’s for over 25 yrs, then bought my first 5 (Modulus Q-5) It took me around a week (practicing 3 or so hrs a day) to adjust. That was in October 2014 I believe, & all I own is 5’s currently. I tried a couple 6’s & liked them ok, The 5-6 transition was even faster, but 5’s are my wheelhouse..
When I pick up a 4, it seems like a it’s missing a string lol..
 
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