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Newbie: removed the fifth string, anything to be concerned about?

tradryan

tradryan

Sep 11, 2014
26
19
#1
Hi all,

Beginner bassist here. I've been learning on a mid-scale acoustic and I wanted to try electric so I ordered an epiphone toby 5. I like the bass but I realized I'd rather just have 4 strings for now. Less to keep track of. I took off the low B string and everything still sounds good. Is there any concern with playing without the fifth string on? I ordered it pretty blindly - a broken right leg has had me house-bound for a while so I figured I'd order something else to play with. At least I finally have time to practice...

Thanks!
Ryan
 
#9
I, too, didn't take to the 5th string on my first and only fiver. It was after I sold it that I heard of someone re-stringing their fiver from BEADG to EADGC. If I'd have heard that earlier, I might still that rather rare bass. (A lovely, but sadly discontinued, white Squier Deluxe Active Jazz :banghead:)

So, my advice is to get yourself a C-string like you'd find on a six-stringer. You should be able to get a single string from Bass Strings Online or some other online store. (No hobbling around a shop for you, young man!:D)
 
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#11
Thanks everyone! Exactly what I was worried about. The fifth string is back on, I'll just have to stop hitting it looking for the E string... Been more than 2 months on the couch, of course the first one I wasn't able to sit up enough to play without having too much blood go to my foot. Motorcycle + traffic = one fully crushed leg. Expecting to make an eventual full recovery but oh man, 8+ weeks later and still no load bearing. It's going to be a long, music-filled year.
 
#12
I agree with the posts here about the putting back the string and the potential for twisting the neck if the string is left off. I had a Cort headless bass I bought from CL, previous owner did not replace the G string for about a year (as it of course uses a double ball string and the owner didn't have one handy and was too lazy to replace it). The neck was twisted due to the uneven tension- I still bought the bass thinking I could coax it to be playable, besides it was cheap and would be a nifty wall hanger or cricket bat. With a lot of work I got it playable, but it still had a slight twist to it.
How does the neck width feel for you? Reason why I'm asking is the bass may be worth keeping if you see yourself playing the 5 string bass, some like myself have dabbled with 5 string basses but ultimately decided to stick to four string basses. We all have different preferences.
If it makes the learning process easier, perhaps trade the 5 string for a 4 string bass?
 
#13
The head width feels okay. I don't use the B-string anyway so it feels similar to a 4 string for me. I couldn't decide between the 4 and 5 string Toby (or other guitar). I wasn't worried about the price difference so I just got the 5-string since I figured the extra string is already there if I ever want it... plus I like the finish options better!
 
#15
I guess I have to go in the other direction here. Leaving the 5th string off *might* encourage the neck to twist, but the reality is that this is a $300 bass and the neck might develop a twist with all five strings on it. (The same is true for a $3,000 bass.)

I really feel like playing a five string is a whole different animal. Hitting the wrong string is something you will get over, but muting is a *lot* different. With a four string bass, I can play anchored thumb, movable anchor, or use a couple other tricks and easily keep my "quiet strings" quiet. I find this much more challenging on a five. With a five, I at times just about have to use a floating thumb. That changes the angle of attack with my right hand, which leads to clacking the strings against the frets. Solving the sympathetic vibrations problem on a five just leads to the next problem, which creates the need for another technique adjustment. I guess what I'm saying is that playing a five string bass - for me - requires a certain amount of refinement to my right hand technique. It makes me a better player, but sometimes playing a four is more fun.

That's a long winded way of saying this: Take the B string off if you want to. Leave it on if you want to. Just find enjoyment in your playing.
 
#16
Sorry to hear about the accident.

Glad to hear you put the B-string back on. Other than the obvious string tension and neck issues which would've surfaced eventually, you now have the opportunity to actually really learn how to play an ERB.

Get comfortable on a 5-string, and going back to a 4-string will be like a day off from a job that you like! ;)
 
#17
Maxdusty said:
I agree with the posts here about the putting back the string and the potential for twisting the neck if the string is left off. I had a Cort headless bass I bought from CL, previous owner did not replace the G string for about a year (as it of course uses a double ball string and the owner didn't have one handy and was too lazy to replace it). The neck was twisted due to the uneven tension- I still bought the bass thinking I could coax it to be playable, besides it was cheap and would be a nifty wall hanger or cricket bat. With a lot of work I got it playable, but it still had a slight twist to it.
How does the neck width feel for you? Reason why I'm asking is the bass may be worth keeping if you see yourself playing the 5 string bass, some like myself have dabbled with 5 string basses but ultimately decided to stick to four string basses. We all have different preferences.
If it makes the learning process easier, perhaps trade the 5 string for a 4 string bass?
Click to expand...
Made style, I see you everywhere. You're a very active Talkbass member Haha.
 
#20
Late to the party, but... what everyone else said, uneven tension, twist the neck, just use the B as a thumb rest, etc.

Just to add that if you really wanted to convert a 5 to a 4, you can do it, but replace the bridge and the nut so that the strings are spread evenly across the neck. But it might be simpler to sell the bass you have and buy a 4.
 

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