Not ready for a 5er

[DwaynieAD]

been playing on a 5 for 3 years of gigging now and still are less proficient than I am on a 4. that being said keep practicing, they're a great tool to have.

 

[JohnMCA72]

YMMV, but I think the only way you can "get ready" for a 5-string is to actually get one & play it. It took me over 2 months of daily practice before I even considered bringing mine to a gig. Learning takes repetition, & you can't get reps without having the gear to do the reps with.

 

[Wootenjr304]

You should go ahead and get a 5 string. When I got mine I thought it was a little big but now all I buy is 5 strings. If you want a thinner neck the Ibanez sr 505 is a great bass at a nice price.

 

[Maxdusty]

I use both - a 4 string I will pick up when I want to play funk. It's easier to slap and pop on due to the string spacing. However, that being said, I just recently bought a 5 string that's perfect for me, a Sub Ray 35. I can slap on this thing, the B string isn't floppy- just a great 5 string bass.

I do have smaller hands, I find Fender 5ers huge (but playable)- just not comfortable though... also used to own slimmer Ibanez models, but the string spacing was too narrow and cramped my playing style. Sometimes it's a matter of finding the right 5 string bass which will make it easier to transition to. Definitely don't buy one you see without trying it first.

 

[Herrick]

Curious how they made the nut width even wider than the MIA 5-strings. Why would they do that, when one of the things people like about Jazzes are their skinnier necks?

 

[Torkk]

Wow, didnt think this post was going to be so active. I guess this is a great forum, I love the replies and they all have merit. My beef was the fatness of the neck after a while playing it. Granted it was a short time span, but Im in my 40s and easily discouraged lol.

I hit up the GC 40 miles from today. Spent about an hour trying out the Squier mod Jag active and passive, also the mod vintage 70s JB. I came home with the Mod 70s. Great neck I like the short radius and narrow 1st fret. The sound was sweet while its no active but its won me over. I did try a TBird epi, and a stingray, not sure of the neck they seemed rather flat for my liking.

 

[awilkie84]

Always thought of it as a fat bottom girl. Lol.

Oh, now THIS I love!!

 

[dudelove]

I started with 5iver when I started playing, but back then I didn't have my own. But I found a 4 string. And few months later I got a 5iver, I had trouble with it in the beginning, but now I have no problem to play both

 

[heynorm]

I got a cheapie Korean 5-string for Christmas and played along with my iPod at hom. I figured the best way to really learn it is 'trial by fire' and took it to a couple of gigs with no backup. It wasn't all that awful. Sure, a few times I got lost but found a way to play out of those situaitons. Just play, don't think!

 

[Broadstbully22]

Oh, now THIS I love!!

Well sad to say she is gone. I sold her to get my current jazz and am very happy with my decision. My five was just to much weight and the neck was a baseball bat. Instead now I play a mia 4 string jazz with a hipshot d tuner and I also have a custom musicman that is bead so for me I'm glad I moved on, miss my five a little because the times we had but I got rid of her for a reason. Just wasn't right for me. So there are creative ways to still accomplish what you need. If you want to play a five then play one, if you don't then don't. You may like me start and then not like it, you may love it. The only way to find out is to play.

 

[jlepre]

Not always. The Marcus Miller Jazz 5 sounds NOTHING like the 4.

+1
should sound the same less the B string...
also $30 less....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=12ZFR60Z1HJKNKESTERE

 

[chuck norriss]

cause i suck

Think of the B string as a shortcut to the notes on that string, especially when you're playing 6th fret or + on the other strings. less travel time to those notes. We all suck. Except for Adam Nitti & those guys on the "Ask" so & so threads.

 

[Joedog]

How can one be "ready for" an instrument??? Don't you have to have one (or access to) to learn to play it, and then LEARN HOW!????????????????? Ever hear a young kid who just got a clarinet, or a violin?? YIKES! Your learning a 5er is a MUCH easier job than someone starting from scratch! Don't be such a defeatist! If you say "I can't", you never will. Your choice.

 

[vince a]

I found that knowing the octaves from the A string to the B string helps to remember the notes o the B. Also knowing the 5 on the B string to what ever 1 note you play on the E string. Hope that makes sense to you, cause it's a good visual for remembering notes anywhere along the fretboard! Once you get the 1 & 5 good, add in the 4, then the 2, 3, 6, and 7.

I took to a 5 string in a day or so . . . but I also play guitar - which is, most of the time, not very helpful!

I now struggle going back to the 4 string from time-to-time . . .

 

[Hues]

My first 5er arrived about four hours ago...Been playing it since.

I can see it's just a muscle memory kind of thing...Like learning a new song, it'll becomes second nature in short order.

Loving the B.

 

[wvbass]

Wow, didnt think this post was going to be so active. I guess this is a great forum, I love the replies and they all have merit. My beef was the fatness of the neck after a while playing it. Granted it was a short time span, but Im in my 40s and easily discouraged lol.

I hit up the GC 40 miles from today. Spent about an hour trying out the Squier mod Jag active and passive, also the mod vintage 70s JB. I came home with the Mod 70s. Great neck I like the short radius and narrow 1st fret. The sound was sweet while its no active but its won me over. I did try a TBird epi, and a stingray, not sure of the neck they seemed rather flat for my liking.

Well done. You played a bunch of basses and found the one that fits you best. Hard to go wrong with a jazz bass.

Pics!