one 5 vs two 4's

[Slade N]

we've heard the 4 vs 5 debates, and the BEAD vs 5 debates and we all know that every choice comes with plus and minuses so the question on my mind is does anyone currently use or has ever inthe past chose to use two overlapping tuning 4's (1 BEAD and 1 EADG) over one 5? and if so why? ....thanks for playing

 

[Geri O]

Hmm...

Two basses to cover the same ground that one bass can.

Fair enough. Submitted without comment.

 

[Element Zero]

Nope.

 

[ArtechnikA]

I always bring 2 basses to a paying gig, so that's a wash...
But it's always a fretted 5 (or 7...) as a backup for my fretless 6.

 

[Wasnex]

we've heard the 4 vs 5 debates, and the BEAD vs 5 debates and we all know that every choice comes with plus and minuses so the question on my mind is does anyone currently use or has ever inthe past chose to use two overlapping tuning 4's (1 BEAD and 1 EADG) over one 5? and if so why? ....thanks for playing

The bass player in a funk band I used to go listen to in Germany used to do this. I think he used the standard tuned instrument most of the time and picked up the BEAD tuned instrument for the few songs that required it. They played Tower of Power and similar repertoire.

My #1 since about 1995 has been a 6-string Yamaha TRB6P. The only reason I can think of to do this, is it is easier to play clean with less strings if you are performing some crazy slap stuff. I do fairly intricate slap on my TRB6P without any problems though. I own 4-strings and 5-strings, but most of the time I just play the 6-string and leave the others in their cases.

IMHO ultimately you should do whatever makes sense to you.

 

[chadds]

To me a 4 isn’t a 5 without a string. My 4 is a complete instrument with its own sound. It’s not lacking anything. Same with my 5. The complete tone and playability of each is distinct from any other bass.

Crude car analogy #569.
A Mini Cooper isn’t a BMW 3 series minus size or horsepower. It’s a complete artist’s/engineer’s dream that performs like its intended. When you’re driving it you want for nothing.

So it’s more which bass do you want to play in this or that context? How does it help you bring the appropriate music?

It can get so cerebral. I know keyboardists have to load their B3, Rhodes, Wurlitzer patches for certain gigs. I’m contrasting that with, “oh blues gig, P with flats, no rounds....” It can get so gear driven when your finger touch and heart can get the same sound from rounds. We can see it from the gear direction and miss the music. A delicate balance of both with more on the side of what feels right is the ticket. We get the gig because of how we treat the music. The gear is the delivery vehicle.

 

[el murdoque]

For me personally, it'd be harder to switch between a BEAD and an EADG 4 instead of a standard tuned 4 and 5.
Two basses with identical layout, but different notes on the fretboard seems to be harder to keep in the back of your head than two basses with identical layout, only that one of them has a bonus string.
My main gigging bass is a 6, most of my other basses are 5s.

I carry a BEAD 4 as a backup instrument. The reason for that is, that it's a Washburn copy of the Steinberger paddle. The smallest and lightest bass I could find for a few bucks. My basses fail on average about once a decade, so It is something that happens but it's so rare that I can put up with missing strings then.

 

[chris_b]

we've heard the 4 vs 5 debates, and the BEAD vs 5 debates and we all know that every choice comes with plus and minuses. . . . . . . .

You might think that but what are the minuses for playing a 5 string bass? I can't think of any. Sure you have to adapt your technique but that's not a minus. The big plus for me is that in one 5 string bass I have every combination of notes I need.

The only answer is, never mind the other guy, use as many basses with a variety of strings and tunings as you feel comfortable playing.

 

[dabbler]

I'm contrasting that with, “oh blues gig, P with flats, no rounds....” It can get so gear driven when your finger touch and heart can get the same sound from rounds. We can see it from the gear direction and miss the music. A delicate balance of both with more on the side of what feels right is the ticket. We get the gig because of how we treat the music. The gear is the delivery vehicle.

Different strokes for different folks, but no, you can not get the same sound from rounds as flats. The overtones are different, the attack envelope is different, glissandos are not the same.

Sure, most people in the audience won't notice, but the differences are there and are real.

Everything matters, and if it matters enough to the player, they may choose to use one setup over another.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Tori2013]

Every time I only have to carry one 5er, a small combo or DI and my Boss wireless in my pockets, I appreciate all the time I spent learning on a bass that I can play across instead of up and down.

 

[James Collins]

I would either do a 5 string or drop tune between songs. Drop tuning takes less time than swapping instruments.

 

[two fingers]

I found a home with 5 string basses, mainly because I have big hands and can get around the chunkier neck more easily. But if you really prefer the 4, it's a good solution to bring a low E bass and a low B bass.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I have exactly two basses. They are both 4 bangers - one is strung EADG and the other is BEAD. It is not difficult to know where the notes are because I know which one is tuned which way and I know how to play the bass... Which is more than just muscle memory and playing boxes across the fretboard. I know what a 2nd, 7th, 5th and 4th (etc) is, and I know where to find those notes relative to whatever note I'm currently playing -- and you should too!

Anyway, it works for me. I dislike 5 and 6 string basses. The necks are never comfortable for my hands. I've owned 5 or 6 of them over the years and have never kept one for more than like 6 months. Just not my thing. This setup works much better for me and that's all that matters

 

[Selios]

I use a BEAD bass and leave it at that, my 5 string is normally just used as a backup (so seldom used unless I’m in the mood, usually at home and not at a gig).

Someone earlier in the thread mentioned that each instrument is its own, it’s not about 4 vs 5, etc. I play the BEAD 4 because it feels and sounds better to me. If I need notes that would be on a G string, I go higher on the D. I’m only missing the few highest notes that would be on the G, and I don’t really need/miss them at all. Everything I need to do can be done with BEAD, personally.

 

[dralionux]

One 4 tuned D-G-C-F

 

[Pops OB]

One 4 tuned B G D A.

 

[BILL BO SAGGINS]

My main gig bass is a 5 BEADG, stays at band studio, but i also use a 4 BEAD, & 4 EADG at home to learn new material and or force myself to transpose on a subconscious level. This way when i play in one tuning or the other live I'm going to my preferred sonic space. Would be cool to use the two 4- stringers live though... might be really cool.

 

[micguy]

I kept one bass tuned in D standard until recently. I was considering a BEAD bass as well, but switching tunings is hard for me - I have almost perfect pitch, and when I hear "C" in my head, my fingers would want to go to where C is on a standard tuned 4 string - if I needed the low D, I had to practice with that bass the whole week before, to get my head in the right space so I didn't start playing in the wrong key. Ultimately, I decided maybe a 5 (for gigs where the music calls for it) would be a simpler answer, as at least C would be on the same fret from one instrument to another. Yes, what string to play was a bit confusing at first (why do I have a middle string?), but I'm getting more familiar with is as time goes on, and I think for me it's the right answer.

 

[40Hz]

A couple of random thoughts:

If you already own two 4s, and you truly do absolutely need to have a low B, buying yourself a set of strings and doing a setup is going to be much less expensive than buying yourself a new fiver. A fiver is an expensive way to put a thumb rest on a bass. I’ve seen my share of 5-string players whose low B is pretty much just that.

Switching between basses during a set isn’t going to be convenient. And could be tricky if you’re on on very small stage.

If you’re coming off of years of playing a 4, it’s sometimes easy at first to find yourself on the wrong string. So factor the time needed to acclimate to having a fifth string. It shouldn’t take a lot of time. But if you’re like most 4 going to 5 string players, a little adjustment to muscle memory will be needed.

On a fiver, string muting is even more critical than it is on a 4. And it’s already critical on a 4. So proper technique is important. And some adjustments to your present technique may be required. That said, it’s doable and shouldn’t be a big deal for most players.

I’d consider just drop tuning my E string or maybe installing a Hipshot drop tuner if I were in a band doing a lot of music that only required a low D.

If I were playing a lot of songs in keys that required those lower notes, I’d definitely consider bringing a fiver rather than use two differently tuned basses.

If I were primarily doing music in a genre that called for a lot of lyric playing and higher notes I’d definitely want to use a fiver in high-C tuning. I think those high notes generally sound better played lower on the C string than they do played an octave up past the 12th fret. But that might just be me. Either way it’s nice to have a choice of two different timbres for a given note. Especially if you’re recording. (This last year I’ve been reluctantly considering getting a 6-string just to get the advantages of both 5-string tunings in a single instrument. Haven’t pulled the trigger so far. But never say never.)

Bottom line: a 5-string is a different instrument with its own pluses and minuses. And it all depends on what your goals are. It’s not “just a 4-string with an extra string.” The only real way to know how well it’ll work for you and your music is to give one a try.

 

[jdh3000]

If I played a B string, I would play a 5 or 6. I’ve thought about getting a 5 to play on a few songs, but our BL never gives us a heads up what’s next so I’d probably wind up stuck on 4 for a song I would need the 5.