Pros of four string bass

[Bassguitar man]

Hello, I'm the bassist who try to play the bass really seriously as a pro.
I got a 70s Jazz bass(4string) and Yamaha high end PJ bass (5string).
I'm considering selling my 70s Jazz bass and getting Lakland Skyline 55-02 Deluxe that has a single and humbucker pick up so I can have Single+Humbucker 5 string bass and PJ 5 string bass for more versatiles in my bass gear.
Unfortunately, I bought 70s bass when it was new so I'll get only bout half of it when I try to sell it.
Will it be any pros of having 4 string bass?
Many people say that five string is more difficult to mute 'cuz it has B string.
To Put It Another Way, there has no reason to get 4 string bass unless you can not mute B string
B string of bass No doubt that I like Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten and Jeff Berlin who use 4 string bass most but I don't think I can't cover there song with 5 string basses.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Hello, I'm the bassist who try to play the bass really seriously as a pro.
I got a 70s Jazz bass(4string) and Yamaha high end PJ bass (5string).
I'm considering selling my 70s Jazz bass and getting Lakland Skyline 55-02 Deluxe that has a single and humbucker pick up so I can have Single+Humbucker 5 string bass and PJ 5 string bass for more versatiles in my bass gear.
Unfortunately, I bought 70s bass when it was new so I'll get only bout half of it when I try to sell it.
Will it be any pros of having 4 string bass?
Many people say that five string is more difficult to mute 'cuz it has B string.
To Put It Another Way, there has no reason to get 4 string bass unless you can not mute B string
B string of bass No doubt that I like Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten and Jeff Berlin who use 4 string bass most but I don't think I can't cover there song with 5 string basses.

You can play anything on any bass. There are different octaves of the same notes all over the fretboard. But, I have both. I was exclusively playing my 5 until I recently bought a new 4. I love the string spacing on my 4. Its far more comfortable to play. I haven't played my 5 much at all since. I do not miss the B string...whatsoever. it's only 5 notes. And, they tend to be too boomy anyway. As Far as muting goes, you mute all your strings the same way. Having an extra one doesnt change that.

 

[Will_White]

I play only 4s and the only disadvantage I've found is that you have to shift around more. Otherwise you can tune a 4 to what ever you want with the right strings.

 

[knumbskull]

Slimmer neck
Cheaper string sets
Won’t get grief from rock n roll snobs

 

[toprekoms]

It's better than 3.

 

[Bijoux]

I started on a 4 string bass and to me that feels like home. many of the younger students have started on a 5 string bass, and they tell me they can't imagine playing a 4 string bass! lol

 

[BassChuck]

If you're seriously going to try for being a "pro", you'll be better off getting and learning the 5 string. And you should think seriously about DB. Being 'pro' means more than just being good. You have to be ready for many different musical situations, and the 5 string will be an issue with some leaders and employers (DB too.. and reading all kinds of different music notations).

Unless of course you're a singing, songwriting, bass playing genius with unlimited creative ideas... then a short scale Hofner will work just fine.

 

[dmt]

Honestly, to me, the biggest "pro" of 4 stringers is probably that they simply look right for the type of music I like. It’s not just that they’ll look right to others, it’s that they look right to me.

Of course, different people can have different opinions on looks... if you want to play only 5s, play only 5s!

Other big pros for me would be:
- fretboard not too wide for me
- the models I like are 4 stringers

I mean, having an extra, lower string would have various advantages and 4 can be a bit restrictive, but...4

 

[MD]

If you need the low B, then that's that. If you'd like the option to play a lower octave below your D/Eb, maybe a hipshot de-tuner would be the way to go. And also comes down to what you're most comfortable on.
I've never played a 5.

 

[WardEarth]

Both are nice. I like 4 strings. Neck width, weight, simplicity, etc. Most songs use 4 strings EADG.

A 4 string can also be set up for BEAD tuning, so you still have that low B.

 

[CryingBass]

It's better than 3.

Watch it. I am convinced that my next will be a 2 string!

 

[DigitalMan]

Play a bass with however many strings you want. Having choices available doesn’t always mean there are wrong decisions possible.

 

[Mushroo]

If you want to be a serious pro bassist, a 4 string Fender bass is a great tool to have in your toolbox.
But the Lakland 55-02 is a great bass, too.
You really can't go wrong either way.

 

[Dabndug]

Four strings are three too many.

 

[jd56hawk]

Gee, I can't think of too many pros who play 4-string...not counting maybe 80% of the top 100 bassists list, that is.

 

[Acoop]

There are only 5-notes between a 4 and a 5-string bass. ... Add a d-tuner to a 4 and you're down to 3-notes. ... What was you question?

 

[twinjet]

I play only 4s and the only disadvantage I've found is that you have to shift around more. Otherwise you can tune a 4 to what ever you want with the right strings.

I'd call that an advantage. Who wouldn't want to know their fretboard better?

the 5 string will be an issue with some leaders and employers

Could you elaborate?

 

[Ironbar]

And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out thy Holy Jazz Bass. Then, shalt thou count to four. No more. No less. Four shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be four. Five shalt thou not count, nor either count thou three, excepting that thou then proceed to four. Six is right out. Once the number four, being the fourth number be reached, then, plucketh thou thy Holy Jazz Bass of Antioch at thy audience, who, being haughty in My sight, shall rock it."


(And you just read that in Michael Palin's voice).

 

[Paulabass]

If I get a call, and all the songs are 1/2 step down, I tune a 4 string down. If they play a few songs down a half step, I bring a five.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

that thou then proceed to four

I love this

Proceedeth