I've played 4 strings forever and the 5 have peaked my interest. Is there anything specific I should be paying attention to when looking at a 5 string to purchase or is it "just another string"?
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Purchasing a 5 string
- Thread starter Allegrus
- Start date
Try as many as you can. You will likely find some 5s easier to play than others. Also check for consistency from string to string (you don't want the B string to sound out place relative to the other strings). Also check for the floppy B syndrome which some 5s suffer from.
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Nut width, string spacing and scale length are some of the variables of which you should be aware when shopping. To @bass12's point about the infamous "floppy B" syndrome, different manufacturers have different theories on the ideal scale for a 5-string. For example, you might not notice much of a difference between 34"-scale and 35"-scale basses, but if you've been playing a short-scale bass forever, jumping up to 35" – or more – can be a stretch, both literally and figuratively.
Make sure the B string has enough tension and sounds good. A 35" scale can help with that but its not always necessary. Also, think about whether you want a narrower neck like a 4-string but with closer string spacing, or a wider neck with more familiar string spacing.
I never really met a B string I didn't like. Yes, a 35" B will be tighter, but I never had an issue with a 34"....maybe I'm just not that picky...
Is there a specific budget you are on? Is there any particular style of bass you prefer (ie, Fender, Ibanez, etc)?
Is there a specific budget you are on? Is there any particular style of bass you prefer (ie, Fender, Ibanez, etc)?
Yeah, make sure it doesn't have an overly floppy B string and that it has enough tension for you. I've heard Fenders have a problem with that but my Ray35hh still plays pretty well even when I have to tune to Drop A with my band 
I'd simply look for something that looks and feels right (although they're all going to feel a bit strange adding another string), a neck profile you can reach around and a string spacing that fits you.
I transitioned from four to five in the late 80's and have played them ever since, so I'll issue my standard caution:
IF you just need a couple extra low notes, tune down, install a drop-tuner on your E key, etc.
The big difference in a five vs. four are for me two things: For songs in those 'other keys' (say you play a lot of rock that's in lower-than-E keys), you can simply transpose down a fret or two or three, and with the five strings you can far more easily to play across the fingerboard (two octaves) with fewer shifts vs. a four-string.
I transitioned from four to five in the late 80's and have played them ever since, so I'll issue my standard caution:
IF you just need a couple extra low notes, tune down, install a drop-tuner on your E key, etc.
The big difference in a five vs. four are for me two things: For songs in those 'other keys' (say you play a lot of rock that's in lower-than-E keys), you can simply transpose down a fret or two or three, and with the five strings you can far more easily to play across the fingerboard (two octaves) with fewer shifts vs. a four-string.
Just another string?
Great Scott! (sizes up the conundrum pretty bloody well
).
Go for it, I say. And go for quality. I have two, didn't break the bank, both active, in more ways than one
Love a nice five
Great Scott! (sizes up the conundrum pretty bloody well
).
Go for it, I say. And go for quality. I have two, didn't break the bank, both active, in more ways than one
Love a nice five
The big feel factor for me is the string spacing. Seems about a 50/50 split out there between wide and not-so-wide spacing on most popular basses.
Wide (18.5-19mm) feels consistent when switching with a 4 string. This is what's found with Fenders, lots of Laklands, Ibanez BTB. This is my comfort zone. The catch is the neck can be pretty wide.
Not so wide (17.5mm) is a little tighter, but not cramped. This is what's on Musicmans, G&Ls, Ibanez SR... I have a Musicman 5 and am getting used to it, but after 23 years of playing wide spacing, it's kind of weird.
Some early 5s were narrow, like 16-17mm. This is super cramped and feels funny, to me. The necks can be pretty much the same width as a typical 4 string.
After that, it's scale length. 34-35" scales work great with 5s. If the B is floppy, just try a heavier gauge string. Most sets have a B that's disproportionate in tension with the rest of the set. For example, if you play 45-65-85-105 4 string sets, get that and a matching 135 or 140 low B instead of the stock 125 or 130 that comes in most prepackaged sets. I have been experimenting with 40-60-80-105-135 and it's pretty balanced on a 34" scale instrument.
Wide (18.5-19mm) feels consistent when switching with a 4 string. This is what's found with Fenders, lots of Laklands, Ibanez BTB. This is my comfort zone. The catch is the neck can be pretty wide.
Not so wide (17.5mm) is a little tighter, but not cramped. This is what's on Musicmans, G&Ls, Ibanez SR... I have a Musicman 5 and am getting used to it, but after 23 years of playing wide spacing, it's kind of weird.
Some early 5s were narrow, like 16-17mm. This is super cramped and feels funny, to me. The necks can be pretty much the same width as a typical 4 string.
After that, it's scale length. 34-35" scales work great with 5s. If the B is floppy, just try a heavier gauge string. Most sets have a B that's disproportionate in tension with the rest of the set. For example, if you play 45-65-85-105 4 string sets, get that and a matching 135 or 140 low B instead of the stock 125 or 130 that comes in most prepackaged sets. I have been experimenting with 40-60-80-105-135 and it's pretty balanced on a 34" scale instrument.
Mainly think of that you will have a bit harder to play 5, couse neck is wider, but if checking out you could find a 5 with a neck wide just like a standart 4.
+1 on neck dimensions and string spacing. You'll know what's right - don't just order a bass, you'll need to play it (or something essentially the same). Mine is 34" scale and has no flab on the B whatsoever. I went with a 16.5mm spacing because it just works for my hands. Have fun, good luck and try not to feel guilty keeping your 4s in their cases!
Hi Allegrus
A surfboard does not feel the same way as a pecil neck.
You have to find the right neck profil and string spacing that works for you.
When you have a bad left hand technic (e.g. left hand thump in the wrong position)
you might have problems to start on 5ers (a good teacher can help)
"Just another string"? Yes and no!
Jamming with guitarists can be funny!
You' re playing E and the guitar hero starts shredding A because he' s looking at your left hand.
greetings
Wise(b)ass
A surfboard does not feel the same way as a pecil neck.
You have to find the right neck profil and string spacing that works for you.
When you have a bad left hand technic (e.g. left hand thump in the wrong position)
you might have problems to start on 5ers (a good teacher can help)
"Just another string"? Yes and no!
Jamming with guitarists can be funny!
You' re playing E and the guitar hero starts shredding A because he' s looking at your left hand.
greetings
Wise(b)ass
It's not just another string. It can change how you approach and play things. It did for me for the better.
In a nutshell from my experience finding the right 5:
- Ignore detractors
- Ignore brand
- Ignore all advice on scale, spacing, nut width, etc...
- Play as many as you can, amplified through something familiar if possible
- There will be one that 'speaks' to you and feels 'right'. Do not ignore that, even if it i not a brand or model you think you want.
- If you don't buy the bass speaks to you, the try to look up the specs on that bass (Scale, string spacing, nut width, etc...) then narrow your search to basses with those specs.
There are soooooo many different specs and configs of 5 strings that you just have to wade into it and try as many as possible. What works for one person is instant trade-bait for another. More than 4 stingers, IMHO, 5 strings are largely about fit and feel to the individual player. Mine are like extensions of me, and I could not go back to playing a 4 or go to a 6.
Good Luck!
In a nutshell from my experience finding the right 5:
- Ignore detractors
- Ignore brand
- Ignore all advice on scale, spacing, nut width, etc...
- Play as many as you can, amplified through something familiar if possible
- There will be one that 'speaks' to you and feels 'right'. Do not ignore that, even if it i not a brand or model you think you want.
- If you don't buy the bass speaks to you, the try to look up the specs on that bass (Scale, string spacing, nut width, etc...) then narrow your search to basses with those specs.
There are soooooo many different specs and configs of 5 strings that you just have to wade into it and try as many as possible. What works for one person is instant trade-bait for another. More than 4 stingers, IMHO, 5 strings are largely about fit and feel to the individual player. Mine are like extensions of me, and I could not go back to playing a 4 or go to a 6.
Good Luck!
The B-string will never have the same timbre as the other strings. Don't expect it to. Just like the G-string will always be brighter than the others, the B will be rounder, less distinct.
Look for a bass that fits your hands and body. For example, 5-string necks are naturally wider, so consider whether you prefer the overall neck size (the ability to reach across all strings) of importance, or is string spacing (the familiarity of distance between strings for both the left and right hands) of importance. Also, 35" scale will create more string tension, but adds reach.
A 5-string is more about flexibility with hand positions and playing in Eb or D without tuning changes than it is about those five lower notes.
Consider buying cheap or buying something with resale value, so if a 5-string isn't your thing, you can easily walk away or flip it.
The best 5-string discovery for me was when I reoriented my thinking around the A-string. I used to be E-string focused, looking at scales from the E-string down; with a five, I see scales from the A-string out (up and down).
Look for a bass that fits your hands and body. For example, 5-string necks are naturally wider, so consider whether you prefer the overall neck size (the ability to reach across all strings) of importance, or is string spacing (the familiarity of distance between strings for both the left and right hands) of importance. Also, 35" scale will create more string tension, but adds reach.
A 5-string is more about flexibility with hand positions and playing in Eb or D without tuning changes than it is about those five lower notes.
Consider buying cheap or buying something with resale value, so if a 5-string isn't your thing, you can easily walk away or flip it.
The best 5-string discovery for me was when I reoriented my thinking around the A-string. I used to be E-string focused, looking at scales from the E-string down; with a five, I see scales from the A-string out (up and down).
...Unless you get a Dingwall, in which case all the strings will pretty much have the same timbre, thanks to the multi-scale design and the exceptional build quality.
It took me a while to realize it, but proper string spacing was the biggest thing that made a 5 string comfortable or not for me.
String spacing will, IMO, be the single biggest playability difference between brands/models, in terms of things you're going to have to adjust to. No matter what, it's going to be narrower than you're used to, but you can find basses as wide as 20mm or as narrows as 16.5mm (Ibanezes, typically), and it makes a big difference.
Me too..my first 5 was a Jackson with a very floppy B .. then I got a SR 505 ... and then a Schecter SS5 .. but they were all 16.5 mm string spacing .. and I did not realize that that was an issue for me until I bought a Fender JV24 which was 19mm. I was just trying to make it work (the tighter spacing) . Over the years I have come to the conclusion that the ideal spacing for me is 18mm .. I can do 19mm.. in fact most of my 5s have 19mm spacing which was my go to until I bought a bass with an 18mm bridge.. I put that bridge on another bass that I had bought a 19mm Hipshot A for and put the 19mm bridge on the one tht had the 18mm bridge and was able to see the difference between the same bass with the two different bridges.. (Ironically it was initially more for cosmetic reasons.. the 19mm Hipshot was black and I decided it looked better on the other bass and I stumbled upon what I now believe to be my ideal spacing ..)
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There's tons of options for 5-strings. Scale and number of frets matter a lot, IMO. Scale to me is the most important. 34" works for me with either 22 or 24 frets... I absolutely can't play a 35" scale bass. 35 feels alien to me.
