Questions for BEAD players...

[Matthew_84]

I have a 4 string bass with 24 frets tuned to BEAD tuning and I love it. I can get as low and as high as I'd want to go. However, I'm getting into a lot of funk playing, and sometimes have to shift to hit a quick octave. Though, once I shift, I'm usually okay until the next chord.

Because of this, I'm debating on getting my first 5-string. However, I've only ever played 4-stringers in my 7 years of playing and I'm pretty comfortable on them. For the music I play with my band, I may switch between the 4 and 5 because of the different strings (flats and rounds) and pickup configurations.

I'm wondering:

1) How easy is it to switch between a 4 string tuned BEAD and a 5 string tuned BEADG? the tuning is similar, just with the extra higher string, so I think it should be easier than a normal EADG to 5 string switch, but there's still the issue of the string spacing (on the basses I'm looking at I'll be going from 19mm to 16mm on the 5'er).

2) How many of you BEAD players also own a 5-string, and do you prefer one over the other?

Any other opinions and comments are welcome... But because of gift cards I have, I'll be buying new and would rather get it right the first time.

 

[Got2SadowskyNYC]

I went from 4 to a narrow Ibanez 6. The difficulty is in your head. Set in front of the TV and just play until your hand gets used it to. My Curbow 6 it was 18mm spacing my Sadowskys are 19mm. You'd be surprised that you can feel that extra mm. I had to do the same thing. You'll have the same issue if you go from a fat round Warwick neck to a thin Jazz neck. It's just the way it is. If you're going to let something like this psyche you out take up the flute.

As far a preference, it's like painting. You may not use red a lot, but when you need it it's nice to have it handy. You're already experiencing this. Just because you have the "G" string there, doesn't mean you have to use it. There's times when my "B" is a glorified thumb rest. I have a "D Tuners" on all my "B" strings to drop to "A". I don't use them often, but it's nice when I want it.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

A lot of it has to do with finding something that's comfortable to you and getting used to it being in your hands. Going from 4 to 5 is a bigger leap for some people than others, for me it took a while but I got used to my Ibby 5'ers. I like them a lot.

 

[socialleper]

I have a 4 string bass with 24 frets tuned to BEAD tuning and I love it. I can get as low and as high as I'd want to go. However, I'm getting into a lot of funk playing, and sometimes have to shift to hit a quick octave. Though, once I shift, I'm usually okay until the next chord.

Because of this, I'm debating on getting my first 5-string. However, I've only ever played 4-stringers in my 7 years of playing and I'm pretty comfortable on them. For the music I play with my band, I may switch between the 4 and 5 because of the different strings (flats and rounds) and pickup configurations.

I'm wondering:

1) How easy is it to switch between a 4 string tuned BEAD and a 5 string tuned BEADG? the tuning is similar, just with the extra higher string, so I think it should be easier than a normal EADG to 5 string switch, but there's still the issue of the string spacing (on the basses I'm looking at I'll be going from 19mm to 16mm on the 5'er).

2) How many of you BEAD players also own a 5-string, and do you prefer one over the other?

Any other opinions and comments are welcome... But because of gift cards I have, I'll be buying new and would rather get it right the first time.

I have both a 4 string tuned BEAD (LTD TA-600) and a five string bass (Pedulla Rapture), and have owned but recently sold a 5 string Warwick $$ Corvette.
Because I've done both four and 5 string bass for so long, I don't have to think about it too much. The spacing on a four string tuned down to BEAD is a little easier to deal with; for some reason I feel like the tension on a 5 string is too different to really dig in on. If I could find the right 5 string with the right neck profile and right pickups I would probably be just as happy with a 5 as a 4. There are some limitations to a down tuned 4 because of the missing G, so that makes a 5 more flexible. My Pedulla is a good "general" instrument that has too polite an attack to be good for anything that needs real presence. My TA-600 is too "metal" to be used for anything besides heavy stuff, so it works out.
The Warwick's neck and ergonomics were just too much to overcome considering the tones I was getting out of it were just OK. A Streamer would have suited my purposes better.
The addition of one extra string isn't as big a deal as some people make it out to be. The real trick is finding a 5 string that sounds and feels right.

 

[mech]

I play 5s and BEAD 4s and have no problem with the transition with the exception of riffs that need to be played in the 2nd octave on the BEADs. I use some of my practice time to go over those parts on both type instruments no matter how well I know the tunes.

mech

 

[Ric5]

I have a 4 string bass with 24 frets tuned to BEAD tuning and I love it. I can get as low and as high as I'd want to go. However, I'm getting into a lot of funk playing, and sometimes have to shift to hit a quick octave. Though, once I shift, I'm usually okay until the next chord.

Because of this, I'm debating on getting my first 5-string. However, I've only ever played 4-stringers in my 7 years of playing and I'm pretty comfortable on them. For the music I play with my band, I may switch between the 4 and 5 because of the different strings (flats and rounds) and pickup configurations.

I'm wondering:

1) How easy is it to switch between a 4 string tuned BEAD and a 5 string tuned BEADG? the tuning is similar, just with the extra higher string, so I think it should be easier than a normal EADG to 5 string switch, but there's still the issue of the string spacing (on the basses I'm looking at I'll be going from 19mm to 16mm on the 5'er).

2) How many of you BEAD players also own a 5-string, and do you prefer one over the other?

Any other opinions and comments are welcome... But because of gift cards I have, I'll be buying new and would rather get it right the first time.

Yes BEADG is better than BEAD.

If you slap you gotta have a G string.

I was a 4 string player. I had one tuned EADG, one tuned E flat, one tuned DGCF, and one tuned BEAD. BEADG 5 string basses beat all of those tunings. Some are narrow and some are wide spacing. Find the one you like. I like 1 5/8" or 1 3/4" at the nut and 2 1/2" to 2 3/4" at the bridge.

When you get the 5 just play the 5 only for a while until your hands adapt and feel comfortable.

 

[khutch]

1) Adapting to the tuning is not terribly difficult. Going to BEADG from either BEAD or EADG is about the same. In the one case you have a new string to learn, in the other case you have to relearn to use a string you probably knew some years ago. I don't tune BEAD, I went with the more drastic fifths tuning CGDA and even that was a fairly quick learn since you have three strings you know, they're just upside down from where they were.

2) I went to CGDA to avoid using five strings because my right hand could just not be comfortable with the narrow spacing of the Ibanez SR505 that I had bought. Eventually I replaced the Ibanez with a wider spaced Fender Jazz V and now my right hand was happy but my left was not. I did learn to play the Jazz V well enough but I have never liked it so I am about to sell it. I just had to try a Squier VI because they are so affordable and so adorable and curiously my left hand likes their narrow necks and my right hand is adapting much better by far to their super narrow spacing that it ever did to the almost but not quite right spacing of the Ibanez SR. In my case a little was bad but much less is just fine. Go figure!

A whole lot of people have no particular trouble adapting to a five and never look back. Some of us just never can adapt to the silly things. It could go either way for you so treat it as an adventure and go into whole hog. Whichever way it goes for you it will have been worth the experiment. Clearly I could in fact adapt to a fiver but it would have to have a narrower spacing than any I've seen on the market. I could however convert one of my fours to a fiver and that would probably work for me.

 

[inate_hex]

There is also the scale length to consider. A lot of 5 strings are 35". I dont get along with these and prefer a 34" 5 banger.

 

[coughingskunk]

I love the 35" scale for a 5 string. It really does make a difference on the B string, esp with some skinnier strings. I also prefer a wider nut spacing because of sloppy slap technique. I cannot slap well on my Warwick Vette 5, but the Lakland 55-02 is a dream to slap. If you already have and are used to the wider nut spacing, I would suggest staying as close to that spacing as possible. I find the wide neck to be more comfortable as well for whatever reason.

 

[mtb777]

I think going from BEAD to a 5 is much easier than coming from EADG.
MUCH!

Get a 5 for sure. You have two octaves straight across!
I have 3- 4's
2- 5's
And a 6!

 

[Ric5]

This thread reminds me that I recently got suspended for saying "I have no interest in playing 4 string basses"

I love 5 string, 6 string, and other multi stringed basses