Doug Parent
Supporting Member
Sell it after 5 years if you have not touched it. Use the money for something you use. Or something I could use 
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I have a Fender Dimension V with an Epi Thunderbird IV as a backup.
Or an Epi Thunderbird IV with the Dimension as a backup, depending on my attitude.
Or an Epi Thunderbird IV with the Dimension as a backup, depending on my attitude.
I always keep a 4 string around. I'm in Nashville, and some people get really picky about how many strings you have. I currently have two 5 strings and three 4 strings at the moment, and they all serve different purposes.
....here's a good example ...playing Alice in Chain's "Damn that river" or something else that relies on pulling off to open. Not saying it can't be done but it's loads easier to open D than fretted 3 on B.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
there is a guy who did that on an old 4001 ... the neck did not do well ...
The only bass that could do well with that is the 4004cii5 ... but with less than 100 made good luck finding one
And Rickenbacker did make a 4005 6 string bass in the 60s
I just gig 5s for decades, but I keep my old P around. It is wise to play a 4 enough that you stay profecient. You could end up doing a last minute stand in or recording project and only have a 4 available. An anal bandleader may insist you play the studio's vintage gear, or whatever wacky situation. If you keep up on 4, you won't dog it in a weird situation. All of these things have only happened in my paranoid imagination, but if the paranoia becomes real.......
I had an Epi 4 T-bird. Not a bad bass but I quickly sold it due to not enough strings. I've got the Squier version on the Dimension. That's a rock and roll bass dude. Very midrange cutting tone. Not for country. Think Getty and Duff sound. Very aggressive. Not trying to hijack this but I wondered what the tone was like on the fender?
There's alway doing your own knockoff with a non Ric neck.
If you freelance, it's nice to have different basses for different gigs, if you have the space, and I do. So I have four basses. If it made sense, I'd get an URB, too.
Answer: I played 4 string basses for MANY years and always felt so limited. Got a 5 string and as the saying goes it was like "coming home".
But I still have a couple 4 stringers even though I don't play them because there are some things that they work better for. So I keep them
for nostalgia and because I figure maybe some day I'll get into some Old School project that needs a 4, but as for now I don't play them.
But I still have a couple 4 stringers even though I don't play them because there are some things that they work better for. So I keep them
for nostalgia and because I figure maybe some day I'll get into some Old School project that needs a 4, but as for now I don't play them.
Go for it! The old word-ology game...
Me - I've got 4 and 5 bangers (and 6-string guitars and a doubleneck, and a Minitaur, and an octave divider, and I was nearly tempted by a Stick the other day...), so I think I've got the basses covered!
I had a 6 string once. In addition to it being stupidly heavy I never played it. The C has uses but I'm not good enough to utilize it.
I've pretty much been playing 5-string exclusively since '91. In my opinion (and my fellow band member's opinion, too), I just feel that a 5'er better suits what I play, and not to mention, it also compliments my playing style, too. And no, I'm not one of those guys that's constantly leaning on the low B-string, either. But, I also still own every 4-string ('61, '72, and '75 Jazz Basses) that I've ever traded for/purchased since I started playing as a kid in the mid-1970's. These days, the vast majority of 4-string playing time for me is when it's requested in the studio, which is 90% of the time. But, I'll also drag 'em out on occasion for the outdoor gigs we do, which has been quite often this summer. The only thing I sort of don't like about playing the 4-strings, is the simple fact that they're all vintage instruments.
I do. A couple. Tuned standard for my daughter and changed to BEAD when I use them.
My second ever bass bought was a 5 string..after that I did buy a thunderbird because my favourite band obsession was System of a Down lol. I never played it...and I am pretty sure I'll never play one again..I did get a 6 that's a bit of fun. I say sell it and let the low B rumble forever!!
I played 4's exclusively from the time I started in the mid 80s as a youngster- fast forward to 2014- I played a Modulus Quantum 5 & loved it, bought it, transitioned to the 5 in about a week.. eventually sold all my 4's & play 5's only now, they are very natural feeling to me, especially playing contemporary praise & worship music, having the low B available is very nice, can't say I miss 4's at all. Ymmv as they say
Keep the thing. I have multiple basses to accommodate multiple tuning's.
Some songs will just play with more ease on a 4-String in Drop D.
Others straight up on a 5 string.
And having a backup is useful.
Some songs will just play with more ease on a 4-String in Drop D.
Others straight up on a 5 string.
I also have a dropped 5 String to ADGCF.
And having a backup is useful.
The only 4 string I still have is an EUB.
Do I regret not having a 4 banger around? not at all....
I can do anything I need to (and more) on a 5er.....I don't slap so....
Do I regret not having a 4 banger around? not at all....
I can do anything I need to (and more) on a 5er.....I don't slap so....
