Should I get a 5 string bass?

[Bob_Ross]

OP, have you seen this flowchart before?

Well, just replace "Practicing" with "Buying A 5-String Bass" and you'll have your answer!

Sincerely, The Enabler.

 

[Rod Barchetta]

I decided to try 5-string about 9 months ago. I already owned six 4-string basses and thought a 5 string was blasphemy. But threads I read here convinced me to give it a go.

I was lucky enough to have a friend who owns a Schecter Elite 5 that he never plays. He let me borrow it for a few months and I was sold. I needed one.

I ended receiving an Ibanez 405EQM from a very old and close friend as a present 3 or 4 months ago. I had researched it and knew this is the one I wanted. I learned to play several songs that require a 5-string. My top three are Uptown Funk, Superstition, and Short Skirt, Long Jacket by Cake.

This bass has exceeded my expectations. I find I use the coil tap feature quite often. The tonal range is very impressive. The 18V 3-band EQ coupled with the single coil/humbucker/power tap switch make almost every sound possible. The tried a few out in the store and found I prefer the Ibanez pick-ups to the Bartolinis. This is just my personal taste. The neck is fast as lightning. It takes some getting used to the string spacing. It is a different beast.

Last week I decided to jump off the cliff and play exclusively 5-string until it becomes natural. I finally mastered the floating thumb technique that allowed me to play it on all songs. Muting is everything on the bass. My right shoulder and forearm are going thru so serious muscle growth. Today I took only my 5-string to 3 hour band practice. I give myself a "B". But I have decided for the foreseeable future my 4-strings will be wall ornaments until I get the 5-string down. This is the only way. I say take the plunge!

 

[JimmyM]

I decided to try 5-string about 9 months ago. I already owned six 4-string basses and thought a 5 string was blasphemy. But threads I read here convinced me to give it a go.

I was lucky enough to have a friend who owns a Schecter Elite 5 that he never plays. He let me borrow it for a few months and I was sold. I needed one.

I ended receiving an Ibanez 405EQM from a very old and close friend as a present 3 or 4 months ago. I had researched it and knew this is the one I wanted. I learned to play several songs that require a 5-string. My top three are Uptown Funk, Superstition, and Short Skirt, Long Jacket by Cake.

This bass has exceeded my expectations. I find I use the coil tap feature quite often. The tonal range is very impressive. The 18V 3-band EQ coupled with the single coil/humbucker/power tap switch make almost every sound possible. The tried a few out in the store and found I prefer the Ibanez pick-ups to the Bartolinis. This is just my personal taste. The neck is fast as lightning. It takes some getting used to the string spacing. It is a different beast.

Last week I decided to jump off the cliff and play exclusively 5-string until it becomes natural. I finally mastered the floating thumb technique that allowed me to play it on all songs. Muting is everything on the bass. My right shoulder and forearm are going thru so serious muscle growth. Today I took only my 5-string to 3 hour band practice. I give myself a "B". But I have decided for the foreseeable future my 4-strings will be wall ornaments until I get the 5-string down. This is the only way. I say take the plunge!

The best way to master it is to immerse yourself in it, for sure. I got my first 5 in 91, and I played nothing but it for a few years, and then I went back to 4's and tried to avoid using my 5 as much as possible

But recently I picked up my 2nd 5 in 30 years, a Yamaha BB235 which was quite good for the money but is awaiting a pickup transplant. I'm not immersing myself in it again, but I do like to stay in practice with a 5, even if I rarely use one on a gig.

 

[ComeHomeShane]

I decided to try 5-string about 9 months ago. I already owned six 4-string basses and thought a 5 string was blasphemy. But threads I read here convinced me to give it a go.

I was lucky enough to have a friend who owns a Schecter Elite 5 that he never plays. He let me borrow it for a few months and I was sold. I needed one.

I ended receiving an Ibanez 405EQM from a very old and close friend as a present 3 or 4 months ago. I had researched it and knew this is the one I wanted. I learned to play several songs that require a 5-string. My top three are Uptown Funk, Superstition, and Short Skirt, Long Jacket by Cake.

This bass has exceeded my expectations. I find I use the coil tap feature quite often. The tonal range is very impressive. The 18V 3-band EQ coupled with the single coil/humbucker/power tap switch make almost every sound possible. The tried a few out in the store and found I prefer the Ibanez pick-ups to the Bartolinis. This is just my personal taste. The neck is fast as lightning. It takes some getting used to the string spacing. It is a different beast.

Last week I decided to jump off the cliff and play exclusively 5-string until it becomes natural. I finally mastered the floating thumb technique that allowed me to play it on all songs. Muting is everything on the bass. My right shoulder and forearm are going thru so serious muscle growth. Today I took only my 5-string to 3 hour band practice. I give myself a "B". But I have decided for the foreseeable future my 4-strings will be wall ornaments until I get the 5-string down. This is the only way. I say take the plunge!

Right on. I took the plunge last year, after 20+ years on 4 strings. Same experience, LOVE the range options and being able to play across the fretboard more. Muting has been the most difficult element of playing the 5. My muting style on a 4 was already a bit off kilter, so I basically had to relearn how to mute with the 5. But ya just playing it a lot and letting it become natural is the best thing, even if you suck at it for a while.

 

[mambo4]

I like the challenge of keys that are “too low” for EADG. Forces me to think about the octave differently. Nobody I have played with ever minded that those root Notes were an octave up.

 

[RandalPinkFloyd]

I made the switch to a 5 last year. Oddly enough, I wasn't even looking to make the change or try one out. Was out looking for another 4 and saw a Cort Curbow 5 that just stood out for some reason. Decided to check it out, started playing it and just loved the feel of the string spacing and neck. Thought "I could get used to this." Took it home and two weeks later, sold all my 4's and switched to 5's. Wished I had made the switch sooner.

 

[Rod Barchetta]

I'm not sure I'm ready to sell all my four strings. I just feel to be the best bass player I can be I need to be able to play 5-string when the song calls for it. To do that, I need to be as good on the 5-string as I am on the 4-srting. The only way to get there is practice. Full immersion.

I try to play stuff that constantly challenges my capabilities to keep my chops sharp. Right now, while I really enjoy some of the new found capabilities of the 5-string, I haven't forgotten how much fun I have playing my four strings. I started playing bass back in 1978 and I didn't know 5-string basses even existed (not sure you could even find one back then). I want to be able to play both equally well.

I love my babies; I could never sell them.

 

[Ellery]

I'm not sure I'm ready to sell all my four strings. I just feel to be the best bass player I can be I need to be able to play 5-string when the song calls for it. To do that, I need to be as good on the 5-string as I am on the 4-srting. The only way to get there is practice. Full immersion.

I try to play stuff that constantly challenges my capabilities to keep my chops sharp. Right now, while I really enjoy some of the new found capabilities of the 5-string, I haven't forgotten how much fun I have playing my four strings. I started playing bass back in 1978 and I didn't know 5-string basses even existed (not sure you could even find one back then). I want to be able to play both equally well.

I love my babies; I could never sell them.View attachment 4338950

Nice collection! What's the story on the G&L to the left?

 

[Rod Barchetta]

That is a slightly modified 1970 Fender Jazz body, a roasted maple G&L L-1000 neck, EMG active pick-ups in a J-P configuration, with a Kahler Wah-Wah.

 

[Rod Barchetta]

That is a slightly modified 1970 Fender Jazz body, a roasted maple G&L L-1000 neck, EMG active pick-ups in a J-P configuration, with a Kahler Wah-Wah. View attachment 4339509

The original neck was broken when a truck backed over it. The owner of the bass guitar work at a music store. He modified the body and rebuilt it with the best I think could find at the time back in the early eighties. He painted it the original Lake Placid blue color. I bought it for 400 bucks. He had never figured out how to accurately set up the action or intonation on the Kaher bridge. Once I finally got it out in she was sweet beyond belief.