Should I sell my 5-string?

[spade2you]

I just might do that. I'd be willing to have a 34" 5-string if the B string was usable. Like light strings, but I could always just get a thicker B while keeping the rest light or something. I just haven't been able to find many 5-strings in my price range that were 34" scale at the time I was out buying one.

I do use proper technique (or at least I think so). I only press down as far as I have to, wrist as straight as possible (strap higher because of that), but it still comes down to trying to do a 1-2-3-4 hand placement. I just can't comfortably reach that far. For example, playing YYZ is a lot harder on my 35" 5-er. On that song I'm lucky I can move up to a higher position and make use of that B string, but sometimes you can't, like having lines that are relatively easy near the 1st position, but have a quick part or something (say Aces High for example). I can move up to play the quick part easier, but I'd have to zoom right back down the neck to stay in time.

Why zoom down the neck when you have the notes available elsewhere? Keep in mind, anything you play in F or A# can easily be played from the 6th position.

 

[afroman]

I agree with the previous comments.
If the bass is not "touching you soul" at the moment and it doesn't have any special sentimental value then sell it.

If you anyways like 5-string basses there are plenty of 34" scale ones.
The Best IMO would be a used Stingray 5. Tight spacing and 34", tone to die for.

 

[wvbass]

The Best IMO would be a used Stingray 5. Tight spacing and 34", tone to die for.

...And we have the winning answer. You save your pennies and I'l save mine and we'll see who buys one first. I NEED to own one of these at some point.

 

[WarPhalange]

Why zoom down the neck when you have the notes available elsewhere? Keep in mind, anything you play in F or A# can easily be played from the 6th position.

Doesn't matter if I can, what matters is what is easier.

Say in Aces High, the main bassline for the verse goes like this:

D: |-0h2-2-2-2-2--0h2-2-2-2-2--0h2-2-2-2-2--0-0-4-2-0-| ( I can't be bothered to format it to fit the rhythm)

And then there is a little line that goes:

G: |-5-4---------4-----------|
D: |-------7--5------7--5--0|

Before going back to the top part. The bottom part is already a bit of a stretch for me, although doable. If I were to move up to the D and A strings and do this:

D: |-10-9-----------9----------------0| So either open D or 5 on A.
A: |--------12--10------12--10--(5)|

But then I'd have to zoom back down do get the 0-2-4 notes. A 6-fret stretch isn't easy to do.

Also, the part in Master of Puppets that goes:

A:|---------2---------3---------4--|
E:|--0--1-----0--1-----0--1------|

I can't make a 5-fret stretch when playing in the 5th position on the B string. I'm moving my hand way more than I should be at that point.

 

[WarPhalange]

...And we have the winning answer. You save your pennies and I'l save mine and we'll see who buys one first. I NEED to own one of these at some point.

I'll have enough pennies if I sell my 5er. I've been getting rid of more gear and getting quite a bit of cash back now. I think I have $650 from it already, and if everything goes well I should get over a grand from the rest (if it sells at all of course...).

Does it have to be a Stingray? I care first and foremost about playability and comfort. Sound is secondary since there are so many things I can do to change it. Of course I'd rather play it before I buy it, but if say I find a great deal on something like a Bongo on eBay, can I expect the feel to be the same as a Stingray?

 

[spade2you]

I can't make a 5-fret stretch when playing in the 5th position on the B string. I'm moving my hand way more than I should be at that point.

There's absolutely no reason to ever make a 5 fret stretch. That's what the next higher string is for. How long have you been playing bass?

 

[WarPhalange]

There's absolutely no reason to ever make a 5 fret stretch. That's what the next higher string is for. How long have you been playing bass?

Did you not read my previous post where I tabbed out the bassline? There are 5 frets that need to be played in quick succession.

A:|---------2---------3---------4----------3----------2--2--|
E:|--0--1-----0--1-----0--1------0--1------0--1----------|

So I need to go from 0, to 1, to 4, then back to 0. In 1st position the open E makes it easier, but when I'm playing in 5th position, I have to play around on the B string, making it look like this:

A:|---------7---------8---------9----------8----------7--7--|
E:|--5--6-----5--6-----5--6------5--6------5--6----------|

The only way to play this is to either make a 5-fret stretch or to shift from 5th position to 6th position really fast, and then back to 5th position, which means I am moving my hand around more than I need to. Staying in 1st position means I just use the open string and don't need to shift my hand or do a 5-fret stretch.