Slap: 4-string vs. 5-string Struggles

[OldSchoolFlats]

I have one bass, a Sire P7 P/J 5-string with GREAT slap sound. Five-string.

Context: Former garage/party/church player. Was never pro.

I am new to slap (2 months), and even new to finger-style, since picked flatwounds are what I always played since 1973. Finger-style and pick are my "go-to" now, but I really want to get good with slap, since I am only playing alone these days. Sort-of a hopeless Marcus Miller wanna-be...

My single-thumb and single-pluck sounds good to me. Surprisingly little problem with accuracy, though speed and stamina are still pretty bad.

Question: Long-term, how much of a liability is a 5-string for slap? I don't mind more practice, but don't want to fight a losing battle. My 5-string concerns are:
o Muting the B-string, and muting in general.
o Fretting-hand palm-slap tends to "clunk" with that floppy B.

Seriously thinking of getting a 4-string for slap, but worry A) I am trying to buy my way out of more practice time and B) new issues switching between a 4 and 5 string.

 

[Wretched Banana]

Facts: 1) 5 string is slappable. 2) It is absolutely and objectively harder. 3) You have limited practice resources to allocate -- time, stamina, etc.

If you think the investment is worth it, go for it. I have a separate 4 string for slapping, because I thought I had better things to practice than perfecting my 5 string slap. Others might disagree. I also have left wrist issues when (successfully) muting a 5 string due to the wider neck, didn't think the health sacrifice was worth it. Others might not have this problem.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Let's not forget the six string bass.