So... When did you leap to 5+ strings?

[SpecialBlender]

Started on 4 string in 1971 bought my first 5 string a Yamaha TRB5II in 1998 to be able to play some tunes that had 5 string parts on them. Still have that one and added a Dingwall Combustion 5 string last year.

Don't even own a 4 string anymore.

 

[bass12]

I started playing 5ers almost exclusively a little over two years ago (I've played bass for 24 years). Since then I've only played my fours on stage a handful of times and, at this point, can't see myself buying another four string ever.

 

[DWBass]

Been playing since the early 70's. Bought my first 5 string in 1991 but I didn't intend to. I was playing keyboards as well and bought a B stock synth module that didn't work. Took it back to the store and could only get store credit. Looked around the store and didn't see anything to use it on and spotted a D'Agostino 5 string bass (passive/ humbuckers) in the window. Used the store credit and took it home.

 

[KingRazor]

I started on a 5-string.

 

[JonahTheAmazing]

I haven't made the jump yet. I played a friend's 5 and it never felt right. My wallet doesn't want me to switch either.

 

[bass4worship]

Played since 1965, played 4 strings until 1995 when a bass player played at my church with a 5 strings and told me to try one. Well I never looked back. The five fit right in when playing gospel music. No more four for me...

 

[felixgun]

I owned a 4 string Fender P-bass then got a 4 string Fender Jazz Bass. I started hearing songs that could only be played correctly with the low B string so I ended up with a Warwick Thumb 5 neck thru.

 

[SRFSterling5]

My first 5 was an Ibanez Roadstar. Got it after hearing Nathan East on the
debut Whitney Houston album. I wanted a Yamaha BB5000 but couldn't afford
it at the time. That bass is long gone. Now it's 5 and 6's exclusively. A 4 string
feels like a toy now.

 

[ryco]

Started playing bass guitar in '68. Bought a used Jackson Concert Pro V in 2000. Play both.

Bought it for access to the lower notes. Like the 5 a lot!, but find it a little more challenging to slap trying to keep everything dampened. It's do-able, but just takes more effort to keep lines clean & quiet.
Really gassing for a fretless 5 for years. Just haven't found the right one. Really desire a two octave neck in a Jazz or PJ configuration - wish Fender made one. Been looking at Trabens and Deans, but they seem kind of toyish.

 

[Mike M.]

I started learning bass in 1970. (Was it that long ago?!?!?) Played for 12 years then didn't touch it for 10 years. Picked it back up for 3 years, put it back down and didn't get back into it until 2008.

Found my way to church in early 2009 and by early fall I was in the church music team, armed with my 4 string. Didn't know Christian music at all and was very surprised by how many of those bands were using a 5 string bass. Prior to this I never gave any thought to playing a 5 string bass. But I really liked what I heard, thought I was missing out on something and by December of 2009 I got my first 5 string. I love having that low B on hand and when used at the right time I just adds so much.

Two weeks ago I bought a new Fender American Standard 5 string Jazz bass and for me it's the ultimate! Couldn't be happier. But I still have and do play my 4 string basses. They aren't going anywhere!

 

[lowendfriend]

Started noodling on guitar a couple of years back, but I've been on bass for about four or five months now and I know I'm going to be stuck on that low end for a long time. Even been thinking about making the move to 5 strings.

Just curious - who here has done it? How long were you playing when it happened? Have you tried it and reverted back? If so, what influenced your decision to do so?

I started on an acoustic fretless 35" scale 4-string and moved to a 5-string 34" scale Warwick fretted about 6 months after.

What I have found is that I don't too often use notes below the fifth fret on the B-string....rather I appreciate the fingering of adjacent fifths on the same fret number in the patterns I play. I do play in a Blues band, so having a 5 string also enables me to play drop tunings without re-tuning. Drop D tuning is common in Blues. E flat and D are the two most useful notes in that regard.

 

[sonic assassin]

started with a 5. bought a 6 after 3 years. it broke. back to 5.

 

[crustychef]

had a 4 for 3 months took it back and got a 5. I'm crippled on a 4. Sixes are fine and fun but 5 is my home.

 

[Ric5]

Back around 2000 I got in a band that did modern music that required me to play a low D. So at first I had a Rickenbacker tuned EADG and a jazz bass tuned DGCF. But then I needed notes lower than the low D so I got this bass here.

Then I got rid of all of my 4 string basses and now I only play fives.

 

[Gubna]

First... in early 1995 through 2002. Then again... last week

 

[KaseOfBass]

...so I got this bass here.

Holy tight string spacing, Batman!

 

[blindrabbit]

Switched to a 5 string about 6 years after first picking up the bass, mainly out of necessity as I was in a band that had a keyboard player and had a pretty pop-heavy set list - I needed those low Ds, Cs, and Bs to compete with the keys. I've always had a 5 since then, although I've started to wonder about getting a good ol' 4 string again. I don't think I'll ever not have a 5 in the stable though, and if I had to guess a 5 will always be my main bass. As for 6ers, they scare me.

 

[runmikeyrun]

learned/played on 4 strings for about 5 years, then switched to 5 string when the first Korn album hit. Even though I can't stand Korn now, I still love the range of a 5 string. In fact, my current band tunes to B so it worked out perfect for me!

 

[JimmyM]

Got my first 5 string in 1991 after about 15 years of playing a Precision. Very nice bass. After 2 years I had enough and ordered a 4 string bass from the same company that I got 6 or 7 months later. Nowadays all I do is practice on it occasionally and wait for that one gig every 5 or 6 years where someone actually wants it

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I actually started on a 5 string lol. I made the move to 4 strings after a year and I've stayed there (for the most part) ever since. I have a 5'er right now that's my #2 player, but it'll never take the #1 spot.