String number and their use

[wishforbass]

I have a 4 string bass that I use it a lot .
Usually I am playing in higher range like fret 5 till 14 .
I have another bass that is 5 string .I use it rarely and when I Use it ,I will not play the B that much (honest never played it ).
I am thinking to sell the 5 string bass (It cause me a lot of problems ) and buy another bass but I do not know if it is better replace it by another 5 string or a 4 string .
So I like to know what do you think ?

 

[Samatza]

Sounds like you don’t need the low B but you can restring it E to C and extend the range upwards or sell it and get another 4 string.

Depends on what you play and what you prefer. I used 5’s a long time but now mainly back on the 4 unless the songs really need a 5.

 

[ElectricBass72]

Get another 5-string. I'm the opposite of you... I play both 4 and 5, but prefer 5 for the Low B options.

 

[FunkHead]

I have a 4 string bass that I use it a lot .
Usually I am playing in higher range like fret 5 till 14 .
I have another bass that is 5 string .I use it rarely and when I Use it ,I will not play the B that much (honest never played it ).
I am thinking to sell the 5 string bass (It cause me a lot of problems ) and buy another bass but I do not know if it is better replace it by another 5 string or a 4 string .
So I like to know what do you think ?

Edit: Please explain what problems you are having with the 5 string.
I see no need for a 5 if you won't use the B string. But if you already like playing up on the higher frets, Then Why not just use the B string? Your low E is right there at fret 5. It's so easy to play a 5 string. Simple really!

Some people think 5 string players are just showing off. I almost feel the opposite. Like I am cheating and grabbing low notes from way up on the fret-board.

 

[JohnArnson]

Sounds like you could have use of restringing your 5 string and tune it E to C, I got my 5 string tuned 2 half steps above that F# to D.

 

[FunkHead]

Sounds like you could have use of restringing your 5 string and tune it E to C, I got my 5 string tuned 2 half steps above that F# to D.

I can totally see this as a good option. For many, B is too low and E is just a little too high. So why not somewhere in the middle.

 

[JohnArnson]

I can totally see this as a good option. For many, B is too low and E is just a little too high. So why not somewhere in the middle.

Actually this would be 2 half steps above standard E tuning, F#1 to D3, like the 5 lowest strings of an 8 string guitar, since I use my 5 string bass a bit more like you would a Bass VI type instrument or a baritone guitar than how you would traditionally use a bass, with a lot of melodic lines and chord work.

But I can see the use of tuning a 5 string bass to something like C# to A too, which I believe is what you thought I wrote, 2 half steps above standard B tuning.

 

[wishforbass]

Edit: Please explain what problems you are having with the 5 string.
I see no need for a 5 if you won't use the B string. But if you already like playing up on the higher frets, Then Why not just use the B string? Your low E is right there at fret 5. It's so easy to play a 5 string. Simple really!

Some people think 5 string players are just showing off. I almost feel the opposite. Like I am cheating and grabbing low notes from way up on the fret-board.

the tone control has a problem when move it ,it makes noise plus the bridge pickup is fully dead .

 

[FunkHead]

Actually this would be 2 half steps above standard E tuning, F#1 to D3, like the 5 lowest strings of an 8 string guitar, since I use my 5 string bass a bit more like you would a Bass VI type instrument or a baritone guitar than how you would traditionally use a bass, with a lot of melodic lines and chord work.

But I can see the use of tuning a 5 string bass to something like C# to A too, which I believe is what you thought I wrote, 2 half steps above standard B tuning.

Yes, I see what you mean now(thanks for the clarification). I like the thought of keeping a 5 string but altering the tuning to suit your needs.
OP seems to indicate liking higher stuff so no need for that low B.
With the right strings you can do what ever you want to a 5 string.

 

[FunkHead]

the tone control has a problem when move it ,it makes noise plus the bridge pickup is fully dead .

I see now. A 5 may not be right for you at this time but never rule anything out for the future.
It's a long journey(42~ years for me) I have played 4's, 5's, 6's etc... 5 is my sweet spot.

 

[Blues Daddy]

I like a 5-string in standard tuning so that I can play low F and G notes without having to jump my left hand back down to 1st position (F at the 6th fret and G at the 8th fret of the B string).

Also, I like the variations that are available when you have notes below low E (even a basic I-IV-V pattern in the key of G can be interesting with the low C and D runs . . . big & bass-y).

 

[Jeff Scott]

...I will not play the B that much (honest never played it ).

Get another 5-string. ..... I ..... prefer 5 for the Low B options.

EB72, you must have missed what the OP said about his B string.

wishforbass, given the problems with the 5 string bass you have, it may not sell for too much, or perhaps you may need to repair the issues before selling it?

Is the neck on your 5 string bass comfortable for you? If so, as suggested above a couple times, maybe restringing it to E-C may work better for your own needs.

Edit: grammar

 

[Ric5]

I have a 4 string bass that I use it a lot .
Usually I am playing in higher range like fret 5 till 14 .
I have another bass that is 5 string .I use it rarely and when I Use it ,I will not play the B that much (honest never played it ).
I am thinking to sell the 5 string bass (It cause me a lot of problems ) and buy another bass but I do not know if it is better replace it by another 5 string or a 4 string .
So I like to know what do you think ?

I find that a lot of music has bass parts written where it needs notes lower than the low E and for me the best way to play those parts is a 5 string bass, and I find a lot of other music like Classic Rock really benefits from the low D … so I feel limited and restricted when I play a 4 string bass … I fell confined to having my lowest note being a E … And I am thinking of getting a 6 string bass and a 10 string … 5 with octaves

 

[Ric5]

EB72, you must have missed what the OP said about his B string.

wishforbass, given the problems with the 5 string bass you have, it may not sell for too much, or perhaps you may need to repair the issues before selling it?

Is the neck on your 5 string bass comfortable for you? If so, as suggested above a couple times, maybe restringing it to E-C may work better for your own needs.

[/QUOTE]

or string it DGCFA#

 

[skaine]

As far as i see, your experiences with 5 string bass are not commonly positive. Ofcourse its a matter of taste, 5 string players might tell you to go with 5 and 4 string players might tell you to with 4.

In my case, if i dont need and never used 5th string and i dont need to change tuning in the future, i would leave the 5 string option. I prefer the narrow neck, but the width of the neck might not be an issue for you of course.

The B string allows you to play the notes on E string which are located at higher frets, from lower position on B if this is useful for you.

 

[Sue Egypt]

I play a 7-string and an 8-string bass so I probably can' say anything useful to you

 

[Doner Designs]

I play a BEAD four and most of the time could get by with a three string BEA bass.

 

[JimmyM]

I might keep the 5 for future possible usage but get another 4. If you have to sell it to get another 4, then sell it because you can always get another 5, but even though I rarely use a 5, it's come in handy on short notice more than once.

 

[nnnnnn]

the tone control has a problem when move it ,it makes noise plus the bridge pickup is fully dead .

So your problems with the fiver have nothing to do with the number of strings. Perhaps if you had a five-string bass that wasn't faulty you'd play it more often and get used to using the B string more, but from your original description it sounds like you prefer playing four-string instruments so it's not clear why you're considering getting another fiver.

 

[wishforbass]

EB72, you must have missed what the OP said about his B string.

wishforbass, given the problems with the 5 string bass you have, it may not sell for too much, or perhaps you may need to repair the issues before selling it?

Is the neck on your 5 string bass comfortable for you? If so, as suggested above a couple times, maybe restringing it to E-C may work better for your own needs.

[/QUOTE]
yeah ,It has super comfortable neck .
I have narrow option for 5 string neck because most brands has crazy neck that are unplayable for me .(my label has a sadowsky and I can not even play it or same for fender basses ).
I should repair it (6th time this bass go for repair ) which is kind of weird because a lot of Yamaha bb415 owner are so happy and never face a problem but mine started with broken nut then broken toggle switch and the electronic problem and now input jack and a dead pickup .