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Talk me into a 5 string bass

#21
Oh yeah, and all the pros are playing 5-strings these days. Four-strings are on their way out, and are not considered a professional instrument any more.

If this is true, how come four strings are still the highest sold
and the most played by pros and non-pros alike? :eyebrow:
 
#24
Unless you have pretty small hands, I don't see the advantage of a five string over a sixer. Live anything, it takes getting used to, but the added range is a huge asset.

You might be concerned about slapping if you have a high c string, but with a little practice, you can do everything you would be able to without it there AND it will probably help you out by encouraging economy of motion in the right hand.
 
#27
I was in a similar boat. I played a 4 string for about 40 years. The reason I purchased a 5 string is in the form of a question.

How often does a singer ask you to transpose the key of a song upward? I my case, pretty much never. However, they frequently ask for the song to be brought down a key or two.

So...when you do that enough, you start realizing that your losing the sound (closer to the correct octave) of the original lick.

Going to a 5 string with the low B allowed me to keep the original intent of how the bass line was suppose to sound.

I thought that I would only use it on the songs that I needed, but being the lazy bastard that I am, I got tired of switching basses in between songs.

Further more, after a couple weeks of mind torture (you mean that bottom string isn't my E) I got proficient at it.

Now, I totally prefer the 5 string.
 
#28
I bought a five, so it is now safe to say that all the cools guys have one :p

<rant>
My biggest complaint right now is finding strings. The current E is a bit wimpy compared to a 4. My 55-01 is 35" scale, and finding a 35" scale 5 string flat set with something larger than a 100 E is hard. If 5s are so popular, why are there so few string sets for them?
</rant>
 
#29
Smiling Hal said:
I was in a similar boat. I played a 4 string for about 40 years. The reason I purchased a 5 string is in the form of a question.

How often does a singer ask you to transpose the key of a song upward? I my case, pretty much never. However, they frequently ask for the song to be brought down a key or two.

So...when you do that enough, you start realizing that your losing the sound (closer to the correct octave) of the original lick.

Going to a 5 string with the low B allowed me to keep the original intent of how the bass line was suppose to sound.

I thought that I would only use it on the songs that I needed, but being the lazy bastard that I am, I got tired of switching basses in between songs.

Further more, after a couple weeks of mind torture (you mean that bottom string isn't my E) I got proficient at it.

Now, I totally prefer the 5 string.
Click to expand...

+1 This is why I bought a 5. I can almost get away with a 4 strung BEAD, but there are a few songs that I need the G string (Texas Flood for example).
 
#30
+ 1 to all the posts saying versatility is sooooo much better on the 5. My advice, if you have never used a bass with a B string, go to a music store with a couple 5 strings you are interested in, plug into an amp and play a bit of a song you know using just the EADG strings on it. Now at some point in the song (probably when you are just hitting the same note over and over), switch to the same note on the B string (preferably on a C or B so you really get the beefy sound), and just play it on that string for a minute in the song each time where you would normally hit the higher version of that note, and your ears will implode at the awesomeness. That alone was what sold me on a 5 stringer, in my mind it happened within 5 minutes of me doing that little experiment.
 
#31
seanm said:
<rant>
My biggest complaint right now is finding strings. The current E is a bit wimpy compared to a 4. My 55-01 is 35" scale, and finding a 35" scale 5 string flat set with something larger than a 100 E is hard. If 5s are so popular, why are there so few string sets for them?
</rant>
Click to expand...

Man...I'm not totally sure if these go 35", but I've been using D'Addario EXL 170-5's (Long Scale). G=.045 D=.065 A=.080 E=.100 B=.130

Man...I'm dying to try out a 55-01...Is the string spacing similar to a P-Bass?.....Cuz I do like to funk around.
 
#35
seanm said:
<rant>
My biggest complaint right now is finding strings. The current E is a bit wimpy compared to a 4. My 55-01 is 35" scale, and finding a 35" scale 5 string flat set with something larger than a 100 E is hard. If 5s are so popular, why are there so few string sets for them?
</rant>
Click to expand...

Hey Man,

I see that I didn't read your quote carefully enough. You want something bigger than 100 for the E. I looked on Musicians Friend real quick and found these. D'Addario 160-5's.
G=.050 D=.070 A=.085 E=.105 B=.135

Here's the link. http://accessories.musiciansfriend....String-Bass-RegularLong-String-Set?sku=100269

I'll have to try these myself.
 
#36
Smiling Hal said:
Man...I'm not totally sure if these go 35", but I've been using D'Addario EXL 170-5's (Long Scale). G=.045 D=.065 A=.080 E=.100 B=.130

Man...I'm dying to try out a 55-01...Is the string spacing similar to a P-Bass?.....Cuz I do like to funk around.
Click to expand...

It is similar. I am used to a 1.75 nut and the 55-01 is 1.8 or 1.81 and so is tighter in the first position. But it does have the same bridge spacing.

I bought a G&L Tribute and could not get used to the string spacing. The 55-01 is much much better! And I personally do not find any difference between the 35" and 34" scale, but I guess some do.
 
#37
I played a 4 string for 25 years. I was looking to buy a new bass and found a Fender Jazz V. I bought the Fender with some coaxing from my brother and haven,t looked back. It took a month or so to get used to. I sugest you try it.
 
#38
seanm said:
I bought a five, so it is now safe to say that all the cools guys have one :p

<rant>
My biggest complaint right now is finding strings. The current E is a bit wimpy compared to a 4. My 55-01 is 35" scale, and finding a 35" scale 5 string flat set with something larger than a 100 E is hard. If 5s are so popular, why are there so few string sets for them?
</rant>
Click to expand...

I string my 55-01 w/ DR Lo-Riders (45-65-85-105-125) I string the B and E bridge, easier to palm mute that way, and the rest string thru.
 
#39
For me personally, I own equal amounts for 4, 5r's. 3 each. I have no problem transistioning on the fly. It's easy. I have only played for 35 years, and have only really played 5r's since about 88 or so. I think that a bass player should be equally proficient at both, and maybe 6r's as well. Certainly alot of current professional bass players (bass players who make a living playing bass) still play 4 string bass. I would say about 33 ish percent play 5's at all. Maybe 20 percent play both. The mojority still are 4. IME.
 
#40
GregShadoan said:
For me personally, I own equal amounts for 4, 5r's. 3 each. I have no problem transistioning on the fly. It's easy. I have only played for 35 years, and have only really played 5r's since about 88 or so. I think that a bass player should be equally proficient at both, and maybe 6r's as well. Certainly alot of current professional bass players (bass players who make a living playing bass) still play 4 string bass. I would say about 33 ish percent play 5's at all. Maybe 20 percent play both. The mojority still are 4. IME.
Click to expand...

You've ONLY been playing for 35 years? lol
 

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