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The 5 vs 4 Conundrum Observation

R

Robotsatemygma

Jan 17, 2010
119
1
#1
I remember seeing a thread some what relating to this topic, but after a quick search (google) I couldn't find it.

Any one here find themselves going back to 4 strings after playing 5 strings?

When I got back to bass I received a 5 string as a present, couldn't put it down. When I decided to take my playing more seriously I went out bought another amp and a 4 string.

Now I can't put down the 4 string and my 5 has barely any time logged over the past month.

To me, the SX 5er is a good instrument, well built, sturdy, very playable... but I find my Squier VM Jazz just has this mojo about it. What I want to play flows from the Squier vs the SX. I don't know if it's a string spacing issue (SX is a wee bit tighter), neck radius/profile, or general all around appeal.

Or maybe I'm just a 4 string type of guy. I guess I never really used the b string when I only used the 5er.

Anyone else have this similar situation?
 
#2
My 3rd bass was a 5-string... after a couple of years I converted it to a 4 as I got sick of having 5 strings. I didn't get another 5 till about 20 years later - and even now it's my least used bass. I just have it for a little more versatility (it's fretless too) but honestly I rarely want to go below a low D, and I can easily drop tune my E string if I need to for a song or two.
 
#3
Was forced to use a 5 string for a gig I didn't want to pass up. Played only 5s for a few years because I had a really rough time making the transition and just wanted to be totally comfortable with them. Went back to 4s about 2 years ago. Will use a 5 again only if I absolutely have to. I waaaay prefer 4s. I put a D-tuner on just about all my 4s and there's very little I can't do with them.
 
#4
Joe Nerve said:
Was forced to use a 5 string for a gig I didn't want to pass up. Played only 5s for a few years because I had a really rough time making the transition and just wanted to be totally comfortable with them. Went back to 4s about 2 years ago. Will use a 5 again only if I absolutely have to. I waaaay prefer 4s. I put a D-tuner on just about all my 4s and there's very little I can't do with them.
Click to expand...

... like play a low B, B# or C# ...
 
#5
I switched to 5-string 11 years ago. A few months back I bought a 4-string as a funk band I'm in had tunes where I could arrange them for a 4-banger. I was able to make the transition, but there are some tunes that are way easier on a 5-string. So I started swapping between 4 and 5...and found that playing the 4 was taking my brain out of 5-string mode.

I sold all the 4s and just have 5-strings now. I likely won't buy another 4-string - the low B is incorporated into my approach to playing and my brain doesn't want to have to think that much while playing. But many here have no problem going back and forth so ymmv.
 
#15
I find that I like my 5 string for playing with my fingers. (i have a 5 string Ibanez BTB and a 4 string BC Rich Warbeast). I started with the BTb 5 string and got really used to putting my thumb on that top string when pounding away at the open E for most metal.
I just found it really comfortable.
I can't play my BC Rich with my fingers very well because it has thos half-circle extrusions for the top screws on the pickups. I find that I don't like the thumb placement on it for hitting the E string.

I come from 10 years on and off of guitar playing, so the 4 string neck feels so fast and effortless to me. But I love the rigidity and presence of a nice 5 string neck now. When I pick up a guitar it feels like a toy because the neck's so damn thin (and the frets are too close, Lol...).
 
#16
I played 5 and 6 strings exclusively for a couple of years (Roscoe, Sadowsky, Fender, Stingrays, MTD, etc) and now play mainly 4 strings.

I still own one 5er, but rarely play it. Maybe it is a comfort thing or maybe the music I play is pretty basic (classic rock, funk and blues) and only requires a 4 string.

To each their own though....
 
#18
theduke1 said:
I switched to 5 string 4 years ago and don't see my self going back to 4, cause it makes me different!
Click to expand...


Were you the same before?


I picked up my first 5 in '93 I think, and played 5's exclusively until about 2005. I go back and forth as my mood changes, but it kind of depends what I'm doing musically. They both have their advantages. Going back to a four has challenged me from a technical standpoint, and that's why I've been using it a lot lately. At this point I'm comfortable with either, and I have a 6 I break out once in a while, and am comfortable with that too. I've gigged with all three, though not at the same time.
 
#19
I dont really understand how you get confused/thrown out when switching to 5string and vica verse. I mean, ok, first time i played 5string, I did get confused a bit, but after couple of days, i was fine and never had the problem again.

The first 5 i bought was the day i had a gig and played it like 30mins before. I did miss some notes but hey, it was a gig and you know the rush you get on stage. And it was a short scale, felt like bloody guitar :P

Later, I switched regulary between bowed DB, 4 string and 5 string. DB -> e-bass (or vica verse) took quick run through B or F major, finding all G's and i was ready.
 

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