Thoughts on 5 string after 3 months.

[buzzbass]

I'm not as versatile, to be able to easily switch back & forth. I tried it and liked it(5), then tried to go back and was immediately confused. I switched in the early 90s and never looked back. Yeah, I let some sweet stuff go, but my 5s are just as sweet now.

 

[phillybass101]

I play 4's, 5's and have a 6er. It's just putting in time on a particular Axe. I have a schedule where I make sure I play all of them for muscle memory (my schedule is whatever I feel like playing at the time). I've been playing on 5's for over 25 years and am still a little amazed that in 2017 this is still a thing. Basses are just tools for the trade.

 

[Blue Dragon]

Tried my old ibby 4 out last night to see if I could still handle it.
Answer: absolutely. Even if that neck did feel like a toothpick in my hands! Since I've been playing it since it was new in the 90s, it seems it's a bike I can't forget how to ride. I did miss the 5th string, but it took no time to get back into it at all.

So my decision is made. I'm keeping my 4s. Damn you TalkBass, you've given me GAS disease again. I don't need to get rid of anything, I just need another better-quality 5er! Jeeze, how am I going to explain this to the wifey? But I AM looking at the various suggestions made. I'll need to wait till the next fathers-day, birthday or unexpected $ day though. Don't think I'll go with another Squier though. Might as well branch out and try something less mainstream.

 

[jasonmatthews]

I did miss the 5th string, but it took no time to get back into it at all.

I just need another better-quality 5er! Don't think I'll go with another Squier though. Might as well branch out and try something less mainstream.

Must be just the music I play... I rarely miss the low B. In fact I rarely use it other than the first four frets (should I need them). To me, anything past the 5th fret usually has the wrong timbre, and past about the 12th fret is just awful. But again, maybe just me.

Anyway, if you want a really cool Fender 5-string you might check out the Roscoe Beck V, if you can find one. 19" string spacing, beautiful B string, and the coolest passive electronics ever. Usually regarded as the best production passive instrument Fender ever produced.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

I've noticed that a common mindset people have is that a 5-string is a regular bass guitar BUT with a B-string attached onto it. As if the B-string is a separate accessory on the side of the bass, to only be touched on rare occasions.

However, I simply think of a 5-string bass as a whole unit. I don't segregate the strings or talk about "the B-string" as if it's an afterthought

 

[SteveC]

I've noticed that a common mindset people have is that a 5-string is a regular bass guitar BUT with a B-string attached onto it. As if the B-string is a separate accessory on the side of the bass, to only be touched on rare occasions.

However, I simply think of a 5-string bass as a whole unit. I don't segregate the strings or talk about "the B-string" as if it's an afterthought

The B string isn't just a thumb rest. I use it up past the 5th fret as much as below. Love having a 6th fret F for example.
I'm still not quite there on my 6 with the C string. I still have to "think" a little about what notes they are. I'll get there I suppose.

 

[nostatic]

I play 4's, 5's and have a 6er. It's just putting in time on a particular Axe. I have a schedule where I make sure I play all of them for muscle memory (my schedule is whatever I feel like playing at the time). I've been playing on 5's for over 25 years and am still a little amazed that in 2017 this is still a thing. Basses are just tools for the trade.

^^^ this

There are two extremes/schools of thought. One is that you focus on a single instrument configuration/spec. The argument being that muscle memory is limited to that spec (e.g. 5-string, 34" scale, 1-3/4" nut, 18mm bridge spacing), so your time is spent woodshedding other things. The other end of the spectrum is to have as many different tools as you think you want/need, and spend at least some of your time woodshedding on each to keep current and avoid confusion on a gig.

I used to be in the former camp, these days have drifted to the latter. I totally understand the attraction of a "single spec" to simplify things. In fact I did that for awhile, giving up 5-string to focus on 4-string for a few years and completely redo my playing. That said, I play in a lot of different bands and each gig has different needs. While I could use a 4-string and cover them, I don't want to. At this point like phillybass101, I have 4, 5, and 6 string basses in the house, and I'll use a particular one for a particular gig depending on what I want to achieve. The other factor is that I have a couple of 4-strings that are special basses, so I can't see going to just 5 or just 6. There are times I want what a B-string gives me (both extra low notes and more notes in a single position), and there are times I want what a C-string gives me (both high notes and more notes in a single position). But sometimes I don't want more notes in a single position, and would rather play horizontally rather than vertically, and don't want to worry about damping extra strings or having more than I need. In that case a 4-string is the "right" choice for me.

Totally ymmv, but I think we get locked into narrow thinking on this topic. I know I have in the past. With practice, most anything is possible. Whether you want to go there is another question...

 

[SteveC]

There are times I want what a B-string gives me (both extra low notes and more notes in a single position), and there are times I want what a C-string gives me (both high notes and more notes in a single position). But sometimes I don't want more notes in a single position, and would rather play horizontally rather than vertically, and don't want to worry about damping extra strings or having more than I need. In that case a 4-string is the "right" choice for me.

I think you were able to put into words what I couldn't when I talk about my current 4 string desire - even though I have 2 amazing basses in my Roscoe 5 and 6 strings.

There are two extremes/schools of thought. One is that you focus on a single instrument configuration/spec.

In fact I did that for awhile, giving up 5-string to focus on 4-string for a few years and completely redo my playing.

My mind still wanders to this way of thinking from time to time. So many great players, demo videos, online lessons, etc. with guys playing the hell out of a 4 string. No extra strings to deal with to simply gain 5 notes down and 5 - 9 notes up depending on how many frets you have. My keyboard player can hit the low notes. I don't need the high ones really - maybe for soloing it's nice.

Unless I start playing contemporary jazz, Yellowjackets type stuff, my 6 isn't really needed, just fun to play and sounds great. The 5 may be more useful when needing to transpose at church.

If the new project takes off, a 4 would be plenty, and probably easier for the gig.

It never ends for me. I need to figure out how to get a simple jazz bass back in the house without my wife killing me.

 

[Hillsidebass]

For me it was finding the "right" fiver. I've played regularly for 40+ years. Wanted to become proficient on a five for the last twenty, but never found the "right" five until just a few months ago.....I can't put it down! It's been an extremely easy transition. I love the B string. Using it for accents mainly and ending songs, but I'm sure I'll work it into my entire style of playing. I use the floating thumb technique so I don't use the B string as a thumb rest.

The "right" five for me is lightweight, 34", thin neck profile, active with a wonderful no-warble B. Oh, and it was the first I've found that handles TI Flats(the only strings I've used on all my basses for 18 years) beautifully.

I'll keep a few of my fours, but I'm all in on this five string bass. I see it as an entirely different instrument.....no longer boring.

 

[bassbenj]

So my decision is made. I'm keeping my 4s. Damn you TalkBass, you've given me GAS disease again. I don't need to get rid of anything...

 

[jalapejoe]

My band plays these cover tunes and I get allot of use out of the B string.

 

[TinIndian]

I play 4's and 5's. I bring one of each to every gig and have no issue switching between them. Started playing 5ers when I started playing again 6 years ago and it took no time to get used to it. I like the versatility of the 5 string but for me it's all about the extended range.

 

[chris_b]

GAS for your second 5 string bass but never for your first.

It seems to me that people should think more about the implications of what they are doing and never buy their first 5 string bass with their hearts. Buy it with your head and you'll understand what you're taking on and what it means in terms of changes to your technique, options and thinking.

 

[delta7fred]

I started play 5ers about 12 years ago and hardly picked up a 4 for 9 years. I then changed bands and the 5 was not needed (and didn't suit the image for a 60s band) so I'm back full time on 4s now but for how long I have no idea.