5!? I'm having a hell of a time trying to figure out 4! In fact, I'm in the market for a good used 3 string bass if anyone knows where to find one! 
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To 4-stringers Not Comfortable On A Five...
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
- Start date
I've never been comfortable on a 5 for some reason. Has nothing to do with technique. I graduated from 4 strings directly to 6. Hopefully I get a chance to try to overcome this as I am bidding on a 5 string fretless... we'll see.
I recently joined a metal band that plays in drop-B. I figured I needed a five so I traded off a four for one. After a week, it just seemed like it made things harder than they needed to be. I picked the four back up, tuned it to drop-B, and never looked back.
Bass Atlanta said:
The bass is a Dillion VMB-500/5 with a maple neck. The string spacing is perfect (for me) and the neck extremely comfortable.
I've since put a EMG pre-amp in it to make it active. This bass not only plays great, but it sounds incredible, and overall is an outstanding instrument.
Here's a picture of us, taken from our website.
Invalid Link Removed
Cheers,
TD
- Feb 24, 2004
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- Endorsing Artist: Phantom Guitars, Eastwood Guitars
I have never, ever had ANY interest in a 5-string. Notes below the low E sound strange/weird/wrong to me. And they're usually pretty ugly looking basses too.
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
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- May 3, 2002
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The only 5er I ever owned was a SR5.
Probably the most beautiful bass I ever owned.
But the extra string wasn't just my thing.
Not that I couldn't play it, not that I got confused with B-string being the lowest one, just the feeling seemed too different.
Went back to 4, and will probably stick on it.
Probably the most beautiful bass I ever owned.
But the extra string wasn't just my thing.
Not that I couldn't play it, not that I got confused with B-string being the lowest one, just the feeling seemed too different.
Went back to 4, and will probably stick on it.
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
Staff member
Administrator
Gold Supporting Member
Supporting Member
- May 3, 2002
- 28,948
- 20,935
- Disclosures
- Reviewer: Bass Player Magazine
I flirted with five in the late eighties when they first started getting easier to find at a low price point.
I bought a gorgeous Westone Pantera in pearl white. But it had a clublike neck, narrow string spacing, and was very neck heavy. I would literally be in pain for 2 or 3 days after rehearsal, and nearly ruined my left wrist.
I sold it at a loss, and figured that 4 stringers were all I would ever play, due to my short stubby fingers.
Fast forward a few years, and six stringers were all the rage. Guitar Center had a beautiful teal Ibanez 6 for $599, which was an unheard of price for a six back then. I bought it in a fit of GAS and played it on a gig the same week.
This time my foray into the world of ERB was a success! It just took a bass with decent ergonomics. No wrist pain this time!
Today, I enjoy playing 4, 5, 6 and 12 string basses, and have gravitated towards fives and sixes with wide, flat necks and wide string spacing at the bridge.
Once I found one that worked for me, the transition was not a problem.
I bought a gorgeous Westone Pantera in pearl white. But it had a clublike neck, narrow string spacing, and was very neck heavy. I would literally be in pain for 2 or 3 days after rehearsal, and nearly ruined my left wrist.
I sold it at a loss, and figured that 4 stringers were all I would ever play, due to my short stubby fingers.
Fast forward a few years, and six stringers were all the rage. Guitar Center had a beautiful teal Ibanez 6 for $599, which was an unheard of price for a six back then. I bought it in a fit of GAS and played it on a gig the same week.
This time my foray into the world of ERB was a success! It just took a bass with decent ergonomics. No wrist pain this time!
Today, I enjoy playing 4, 5, 6 and 12 string basses, and have gravitated towards fives and sixes with wide, flat necks and wide string spacing at the bridge.
Once I found one that worked for me, the transition was not a problem.
Word! I owned a five for almost a year. I was so excited when I first bough it. More strings, more range and it was a nicer bass than the one I'd previously owned. After a while it was like, "I can't wait to have a four again..." It was just very different. Too different. Didn't feel like I was even playing bass after a while. Not to say I wouldn't play anything but a 4 string. And if I were to ever get a 4+ string bass again, I'd get a six, but always keep a four handy.
It's not that i'm uncomfortable with a 5 string... i had one for 3 years and it worked just fine but i used the low B string maybe 3 times in that 3 year period and just thought it wasn't worth it. To me when the notes get that low they all sound mushy and blurred together anyway. I now have a fender p-special with the jazz neck and i love the nice thin neck. plus i've never played a song that needed a note lower than a D so i can tune down and feel more comfortable playing it. Maybe i don't apply to your question because i am comfortable on a 5 but i just think it's a waste. Maybe it's because i started playing double bass so 4 string is more normal feeling. I guess it's just personal preference and utility.
After playing 5 strings for about 13 years (basses loaded, Alembic, Music Man, Fodera, Fender Deluxe, Celinder) I went back to a 4. Jazz, Precision and Sadowsky. My style is basically switching between fingers and thumb a lot so the 4 feels better for that. If anyone asks for a five I still got one but really don't play it unless asked. To me it just feels more comfortable on a 4. 
Bryan R. Tyler said:
I'm fine, thanks.
I simply was a bit too busy to spend as much time here as I did before.
It's fine to find time to get back there.
