What are the up sides for a five string bass???

[Drifta]

There is no downside to a 5 string. It is a 4 string, with way more options.

 

[silky_sam]

Depends on whether you are a lefty or a righty....

Makes no nevermind to me !

Regards,

Jimmy Haslip

 

[baddarryl]

As has been said, being able to change keys on the fly and eliminate the need to transpose where open strings were previously involved to me is the best feature. No down tuning and less position shifting makes for smoother playing for me. Best of all, when used sparingly those lower notes add so much to accentuate a point in a song that wasn't previously possible. Works great in ending songs etc. I still love my 4 and there is something cool about it, but miss that low B string terribly. Don't think I could go back.

 

[Samsound]

you mean low B?

He probaly meant playing low C on the B-string. In PW music, many songs are in C or F. Also playing a low B means an open string, which for many of us is undesirable. I can only think of one time in the past 6 months where I've played an open B - "Lead Me To the Cross" right before the breakdown there is a...well you get the idea.

 

[Samsound]

Here's an upside you apparently didn't notice- you get 5 extra note tones, not 4

You could even say you get 24 or 22 (or whatever) more note tones, as all the notes have a different color depending on which string they're played on...

 

[Berger912]

the only real downsides i can see is, one, if you have a small hand or short fingers or both. if you really like the string spacing of .75" at the bridge in your four string the same spacing on a fiver would be very difficult to play with small hands. Second would be the added weight of a 5 string bass over a 4 string of similar model if you prefer lighter basses. And third would be your strings will cost more, OK not the biggest deal in the world but expenses add up. just my 2¢

 

[yellofury]

Ive tried it but it wasn't my cup of tea
I did however string mine EADGC
with the high C rather than the low B
and it made for some nice chordal playing