Who made the permanent switch to 5 Strings?

[tonymcbony]

Just got myself my first 5 string and after a few weeks of acclimatisation and technique overhaul I am loving it.

I’m loving it so much I’m seriously considering selling my 4’s and going with 5 strings - anyone done the big change over? Any regrets?

 

[Garret Graves]

I did- keep a good 4 around too, why not? You might throw it in the mix too

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I did- keep a good 4 around too, why not? You might throw it in the mix too

This^^

 

[Stevorebob]

I did. Once I started with a five, I never went back. I only own 5-string bassses now. That A-string as a reference in the middle just works for me.

 

[nostatic]

I played nothing but 5-strings for about 10 years. Then I started studying again and bounced around between 4, 5, and 6. At this point I'm down to a couple of 4-strings that are spectacular instruments and have a 6-string being built. Sold the last 5'er I had in the house, as I've decided if I want extended range for certain tunes, I want it in both directions.

No single "right" answer. Depends on way too many factors...

 

[IronLung1986]

I switched back to playing mostly 4 strings incidentally as part of returning to my P bass. The simplicity gives me peace of mind. 5 strings tend to have more strings. Which I do like. But they also tend to be active and have more than 1 pickup, which is distracting. I'm happy now keeping my bass simple and constant, and I'm finding pedals to be a more rewarding outlet for knob twiddling nonsense. A P with an octave pedal is scrappier and more exciting than a sensible 5 string, and it's even a bit fashionable at the moment.

 

[countrybass5]

Just got myself my first 5 string and after a few weeks of acclimatisation and technique overhaul I am loving it.

I’m loving it so much I’m seriously considering selling my 4’s and going with 5 strings - anyone done the big change over? Any regrets?

I did a few years back. I've played the 5's so long I don't think I'll ever go back to a 4. I have no regrets.

 

[Chad Michael]

EB - went from four to six to 5, 5 feels like home

EUB - currently 4, not sure where I will go with this

 

[Tekkers]

Not five - never owned one - but went straight to six from four and never went back.
Assuming you like the feel and sound of your five enough that you don’t prefer the four, then there’s no downside.
The five has a built-in four-string so you won’t be missing out.

 

[Mastodon2]

I see no sense in limiting yourself to anyone one configuration of bass. There's no benefit in closing off options.

 

[chris_b]

Just got myself my first 5 string and after a few weeks of acclimatisation and technique overhaul I am loving it.
I’m loving it so much I’m seriously considering selling my 4’s and going with 5 strings - anyone done the big change over? Any regrets?

I started playing a 5 string bass in the mid 90's and have only owned 5's since. I see no benefit in switching back and forth so I just bought the best 5 I could find and haven't looked back. Certainly no regrets.

IME there are no downsides, only positive experiences when playing 5 string basses.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

I never owned a 5 string until last year. Then I got one, used it on a couple of songs, then a couple more. Our set lists became so fluid and we were calling so many audibles that for the sake of saving time switching back and forth, I decided to acclimate all of my playing to 5 string and built up an arsenal of good 5 string options. On came a Warmoth jazz with Seymour Duncans and active pre, 2 Sire P7s, and a passive Maruszczyk Jake to join my Warwick Corvette. I enjoyed the challenge of playing everything on a 5.
But I'm keeping all of my 4 strings for now!

 

[Geri O]

I have only 5s. Haven’t owned a 4-string this time around (played from ‘74 to ‘98, took a break, picked up in ‘14). I simply don’t see the need. Nor have the desire. I love what someone said earlier...”there’s a built-in 4-string in every 5-string”. That’s great!

 

[And I]

I started on guitar, played for 20 years. Switched to bass on 4, went to 5 "too soon" after a couple years, went back to 4 for a few more years to make sure I really knew how to play bass. Then got a nice 5 and now I don't play 4 ever anymore. I'm having a second 5 built for me, passive Jazz config, lightweight. I don't play below E a lot, mostly I use the B string for economy of motion with the left hand.

 

[Edwcdc]

I have 4,5,and 6 strings and play them all. Depends on the band or gig. Right now it’s mostly my jazz bass deluxe 5. I’m really not that picky about what I play. Active or passive, 4,5, or 6 it’s all ok for me and keeps it interesting.

 

[walldaja]

After learning to play I tried both the five and six string. I love the five strings and sold a bunch of four strings. In hindsight, I wish I would have changed a couple of them to BEAD tuning. I have a four string I like because of the color and sound and have it tuned to BEAD.

 

[bassbenj]

I played nothing but 5-strings for about 10 years. Then I started studying again and bounced around between 4, 5, and 6. At this point I'm down to a couple of 4-strings that are spectacular instruments and have a 6-string being built. Sold the last 5'er I had in the house, as I've decided if I want extended range for certain tunes, I want it in both directions.

No single "right" answer. Depends on way too many factors...

Yep. I played 4's for years and years, and then went 5 . I wouldn't say I never went back, but it takes some arm-twisting to get me to do it. But you can't say that one is "best'. 4's are really better for classic old school. I love the extended range of a 6 and it's great when you want chords or stratospheric solos. But sometimes you really don't need the high end extension so why carry it around? And worse there are some basses you can't get in 6 string like my goto G&L L2500s. So yeah, you can use a 6 even if you only need a 5 that is unless they don't make the bass you want in a 6.

PS. You know I constantly keep wondering just how much cash it would take to build a custom L2500 but in 6 string. 6 string G&L bridge and 6 string MFD pickups would seem to be the hard part!

 

[MrLenny1]

I switched over in 1991 and sold my four string.
I now have four 5 string basses and feel odd playing a 4 string.
If some feel odd getting use to a 5 string, remember a 5 is a 4 string with a great thumb rest.

 

[JW56789]

I 'switched' to fives in the late 80's, and never owned a four-string until last year (one I bought just for grins). For me, fingering, the way I saw the fingerboard, playing in other keys, it just all 'fit' me better. It was the 'just right' for me, fours were a little lacking, sixes were too much, so there I was. To me, a four felt strange.

 

[BassGreaser]

I’ve flip flopped back and forth from 4 to 5 strings through out the years.

After coming back to playing again (took a 9 year break), I’m building a 5’er as my main bass. But I’ll be keeping a 4 string as my one trick pony. (Gibson SG bass with flats and the bridge pickup deleted)