Who made the permanent switch to 5 Strings?

[DJ Bebop]

Yes it does! Just ask anybody here on TB!

(And if you have flats and a tort pickguard that also goes a long way toward making the bassline authentic)

Don't forget ashtrays for that superior authentic bassline...

 

[bassbenj]

I’ve been exclusively on 5’s for about 8 years now. When I play a 4 it feels like something’s missing.

That would be because something IS missing...

 

[Don Boyd]

Doing mainly music theatre gigs at present, and because you are playing mostly in a darkened orchestra pit (harder to see fret markers!), it is way easier to use a five string as you don't have to change position as often compared to a four string. On top of that, most music theatre scores are written for five string bass.