Who needs five strings??!

[Jon Moody]

Why not use a Hipshot drop D instead?

Because there is a huge difference between playing a bass tuned BEADG and one tuned DADG (from the Hipshot).

That said, there are times where playing in Drop D is easier to play than a standard-tuned five string. However, neither is better than the other.

 

[electracoyote]

No G?

How would I do the bass solo in "All Right Now"?

 

[bass12]

Isn't it great that we don't all play bass the same way?

 

[the harp unstrung]

umm...ok

UMMMM...WAY better than OK. Dammed if this doesn't have me flashing back to a record cover from Herb Alpert And the Tijiana Brass!..."Fresh Something"?

 

[Pelao]

I wish I had a 7 string bass with the same 19mm spacing of my G&L on the size of a 4 string fretboard. Now THAT would be it!

 

[mccartneyman]

There's a whole school of current rock players who do just fine with the E & A strings and playing straight 8th notes on every song.

 

[Jake72]

Love my 5 for the same reason I picked up a 7 string guitar... that low B doesn't get used all the time, but it's wonderful to have it there to extend scales...

 

[Steve Dallman]

I've been playing only 5's since the late 80's. I often thought I could live with a B-D 4 string until I tried one last year. I sat with that bass for an hour, and it just didn't do it. I don't use the G much, but more than I thought I did.

Like any 4, it felt like I had a finger missing. I see no use for restricting the range I'm so comfortable with.

 

[honeyiscool]

I actually find the 5 stringed bass to be way easier to play than 4 because most 5s have the strings closer together and make it easier to skip strings and so forth.

 

[punchdrunk]

Dude, it's a Zon, of course it sounded great tuned down to B. Try that with a vintage fender....not so hot.....

 

[Antisyzygy]

I can't play all the music I play without a bass G string. For slapping, rhythm and melodic parts it's very useful. My bass teacher 10 years ago (who is probably dead now since he was 75 at the time) taught a style that is similar to playing rhythm guitar so that's been incorporated into my playing from the beginning.

Long story short, I wouldn't want to tune a 4 string to BEAD because I'd like to have the G string.

I actually don't have a 5 stringer but I want one. I've been eyeballing the Dimension Deluxe V, G&L L2500 or the Ibanez ATK805 (open to suggestions there). I have a G&L L2000 and it's a very versatile bass so I've been leaning a bit towards the G&L. I've always been a 4 string player but it would be really nice to go lower for a few songs such as reggae/dub or darker dissonant music. The thing is, I probably would only own a single 5 stringer for those times hence the reason I would want a more tonally versatile bass.

 

[SteveC]

I've played a number of 5 strings - Lakland, Sadowsky, Modulus, Smith, G&L, Ibanez - and there is no better sounding B or nicer playing neck than a Roscoe. Spend your money once and be done.

 

[raventepes]

I like 4's, 5's, 6's and I want to get a hold of a 7.

Simply put, there's no wrong answer for this. Every bass in every configuration has its use. It's a matter of personal preference, style and whatever key the song's in. My main bass is a 6-string tuned C/DGCFA#D#, but depending on what I'm playing, I'd just as quickly grab a 4 or a 5 if it doesn't come in a 6-string configuration, but again, that's all circumstantial.

A bass has to fit both the player and the music.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

To answer the original question. People who want to play from E down to low B but still retain the G string. Or howabout a High C instead?
I want a Fender bass V.

 

[nostatic]

Isn't it great that we don't all play bass the same way?

NO NO NO. Only one right way. Conform or be banished! And burnished! And bernaised! Or maybe hollandaised...I'm not sure which would go better...

 

[Selios]

I own a 5-string but my #1 go-to bass happens to be a 4-string strung BEAD, I love it and I don't really miss the G when I use it, which is pretty much all the time.

 

[nicopiano]

All of this is all about personal preferences and needs. It's not worth talking about it that much.

For me, all options are good. For some music, the BEAD tuning is a good option, as long as you don't need high notes too often. If you need those high notes, you're better with a 5 strings.

 

[mimaz]

NO NO NO. Only one right way. Conform or be banished! And burnished! And bernaised! Or maybe hollandaised...I'm not sure which would go better...

There's no place like home for the hollandaise...

 

[nostatic]

There's no place like home for the hollandaise...

I think that's an old Dutch proverb...

 

[Jason Tubbs]