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Who needs five strings??!
- Thread starter FishDub
- Start date
I will not answer the question posed (sorry) but will pose another question...
Will there be any effect on the neck due to the different tension from permanently keeping a bass in B-E-A-D tuning?
Will there be any effect on the neck due to the different tension from permanently keeping a bass in B-E-A-D tuning?
I WANT to say I don't want a five string, but I'm TEMPTED by both the five and six stringers. Something especially about the six that gives you all this variety. It would probably be an Ibanez SR because I love their smaller necks. But for now, I'm a four stringer, and I would never downtune. I can't comment on the G-string because I'm married. 
I'm tired and confused just reading it brudda!I'm about to find out whether I like using a 5. Picked up a gig with a New Country band and there are a bunch of tunes that seem to need it. I thought about a BEAD setup, but I don't want to restring, mess with the nut, etc. because I'm lazy. Besides, switching between BEAD and EADG would confuse the hell out of my tiny little brain.
Bah, all those stupid comments like Jaco or McCartney only needed 4 strings, its irrelevant really. If you play music that require tones below E in one or several of your bands a 5 stringer is awesome. Cant really see any downsides too have a bigger tonal register of your instrument in any way at all except ergonimical reasons, I personally think 4 string necks are much more comfortable.
I suffer from a cognitive problem.
My fingers aren't smart enough to play more than four strings.
My fingers aren't smart enough to play more than four strings.
I've owned 5'ers and 6'ers and even had a double-coursed 8 stringer for a while (which was a ton of fun!)
But, I'm just a 4-banger guy.
I have nothing--nothing--of a problem with people who play 5 strings, or 11 or 24 or whatever they want. I just found I can do pretty much what I want with the caveman-like simplicity of a passive 4 string, and it's very likely that is all I'll ever own again (though I miss having a fretless...)
But, I'm just a 4-banger guy.
I have nothing--nothing--of a problem with people who play 5 strings, or 11 or 24 or whatever they want. I just found I can do pretty much what I want with the caveman-like simplicity of a passive 4 string, and it's very likely that is all I'll ever own again (though I miss having a fretless...)
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
5 = more fingering options. Once you figure that out for yourself, and get used to the extra string you may never go back. edit YMMV, IMHO, FBI CIA ETC ETC.
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This doesn't apply to everyone, but slap guys usually need that high G to pop on. You can pop the A string, but I find it's better to just use the G. In this case, a 5'er would be best for my needs. I wish there was a way around it, but it really just chalks up to finding the right 5'er if you need one.
I need 5 strings. As Jimmy pointed out on a previous thread, an open E string doesnt sound nearly as consistent to playing an E on the 5th fret of that low B string. That and when I'm not using the 5th string, it works out as a great thumbrest!
would Jamerson have played even better on a 5 string ? how about McCartney ? Bruce, Squire, Entwistle, you could go on and on and on, Having 4 strings never seemed to be an obstacle for any of these guys,yet all I ever see here is people whining about Oh Geez I couldnt possibly, a 5 or 6 or an unbeleivably over priced bass is the ONLY thing that works for me.....Pleeeeeeease !
been there, done that. And I did go back, and guess what ? I discovered I never really needed it after all and couldnt be happier playing my 4 banger. Fingerings, really its no trouble at all
But you're missing the point. It's not about if they would have been better. Some of them didn't have the option for starters. Things change. If a 4 is your thing great. If people want to explore options, why is that wrong? If I want something other than a run of the mill Fender, why is that bad. I love my Roscoe 5. I don't know why you'd limit yourself to a 4 string. My Roscoe isn't the only thing that would work, but it's what I want to use.
I guess it's also a little known fact that he was a white guy.Jaco needed only 4, but he had an acoustic bass custom made with 5 strings, tuned EADGC.
Not a very well known fact
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The pronoun is key - you never really needed it after all. Others might...not everyone can be a "bluesblaster" in their musical life.
fwiw I've gone back and forth between 4 and 5. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. I can play most parts in most of the bands I'm in on either but some things are easier on a 5 than a 4 and vice versa. I don't reject either but rather find what works best for me. Frankly for most old-school guys, they play 4 because that's what they grew up playing and that's where they feel comfortable. I know other guys who play 6-string in part because being "comfortable" is not what they're about musically.
Different strokes...
Different strokes for sure. I need to start ignoring these threads. I just don't see what good comes from them. You like 4. I like 5. Someone else likes both. Are you happy? Are you doing your job? Are you playing appropriate parts? That's what should matter. P, J, 4, 6, solid, hollow, 30", whatever!
I tried to make myself go with a cheap 4 as that's all anyone needs. It didn't work. It could have, but I wanted more. I wanted a 5. I wanted a "custom" bass. Want is a key word in this debate.
I tried to make myself go with a cheap 4 as that's all anyone needs. It didn't work. It could have, but I wanted more. I wanted a 5. I wanted a "custom" bass. Want is a key word in this debate.
