I did the switch a month ago. Took me a couple of hours to figure out how to apply the low b to my playing style but it's way better. The freted E it's just the tip of the iceberg.
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Why a 5? Or, How Much Do You Use That Low B?
- Thread starter joelns
- Start date
I'd always been fine with just a 4, but then I saw this, this one tune is a good argument to own a 5:
I started on upright in junior high, picked up the electric at 14 and then dove in, buying a six string two years later. I played with anyone in any genre I could and I dug having two and a half octaves in every position. I was surprised that I caught flak from people for playing a sixer but I figured why put limits on my playing?
After that bass was stolen (after a gig my junior year of college) I decided that I wasn't doing a ton of upper register playing so I went to a fiver. In fact I've gone through a ton of five strings (sometimes E-C but mostly B-G) over the years playing stuff from reggae to hip-hop to classic rock to top 40 covers to folk stuff and even live electronica.
Then a couple years ago I picked up a four string as a beater bass and something just clicked. I realized that I played much more controlled and economically on a five or six but went nuts on a four. I guess it forced me to change hand position and move around the neck more but whatever the reason I liked how I played on a four much more. Nothing I play now requires a fiver and I'm loving playing four strings so really the only question is whether to hold onto a fiver just in case or sell all of them. Kind of strange to say that after all these years of playing it turns out I'm a four string kind of guy.
Just my experience.
After that bass was stolen (after a gig my junior year of college) I decided that I wasn't doing a ton of upper register playing so I went to a fiver. In fact I've gone through a ton of five strings (sometimes E-C but mostly B-G) over the years playing stuff from reggae to hip-hop to classic rock to top 40 covers to folk stuff and even live electronica.
Then a couple years ago I picked up a four string as a beater bass and something just clicked. I realized that I played much more controlled and economically on a five or six but went nuts on a four. I guess it forced me to change hand position and move around the neck more but whatever the reason I liked how I played on a four much more. Nothing I play now requires a fiver and I'm loving playing four strings so really the only question is whether to hold onto a fiver just in case or sell all of them. Kind of strange to say that after all these years of playing it turns out I'm a four string kind of guy.
Just my experience.
I'm interested in understanding the exact problem here. Are you saying that when you set up and tune fret 0 (nut) and 12 (octave) to be in tune, then frets 1 2 and 3 are flat ? (Or is it that 13 14 and 15 are flat ?)
And what is the action like on the B string on those 3 problem frets, relative to the strings that DO intonate properly ? B higher or B lower ?
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Wow, thanks for the YT link to the Jon Cleary Band vid. Excellent stuff! Great grooves. BTW, Tipitina is a riot. Great stuff.
Not sure that makes a definitive case for a 5, but whatever floats your boat. Pretty sure that bass player would be grooving just as hard on a 4.
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Not too often, but it's nice to have the flexibility and range to play a lot of different things.
I've had a couple of fivers and found I never used the B string. I didn't care for them, so back to four string. I can see how folks would like them if they used them a lot, but they just aren't for me.
So what I'm saying is, when I have the open string matched to 12th fret, lower notes show flat on the tuner. To compensate for that, I have my B string intonated, so the low notes are in tune, but above 10th fret, notes are 40 + cents sharp. It's just the nature of thick strings. Bottom line, you can't have the whole fretboard in tune. Intonating is a compromise at best. If I have the lower notes in tune, upper notes are going to be off, and vice versa.
Other 4 strings on the bass don't go sharp up the neck, as rapidly as the B string. Even the E string doesn't go 40 cents sharp by 10th fret.
My frets are leveled, my nut is cut properly, relief is at .01", string height is ~2mm @12th fret. Pretty much text book there.
Other 4 strings on the bass don't go sharp up the neck, as rapidly as the B string. Even the E string doesn't go 40 cents sharp by 10th fret.
My frets are leveled, my nut is cut properly, relief is at .01", string height is ~2mm @12th fret. Pretty much text book there.
I love B string. Also C string. Will probably only get 6s and 5s from here on out. Going down to the low B is a no brainer, I mean, we are playing bass after all. The high C is maybe not so useful in many band contexts, but for extra notes, harmonics, and chording opportunities its awesome.
Agreed, he'd kill it on a 4. But there is something about the way the low D sounds in that groove/arrangement that strikes me as very cool. Of course, it could be had with a 4 with a hipshot, so yes not absolutely proving the "need" for 5.
As to going back and forth from 4 to 5, at first it is an issue, but after a while you get used to it. I flip from a 4 to a 5 to fretless 5 to an upright regularly. I have short stubby fingers so the 5 necks make me stretch. I would play 5 exclusively except for the stubby fingers problem. I use the 4 when when I need the speed.
I switched from a 4 to a 5 about 2 years ago when I joined a band with a strong jam-band influence. I found the greater range of options in one position opened up way more possibilities for improvisation. Even when not jamming, I like that I can play between the 5th and 12th frets the majority of the time. I love the warmer, clearer tones I get near the middle of the bass. For me, an E played on the 5th fret of the B string sounds much better than an open E string. I use the B string frequently, though I rarely play below D. Some songs I hardly touch it, but as others have stated, that's where I normally rest my thumb if I'm not playing on the B string already.
I've always been a 4-string guy. I just love the feel of the thin neck.
But recently, I've started playing in a Stoner/Doom band, where both guitarrists use 7-strings and, since i'm kinda anal about de-tuning a lot, I'm pretty convinced that I'm gonna be getting a 5-er soon.
I've actually played a 6-string before, and love the tonal options. So I can definitely see the appeal of 5.
Hell, I'll be 5-ing in a bit.
But recently, I've started playing in a Stoner/Doom band, where both guitarrists use 7-strings and, since i'm kinda anal about de-tuning a lot, I'm pretty convinced that I'm gonna be getting a 5-er soon.
I've actually played a 6-string before, and love the tonal options. So I can definitely see the appeal of 5.
Hell, I'll be 5-ing in a bit.
Sure. Don't get me wrong. Fantastic player; maybe my fav new band I've heard in a long time. And, totally digging the sound coming out of that Modulus.
It's not only about the those 5 low notes, it's about getting one extra string to use in different positions. Sometimes the notes in upper positions on the low B string sound much beefier than the ones on the E-strings.
