Why play a four string?

[aurex]

That was mentioned before, BEAD tuning makes a lot of sense, but you usually have to file the E string nut and bridge saddle to accommodate, so it’s not quite a zero-mod change. You lose some high register, but I’d find it a much easier transition for small/average size hands like mine.

i actually made this exact mod to my 4 string bass and i loved it for metal, for anything else its annoying though

 

[fcleff]

Jaco only needed one carrot.

 

[joel406]

Every day I play my 5's.

Every day I see less reason too ever play a 4.

 

[Spooky88]

I bought a Fendull 5 Jazz Bass and returned it after 3 hours. In my opinion it sucked. Crappy workmanship and a neck wide enough to land a small aircraft on. Wasn’t even worthy of sitting on the wall as wall art next to my 4 string Jazz Bass wall art.
Went back to old reliable Ibanez and bought a 2006 Prestige SR1005 neck through and never looked back at playing 4 strings.
The neck was no wider than a Fendull 4 string and when the guitar players retuned for drop D, I’d just grab another swig of beer and wait for them to finish. LOL
Since then I’ve bought another Ibanez. This time a a 2015 SR1405TE neck through.
From my perspective, why would anyone not want to play a fiver? A 4 string is just 80% of a bass and having the option of a fretted E over an open E is nice.
I go back and forth from 4 to 5 when I need to play a tune with a Rickenbacker vibe, but that’s the only time. Easy enough to do but I’d rather play the 5...

Absolutely right, playing in 5th position is awesome. As a multi instrumentalist, I enjoy the 5 string so much better than a 4 banger. Keep in mind the low B requires a much better cabinet to produce a "balanced sound".

 

[stevieg]

Well, for what it's worth, I have a Carvin tuned C-G-D-A-E, and a Rob Allen tuned G-D-A-E-B. And I have a Carvin six-string, which people frequently tell me is the best sounding instrument in my arsenal.

Not that any of this matters of course.

S

 

[shelley9462]

I wrestled with the title of this post.

I have been a four string player for a long time (longer than I’m going to tell anyone).

But as music has progressed, last year I found myself in need of the “even” lower register. A lot of music diving down to low D, C and even B.

So after a torrid affair with a cheapo fake Fender fiver I pulled the trigger on a quality fiver.

After a little acclimation I seem to have it well in hand now.

And besides the lower notes I have found the greater freedom of horizontal playing.

I still move up and down the board. You know some old habits will never die.

But I now see no reason to have a four string anymore. I can play everything on the five. Even if I never drop below the E it gives me many choices I didn’t have before. And I find that liberating.

My last four string I had for 7 years. And we had a bond. But when the fiver came into the picture it went into the case and sat for three months.

I don’t think anybody wants to sit a $1600 bass in its case for months let alone years.

I released it about a month ago. While I miss it I have new friends now. And have lost interest in four string entirely.

I understand fivers aren’t for everyone.

Some people have small hands. Same here. I tried them all. Well those I could afford. I’m sure Alembic make a very lovable fiver. But I love my house too.

No one was more surprised as I was that Fender made the five string bass I would love so much.

And after a great while playing only fives I wonder why anyone wouldn’t just play those and let the four just go extinct.

I’m sure the flamers are writhing their hands as they read this.

I think I just heard a MMBWAAAAHAHAHAHA in the distance.

My point is I moved away from fours and I don’t see any reason to ever go back.

So I doubled down.

View attachment 3714769

 

[shelley9462]

If I ever need a five stringer it would be one with a high C or maybe a low C fretless

 

[LowMax]

Not thanking you for that advice. The issue is much more complex than simple sonics, it's about dynamism and functionalism in HOW you play your instrument. As I said before, if it's simply a matter sonics, get an octave pedal.

Well first of all, an octave pedal wouldn't come near to doing the job that the fifth string does. Also, if you're talkin about dynamism and functionality that still holds true to decide whether you want a four or five string. If you don't need the Sonic register of a v string then find your Dynamics on a 4-string. This is not that complex.

 

[4stringsjack]

I only need 4 strings.

 

[LowMax]

Not thanking you for that advice. The issue is much more complex than simple sonics, it's about dynamism and functionalism in HOW you play your instrument. As I said before, if it's simply a matter sonics, get an octave pedal.

In my last post to you I may have come off like a bag, and if I did, I sincerely apologize that was not my intent. When I read my post I didn't like the tone of it and I apologize. What I was trying to say was that question one should probably be sonics. Do you need the lower register that a v string gives you maybe now or in the future? If you don't need that register cuz the music you play doesn't require it, then I would go with the four string. But either way you have to decide what you needed musically first and then look for an instrument that gives you the dynamism and functionality that you're seeking. Again, I apologize if I came off snarky.

 

[JimmyM]

Isn't it time to take this conversation to this week's 4 vs 5 thread?

 

[BassLaird]

I only need the E and A strings for most songs.

 

[selowitch]

B-E-A-D tuning can make some people miss that fifth string less.
I’m going to try it on one of my four-strings.
That low B string is really useful.

 

[Biggbass]

why play a 4 string?

because 3 isn't enough.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

In my last post to you I may have come off like a bag, and if I did, I sincerely apologize that was not my intent. When I read my post I didn't like the tone of it and I apologize. What I was trying to say was that question one should probably be sonics. Do you need the lower register that a v string gives you maybe now or in the future? If you don't need that register cuz the music you play doesn't require it, then I would go with the four string. But either way you have to decide what you needed musically first and then look for an instrument that gives you the dynamism and functionality that you're seeking. Again, I apologize if I came off snarky.

It sounded a bit that way, which surprised me. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[EricMordus]

Geddy only needed 4

 

[LowMax]

It sounded a bit that way, which surprised me. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[shelley9462]

If I ever need a five stringer it would be one with a high C or maybe a low C fretless

Why a 5 stringer with a low C not B you might ask because for me that low C opens up a lot of interesting possibilities. A cool cat that comes to mind is Percy Jones. If you listen to his work with Brand X you will notice how he exploits that low open C on his Wal fretless to great effect.
On the other hand why a high C? Just listen to Alain Caron lyricism on his 6 string fretless. I could never play a 6 string bass for long periods without injuring my left hand tendons. My hands are small and my fingers short. I struggled on upright and had all sorts of problems with my tendons those couple of years I played double bass. My hands would have been perfect if I played a violin or a mandolin.

 

[J_Bass]

Brushy only needs one.

 

[shelley9462]

Brushy only needs one.

Lol