5 string bass

[Jack Real]

Hi

I would like to know what are the pros and cons of using a 5 string bass. I have a song in the following keys; F, E and D so If I play it on a regular bass, I need to play on the second and third string which lacks bottom. Now, can I detune the first string so it corresponds to a D or C. Can I go to B without losing quality ? Is it better to get a 5 string bass ? I'm assuming it's more difficult to play a 5 string bass because the neck is larger so should I keep the 4 string bass for the songs that I don't need to go below E ?

Sorry for the trivial questions, I'm a guitar player who sometimes play bass.

Thanks,

Jack Real.

 

[gitrguy87]

I went with the 5-string. It doesnt take really any time at all to learn.In my opinion, its better than always detuning your 4-string.

 

[lbanks]

Hi

I would like to know what are the pros and cons of using a 5 string bass. I have a song in the following keys; F, E and D so If I play it on a regular bass, I need to play on the second and third string which lacks bottom. Now, can I detune the first string so it corresponds to a D or C. Can I go to B without losing quality ? Is it better to get a 5 string bass ? I'm assuming it's more difficult to play a 5 string bass because the neck is larger so should I keep the 4 string bass for the songs that I don't need to go below E ?

Sorry for the trivial questions, I'm a guitar player who sometimes play bass.

Thanks,

Jack Real.

It took a little while to change, but was well worth it.

 

[Garry Sharp]

Go and try a 5 string, see how it feels. It has the other advantage that notes played low on the E string with a 4 can be played in the "sweet spot", sort of 3rd to 7th frets on the B.

On the other hand I never settled with the one I had for a few weeks, I ended up taking it back. Might have been the bass itself rather than 5 string per se. Drop D tuning on the E of a 4 string would cover the needs you mentioned, it is possible to buy a replacement tuning peg that drops it with the flick of a lever for fast tuning changes. I think it's called a Hipshot or something. Also remember that quite a few bass amps struggle with those low notes on the B string.

 

[ggunn]

Hi

I would like to know what are the pros and cons of using a 5 string bass. I have a song in the following keys; F, E and D so If I play it on a regular bass, I need to play on the second and third string which lacks bottom. Now, can I detune the first string so it corresponds to a D or C. Can I go to B without losing quality ? Is it better to get a 5 string bass ? I'm assuming it's more difficult to play a 5 string bass because the neck is larger so should I keep the 4 string bass for the songs that I don't need to go below E ?

Sorry for the trivial questions, I'm a guitar player who sometimes play bass.

Thanks,

Jack Real.

I have a 5 string and I love it. I even occasionally have a chance to use the low B open. The biggest obstacle is that most players define where they are relative to the low E open, so you'll be frequently jumping a 4th low (i.e., grabbing a D when you're reaching for a low G) until you get used to it.

 

[EddieRay]

I went with 5-string a few years ago. I'm an old-style fingers-only player and had to change my right hand technique because of carpal tunnel pain. I used to rest my right thumb on the pickups but now am able to float it or dampen the lower strings.

I used the sink-or-swim approach. I would take only my 5-string to gigs and leave the 4-string at home. I was very comfortable on it after only a few gigs.

But nowadays I find myself leaving the 5-string at home. My bandmates prefer the look and tone of my old Ampeg scroll headstock 4-string. It also weighs a little less than the 5-string. I do miss walking up to the low E and easier access to B-string notes halfway up the neck.

 

[sile2001]

Well the difficulty will depend on your level of comfort with playing bass in general. I'm normally on electric, but there was a while where i was on bass in 2 different bands for about a year and a half, so i got rather comfortable with it.

Because of that comfort, I was able to switch from a 4 to a 6 string without any real thought at all. The two extra strings just seemed to be a natural extention of the normal 4. However, now that I've been playing the 6 for a while, I think i'm going to go to the happy medium of 5 strings. The 6 is just too darn heavy, and with some of the things I play, the width of the fretboard just kills me.

Of the 5's that I've played, they didn't really seem that different from playing a 4. You just get an extra string on the low end that has the exact same interval as all the other strings. Weight isn't too much more, and the fretboard is still a manageable width.

 

[kid klash]

What some folks have mentioned about many bass amps struggling with a low B (around 26-27hz) on a 5 string electric bass versus low E on a 4 string electric bass is true... so I'd recommend hauling your amp to the music store when you decide to try out some 5 basses to see how well your amp does on the low notes.

Another thing to consider is that the pickups on the 5 string are REALLY important too... a good friend bought a Fender Standard (MIM) 5 string Jazz, and the output of various strings, especially the low B string, varied all over the place. He wound up replacing the stock pickups with spme passive Bartolini 5 string Jazz pickups, and he replaced the volume and tone pots with high quality Bourn-brand pots at the same time. It made a world of difference.

 

[Rokket]

I have a five string too, and I've had it for over 6 years. I will never go back to a four string. As mentioned, it takes a little time to get used to the wider neck and to learn the notes on the bottom string (It can be tuned down to A, too! ), but it saves time having to detune your E string on a four, and then having to retune it to play other stuff. I did guitarhunny's bass line all on the bottom string. I love the lower bottom (the wave forms are huge in my software).
One other thing about my bass (ESP B-205) is that the strings are a bit closer together than your average four string bass...

 

[Jack Real]

Hi

Thanks for your replies. I will consider this when I shop for my 5 string bass. I use the bass for recording only and I know the "B" note is comming out fine from my Art pre-amp. I will check how my Korg Pandora Px4B device is reacting to it because this is what i use to process the bass signal.

Thanks again.

Jack Real.

 

[Rokket]

Hi

Thanks for your replies. I will consider this when I shop for my 5 string bass. I use the bass for recording only and I know the "B" note is comming out fine from my Art pre-amp. I will check how my Korg Pandora Px4B device is reacting to it because this is what i use to process the bass signal.

Thanks again.

Jack Real.

You shouldn't have much difficulty with it. I DI into my mixer without any problems hearing all the notes. Sometimes I mess around with my Zoom processor, but I don't record with it much because the pedal itself is noisy. I am looking into getting a Tech21 Bass DI in the next week or so... I'll be sure to let you know how that turns out. I am going to the store this weekend with my bass to demo it...