5 String Bass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Farno
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Greg_L said:
The only thing dumber than a 5 string bass is a 7 string guitar, and vice versa.
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Thanks, Greg. ;)

I'm a seven string player through and through - I like the added low end, and I really like the expanded range in any position on the neck, which allows you to play wider chord voicings or longer scale runs in any position of the neck. However, as I understand you're more into punk-based music (was it you talking about the Ramones lately?) and probably aren't at all interested in metal, shred, or jazz, the three styles where the extended range would be the most useful, nor are you interested in fairly technical playing.

That doesn't mean it's "dumb," it just means that given the styles of music you're into, it doesn't add much value.

Myself, technical advantages aside, I just think the wider neck is more comfortable. :D
 
If I may interject...

personally a 5-string will only help you if you play in dropped tunings IMO... or you are REALLY friggin good and progged out.... Get a nice four-string and call it a day...

Also on the second point, if you aren't going to be playing live, I would most definately look into di boxes...

-Paul
--and I am a Bassplayer... :-D
 
I play in standard tuning with an occasional dropped tuning on the E string. It's nice for that, but I just find it more comfortable to have lower notes handy in whatever position I might be playing in.

But yeah I'm a guitarist who plays some bass, not a bassist.
 
Farno said:
... That guitar is a 4 string bass, I was wondering if it's worth it to get a 5 string bass. I don't see my self playing live or anything, just for laying bass tracks down along with some guitar parts. How much would the extra low sting contribute to the sound of my recordings? Is it enough to spend the extra money?...
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Here's my take: I'm a drummer/keyboardist with minimal bass playing ability (I beyond suck). I've had several close friends who are lifetime pro bass players.
If you play with keys, there was this thing that started in the late 70's, a combination of better sound systems and the popularity of synth bass, where people started recording stuff like ballads in the key of C. Now when you get to the end of the tune, and you're on the V chord, the G7, you want to go down to a C for the last note. It sounds wimpy to go up to the 8va C because it moves less air than the G you were just on.
To me that was what triggered the move to adding a low string on the Fender.
If you're playing with guitars and not keys and sticking away from that low, low zone, it's not a problem to use the 4 string. You never notice it in any of the classic rock bands as being lacking.
With guitars it's no problem:
 
Here's a prime example of what happened in the late 70's, the feel of the bass in the chorus really struck everybody at the time as monsterous:


Every gigging band back then learned that song, but because the synth bass goes down to a C in the chorus it sucks on a standard 4 string bass - you have to go up and it sounds stupid. That's when you need the low B string.

But since you're playing guitar, you'll mostly just be tracking the tonics on bass and it probably won't be an issue.
 
Jeff Buckley's "Last Goodbye" off of Grace was what convinced me that I needed a 5-string bass. There's just something unimitable about using those low, low notes at certain points during a song, especially when you listen with a subwoofer. Gail Ann Dorsey with David Bowie uses a lot of the low B string to good effect. Same for some of Tom Waits' stuff like "Hang On St. Christopher".

And I had a song in C where I ended it with a low C. It just fit really well. You're right, the next octave up wouldn't have had the same impact.
 
Ya' know, you set your amp at about 50% power, stand in front of your cabs and you take that run an octave up, then an octave down, ending on a low B... that's sex, Baby!
obscene-smiley-1005.gif
 
I only shit on other people's tastes when they're dumb and wrong. As is the case with 5 string basses. :)
 
I have checked out some DI's and this is what I came to:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Tech-21-SansAmp-Bass-Driver-DI-100458615-i1145273.gc#read-reviews

And that way I won't need a bass amp, but perhaps in the future I'll get one when I feel like I want to shake the drywall off.

For a 5 string bass if I'm to get one probably would be this:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Schecte...eme-5-5-String-Bass-Guitar-520225-i1440414.gc

But otherwise I'll stick with the one I posted on my first post for a 4 string.
 
From my limited experience and judging by the reviews around these and other forums, I think that you will be very happy with either or both of those pieces of gear. That SansAmp gets great reviews across the board, and it should provide you with a good-sounding and reliable way to DI your bass (a method which I find more than adequate for home recording a bass). I personally think that Schecter makes excellent midrange instruments. Their 5-string Stiletto should give you years of good tone, excellent playability, and good looks.

While I'm no authority, IMHO you've selected a couple of great pieces of gear for your situation.
 
Ah well what can I say... :)

I suppose I'll go with the fiver, otherwise I'll regret not having it in the future and if i don't want the fifth string, I'll take it off or something.
 
Farno said:
Ah well what can I say... :)

I suppose I'll go with the fiver, otherwise I'll regret not having it in the future and if i don't want the fifth string, I'll take it off or something.
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I played a 4 string bass for 24 years and I loved it but every now and again, I wished that I could go below the low E {I knew they did 6, 8 and 12 string basses in the 60s but none of them went below E}. Detuning seemed to just give a flabby sound. Anyway, a few years back, I wanted to expand the range of what the bass does so I took the plunge and bought a 5 - like 18 years after I knew they now made them. I felt nervy and embarrassed playing one in a shop because I thought I'd be crap.......but I wasn't and quite got into it.
I'm glad I got one. I find that I think slightly differently but most of my approach is still 4 string......with a few extra options now and again. But thinking differently isn't a bad thing, my head slightly changes on guitar, keyboards, mandolin or percussion.
You don't even need to take off the low B. It doesn't bite !
 
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