4 strings vs 5 strings

[oli@bass]

Home stereo systems for the average consumer had pathetic bass for even the E string.

Sorry, but my 25 year old Hi-Fi components still kick serious a** while running circles around the vast majority of stereo and surround systems produced today. Yes, most stuff was more heavy and expensive than today, but there was quality out there that's still unsurpassed.

Why do you think all the "classic", "reissue", "time machine", "vintage" products (especially for musicians!) which claim to be "made exactly like the original 40 years ago" are available today? Because musicians like to have worse sounding equipment? I don't think so...

However, I think the whole discussion of audio fidelity has really nothing to do with the concept of 5 string basses.

[shakinbacon]

Sorry, but my 25 year old Hi-Fi components still kick serious a** while running circles around the vast majority of stereo and surround systems produced today. Yes, most stuff was more heavy and expensive than today, but there was quality out there that's still unsurpassed.

Why do you think all the "classic", "reissue", "time machine", "vintage" products (especially for musicians!) which claim to be "made exactly like the original 40 years ago" are available today? Because musicians like to have worse sounding equipment? I don't think so...

However, I think the whole discussion of audio fidelity has really nothing to do with the concept of 5 string basses.

Ok, we'll just agree to disagree. No big deal

[MadMatt]

Ok, we'll just agree to disagree. No big deal

Sorry, but my 25 year old Hi-Fi components still kick serious a** while running circles around the vast majority of stereo and surround systems produced today.

Ohh come on guys... stop being such good sports... I was hoping this thread would degrade to a speaker cable voodoo discussion like on all the HiFi boards

[AnthonyD]

Ohh come on guys... stop being such good sports... I was hoping this thread would degrade to a speaker cable voodoo discussion like on all the HiFi boards

Funny...





I like 4 strings - it really is that simple...

[bassmonkeee]

I find the entire argument patently ridiculous.

[zEch1]

G String + Fretless = Mwuah City

One thing I don't completely grasp is the fervor that people have for this subject. I mean, its a preference right? One isn't ACTUALLY better than the other, right? I currently am diggin' 5ers... but thats just what I'm doin' right now. Some people like single coils, some like the phatty McDaddy hummers... we're all a little "different" and thats what makes life/music grand right?

I started on 5's.... switched to EBMM's with 4's... moved to EBMM 5's. Its aawlll gooood right?

Peace, love and hair grease.... can't we all get along?... or some such cliche....

+1 !

It really is nothing but everyone's own preference! I don't think a 5 is a complete must have for todays music, i mean there has to be a reason that there are still more 4s around in general, but that doesn't mean it's not necessary or anything like that.
Some people prefer 4s, some 5s, and wasnt there even something called Bongo 6 ?

PS: 5's ARE actually scientifically proven better BTW...... (just kidding, but seriously they're better.... right!? ) ... seriously just kidding.

*cough* you mean 4's are better don't you ?

[supadave]

I couldn't care less what others do. If they want 20 strings and a rocket launcher on their Stingray then all power to them.
Me, I only need 4. If I want lower, I tune down. Drop your 4 banger to a C tuning and you will get all the bowel snapping lows you could ask for.
Its a personal thing but I'm seeing the 4s overtake the 5s in stores here and I only know a few players who use 5s.

[TheBasicBassist]

I like using ERB's for things like musicals, jazz stuff for chording and solo bass exercises but, primarily, I'm a four player, though, because I'm lazy and just prefer to bring a 5 when the band decides they want to play all their songs in Eb. :-)

[cjoneill]

LOL @ this discussion i still find it hilarious!

I once got bagged in school for playing a 4, 'it's only got 4 strings that's easy!' blah blah .. so I got a 6er and played that for about 2-3 years just to stick it to them. But have since got rid of the 5er and 6er and play stingray 4s full time now they are tha bom! I never really got why people play 5s and 6ers? I've always just transposed or got creative on a standard tun'd 4 if the rest of the band wanted to down tune or watever.

+ if you've got a good right hand technique (or left for goofies) and a decent valve/tube pre you can really drive ... your tone is gonna be just as phat on a 4 as it is on a 5 or 6!

ps keep up the good work this keeps me entertained while @ work

[TGL]

I bought 4 or 5 - 5 string basses over the last few years and never found one that I thought sounded worth a darn! OOps! So now I guess I better go play an MM and see what a good 5 sounds like because if a MM 5 sounds as good as the MM 4 I have---well then Mr. Wallet might just lose some weight!