Do you pretty much HAVE to play 5-string now a-days?

[Bill]

Well, I'm more of a one bass kinda guy. I admire the guys that use just the same bass for most of their careers. Like James Jamersons "Funk Machine" or John Paul Jones using his '62 J-Bass for so long. Or like Willie Nelson with Trigger or SRV with his #1...or Clapton with Blackie.

I never was into collecting or trying different basses to get a different sounds. I'm more into doing different techniques on the same instrument. It's just finding that one, excellent instrument that's the perfect match.

I've found that when you have limits on the tools you use, your creativity and innovation shoots through the roof. If you have many many tools to choose from, sometimes you get bogged down in trying to decide just what tool you should use for what and second guessing yourself and not concentrating on the one thing you should be, the actual music. At least that's the way my brain functions...I'm kinda weird.

I kinda agree. I'd love to have an impressive collection of basses, but I'd drive myself nuts trying to figure out which one(s) to bring to a gig. I have a hard enough time just trying to choose between my SR4 & SR5!

I also agree with Musicman Nut about learning your instrument to the best of its ability.

 

[StevieStingray]

Looks like the trend has shifted to where 5 is more common than 4

I guess I'm getting old

Call me old school, but IMHO, if you can't get it done with 4, an extra string ain't gonna help

 

[Goofball Jones]

Looks like the trend has shifted to where 5 is more common than 4

I guess I'm getting old

Call me old school, but IMHO, if you can't get it done with 4, an extra string ain't gonna help

I know, I mean, it's only 5 extra notes when you get right down to it. Yeah yeah, I know, you can play in one position easier. But come on, it's only 5 more notes.

 

[Strangeglow]

It's extra notes in EVERY position.

 

[Goofball Jones]

It's extra notes in EVERY position.

WOULD YOU SHUT UP! I'm trying to talk myself into a 4-stringer here and you people keep pulling me back!

 

[Psycho Ward]

This is so simple, get both!


*Next Problem*

 

[Goofball Jones]

This is so simple, get both!


*Next Problem*

Ah...were it that simple...

Very very very tight budget in the ol Goofball household. Hell, I've been saving for over a year now to buy THIS bass.

Probably going to end up getting a Bongo 5.

I say that like it's a downer. I mean, the Bongo has everything going for it that I want. The 18v, 4 band EQ, Neodymium magnets, bridge/neck pickup balance, 34" scale (my hands cramp up when playing 35" for too long, I'm getting old)...I'm just not totally crazy about the looks yet.

If I could get a 5-string dual humbucker Stingray with coil taps, bridge/neck pickup balance, 4 band EQ, Neodymium mags, regular teardrop pick guard, regular rounded SR4 contours wit top routings for controls like the SR4 and with a maple fretboard....I'd be totally happy. But I won't hold my breath.

 

[Dead Seven]

This is so simple, get both!


*Next Problem*

I know BP already gave you a name, but if you keep solving problems like that, we'll have to start calling you Winston Wolf.

 

[ptg]

I'd kill for a 34" scale SR

But, like you, I would be embroiled in the string dilema...4...5...6...

When it comes time to buy my next bass (and it will be my last) I'm leaning towards yet another 4. I'm just afraid of putting that much $ into a 5 or 6 banger that I may not enjoy as much or use enough to warrant the extra cost and learning curve.

That being said...If there was a 34" scale SR available, I'd order one today and...well...see my signature regarding my beautiful wife

 

[Goofball Jones]

I'd kill for a 34" scale SR

But, like you, I would be embroiled in the string dilema...4...5...6...

When it comes time to buy my next bass (and it will be my last) I'm leaning towards yet another 4. I'm just afraid of putting that much $ into a 5 or 6 banger that I may not enjoy as much or use enough to warrant the extra cost and learning curve.

That being said...If there was a 34" scale SR available, I'd order one today and...well...see my signature regarding my beautiful wife

Um...aren't all Stingrays 34" scale?

 

[ptg]

Yeah, my bad...

What I meant to say was not 34" scale but 24 frets. I tend to not pay attention to what I'm writing when I'm here at work. Sorry...

 

[muthafunk]

Useful and interesting subject you got here Goof

I also have an interesting story to go with that:

As I was really starting to play pass during Korn and Fieldy era, there was no question for me what to choose.

I had Ibanez Soundgear 5 as my first bass. And for a long time I cuoldn't imagine myself playing 4 stinger. But as the "7str guitars" buzz faded out so did the 5 stings concept for bass. I finally got SR4 and I couldn't feel much more confortable.

I thought earlier that the B-sting was the advantage, but recently I started to realize that personally for me it's just the unneccessary obstacle, especially for slapping. SR5 feels cool and the spacing is perfect, but you cannot really use B-string as the main one as I did on Soudgear. It's only for a couple of notes in each song, which may be replaced with higher notes on E-sting. Haven't tried HH models yet, maybe there's a real difference and you can beat the **** out of the B-string without getting farts out of your speakers.

I still use the droptune, but if I ever need BEADG tunning I would just buy 5str pack, throw the G away and put them on on SR4. Need to be careful with the neck though, but I think it's stong enough to support such load (but don't even try to tune it standard)

A new trend is now coming, as I know that pigmasked dude from Slipknot has his 2007 signature model set up this way. But I knew a guy from a local band here who was doing it 10 years ago.

I only got the new 4srt bass yesterday and I haven't played a lot yet. But I think it would be my favourite. I may still keep SUB5 just as a backup, or maybe i will sell it and buy SR5 for some special needs, we'll see. To early to say now.

Good luck with the choice. We all hope you'd make the right decision. But what's the big deal? You're not in the ass of the world like me, you may sell you bass and buy a new one with any number of strings without any problems here in the States.

Cheers

 

[Strangeglow]

The bottom line is what instrument lets the sounds in your head escape. The rest is just mechanics and economics.

jw

 

[Goofball Jones]

The bottom line is what instrument lets the sounds in your head escape. The rest is just mechanics and economics.

jw

True...but has anyone ever lost a gig opportunity because you weren't playing a 5-stringer?

 

[Strangeglow]

If you're goal is to a be the consummate sideman or studio guy, get ready to acquire a bunch of basses. Sometimes it's not even a 4 vs. 5 thing, it's which brand or model. If someone has their mind set on a p-bass, you might lose the gig with a Bongo. Doesn't matter that the Bongo will do the job at least as well.

What type of gigs are you looking for?

 

[KennethB]

How did I end up in there?

Ritchie

How did Flea end up in there?

Well, I agree with the notion that a fretted four string bass guitar is the industry standard. Most players use this format. I don't think it's true "that you see 5-strings everywhere" these days. Maybe on Talkbass.
A 5-string is very useful and also a popular choice.
OP says he wants to have one "all purpose" bass. On the other hand he worries that he'll lose gigs if he doesn't play a 5. These are "conflicting interests". Maybe you should think about what you want to do with the music. Make a career on your own terms, as a sideman/gun for hire, or to simply have it as a hobby?

 

[bassmancb]

I've played 4 stringers for 30 plus years and the number of strings have never been an issue. I have a 20th SR5 on order. Going to work on five string just to see what I can add to the mix.

 

[DTG]

i play an sr5 it sounds amazing, by far the best bass i have played.however my heart still glows when i pick up a 4 string.i play alot of covers and the 5 is a must for when your singer say "cant we drop that a tone" but given the choice i would play a sr4.
so it depends on what you intend playing......not much help sorry

 

[DTG]

also...............
its is harder to slap a 5 string,it can still be done but it is a bit harder.i recorded yesterday with my SR5 straight into the desk and it was class,but i still have other branded guitars for recording.when i go to a studio i normally bring 3 basses with me depends on what sound they want,mind you everyone has gone for the sr5 since i got it

i dont think you will miss out on a gig because you dont have a 5 string.

 

[Alz®]

Around a decade ago Marcus Miller said, "if you're hip, you'll have a five".......I rest my case. Although that was over 10 years ago, I still feel it now. My first foray into 5 string territory was in order to replicate electronic keyboard bass......which a 5 is great at doing. Never looked back really, a D note played on a 4 string (5th fret, A-string) just sounds lame in comparison to a proper low D.