4 or 5 string mostly?

[projectapollo]

I find myself caught between playing 4 string and moving to the 5. Being a data guy, I was curious what most members here find themselves playing most frequently. Let's do a poll and see where we are.

 

[overtime]

5 String 99 percent of the the time.

 

[danny-79]

Nothing against fiver's, there fun to have a fling with just when it comes down to some serious playing its the four i go for every time .
This topic crops up every now and again an is always fun to debate with there being no right or wrong answer, its just what ever works the best for you

 

[njhammer]

Been playing bass since 1976 and decided to pick up a 5er a couple of years ago. I still pick up a 4 string every now and then but, frankly, can't imagine life without the extra string which gets 95% of the attention now.

 

[Enersha]

Its good to have both!

 

[Rick Auricchio]

I've played 4s since 1970 and got a 5 in fall 2010. The fiver was for a country band that never got started. I do play it now and then, sorta in rotation with the others.

My fretless basses are fours.

But it's definitely skewed toward fours: five fretless 4s, three fretted 4s, and a fretted 5.

 

[laneline]

Locked on Five, low D, and dig hitting E on the Fifth fret for a different feel. Being an old F**k you think I'd stay with four but I guess I'm a bottom feeder. But I'm also a Lefty who plays Righty so I guess I have issues anyway.

 

[KevinM]

Played 4's until switching to 5's a month ago. I still have my 4 but it's retired.

 

[DirtyHippie]

5 string only for me(don't even own a 4 string).

I have only owned two 4 strings in my life. My first bass was a 4 string from Sears when I was 13, and my second 4 string was my intro to music man(SR4) a few years ago.

I got my first 5 string at 17, and have been on 5 strings almost exclusively for 20 years now.

 

[J Romano]

I only have two 4s, but my 5 should be here this week. Jury is out..........

 

[MrMusashi]

to me there is a challenge in limiting yourself to 4 strings..
not that i dont own or play 5.. i just enjoy 4 more

MrM

 

[DTG]

5 only. I have plenty of 4's just fell in in love with a bass that happens to be a 5er

 

[keko]

I wrote about this when I joined this forum!

My choice is 5 banger and there's no way back to 4 strings for me, 'cause I play hard wedding & party gigs where singer(s) have to sing for hours, ...so, ...many songs are transformed into the lower keys, especially songs with original women lead vocals (we are all men in the band)...etc.

So, for this reason I had a big problem for years before I switched to 5 strings, now it's everything piece of cake, singer say ugh... this song is "too high" for my voice, can we put it one key lower?, ...no problem, I have plenty of low notes at low B string!

Next reason is more solid and firm necks on the 5 bangers (more massive wood = better tone and sustain), also pickups are larger, coils are longer, magnetic fields are stronger & wider, ...result = better sound!

5 banger rules for live performance in "my world"!

 

[cellkirk74]

Straight 4 bangers for the punkrock stuff, fivers for anything else. So what should I vote for?

My answer to the poll would be:
Yes!

 

[adouglas]

Every once in a while I consider getting a 4 and try not using the B string on my 5 to see if I can do it.

I keep failing. I use that B string a lot.

 

[mmbassplayer]

I am back to all 4's. I played only a 5 for almost 10 years but just never used the B enough to justify it. When i started down-tuning my E to a D on my 5 was when i decided to go back to 4's. I reserve the right to change my mind again. JOSH

 

[drTStingray]

Well I would have voted 4 string if the poll didn't tell me I've voted before.........which I haven't

The 5 strings get an occassional outing (I used the Bongo a week or two back) but it's either Classic SR4, SR4HH or SR4 fretless for me generally. I do love the 5ers also though.

 

[Steamthief]

Fours only. Never had a fiver, in all likelihood I never will. Drop D is the lowest I go, and I don't mind turning the tuning key to get there.

 

[naruki]

I find 5 string easier to use cause I play lots of standard and drop D songs, and with a 5 string, I don't have to drop tune.

 

[Sting]

Mostly 5 strings for me. I do use a 4 on occasion for certain gigs, about a 90% to 10% split.