4 strings vs 5 strings

[BrandonS]

OK, gotta go with 5 now...

... yesterday I played my SR5H in a "gig" setting (Sunday morning church service) for the first time. LOVED IT! I've been advised that it "won't feel natural" until I've put in about 50 hours of practice. Well, I've put in about 10 and yesterday felt "natural" Really surprised me... and the Low D and Ebs I was able to throw around absolutely rocked.

Five it is.

 

[FonkBass]

5 string is where its at

A B string is a must have for a modern Bassist. Computer systems, home stereos, i pods, Car radios, etc. are now able to reproduce the lower regester of sound with far greater clarity then in the past. Bass rigs have improved and Bass manufacturers have improved the quality of the instruments too. Stores now typically offer a greater selection as well. Playing a detuned E string sucks. It changes all of your fingerings, it feels loose and sloppy and Hipshot de tuners are not always reliable, I would never use one. I can not see any justification for playing a Bass with less than 5 strings. When I play a 4 string now it feels like someone cut off one of my fingers. It blows. When you first get your 5 string it will feel a little awkward and you will make some mistakes. Don't worry, you will get past that and be kicking ass again soon enough. I have yet to play an Ernie Ball Bass that did not have a great low B string. Go for it.

 

[Aussie Mark]

If you play originals (with no horns), or don't transpose music, then I don't see the (technical or musical) need for a five string

I play covers (with horns) and originals (with horns) and do transpose music - all on 4 string basses. Does that make me a freak?

 

[syciprider]

A B string is a must have for a modern Bassist. Computer systems, home stereos, i pods, Car radios, etc. are now able to reproduce the lower regester of sound with far greater clarity then in the past. Bass rigs have improved and Bass manufacturers have improved the quality of the instruments too.

Surely you are not saying that the average laptop or desktop speaker has a decently flat freq response throughout the audible range of 20Hz to 20KHz? The only way to enjoy full range music are still good full range speaker systems or headphones with an uncompressed music source (which iPods do not provide). Even factory car systems cannot do this due to the position of the listener's ears relative to the speakers unless he/she is so well heeled and can afford a very expensive custom install. Bass cabinets have not evolved much either. Yes they can be made smaller but at the expense of freq response and fidelity.

 

[bovinehost]

I play covers (with horns) and originals (with horns) and do transpose music - all on 4 string basses. Does that make me a freak?

No, it's that other stuff that makes you a freak.

 

[FonkBass]

Surely you are not saying that the average laptop or desktop speaker has a decently flat freq response throughout the audible range of 20Hz to 20KHz? The only way to enjoy full range music are still good full range speaker systems or headphones with an uncompressed music source (which iPods do not provide). Even factory car systems cannot do this due to the position of the listener's ears relative to the speakers unless he/she is so well heeled and can afford a very expensive custom install. Bass cabinets have not evolved much either. Yes they can be made smaller but at the expense of freq response and fidelity.

Dude every single aspect of the 5 string Bass has improved since 5 strings started to gain popularity in the late eighties to early nineties. The selection and quality of instruments is being made today are far better, and getting better every day. Amps today are far more capable of handling the low frequencies. A 500 watt Bass amp was a rarity 20 years ago. Now it is quite commonplace and in smaller lighter packages. More watts= more headroom less distortion. Greater clarity. I'm not an expert on speakers but I did own an SVT and while it did sound great, moving the thing sucked. It weighed a ton. I recently played through a Markbass rig with 2 12 inch cabinets. The sound killed. The rig in total weighed less than the head I used to use. I would love to A/B both rigs, but I don't have the SVT anymore. The Markbass rig seemed every bit as capable to me. Car stereos have evolved big time. 20 years ago I would have never kept the stock system in a car I bought. Car stereos from the factory now sound just as good as the aftermarket systems do. Laptop speakers will never be the best listening source for sure, I'll give you that, but the small i pod headphones sound better than the ones I remember. They seem to have Improved to me. I guess my point is if the basses are better, the amps are more capable of reproducing the B string with greater Clarity, and the places where people are listening to music are now offering better sound quality, Play a Bass with a B string it will be heard clearly and appreciated. If 4 string Bass is your thing that's cool and all, but for me I hear those low D's , C's, and B's and I feel a responsibility as a Bass player to play those notes.

 

[MadMatt]

I play covers (with horns) and originals (with horns) and do transpose music - all on 4 string basses. Does that make me a freak?

Its because you live on the other side of the globe dude. Not only are you on the flip side but from my perspective you always play standing on your head. I think all that extra blood makes you capable of things we northern hemispere people cant do

 

[RocketRalf]

Standard stereo systems are not really hi-fi or flat in response, but the lower frequency response has certainly been extended to accommodate modern genres, some of which go quite lower than a 5 string bass. Ever listened to techno or reggaeton? (if not, please don't do, you'll be sorry )

 

[syciprider]

Dude every single aspect of the 5 string Bass has improved since 5 strings started to gain popularity in the late eighties to early nineties. The selection and quality of instruments is being made today are far better, and getting better every day. Amps today are far more capable of handling the low frequencies. A 500 watt Bass amp was a rarity 20 years ago. Now it is quite commonplace and in smaller lighter packages. More watts= more headroom less distortion. Greater clarity. I'm not an expert on speakers but I did own an SVT and while it did sound great, moving the thing sucked. It weighed a ton. I recently played through a Markbass rig with 2 12 inch cabinets. The sound killed. The rig in total weighed less than the head I used to use. I would love to A/B both rigs, but I don't have the SVT anymore. The Markbass rig seemed every bit as capable to me. Car stereos have evolved big time. 20 years ago I would have never kept the stock system in a car I bought. Car stereos from the factory now sound just as good as the aftermarket systems do. Laptop speakers will never be the best listening source for sure, I'll give you that, but the small i pod headphones sound better than the ones I remember. They seem to have Improved to me. I guess my point is if the basses are better, the amps are more capable of reproducing the B string with greater Clarity, and the places where people are listening to music are now offering better sound quality, Play a Bass with a B string it will be heard clearly and appreciated. If 4 string Bass is your thing that's cool and all, but for me I hear those low D's , C's, and B's and I feel a responsibility as a Bass player to play those notes.

How many aspects of the 5 string bass could there be that can be improved upon? String gauge, okay. It can't be scale length because EBMM and many others clearly proved that 35" isn't needed for a good B. Everything else was already extant and have remained unchanged or were improvements that applied to 4 and 5ers equally.

The fact that today's bass amps can pump out more watts has nothing to do with fidelity at the consumer end (the home loudspeaker). Speaking of fidelity these days, most of us probably consume our music in digital format, most of which is compressed. Some of the musical information in the original recording is not there. Processed out. Given this, how can you say that we have better sound quality today? Even with the fanciest sound reproduction equipment, an MP3 is still an MP3.

Super low notes aren't new anyway. Pipe organs has been around for awhile and we've had no problems recording those for decades.

 

[diptixon]

I switched to a 5 because I had joined a cover country-pop band for a few years and wanted to play the bass lines as they were on the recordings. I am not playing country anymore, but got used to the extra 4 or 5 notes in every position and have a hard time if they're not there...

 

[Movielife]

I think the option of being able to play BOTH is what I crave...hence Ive moved to the 5 sting world. I still loves 4s, but I am really excited about learning on a 5.

 

[syciprider]

I started on 5ers after I began playing many songs in keys like F, Bb, Db, Ab and Eb.

 

[mmbassplayer]

While i am completely comfortable playing a 5 (and have owned quite a few), i just perfer to play a 4. I typically play in drop D which accomidates 95% of the stuff i play. I am kicking around the idea of tuning my Stingray to BEAD as no real man needs a G String anyway. JOSH

 

[Manfloozy]

I am kicking around the idea of tuning my Stingray to BEAD as no real man needs a G String anyway. JOSH

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

 

[shakinbacon]

Dude every single aspect of the 5 string Bass has improved since 5 strings started to gain popularity in the late eighties to early nineties. The selection and quality of instruments is being made today are far better, and getting better every day. Amps today are far more capable of handling the low frequencies. A 500 watt Bass amp was a rarity 20 years ago. Now it is quite commonplace and in smaller lighter packages. More watts= more headroom less distortion. Greater clarity. I'm not an expert on speakers but I did own an SVT and while it did sound great, moving the thing sucked. It weighed a ton. I recently played through a Markbass rig with 2 12 inch cabinets. The sound killed. The rig in total weighed less than the head I used to use. I would love to A/B both rigs, but I don't have the SVT anymore. The Markbass rig seemed every bit as capable to me. Car stereos have evolved big time. 20 years ago I would have never kept the stock system in a car I bought. Car stereos from the factory now sound just as good as the aftermarket systems do. Laptop speakers will never be the best listening source for sure, I'll give you that, but the small i pod headphones sound better than the ones I remember. They seem to have Improved to me. I guess my point is if the basses are better, the amps are more capable of reproducing the B string with greater Clarity, and the places where people are listening to music are now offering better sound quality, Play a Bass with a B string it will be heard clearly and appreciated. If 4 string Bass is your thing that's cool and all, but for me I hear those low D's , C's, and B's and I feel a responsibility as a Bass player to play those notes.

I tend to agree. 25 years ago bass amps were (for the most part) glorified guitar amps with bigger speakers (yes there were exceptions). Little thought was given to bass cabinet design. Home stereo systems for the average consumer had pathetic bass for even the E string. With rap and techno, the ability to reproduce low frequencies has been greatly improved. All imho

And yes, as a bass player I feel it is part of my resume to shake the house with low notes.

One thing that has improved on five strings is the low B tone. Of which Musicman lead the way

 

[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.