5 Strings. Why?

[bassmonkey]

So guys, why a 5 banger? What does it for you? What does the extra string give you? Why can't you live with 4 strings?

 

[bass&cookies]

well, part of it is that the neck is the perfect size. i just love it! and it is nice to have more notes in one position, plus i like i play stuff that involves a low string.

 

[Max]

For me, I also like the size of the neck, as well as the string spacing. To add to that, I personally don't really like playing open strings, since I like to keep things "moveable", so the fith string adds more possible positions. And the low notes. Can't forget those, even though there's only five more notes.

 

[Mobay45]

Several reasons here:

I like the tone I get from the larger B string. It seems to have a bigger bottom.

I play a lot with the B string as my "home base". For example if I'm playing in E, I usually play from the 5th position. If I'm playing in C, I'll play from the 10th position a lot.

It's more comfortable most of the time since it shortens the scale of the bass.

I don't play a lot of open strings because I don't seem to have as much control over the duration of a note when it's played open. The B string gives me the opporunity to play more fretted notes which allows me to determine the lenght of the note more easily.

One of the times I do like an open note? When I can play the open B at the end of a song. It blows the roof off and makes for a very dynamic ending to a song.

 

[russinator]

+1

 

[scottbass71]

Some music is tuned down to E Flat so you dont have to retune your guitar and get the bass resetup etc

 

[high mileage]

Makes a great thumb rest.

I usually play 5's for all the reasons already posted. It keeps the options open.

 

[TSanders]

Several reasons here:

I like the tone I get from the larger B string. It seems to have a bigger bottom.

I play a lot with the B string as my "home base". For example if I'm playing in E, I usually play from the 5th position. If I'm playing in C, I'll play from the 10th position a lot.

It's more comfortable most of the time since it shortens the scale of the bass.

I don't play a lot of open strings because I don't seem to have as much control over the duration of a note when it's played open. The B string gives me the opporunity to play more fretted notes which allows me to determine the lenght of the note more easily.

One of the times I do like an open note? When I can play the open B at the end of a song. It blows the roof off and makes for a very dynamic ending to a song.

Dang Larry. +36

You nailed every reason that I enjoy playing my StingRay 5.

However, I do enjoy playing 4 string as well.

 

[cdb]

Less positions, more possibilities, better intonation in some positions, more resonance all around-- I play as many roots as as possible on that B. Easy to play songs in D (and other keys) with a root way down low... oh wait-- this has all been mentioned above. But I find it hard to go back to a 4 banger and rethink positions, open strings, patterns on the fly-- yuck.

 

[shamus63]

Mixed feelings about 5 vs 4: I prefer the tone of a 5 over a 4 most of the time, and drop-tuning is not an issue...skipping over strings can be, though.

 

[HornetAMX]

I'm back on 5's after playing 4 stringers the last 8 years. The SR5 is just way more comfortable than any other 5 I tried. I don't think I can go back to 4 strings. It is more versatile for the band situation that I'm in and like was mentioned above, that low B can really shake the trees.

 

[bassmonkey]

Makes a great thumb rest.

LOL!

 

[strummer]

Why can't you live with 4 strings?

I could probably get by on a 2-tring, but when there is such awonderful tool as the Bongo 5, why not?

The others have mentioned all the possible benefits I can think of, the comfortable neck size being a good one, ending songs with an open B another, less position shifting too. The only thing I don't ever do is rest my thumb on the B. Thumb stays on pick up cover.

 

[Jim_F]

Interesting - I haven't tried a 5 string bass before properly, and have always felt happy with what my 4 string basses offer me. Never really felt the need to consider an extra string...

After reading all your comments a rethink may be in order .... I am now curious to try a 5 stringer to see how they play and sound ...
Shamus and Mobay both seem to suggest a better tone from a 5 string, why is that? - is that because you can use the low B?

 

[PzoLover]

Bass to the power of 5

5 string bass offers greater relative weight distribution than 4 string resulting in less dizziness for the player at a given velocity

SR4/H/3band @ 10.0 lb / Hybrid Slinkys
G .045 = 1.5
D .065 = 2.16666
A .085 = 2.83333
E .105 = 3.5

SR5/H/3band @ 10.3 lb / Regular Slinkys
G .045 = 1.10357142857
D .065 = 1.5940476190
A .080 = 1.96190476
E .100 = 2.45238095
B .130 = 3.18809523

 

[dlloyd]

Interesting - I haven't tried a 5 string bass before properly, and have always felt happy with what my 4 string basses offer me. Never really felt the need to consider an extra string...

After reading all your comments a rethink may be in order .... I am now curious to try a 5 stringer to see how they play and sound ...
Shamus and Mobay both seem to suggest a better tone from a 5 string, why is that? - is that because you can use the low B?

Larry was talking (if I understand him correctly) about the difference in tone you get from playing the same note on different strings.

Try it, play an open D, then compare it with the tone you get from the fifth fret, A string and the 10th fret E string. To my ears, at least, you get more bottom end on the thicker strings.

 

[oldbluebassman]

Several reasons here:

I like the tone I get from the larger B string. It seems to have a bigger bottom.

I play a lot with the B string as my "home base". For example if I'm playing in E, I usually play from the 5th position. If I'm playing in C, I'll play from the 10th position a lot.

It's more comfortable most of the time since it shortens the scale of the bass.

I don't play a lot of open strings because I don't seem to have as much control over the duration of a note when it's played open. The B string gives me the opporunity to play more fretted notes which allows me to determine the lenght of the note more easily.

One of the times I do like an open note? When I can play the open B at the end of a song. It blows the roof off and makes for a very dynamic ending to a song.

Totally agree plus you can easily get two octaves across the neck without having to move your hand very far.

 

[Mobay45]

Jim F,

Dlloyd is exactly right in what I was saying. The heavier guage string makes for a beefier tone IMHO.

I actually started playing 5 strings back in the early 90's. I was playing in a jazz trio with a harpist who played a lot of tunes in Eb. I didn't like the sound I was getting playing the Eb at the 6th fret of the A string so I decided to get the 5er.

For me, it does create a problem when switching to a 4 string. I sat in with Rockin Ray Duke's gig a few weeks ago for a couple of tunes. I had some problems playing in E because I don't play E the same way on a 5 as you would on a 4. I ended up sounding pretty lost most of the time since two of the three songs that we played were in E.

And the B string does make a good thumb rest.

 

[Bill]

I had a 5 string for a few months last year & early this year, but I came to the conclusion that I was a 4 string kinda guy. Now I'm gassing real bad for another SR5! I'm ready to give it another shot.

 

[tkarter]

I play 5 stringers for the same reason Larry does.

I can live without out a 4 string because I can play the 5 like a 4 if'n I want to.


tk