Am I going to regret not going 5-string on the 25th?

[Manfloozy]

The whole 4 vs. 5 debate has been beaten to death, I'm sure. But I am really trying to put to bed my fear that I am going to regret not going with a 5'er on the 25th.

This bass IS the swiss army knife of instruments.... and while I prefer the feel of a 4, am I removing the much loved "can opener" from the arsenal on the bass that has everything else?

 

[five7]

I would choose the five and not worry about it.

 

[laneline]

yeah, but what good is the arsenal if you don't like the trigger?
if you're not comfortable with the neck you might not play it enough, so all the benefits of the bass won't mean anything, now of course if you can get into
a 5 string's feel and new positioning,I'd say the 5 banger all the way. And can you alternate between 4 and a 5, I can't. Also how about the store where you ordered it, and their cancelation policy ramifications if any? Good luck with your decision. Rick

 

[oddjob]

As always it comes back to taste and needs. I am not much of a 5 stringer... so I went all 4s. Sold my beloved Desert Gold Bongo 5 and it took me all of 3 seconds to miss it. With my current band I don't need a 5 but it would make life a bit easier... so guess what I went and bought???

Now the problem becomes this... if the 5 isn't going to be your main instrument then that is a TON of cash to pay for a backup (but if you are going back and forth then it isn't as much of a big deal).

Now... for the even bigger arguement - is the 5 the ultimate can opener? - In most respects a 4 can do most of what a 5 does.

Would you regret not getting it? Maybe. Would you be VERY happy with a 4??? DUH!

IMO, because of the $$$ involved I would go with what is sure to be a go-to bass which, from what little I have read sounds like the 4.

 

[bovinehost]

"Real men play four strings." - BP

I will not get into my questions about Tony Levin's manhood here.

 

[oddjob]

"Real men play four strings." - BP

I will not get into my questions about Tony Levin's manhood here.

What are all of those "5"s doing in your signature

 

[bovinehost]

What are all of those "5"s doing in your signature

I'm just giving you the boss man's standard line. I'm not saying I buy it, mind you.

 

[tkarter]

Put a thumb on the b string guess what? you got a 4 string.

ain't rocket science


tk

 

[EBMM7181]

BP is just old school with the 4 banger '' Real men play 4 Strings '' philosophy



I have always played four strings, BUT my latest bass purchase, which I have yet to post pics of here, is a SR5 that I LOVE!

 

[EBMM7181]

Put a thumb on the b string guess what? you got a 4 string.

ain't rocket science


tk

Tom - your a genius!

 

[tkarter]

Nope I am just a grandpa..

tk

 

[Grand Wazoo]

My take on this is that five string basses are the natural evolution of the intrument.

Going FIVE strings is not a need "per se" but it is a great step forward in facilitating the technique required to play this fantastic instrument.

I have played 4 strings from my teenage years up to my mid 20's when they first were introduced.

I bought my first Stingray 5 in 1990 while still owning a bunch of other 4 stringed ones and I can assure you that once that 5th strings has registered in your brain it is difficult to adapt back to a 4 strings.

It makes your life much easier when you are high up on the neck and you are able to catch a low note without having to rush your hand back up towards the first position to play that low note, it doesn't sound like much, but it does make a lot of difference applied to fast songs.

I would also stress that a low E note played on the 5th fret on the larger B string sounds a lot beefier and fatter than the same low E played open on the E string, not only that, you can't control the "ringing" of an open E as its not easy to left hand ghost mute by quickly pressing and releasing the fret with your finger as you would with a fretted note.

It's all these little things that make a five string bass the better choice, at least in my views. Notwidthstanding the fact that Ernie Balls is known to make the best 5 string basses necks in the World, the stingray 5 nails it to the accolade of Industry Standard best ever 5 string bass bar none and the Bongo has it just as good. I haven't tried a Sterling 5 so I can comment on them but if I was you I would definately go for the FIVER because its the future.

 

[ekb16b]

Versatility mate, its there when you need it.

 

[MrMusashi]

take one of each and you there is absolutely 100% no chance you can go wrong

MrM

ps: unless you cant decide between maple and rosewood, then you need 4
and then again.. if youre not certain about pickup configurations ...
h, hh, ssh
all of a sudden you have 12 variations
now comes the question.. do you like quilt or flame??

id say you cant go wrong no matter what version you choose! you will get one heck of a bass anyway!!

 

[five7]

As usual Grand Wazoo and MrMusashi have given the best advice! You only live this life once and it is short, so by all means enjoy it!

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Go with whatever you'll use the most. For me, that would be a five.

 

[bradfordws]

Go 5! I like one of the posts about putting your thumb on the B string and you have a four! I remember telling someone that same thing when they tried to play one of my fives - and he was four-stringer. I switched over to 5 way back in 1985 because cats like Jimmy Johnson and Nathan East were all over the charts with 5's and I really liked the idea of being able to go down below the E. I remember learning Broken Wings by Mr. Mister and playing it in a cover band - it was nice to be able to play that whole keyboard bass line with the 5. Then, I hooked up with a songwriter who did a bunch of open tunings like Joni Mitchell and I couldn't have done that gig without the 5, or I'd be retuning all the time like Michael Manring. Some bands I play with tune down to Eb, so with the five, it's no problem. I can't remember the last time I took a 4 to a gig. My Sterling 4 is more of a home bass for learning and charting tunes. So, to make a long story short, if I was going to buy a 25th, I'd get the 5 for sure!

 

[RobertB]

I agree with some of the posts that basically say "get a 5, it's not a big deal getting used to it". I agree that it's not, but I also know what it's like to question whether or not you want to set yourself on that road with this particular bass purchase, because given your preference for 4's, there *is* a chance you won't enjoy the switch. And it'd be a shame to feel that way about this bass. If you want to have a 5'er in your arsenal for occasional use, while reducing the "risk" involved, maybe consider snagging a Ray35 (Sterling by Music Man) at some point. I'm giving that some serious thought myself. Good luck.

 

[TheAntMan]

I agree with some of the posts that basically say "get a 5, it's not a big deal getting used to it". I agree that it's not, but I also know what it's like to question whether or not you want to set yourself on that road with this particular bass purchase, because given your preference for 4's, there *is* a chance you won't enjoy the switch. And it'd be a shame to feel that way about this bass.

I am a 4 stringer myself and I think of all the 4 string basslines that just kick a$$ that I am still trying to get down. But I do sometimes find myself wanting to go lower.

If you want to have a 5'er in your arsenal for occasional use, while reducing the "risk" involved, maybe consider snagging a Ray35 (Sterling by Music Man) at some point. I'm giving that some serious thought myself.

Great advise, I think that's where I'm headed also

-- Ant

 

[oddjob]

No disrespect to everyone in favor of the 5 but it is easy to take a flier with someone else's money. It isn't like we are taliking Ray 35 money... we aren't talking SUB money... we aren't even talking SR5 money... we are looking at a bass that is on the street at 2k+ (I won't say what the street price is BUT it is a LOT more than your basic SR5). Not that money has eveything to do with it but putting that kind of money into an instrument you are unsure of or for a backup bass is insane (sounds like some of the 5 stringers here want you to get it so you'll throw it on the For Sale thread and they can pick it up cheaper ).

I have bought expensive basses (read as 6s and 12s) I have been uncomfortable with and taken a loss on them. I liked them, they could do a lot, they were very pretty... but they collected dust. You know what the worst feeling was? Taking them to UPS because I couldn't justify keeping them around.

I don't want to discourage you from getting a 5 (I just got a new one) but measure what you want with what you can afford and what you will actually play. What is the added benefit of that extra string to you? Having the Swiss Army Knife means nothing if you won't use it. And that is a ton of cash to spend on "I'll get the knife 'just in case'" (but it is a cool knife).

Just something to chew on.