Who's afraid of the big bad five?

[Unregistered]

Sorry everyone, I'm just in a weird mood today and thought I'd get it out of my system before going home to my lovely and ever so patient wife.

I got the December issue of bass player magazine delivered to my mailbox yesterday. In it there is an article titled "Fear of Five". In the article the author explains that he low B string can be obnoxious when it is over used and abused (which I agree with even though I am a die hard five string player). He also wrote that the five string can be a good tool in the hands of someone who knows how to play it.

So how many of you play a bass with a low B string on it? How many of you prefer the traditional 4 string? Why?

I prefer a five string because of the added range (which I do use sparingly) and the fact that it enables me to play more stuff in one position. I also like the added neck widths that some fivers give you.

Peace!

I was logged in! why did this come up as "unregistered"?? :confused:

[Brent]

A fiver is definitely my next purchase... A MusicMan Stingray is what I'd love to have, but in reality it would probably be a Fender Jazz or an Ibanez of some sorts since I don't have the $1500 bucks or so to spend...or even half of that. Poor college student syndrome here. I have an Ibanez four-string at the moment, but I feel like I need that extra string. I'd love to be able to go lower than E (or D depending on tuning) to make some fills or transitions, but for now I'm forced to go up instead of down...that gets boring to me after a while because there's only so much you can do. Five strings will take a little getting adjusted to with the extra string in the way and the width, but I think it'll be totally worth it.

Brent

[Basszilla]

I have a 6 string and I love the B. I don't use it a lot, but I love using it when I do.

[Brent]

Originally posted by Basszilla
I have a 6 string and I love the B. I don't use it a lot, but I love using it when I do. That's kind of the reason I want a 5... I might not use the low B all that often, but it's one of those things where when you do actually use it that it makes all the difference in the world.

Brent

[N.tm]

I've always played a five string, so obviously I prefer them.

Remember that having the low B doesn't just allow you to go lower (though obviously that is important), it also opens up the possibility of playing low E, F, F#, etc in a higher position up the neck. That can be particularly helpful when you are sight-reading and want to keep your eyes on the chart (and your hand in one place).

N.™

[LWatford]

I'm playing a 6 now, and I hardly ever use the B-string. I love the C for sight reading, but I never really the chance to 'really' use the B. I'll probably change to a 5, though I've been thinking about a 4 tuned an octave below the cello. All fretless, of course!

Lee

[DavidAM]

I rarely if ever use my low B open. I usually use it when I want a fifth or third below the E string.

[Rudolph the Red]

Originally posted by LWatford
though I've been thinking about a 4 tuned an octave below the cello.

would you have to get a different type of guitar to do that or would you just be able to tune a regular bass like that?

[Basszilla]

You might need to have the nut resized, but it's definitely possible with a regular bass. In fact, I've been thinking about doing the same thing.

[groover]

Originally posted by LWatford
I'm playing a 6 now, and I hardly ever use the B-string. I love the C for sight reading, but I never really the chance to 'really' use the B. I'll probably change to a 5, though I've been thinking about a 4 tuned an octave below the cello. All fretless, of course!

Lee

I know a lady cello player who started playing bass. She's got an old Ricky that she tunes an octave below the cello. Tuned in 5ths instead of 4ths! You'd just need to do a little neck and intonation tweaking.

Peace!

[LWatford]

When I'm just playing for me, I have my 6 tuned C,C,G,D,D,A. I like that doubled sound, so I'll have to add an 8-string fretless to that list. It would really be no big deal to do this, other than the fact that I need a bass to do it on.

Lee