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Question: Do you think we're moving to a point where 5-string basses will be the de facto standard, or will the traditional 4-string continue to hold sway?

So many of you guys seem to have 5-strings in your arsenal, it's making me wonder if there isn't some sort of shift going on, especially as new models are introduced.

As for more than five strings, I don't think there are enough out there yet to make much difference. But the ratio of five vs. four does seem to be changing.

I think you're on to something with that, with all the drop tuning and synths used in music now the only thing we can do to compete is to add that low B. About 4 years ago I ran into a jazz fusion bassist who seems to be pretty popular on Talkbass and we got to talking about basses and things of that sort and after telling me about the new Fodera he was having built he asked me what I played, I told him a Jazz bass.
Him:Oh yea? those deluxe 5s are pretty nice
Me: no man its just a jazz bass
Him: what like a passive 4 banger?
me: yea
Him: (laughing) man you're to damn young to be playing a dinosaur, in 5 years you're not gonna be able to get any gigs sporting a 4

I hate to say it but he's right, whenever I go to a open mic or jam with people, I always seem to be the only one playing a 4.

I think the 4 vs 5 debate is really a genre/style specific thing.

I got my first 5 string when I was 18 - gulp, almost 23 years ago - and it was a pretty novel thing at that time. (I had Larrivée build me a custom NT, carved top, fiver and had it painted canary yellow. Like I said I was young.) I lived with that thing for almost 10 years before I tried a 4 string again. But, once I got back into playing a 4 string regularly I started to prefer it. I think this is because I am - at heart - an old school new wave, Britpop, powerpop kind of a guy. There really isn't that much room for a low B if the music you enjoy playing and writing is similar to Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson and the Jam.

On the other hand, if you are into any kind of metal or heavy beats inspired dance music, you'll probably need that ultra low brown note on a regular basis.

Don't get me wrong, I still have a MM Stingray 5 that I will probably NEVER get rid of but of the 7 or so basses I own and use regularly, its the only one. These days it only gets taken out when I'm doing a orchestral or other "reading" gig. (Mostly because I'm not good enough to read and change hand positions at the same time. It helps me to be able to stay in one hand position as long as possible.) The only other time it comes out is if I'm doing a paying sideman gig where it is truly appropriate. I wouldn't ever pull it out for a writing session of my own band's material.

I don't think this makes me a dinosaur. I think it makes me a well rounded musician who has all the tools he needs to get the job done in a way that suits the song/stlye that I'm playing that day. It just so happens, most days I'm not playing Paramore tunes.

(Not that there's anything wrong with that... )

Bought my first 5-string back in '96 - a Carvin LB75 - and have preferred 5-string basses ever since. Every once in awhile I'll pull my ATK300 4-string out and play it, but I truly prefer fives... hence all of the hoops I've recently jumped through - with the help of Jeroen - to finally get my hands on the ATK305L coming from Germany, through The Netherlands, and hopefully showing up any day now here in Hawaii!

I play in a variety of Rock and Blues cover bands, and there are songs I play that are written for a low D or C... even in some of the Blues songs.... I must admit though, that a 4-string forces you to know the fingerboard better, and playing my little Kala U-Bass on a regular basis has really helped me get better in finding my around the 'board... otherwise I consider myself a 5-string player.

Although I'm having fun on my new Ibanez 206 6-string......

Five string double basses have always been around as have 4 string. I think the same will hold true for the electric bass. It comes down to whatever you find useful. I have had producers tell me to put up the fiver and bring out the ol' Jazz Bass more often than not in the past couple years.

I have to admit this topic has haunted me since I have started playing. I think the main reason why is that if 5's are the de facto, then that makes it tough for regular lefties to get basses. Let's face it, it's tough enough to get 4 strings left handed, it is way harder to get lefty 5's. If it was not for Musicman, Warwick, and G&L (sort of) we would be in real trouble. These basses are not exactly cheap, and not always easy to find.

I think I get worried about this because I am comfortable with my 4's, and have enough of a hard time learning on a four. If I get a five, I feel like I have to learn all over again. Also, I feel at least my music would benefit from a five, but it is not necessary. For now, I have just decided to learn to play well enough so that I can play a four like I own it, and let things land where they may.

I agree with jayceofbass, to me it's really a matter of style of music. I play in two bands that couldn't be further apart stylistically.

One (Eve's Fall) is a modern female fronted metal band with gothic and prog influences, using low tunings all the time. Both guitarists play 7-strings and use heavy distortion. I need a modern sounding, tight 5-string to match them and cut through, and I need both the low B and the wider range the 5-string offers over a 4-string tuned to B.

The other (The Bullfight) plays dark pop with influences from folk, blues, jazz and some new wave. Both the band and me prefer a more classic sound, and a little mud doesn't hurt here. On our latest album I used a 5-string in one tune, but other than that I play old school 4-strings exclusively. I bought my Rickenbacker and my Italia hollowbody specifically for this band. Most 5-strings would sound too modern, and the low B would be nothing more but an expensive thumbrest.
I now play my well worn 1983 Ibanez MC924 in this band most of the time, because it does a very satisfying P-tone and almost anything else. I've used it exclusively for all the songs we've recorded for our upcoming album so far, through a slighly dirty Ampeg all-tube preamp.

No, I don't think 5 strings will become the standard.

5'ers have been around for quite a while now, and while every company offers them (and some almost exclusively) it still comes down to personal choice/musical style. They are more prevalent then they were before, but I haven't personally seen a boom in popularity from, say 5-10 years ago. Maybe they've gained popularity in certain genres like newer metal. I don't know, I'm not up on current metal. But I wouldn't say they're more popular in most genres now.

If anything, I am seeing more companies offering 6 strings now than prior years.

I have to say 6 strings are very appealing to me. My favorite band setup is a three piece no matter what genre of music I'm playing and having that low B and high C would seem ideal when the lead instrument is doing the solo thing, gettting the option to go down real low for some thunderous bass notes or up high for some chords.

While I love and own (Bass VI-style)6-string basses, and Hamer 12-string basses, I've never even touched a 5-string. I have no interest in those few extra notes below low E.

I own four 5-strings and three 4-strings... I give all of them time at home, but I play 5-string almost exclusively in my coverband. We do a sizeable "dance set" towards the end of the night with some Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Rhianna, La Roux, etc... and it's just not the same without it.

I'm also in an all-original high energy blues project, and I play 4 or 5... depends on my mood. But I gravitate towards a 5'er usually.

One thing I will say about 4's... I think they almost always sound better. I'm not sure why that is, but my best sounding basses have always been 4-strings. I still haven't played a 5 string that can touch my CS Fender Jazz.

There more it goes the more I feel drawn toward 5ers. I am seriously considering selling some of my gear to get one.

When I bought my first 5-string, I was a bit concerned how quickly, or slowly for that matter, I would be able to adapt from a 4-to-5 string, especially because at the time I didn't know any lefties here in Hawaii that had one, nor were there any in the local music stores here for me to try. It was a leap of faith on my part, but it only took a matter of minutes to feel quite comfortable on my first 5-string. I did take advantage of being able to play certain songs and scales starting on the B-string (Thrill Is Gone-BB King comes to mind...) but after some time with it I also began to notice how the same note played on different strings could give a song a different sound; either mellower, or edgy. Because of this, my 5-string helped me become more aware of tonality as it relates to notes on the fretboard, so it improved my playing in many ways. I feel I play my four strings better now because I know better where I want to go to play certain passages etc.

As a carpenter, just as I have more than one saw depending on how I want to cut up my lumber, I like having more than one bass - in this case 4's,5's, and my new 6-er - so I have options depending on what I need, or want to play...

I do remember a Jeff Berlin reply to an interviewer when asked why he didn't play a 5-string. His retort was something to the effect of "I would never play a 5-string, as I'm still trying to learn to play 4! There was a certain underlying contempt in his statement, and I thought it was a disservice to anyone trying to learn bass, whether it's on a 4-or-5 string. Just look at some of the young kids on youtube these days who are having no difficulty navigating around a 5-or-6 string fingerboard... and some of those boards are 35"!

Even if I don't play a 5-er all the time, it helps me with my 4-strings, and vice-versa. I don't always use my B-string, and alot of times I play my 5's like a 4-string. It's jus nice to know the B-string is there when I need it... just like the extra two barrels on an old 4-barrel carburator.... it's fun kicking 'em in now and then!

I agree! Maybe it's because a 5-string neck has more wood and therefore increased rigidity than a 4-string neck.

For years I avoided extended scale basses. Just wasn't my thing, though I have a Hipshot detuner on a few of my basses whenever I need to go lower than E. I had tried a 5er years ago and it felt alien to me so I immediately dismissed it because I didn't figure it out in the 10 seconds I noodled with it at the store. About a year or so ago, a cheap lefty Brownsville 5er appeared in a local Sam Ash, and I decided to give it a whirl. I was surprised how quickly I picked it up this time 'round, armed with more bass knowledge than I'd had previously. Once you realize the B is "just there when you need it" (as you implied) and you've got the same setup as a 4 string above that it is fairly simple to figure out. Visualize the B as your typical PUP anchor on a 4 string and you're good to go.



Sigh. Berlin's a genius, but it's not the first time he's come across as a complete ignoramus. The man's clearly set in his ways and thinks that HIS way is the only way. If it's not your thing, fine, but why be condescending about an instrument, especially if wonderful creative music is being made on it? (Last I checked, it was supposed to be about music, right?). You wanna be a purist Jeff? Unplug your "electric" bass and go back to an upright, 'cause musicians snubbed their noses at the original Fender Precision 60 years ago too.

Fivebass52, How are you getting along with your new 6 string? I took the plunge a few months ago and bought my first (technically 2nd, and I'll get to that) 6'er from Thumbslam - a gorgeous custom made Simonetti 6 string. (Thanks Thumbslam!). Never heard of the company, but damn! What a great instrument. I also own a Schecter Hellcat 6 string, similar to the Fender VI. The Schecter and the Simonetti are completely different animals, different in everything from feel, tone, etc., proving that not all 6'ers (or 5'ers) are alike. The Hellcat's more like a guitar - narrow string spacing (too narrow for me to play fingerstyle, though that's not to say it can't be done. Jack Bruce, anyone?), while the Simonetti reminds me a LOT in tone and feel to the Warr guitar I used to own (or a Chapman Stick) - very wide, flat fretboard that really lends itself to tapping. As a result, the Simonetti's taking some practice to figure out. It's too wide a neck to simply anchor your thumb on the PUP and reach across the strings, so a floating thumb technique is pretty much required to avoid inadvertently plucking the wrong strings/notes. I already employ a floating thumb technique, but on a 4 string a use it when I feel like it and sometimes just stay anchored anyway. On the Simonetti, it's a must.

The comments regarding 4 strings vs. 5 (or 6) strings sounding better are fairly valid when you're talking about those fundamental strings, but I like the tonal difference the Simonetti offers. The attack is different, and the chordal possibilities are really opening up my world (I've got mine tuned similar to a guitar rather than straight 4ths). Like I said, it can sound like a Chapman Stick, especially when tapping, which I'm terrible at but this bass is making me want to develop that style now.

I like your comment about Jeff going back to upright if he's such a purist! There's no doubt he's a fantastic bass player, but after awhile his playing all starts to sound the same to me....

Glad to hear you're enjoying your new Simonetti... and interesting you have tuned it like a guitar. I've not played much guitar over the years, and the B-string always threw me as I tried to learn how to go up and down the neck with scales. I like the 6th string on my bass being a C! Played the 6-string last weekend at a gig, and for the most part it was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed it. Every once in awhile though my brain would get lost for a measure or two until it figured out the C-string wasn't the G-string, but overall I had fun playing it, and the spacing wasn't a problem. I mainly bought it to learn chords, so that will be my next learning curve. Anyone have suggestions on Chord books for 6-string bass? Going to look on youtube as well....

I don't mind the width of the neck at all, as it isn't much wider than my custom 5-string, and the neck profile fits comfortably in my hand. All-in-all, I'm glad I bought it, and unlike Jeff, it's giving me fresh ideas, and stimulating me to play ALL of my basses, 4, 5, or 6!

Wasn't it Jeff Berlin who said you should not use a metronome when practicing? He does hàve history of inflammatory comments and stubborn positions.

If I was to start playing bass now, I would start with 5 but as we said it really depends on the type of music being played.

If you play a brass heavy music with a lot of pieces in flat keys you certainly appreciate a 5. Musics composed by guitar players using regular turnings tend to accommodate 4 strings better.

The problem with 5ers is that they mandate a quality amplification which makes it difficult for beginners or casual players not willing to invest in top gear.

Good point... a 5-string will certainly require a better head and cabinet combo to go lower and not fart, unlike a 4... I remember back in my early playing days, when a bought a Peavey TKO 250 combo, and thought I'd arrived (late 80's)! Especially considering some of my first speaker cabs were second-hand RCA stereo-phonograph cabinets I bought used, and played through a MusicMan bass head... yeah, it didn't take long to blow them up, and force me to hunt for another (middle 70's)!

In the early 90's I played with a guitar player that had a GK800rb head, an 18" Peavey cab with a Black Widow speaker, and 2x10 JBL cab, all hooked up together.... I thought it was the shit at the time! I was playing my '74 P-bass (with Basslines installed) then, and eventually traded it - straight across! - for an Ibanez SR800; all black, thin neck, active EQ... thought IT was the shit at the time too! After that, I bought a Hohner Steinberger 4, and played that until it got stolen (about '96). Bought my Carvin 5-string mid-96, and have preferred 5-strings ever since.

Took awhile to acquire the right gear to bring out the range and low-end that a 5-string has. And although I have what I consider to be very good gear that fits my playing styles, and don't see myself gassing for newer gear anytime soon, I'm impressed with the wealth and diversity of bass gear that is available these days. And, there is quite a lot available to aspiring bass players that is affordable, and powerful. Especially these days considering what you can find used. It's a great time to be a bass player!