In praise of 5 strings!!!

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:14 pm

Well, after years of telling myself I don't need a 5 string bass I have made the plunge and bought one.

Not wanting to spend a lot of money in case I didn't like it, I bought a brand new Dean Edge 5 which set me back $380 including HSC. I have to tell you, I love it!!!! For a Korean made bass and the money I spent, the finish, electronics and fretwork are great!!! I bought it over a Korean Fender Jazz which was just awful. Floppy B with sharp fret ends. Just sounded terrible.

At first I had trouble with the B string....just because it was there, but I have worked at it and now use it as a thumbrest until I need it. It's still a little awkward but, I'm getting there.

Jeff Rath is correct, 5 is the way to go. I may be contacting him in the future for a Rick conversion!!!!

bottom4 · Post by **bottom4** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:27 pm

Nice pick Scott!

Congrats and enjoy!

I picked up a Lakland 55-02 a couple of weeks ago! This is one of the best playing 5er's I've ever played! Love it!

highway_star · Post by **highway_star** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:33 pm

I have two 5er's - a Ric 4003s5 and a Modulus Quantum 5. The Quantum and my 4003 see the bulk of my gigging action.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:54 pm

I really depend on 5 string basses. I play all songs in my band with a 5 string bass, except for two. One gets played with my 4001 fretless, the other gets played with a 12 string.

sabbath_of_bass · Post by **sabbath_of_bass** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:16 pm

I have a Dean Edge Q5. I love like it. Plays pretty nice and dooesnt cost much. I like dean alot. Its one of two I 5 strings I actually liked it. One being a Lakland fretless. I didnt care for the Fender 5 strings.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:34 pm

thanks for the compliment ... now you need to try one of these ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/10string.htm ... Deans are ok but they have the typical Korean made flaws and the quality is not like made in America ...

I find even on classic rock songs that I don't need the low notes the low b can be used as a thumb rest ... but the 5th string can add to just about any type of music ...

I almost never switch basses during a set ... the 5 string covers it all ... I take 2 or 3 basses and switch just for variety each bass gets at least one set ...

in these modern times it bothers me that Ric is not producing 5 stringers in any volume ... if they made a good one with wide pickups and wide bridge string spacing they could sell a bunch ...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:38 pm

I have a Epiphone Embassy 5, and, for the money, it ROCKS. Nice fit and finish and a nice tune-up by Mr. Rath, and it is a great player.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 3:31 pm

those embassy basses are a well kept secret ...

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:43 pm

I've had a few 5 strings, the first was a Yamaha BX-5 that I had John Carruthers turn into a fretless. then I had a string of three Zon 5 string basses, two fretless and one fretted, of which I still have the last fretless that was custom made for me by Joe, and I had a Rick Turner Renaissance fretless 5 string, but the neck was too fat for me so I sold that and bought a fretless 4 string model. Great bass, as those at MARF who tried it will testify to.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:47 pm

I find that the B string has utility beyond just the 5 notes below an E. When you are playing up on the neck, the B gives you access to some of your low notes without having to reach down for them. Also, it give you slightly different voices for some notes.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:20 pm

GULP!

Can you accomplish pretty much the same thing with BEAD tuning? I've read of people here that have done it this way......just curious, I suppose.

I've been thinking of trying this, hoping to get the advantage of the low B, but still having the spacing of the 4 stringer.

*please don't flame....innocent question here...

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:27 pm

I'm sure that works just as well, but you should only really do that if you can afford to lose your high G and up. Personally, I can't (almost every song I play requires or is made significantly easier by the presence of the G-string), so that's why I bought the 5-string Tobias. It needs a new bridge (it's a cheap Tobias, not the like $3000 ones . . .) because the saddles on the stock bridge are **** and don't adjust well, and it probably needs a nice Bartolini preamp (actually, I wish it was just completely passive . . . I don't need the preamp, but there's no bypass), but the low B is perfect for some stuff. I had Chromes on the bass, but now I've got D'addario XL's, and it's a lot brighter, albeit buzzier. I end up using the low B as a finger rest most of the time, but it helps to know that if I ever need a low B, I've got it, and it sounds good.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:34 pm

playing a 5 banger is cool ... but playing a 5 string Ric is better ...

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:02 pm

BEAD tuning is ok but yes, you do loose the high notes. The extra string increases your options in any given postion. As for 6 and 7 stringers, the same would hold true but the necks get so wide you need gorilla hands to play them. A lot of people can handle more than 5 but I think that will be my limit, at least for now.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:10 pm

For some songs, you just NEED that THUMP of the low C or D. You just NEED it!!

Not to mention, thru my rig, it shakes my guts around. That in itself is worth it!