In praise of 5 strings!!!

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:15 pm

A couple of jam buddies and I like to play Zepplin's "The Ocean". After I got a handle on my 5er I brought out out to jam night. On the second verse I dropped down to the low C and D just to see how it would sound. It shocked the **** out of the guitar player. He was looking around stunned half expecting the house to be falling in on him.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:16 pm

I have my 4004Ci strung BEAD and couldn't be happier with it......I also had great results with my 4003 MG that I sold. I can play every song in our sets with it but typically only use it when I need the extra low notes. I don't really miss the 5 higher notes that I lost.....I'll just play an octave lower or harmonize. It's well worth trying out to see if you like it.

Paul Boyer has his FireGlo 4004L tuned BEAD as well.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 7:20 pm

I tried BEAD, DGCF, and e flat and EADG ... but BEADG is the best ... plus the tighter string spacing helps me play faster and cleaner ...

sabbath_of_bass · Post by **sabbath_of_bass** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 7:29 pm

I like my 5 string okay. Its not my fav tho. I dont like the lower notes as much for most things. I like my mid range haha. And If you took away my G for the BEAD tuning... I would be ******. No way id take away my G.

Doesnt a 6 string just have a high C on there? Iv never played one. Just seemed like too much muting to me haha.

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 7:55 pm

Yeah, typically a 6-string bass is BEADGC. Then of course, there are Bass VI's which were also called 6-string basses back in the day, which I believe tuned the same as a guitar but an octave down. And of course, then there's the BARITONE GUITAR, which is basically a guitar but a fifth down or something like that. It's so hard to keep up with the different tunings, considering people use a lot of stuff interchangeably.

Oooh, to make it more difficult, some people sell 4-string basses that are factory-strung BEAD, and some people string 5-string basses EADGC because they want the high C and don't need the low B.

ARGH! I must say, Bass VI's (guitar but octave down) are quite cool. I believe Ernie Ball makes one called the "Silhouette Bass" that John Petrucci from Dream Theater uses a lot.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:22 pm

and some people tune a 5 string bass EADGC and some people tune 4 string basses ADGC ... and some people tune 8 string basses not as octaves but as 5ths above ... and I have seen 5 string basses tunes ADGCF ... now there are some serious low notes ... I sometimes tune a 5 string to e flat as well ... and then some tune a bass in 5ths instead of 4ths ...

scott_s · Post by **scott_s** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:51 pm

Anybody try cello tuning (C-G-D-A-E)?

If you have big hands, you could get quite the range that way....

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 2:44 am

E-I-E-I-O

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 4:39 am

I played one of my S5's Sunday night for a couple hours. Those basses get a real sweet tone, but I'm just not as clean on one. I've owned it for over a year. I think I'd be better off stringing one of my 4's up BEAD as I don't venture down below the E enough to justify the frustration and clumsiness.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:16 am

Jeff....that was exactly my situation. I had a 4003s5 for a little while and just couldn't deal with the spacing so that is when I tried the BEAD tuning on one of my other Rics and was sold instantly. I wanted the Ric tone/feel but just couldn't handle the s5 so I didn't have many options.

If Ric gets around to selling the 4004Cii/5 again with the p/u issue resolved I'll likely order one but it's not a major concern since I'm pleased with my current setup.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:50 am

I've got a Peavey Millennium BXR 5 & it's pretty good for a cheapo. I'll get myself a Rick 5 (or 4-2-5) when the cash flow starts to actually flow again. It did take a while to get used to, & I still get messed up when jamming a tune I'm not really too familiar with & had never played on a 5 before, but that's just lack of practice on the 5.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:53 am

Yeah that's probably the way I'm gonna have to go, Brian. I used to have a 4001 strung up BEAD and liked it. I'm still not wanting to get rid of the S5's just yet in case I change my mind. Somehow Ricks are much easier for me to buy than to part with!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:44 am

I love tight spacing for my left hand ... and I love wide spacing for my right hand ... the compromise is a medium spacing ... a nut 1 5/8" to 1 7/8" and a bridge 2 3/8" to 2 5/8" ...

from the factory the s5 is pretty much a pick players bass ... I modify mine to be 2 1/4" string spacing at the bridge which makes them more finger friendly ... the 2030 and 4004 basses I can get to 2 3/8" because the hb1 and hb2 pickups cover that extra 1/8" well because of the 2 1/4" steel rails ... part of playing the 4003s5 is muscle memory ... your hands get used to the feel ... I have small hands so mine adjust easily ... if you have lumberjack hands then the s5 is not for you ...

I am longing for the day when Ric makes some bass pickups that cover a string spacing 2 1/2" or 2 3/4" wide ...

for my non-ric 5 string basses I use a schaller 5 string bridge and a 4 string p-bass neck ... this is very comfortable for my left and right hand ...

I had a fender 5 string jazz ... I had to replace the neck and pickups ... after that is sounded nice but it was a pain to play ... the neck was too wide and the B string got floppy ...

twangs · Post by **twangs** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:08 am

I had to get a five string for a show I was doing that required it. I was a last minute substitute for a guy who wasn't cutting it, so I needed a 5 string bass fast. I went to the local GC and basically pointed to a Musicman and, after trying for a few minutes, picked it up.

I never warmed up to that bass. I know the humbucker gets a very unique sound, but I have found it's the really the only sound you can get. Plus, I never found it comfortable to play.

So, I've decided to sell it, and pick up a Pedulla 5 string. I have a Pedulla fretless, and I love it. I've tried the Pedulla MVP 5 string before, and it fits me like a glove. Great instruments...

twangs · Post by **twangs** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:10 am

I had to get a five string for a show I was doing that required it. I was a last minute substitute for a guy who wasn't cutting it, so I needed a 5 string bass fast. I went to the local GC and basically pointed to a Musicman and, after trying for a few minutes, picked it up.

I never warmed up to that bass. I know the humbucker gets a very unique sound, but I have found it's the really the only sound you can get. Plus, I never found it comfortable to play.

So, I've decided to sell it, and pick up a Pedulla 5 string. I have a Pedulla fretless, and I love it. I've tried the Pedulla MVP 5 string before, and it fits me like a glove. Great instruments...