Do you need the 5th string?

[Phil-osopher10]

Just seeing if people think it is vital to have a 5'er in your arsenal, 6's, 7's and and aboves are not considered real instruments (jealous) and thus don't count! oj

[wateroftyne]

No I don't.

[waynepunkdude]

Didn't but I need one for one song now, I've never heard anything listenable on anything above 6.

[stingrayPete1977]

This old chesnut.......Head bang wall positioning not just the low notes etc etc etc

[Grand Wazoo]

[b]Well I blinking well do![/b] Would be a lot less "at home" without it, I've been playing fivers for the best part of 20 years now and have totally adapted the logistic of my playing around that low B, so much so, that when I play a 4 strings bass I find myself working harder than I do with the 5th in place. It's a clever evolution of the instrument and not a fancy "must have" gizmo that purists might think of. It works and that's a fact. So move with the times and accept it.

Edited February 12, 2011 by Grand Wazoo

[4-string-thing]

NO!

Not sure about the 1st and 2nd either.....

[Roland Rock]

I don't feel I need five. I understand it's about more than getting to those lower notes, it's also about the ease of access to the notes you want all the way up the fretboard. When reading a similar thread in the past, I was struck by the words of the wise and diplomatic BurritoBass, something along the lines of "I like the limitations that four strings place on your playing"

[Grand Wazoo]

However I must add that personally I would find a 6 strings bass not to be within my confort zone as it crosses over the guitarist realm and plus I am not that much of a soloist that I require that high end extention that the high C provides. So yeah I feel I am sat perfectly in between with a fiver.

[Cairobill]

I'm happy on 4 and 5.

If I was going to opt for which end of range to extend it would be adding a high c for chords if I was playing jazz in a trio. I've never been a great fan of the sound and feel of a low b. If I need a low d I detune. Below that I'm not keen on venturing.

[BigRedX]

Haven't we just done this?

Anyway my best looking/sounding/playing basses all happen to have 5 strings. I'm not going to user a less good 4-string bass simply because for a particular set I don't need the low B.

Besides when I'm not playing it the B string makes for an awesome thumb rest!

[Legion]

Like all things I feel there is a subtle difference between "need" and "want". I certainly don't "need" a 5 string. As it happens I don't want one either:)

[stingrayPete1977]

Its funny how I have been on both sides of the fence on this in the last year but I have seen the error of my ways and can enjoy and scoff at the never need anything lower than a D, I always use a Hipshot, Never heard a song a like played on a five comments etc etc etc

[chris_b]

I just play bass.

[waynepunkdude]

I find it hard to play a 4 string song on a 5 string, I think it must be because I don't use 5's very often but my hands get lost.

[Phil-osopher10]

I am unsure, I have a 5 thumb and it does make things eaier to play but I rarely use anything lower than the D. Also there is horrible neck dive on the 5 thumb not sure about the 4 but it is putting seriouus strain on my wrist, so much so I have to go and see if something more serious has happened.

just asking the question

[mr_russ]

*sigh*

[jezzaboy]

Most of the time I could get away with a 3 string never mind a 5 stringer. I had a 5 but couldn`t get used to it at all.

Jez

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='jezzaboy' post='1124781' date='Feb 12 2011, 11:07 AM']Most of the time I could get away with a 3 string never mind a 5 stringer. I had a 5 but couldn`t get used to it at all.

Jez[/quote]


I could usually get away with 2.

[EssentialTension]

No, I don't, but we have this thread about every two weeks ... let's talk about something new like Mark Fleaking Pastorius.

[Sean]

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1124785' date='Feb 12 2011, 11:09 AM']I could usually get away with 2.[/quote]

Those disco octaves must be hard work

[Deep Thought]

I've owned two 5'ers, neither of which I kept for long. Just didn't feel comfortable with 'em.

[markorbit]

As a recent convert to 5 strings I now find 4 string basses somewhat incomplete - almost like being used to 4 but then having 3.

There are other advantages to having a wider neck - it is more natural to me to adapt to better fingering technique.

Of course you don't [i]need[/i] the 5th string, but I really like all the options that open up when it's there, not to mention the extra low notes.

[Ou7shined]

I've been playing 7 string bass for 15 years now and couldn't do without out the freedom that the extra.... oh no hang on.... I just play 4. Carry on.

[Doddy]

Ignoring the whole positional playing argument (which makes no difference to me) and speaking purely about the extra notes,then yes I do need a five string for certain situations.

[Fat Rich]

I'm happiest on a five, but I don't [i]need[/i] the low B so I voted no.