AntLockyer Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Been toying with the idea of a 5 string for a while. Giving a bit more flexibility and variation around some of the blues stuff I play. When I really thought about it I figured I could get away wit ha 4 string tuned BEAD. I often play in A and while I lose the ability to play patterns that revolve around the 5th fret of the E string and use the octave and 7th above, it does let me step down to the 4th and 5th and I think might give a more modern take on it. that way I think I can get away with 2 p basses. My 62 with flats and normal tuning and my late model with rounds and BEAD. what do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Low D would be handy and being able to play scales in E by working across the neck rather than up and down the neck should help. I often find that the open E sounds a little different to other fretted notes so being able to fret the E on the B strings is another bonus. Worth a try at least! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I think it's definitely worth a try Sounds a great idea I have a 5 string, and I don't really play it that much I keep dabbling with it - but for me, I sometimes lose which string I'm playing, with my right hand. I know persistence is the key here, but sadly I don't have too much spare time I do like the sound of the lower notes though, and as Truckstop says The low E fretted does sound a little different I've fitted a hipshot D-tuner to one of my basses, and love the ability to use standard tuning, and get that low D when I want it (I like it so much, I'm after a hipshot for my Ibanez acoustic BTW - if anyone has one for sale?) I'd say give it a try - it'll cost you a set of 5 strings, or maybe some old strings and a new B Worth an experiment anyway Let us know how you get on with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gelfin Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I've been doing this with an old Westone for the last couple of years. Works great for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Yes, I do this if we have material in the set that requires it, it just seemed more logical to do this than to buy a five string bass for the few occasions that I'd need one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I considered this when I first started playing 5-string in the late 80s. However on those occasions when I do need the G string I find myself also playing high up on the neck so in the end it was a bit of a non-starter for me, and I concentrated on finding a really good 5-string instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 (edited) Cool, I tried drop D and it didn't work for me in this particular situation (made my brain hurt a bit too). 99% of the time if I'm playing a blues in E nowadays I go up an octave from open E, a combination of laziness and making it sound a bit different if I've just been playing in G, C or B. the other advantage to this is I have 2 good 4 string P basses that I know I love. Saves having to shop around and potentially have to spend a load of money. Edited February 5, 2015 by AntLockyer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I tried this a few years ago. Decided 5 strings suits me better as after 10 minutes I regretted it and missed having the G string. Worth a go though. Plenty of people don't miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Dean Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I got Jon shuker to make me a 36" tuned DGCF & i use a capo on the 2nd fret , I use Roto sound RB50 strings , & It works really well for me . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 I'm using swing bass 66s at the moment and it looks like they make a set just for this use RS66LH 65 80 105 130 I do have a 50-110 set at the moment thought so not sure if these will be adequate in the tension stakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Dean Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 That's why I went for the 36" for the tension . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 [quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1423146036' post='2681378'] I got Jon shuker to make me a 36" tuned DGCF & i use a capo on the 2nd fret , I use Roto sound RB50 strings , & It works really well for me . [/quote] I like that tuning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I'm taking a set of rotosounds off my Jazz V that were fitted in december as I'm not really a roto fan, I can post them to you at the weekend if you want them to play around with?, they are a full set of the 66s, Drop me a mail address via pm and they are yours, gratis inc posting, can't say fairer than that, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Wateroftyne posted this vid to a similar query I had a while back. Sounds good to me! Spikedrivers - Young and Stupid (LIVE): http://youtu.be/BfjtK4Mnrg8 Cracking offer by Pete there BTW, sharing the BC good vibes. Good on you Sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottle Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Interesting ideas. I've gone down this route with my spare bass (a Squier PJ with a DIY defret). I got a five-string set and ditched the G string, so it's now tuned BEAD and with a stupidly low action (rounds on a defret anyone?). Had to shim the neck but it plays beautifully. I've tried many different tunings over the last six or seven years - I always keep a bass, usually the Ibanez, in standard for, well, any time I need a standard set up but I can grab the Squier for the low stuff. I've also had this bass in DGCF and ADGC (one whole step down from BEAD). I also tried Drop D but kept messing up my left-hand patterns so dropped it after a while. I've since found that keeping all the strings tuned in perfect fourths whatever the bottom open string is tuned to has helped more. I did have a 5er once but moved it on as I didn't gel with it - should have taken longer to get to grips with it but I much prefer 4ers and have settled on Jazz-type basses as my go-to's now Anyway, good luck with the experiment and stick with it as I'm sure it will reward you at some point. Be patient ATB, Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1423168101' post='2681787'] I'm taking a set of rotosounds off my Jazz V that were fitted in december as I'm not really a roto fan, I can post them to you at the weekend if you want them to play around with?, they are a full set of the 66s, Drop me a mail address via pm and they are yours, gratis inc posting, can't say fairer than that, lol. [/quote] You are a gentleman Sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Before I actually bought a 5er I had both my fretted & fretless 4's tuned BEAD using the lower 4 strings of a 5 string set and it worked very well, as, like you, we did a lot of blues in G & D. All I had to do was to widen the nut slots slightly & I had no probs with them when I went back to normal strings and tuning. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 [quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1423214852' post='2682208'] You are a gentleman Sir. [/quote] Just don't tell everyone, I have a reputation to up hold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 [quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1423172511' post='2681894'] Wateroftyne posted this vid to a similar query I had a while back. Spikedrivers - Young and Stupid (LIVE): [media]http://youtu.be/BfjtK4Mnrg8[/media] [/quote] I was just about to post this again :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 I think it depends on the bass. I had a Bass Collection strung BEAD for a while and it didn't work so well, the B was a bit floppy which I put down to lack of stiffness in the construction, something that the 5 string version of the same bass doesn't suffer from. You might find that you need to widen the shots in the nut to take the larger gauges, particularly with a 130. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Well the strings are on their way, woosh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 And I'm house band for a jam night on Wednesday. Might as well jump right in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 Strings arrived this morning. Little bit of nut work needed but nothing major. Not ouched the truss rod yet and it is playing nice enough. That low D is pretty brutal when playing a blues in A, having a few options around E is really nice too, much nicer tone in the middle of the neck compared to open strings and of course can add a few low notes in. Will take 2 basses on Wednesday though and see how I get on. Thanks again Pete! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 Well I did as I said and took 2 basses for my house band gig last night. First thing was I got put through FOH for a change and he made me turn my rig down to the point I couldn't really hear to start with, I eventually turned up and dialled in a middy sound for myself as he took a pre EQ out from my amp. I really liked having the options and felt my playing was more varied than it would have been otherwise. Being able to swap between EADG and BEAD helped. I played about 12 songs with the BEAD including Born under a bad sign starting on the F# (and thus ending on Db). A few people commented saying it sounded good (but that might have been the subs in the FOH). The band leader however said he thought it sounded like a pop song you'd hear on radio 2. I take that to be a good thing as I'm trying to modernise a bit (for some situations). I'll carry on like this for a bit but I can't help thinking a 5 string would be better but I'd still have to take 2 guitars with me as my 62 really does the business for blues and for my real gigs I'll only be playing that guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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