When 5-string basses suddenly make a lot of sense...

[ead]

22 hours ago, NickA said:

Bottom F#.  That's erm.. 23Hz!!  Can you hear it or does just do strange thing to your innards (sub sonic weapon style)

 

12 hours ago, owen said:

You can hear it but need decent amplification. We have some Subs which are not earth shattering but good enough in church and it works nicely there. Well, it would if we were in the building. The last one did before I sulked with it and flogged it. Flicking the D-tuner and adding an extra bottom bottom E to the end of a song is a lot of fun. I cannot guarantee I will keep it but I had to try.

I think that your brain tricks you into thinking that you have heard the fundmental when you generaly hear the harmonics.

[Owen]

I like that kind of trick!

[chris_b]

2 hours ago, ead said:

I think that your brain tricks you into thinking that you have heard the fundmental when you generaly hear the harmonics.

+1. You can hear a low B, even a low F#, on headphones. When you play low notes you are hearing the harmonics. . . . that's all.

[mcnach]

On 26/01/2021 at 09:17, stingrayPete1977 said:

Five strings ftw, I've sold all my four string basses and various budget basses that never got played and condensed everything down to this.

This is my 11th year with the Blue SR5, it's just a proper tool for every job and does everything I'll ever need, but you've got to have a modded Jazz too so that's staying forever too. I think I'm done buying anymore basses. Five strings and active, job done.

 

I actually see myself going that way too. For some reason this Harley Benton allowed me to really get into 5-strings, and the more I play it the less I want to go to 4-strings. As a long time Stingray fan, I would love something that sounds as good as my 2002 Stingray, with an additional string. The thing with the SR5 for me is that I find the B and G strings a little too close to the edge. Did you get used to that easily?

As soon as stores open again I need to go and try SR5s and see how it feels. Don't get me wrong, I really love the Harley Benton... but it doesn't ooze the 'quality' my EBMM SR4 does, so if 5-string is the new me, I'm bound to get an SR5 at some point in the future.

Something like this maybe:

[stingrayPete1977]

I switch between the fender and the EBMM no problem these days, go for it!

[StickyDBRmf]

Basses on the floor? Seriously? 

[mcnach]

2 hours ago, StickyDBRmf said:

Basses on the floor? Seriously? 

 

Eh?

[stingrayPete1977]

11 hours ago, mcnach said:

 

Eh?

I thought the same but you'll see if you scroll back to the previous page. Asbestos vinyl floor tiles too,lol.

[mcnach]

20 minutes ago, stingrayPete1977 said:

I thought the same but you'll see if you scroll back to the previous page. Asbestos vinyl floor tiles too,lol.

 

Oh I see!

I'm sure @TheGreek was careful and no kittens or basses were harmed in the process 'though.

[Dad3353]

As permanent storage, basses on the floor may not be the best option, but for a photo shoot, I can't see the problem. I doubt that the tiles are asbestos, either; these were abandoned many years ago (and are harmless, in any case if left undisturbed...). Just sayin'. 

[stingrayPete1977]

58 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

As permanent storage, basses on the floor may not be the best option, but for a photo shoot, I can't see the problem. I doubt that the tiles are asbestos, either; these were abandoned many years ago (and are harmless, in any case if left undisturbed...). Just sayin'. 

Also Just sayin' 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dad3353]

1 minute ago, stingrayPete1977 said:

Also Just sayin' ...

Best to not disturb 'em, then; maybe lay over 'em if a change is needed..? If they are there from before 1980, they may contain asbestos; if not they won't as that's when the chop came.

[jezzaboy]

On 31/01/2021 at 13:44, mcnach said:

 

I actually see myself going that way too. For some reason this Harley Benton allowed me to really get into 5-strings, and the more I play it the less I want to go to 4-strings. As a long time Stingray fan, I would love something that sounds as good as my 2002 Stingray, with an additional string. The thing with the SR5 for me is that I find the B and G strings a little too close to the edge. Did you get used to that easily?

As soon as stores open again I need to go and try SR5s and see how it feels. Don't get me wrong, I really love the Harley Benton... but it doesn't ooze the 'quality' my EBMM SR4 does, so if 5-string is the new me, I'm bound to get an SR5 at some point in the future.

Something like this maybe:

Bass Direct have a nice 5 string MM for £1250, looks lovely in natural. Was almost tempted myself but 5 strings are not my thing. Might have gone for E to C though and changed the nut.

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/STINGRAY_5_H.html

[stingrayPete1977]

Just now, Dad3353 said:

Best to not disturb 'em, then; maybe lay over 'em if a change is needed..? If they are there from before 1980, they may contain asbestos; if not they won't as that's when the chop came.

Oooh no you're well out of touch here young Douglas!

Asbestos in the UK was in use legally until 1999, I've slept through about ten to fifteen asbestos courses I'll have you know. 

😷

[TheLowDown]

17 minutes ago, stingrayPete1977 said:

Oooh no you're well out of touch here young Douglas!

Asbestos in the UK was in use legally until 1999, I've slept through about ten to fifteen asbestos courses I'll have you know. 

😷

He may be referring to when the more deadly types of asbestos were banned, which was indeed in the 80s. White asbestos wasn't banned until 1999 as you quite rightly state, and this meant a complete ban.

Edited February 1, 2021 by TheLowDown

[Dad3353]

41 minutes ago, stingrayPete1977 said:

Oooh no you're well out of touch here young Douglas!

Asbestos in the UK was in use legally until 1999, I've slept through about ten to fifteen asbestos courses I'll have you know. 

😷

My apologies, I wouldn't want my ignorance to create a problem for anyone. I'll gladly bow to your evident expertise in the matter; thanks for the correction. Would you advise, if the floor needed recovering, covering over, or biting the bullet and getting the experts in to remove 'em..? I'm assuming that they're perfectly safe whilst left alone, is that right..?
I suppose that, in the event of a house sale, this kind of issue would have to be declared to any potential buyers..?

I found this site to be interesting and informative on the (limited...) subject of domestic asbestos ...

Asbestos Floor Tiles ...

Edited February 1, 2021 by Dad3353

[stingrayPete1977]

Well it's all a bit off topic for the thread but basically it comes down to the owner of the property, if you cover it over with screed for example then had kitchen fitters in to fit a new kitchen you'd be responsible for letting them know what's under the screed before they drilled into it. Of course you'd only be liable if you knew they contained asbestos which they might or might not. Paper suit and a mask, damped down with water and double bagged with bags from the local council is all that's required, the council used to take small residential amounts and provide the bags for free but I'm not sure if that's still the case.

Funnily enough vinyl floor tiles came up as an example at the last course we did, the dangers and course of action required if any isn't calculated on the individual substance but the condition of it and it's likelihood to become damaged or damaged further and become airborne, the points from high heeled shoes were shown to release fibres from these tiles. They are one of the lowest risk regarding the fibres but score highest from the likelihood of being broken scale, anyone that's dragged a washing machine over them and watched them shatter knows only too well. Something like a factory roof would score high on the nastiness of the product but low on the chances of it being damaged providing everyone follows the asbestos register.

A building like a school would keep a record by law and any responsible tradesperson should check the register and sign it before carrying out any work. 

Good old asbestos, I've already had a few lungs full over the years!

After many of these courses what I've learnt is other than something that can be removed and bagged whole, like an airing cupboard door for example or clearly low risk like the floor tiles just don't touch it and get the professionals in.

Edited February 1, 2021 by stingrayPete1977

[StickyDBRmf]

When 5-string basses suddenly become carcinogenic.

[tubbybloke68]

Certainly off on a tangent this one! Crunchies (Marley)tiles as we call them in the trade are considered low risk .personally I never screed over them as 9/10 times they come up pretty easily with a large scraper,and therefore can compromise the strength/bonding of the new subfloor surface if just gone over.wear a decent mask obviously,double bag then seal with tape.some local tips take them,some don’t,best to check in advance.99% of us in the trade use Ardex NA two component latex when faced with having to cover old bitumen adhesive residue as it’s a very good tried and tested product..Never use a water based latex,even with a primer! Then once your nice new solid/stable floor has been laid you can sit down in confidence and play your nice 5string to your hearts content!😁

[mcnach]

21 hours ago, jezzaboy said:

Bass Direct have a nice 5 string MM for £1250, looks lovely in natural. Was almost tempted myself but 5 strings are not my thing. Might have gone for E to C though and changed the nut.

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/STINGRAY_5_H.html

 

That's nice! I have a soft spot for natural/maple (like my SR4)... 

[mcnach]

14 hours ago, StickyDBRmf said:

When 5-string basses suddenly become carcinogenic.

 

It seems that all the best stuff is

 

[mcnach]

After playing the 5-string amost exclusively since I got it, I was going back to my 4 string Stingray and I felt a bit... naked. Strange.

 

[Baxlin]

I don’t suppose I gave my 5-string much of a chance before I sold it, but the church band now has a new leader, whose ‘best’ key is D, so I may be thinking again...

[bass_dinger]

21 minutes ago, Baxlin said:

I don’t suppose I gave my 5-string much of a chance before I sold it, but the church band now has a new leader, whose ‘best’ key is D, so I may be thinking again...

D, and G - the keys of worship (at least, they are in my church).  And C is the key of ukulele.

I started my bass journey with a 5 string - I did not want to think of the bass as a thick-stringed guitar, and wanted to treat the bass as a totally new (to me) instrument.  However, I tended not to use the B string much.  That's because the basslines that I was learning were from the 60s and 70s, and did not use the B string.  It was also because the B string was a bit flappy, and did not encourage me to play across the neck.  However, a new set of strings and better awareness of the fretboard, now allow me to use the B string for (say) the low E to G.    

On the few occasions that I tried it, I found it difficult to play a 4 string - all the notes are in the wrong place.    

  

[Chezz55]

Well ................ I played 5-String basses (Jackson, Schecter and most recently a Status - all tuned B-E-A-G-D) almost exclusively for about 15 years.  Working in 3 piece Blues/Rock/Boogie bands.

I went back to a conventional 4-String (Fender P) a couple of years ago when I joined a 60s/70s/80s band and I now play 4 string basses most of the time.  I also do occasional church and classic rock gigs with another band,  usually with a 4-String bass.  The 5-String rarely goes out of the house these days. 

Switching from 4 to 5 strings and back to 4 strings didn't cause me any problems, and I haven't had any complaints from other band members.

For me it comes down to 'Personal Preference' .