To Five String Or Not?

JOLLY

JOLLY

Super Simonologist
I already have a five string bass. It's a Music Yo Kramer, it pretty much sounds like crap, and the B string is loose as a goose. I feel the need to go lower with my bass for songs that myself and my buddy are working on. However, I'm a 4 string guy, and I honestly can't stand the feel of that wide neck on a 5 string bass.

My life and musical tones have changed over the years, and at this moment I am into my Spector tone. I thought about buying one of their 5 strings, but see the last sentence above. So, I was thinking about buying another 4 string Spector and tuning it to BEAD. I'd probably just take the larger strings, and maybe some sandpaper and ream out the nut out to fit/accommodate the larger strings.

Any opinion on this?

I've found a lot of great deals on some Spectors (4 and 5 strings) lately, and I figure wtf? However, it's always nice to hear other peoples' opinions.

For what my buddy Dave and I are doing, I don't see me using the G string that much, and if I did have to, I can always slide up 12 frets on the D. Sooooooooo????

Any opinions?
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

I'm not a fan of the wide necks on many 5-string basses. Fortunately, you aren't limited by that. I don't know how the necks are on Spector 5-strings, but if they fit you, there's not reason not to go for it.

I have an Ibanez 5-string that is pretty comfortable for me to play. (I'm a 4-string guy who things Precision necks are thick and clunky.)
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

Try a Music Man bass, even if it's one of the Sterling or SUB basses. I've found a lot of five string necks to be too boat paddle like at the 12th fret, but the Music Mans always seems to be really nice and concise. Like they're trying to give you as small a neck as absolutely possible.
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

Go downtuned four. The only thing a five can do which a four cannot is extra-wide intervals, specifically there are three ways to play fretted octaves in each position instead of two, etc. If your bass lines don't use those, you don't benefit from a 5.
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

To go BEAD, you may actually need a new nut. Not only should the string slots be wider, they may also need to provide greater height to clear the first fret.

The cheating solution for this is to get a Warwick. The Allen screws on their Adjust-a-Nut device make it easy to raise the overall nut height or, if necessary, to change to a nut with bigger string slots.
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

If you don't like the wider neck of a 5 string and think you won't utilize the G string that much, tuning a 4-string BEAD is a fine solution to this. When I was playing electric bass in the marching band in college, I used a BEAD-tuned jazz bass to double the tuba lines and it worked perfectly.

As mentioned, you'll need a new nut but that's not a big deal.
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

I think 34" B strings are terrible- floppy and loose on every 5 I have played. Either a 35" scale 5 or a fanned 5 would be a lot better for that low B. The B just doesn't work well on any 34" scale I have tried.
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

Hey Jolly,
I don't know if you have the budget for a Euro, but they make Euro 4 strings with 35" scale that are factory set up for BEAD tuning. The PJ model is the Euro 435LX and the soapbar one is the Euro 435TWX. They're around $2K new, and unfortunately I haven't seen many for sale used.
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

I've been G.A.S.ing for a Jackson Concert V for a while now.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

Mincer said:
I think 34" B strings are terrible- floppy and loose on every 5 I have played. Either a 35" scale 5 or a fanned 5 would be a lot better for that low B. The B just doesn't work well on any 34" scale I have tried.
Click to expand...
I hear ya. However, I watched a couple of videos of the Spector Legend 5 Classic, and the guys said the low B was nice and tight.
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

dystrust said:
Hey Jolly,
I don't know if you have the budget for a Euro, but they make Euro 4 strings with 35" scale that are factory set up for BEAD tuning. The PJ model is the Euro 435LX and the soapbar one is the Euro 435TWX. They're around $2K new, and unfortunately I haven't seen many for sale used.
Click to expand...
Maybe if I was still a gigging bass player in a great band that packed houses like in the good old days, but I just don't see the need for me to spend that kind of cash just to sit around hear while farting around and recording. Thanks anyways for the suggestion!!:)
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

JOLLY said:
I hear ya. However, I watched a couple of videos of the Spector Legend 5 Classic, and the guys said the low B was nice and tight.
Click to expand...

I couldn't find any specs on the Spector site, but Musician's Fiend claims that the Legend 5 Classic is 35" scale.
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

dystrust said:
I couldn't find any specs on the Spector site, but Musician's Fiend claims that the Legend 5 Classic is 35" scale.
Click to expand...
Hmm....let me check out the website. Thanks for that. I was thinking it was 34".
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

Way to go distrust. After reading that.............................................

Maybe something will show up in the mail next week.;)

spector 01.jpgSpector 02.jpgSpector 03.jpgSpector 04.jpgSpector 05.jpg
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

Not. Baby Jesus intended for bass players to confine themselves to EADG, then STFU and play like a normal bassist..... not some nu metal newb who thinks he's a genius with a F'ing harp for an instrument. Hahaha
 
Re: To Five String Or Not?

Gearjoneser said:
Not. Baby Jesus intended for bass players to confine themselves to EADG, then STFU and play like a normal bassist..... not some nu metal newb who thinks he's a genius with a F'ing harp for an instrument. Hahaha
Click to expand...
The bass is intended to work with the drums to provide a solid sonic foundation on which all the other trebly parts can stand.
Sometimes, bass players like to be able to throw in an accent. Appreciate it when we do.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
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