Should I get a 5-string bass?

L

lexxmexx

New member
I know that this question had been asked many times before but I need some advice here.

I have been eyeing on a wine-red Yamaha BB414 for quite some time and finally went down to the Yamaha showroom today as they are having mid-year sale at the moment. But all the wine-red BB414s were out of stock and according to the sales guy, the discount will be over by the time the next shipment arrives. The only wine-reds available was the BB415 and BB615, and other colors for the 414s.

The sales guy asked me why don't I give the fiver a try and I did. Firstly, the setup was all wrong with the neck being too concave and the string action was too high. So he tried to lower the action and had somehow made things worse as a lot of fret buzzes were heard over the open strings.

Not a problem and I tried to play it. It was hard and my left fingers either kept pressing the wrong frets or right fingers plucking the wrong strings. I also had slight problems fretting the higher frets on the B-string. I guess I had been too used to 4ers and this was the first time I touched a 5er. I really like the wine-red BBs and after hearing from the sales guy that a 5er will give me more flexibility, I am now contemplating if I should get a 5er.

Is it necessary to get a 5er?
Will I be missing a lot without a 5er? (very kiasu)
Is it difficult to learn to 5er?
Should I take advantage of this sale and get the 415 instead?
 
Have you considered getting other models or brands? If you can't get used to it, and you're not comfortable with the bass then i'd say don't get it. And do you really need 5 strings? Or are you content with 4? They say less is more, more is less. Which ever way you think. Lol.
 
The BB414 is the one I really want and I intend to make it my primary axe. Although there were other colours available but I find them look rather sucky and I only like the wine-red.

So far, I haven't seen any needs for the B-string but I am not sure if I will ever need it in the future. But from my experience playing the fiver just now, I felt quite uncomfortable with it (wider fingerboard, 1 more string to mute and getting in the way etc etc) The feeling was like a noob handling an unfamiliar instrument. Do you guys have this problem when you first played the fiver?

What kind of music requires a fiver?
 
Hi,

It depends mainly on you and the genre of music you are playing. Most rock/pop/metal/blues/jazz stuff would fit a 4-string very well, no need more strings than that. In fact most bass players in the world have a 4-string as their main working axe.

5-strings are used when you want to have an extended range ... e.g. the low B but warn you first, it's hard to find a decent bass with a decent sounding low B due to the physics of the low B ... most of them would sound just muddy ...

you won't die without a 5-string. it's all a matter of preference. if you'd like just stick with a 4-string first ...

only a handful of songs utilize the lower range frequencies .. but that can be easily accomplished downtuning your low E to a D instead ... works all the same ...
 
well, if you don't know what you play that requires a b string, then i guess you don't need it. You'll probably only be missing out on the low D when required. personally i can live with the B on a 4 string.

If you don't mind the getting used to phase of a 5 string, and you don't hang your bass insanely low, go for the 5. if you dun use the B string, can use it as a universal thumbrest =)
 
Thanks to everyone for the advice. Looks like I will have to stick to a 4er and hope that I will never need to use the B string.

I saw the sale at Plaza Singapura, does such sales extend to other branches? Hopefully I can find a discounted wine-red BB414 at another branch.
 
I think it really depends on whether you need the extended range. Detuning works, but for me it screws my memory of the fretboard. I suppose it has got to do with the way you learn the fretboard. Personally, I try to stay away from detuning. I like to keep a perfect fourth interval between each pair of strings so that I can apply the same patterns starting on any string.

If you're still fairly new to the bass, and (now or in the future) want to try out extended range playing, you should get a 5 or 6-string early and start getting used to it. Any 4-string player with some basics should be able to transit to 5 or 6 without much trouble.

Most of the people who report having difficulty going into 5-strings are usually those who have played bass for quite a while, and are "too used" to the feel of a 4-string. In other words, if you want to go 5-string, do it before your habits are too hard to break.

Don't need to "hope" that you'll never need the B-string. It's really only a choice.
 
Wow, bro I am now confused liao. The difference in price between these 2 models is only about $70, so money is not really an issue here. Now the 'kiasu' side of me is nudging me to get the 5er, if I have no problem playing it, then I will get it of course but....
 
5er

hmm dude in my opinion if it feels wrong and is uncomfortable. Just forget about it. I am using the 414, sweet, slim and fast neck. Tried the 415, the B string sounds Ok. Not fantastic but its still quite defined. But in my opinion if it feels bad from the start. Do not go with it, regret will be trailing just around the corner. In the future if you want to enter the underworld of octaves below the E string, there are many other slim neck 5stringers or Drop D tuner are readily available.
 
Yup, don't because of $70 and purchase something that you don't feel comfortable enough. If you really would like to try a 5 string in the future, you could probably test out a few other 5ers or do some research before making any decision. Rushing into something just because of the sale might not be a wise idea sometimes. :p

But on a side note, most ppl buy on emotions. Many would just buy and think later. :mrgreen:
 
lexxmexx said:
Wow, bro I am now confused liao. The difference in price between these 2 models is only about $70, so money is not really an issue here. Now the 'kiasu' side of me is nudging me to get the 5er, if I have no problem playing it, then I will get it of course but....
Click to expand...

you could be having probs coz you dont have prior experience of playing a 5. you can consider giving it a try. its not that difficult really, just takes a bit of time to get used to =)
 
Well, I guess you guys are right, no point getting something which I will struggle with and regret later. I am still quite new on bass, so better stick to the 4-strings basics before upgrading to a 5er. I have a few songs which I need to learn for the next jam and I want to play it on this new toy, so I think I better stick to my existing 4er or the new bass within my comfort level. Anyway, the low B to Eb notes can be substituted with the octaves on the A string. Yeah, there might even be better 5ers out there although reviews for the BB415 are also quite good. Will definitely revisit the 5er again in the future when my playing hits a higher level.

Musicana77, the picture in your signature is EXACTLY the bass I want! Hope I can still get it at other Yamaha branches.
 
e4t3n said:
you could be having probs coz you dont have prior experience of playing a 5. you can consider giving it a try. its not that difficult really, just takes a bit of time to get used to =)
Click to expand...

Bro, I had already tried it this evening and my fingers were all over the place, couldn't even fret the notes properly and had trouble reaching the B string higher frets. So embarassing, like a total beginner noodling with the axe :oops:
 
oh haha. My 'try' actually meant bringing it home and playing it for a couple of days.. not the 'try' at the shop
 
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