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Post subject: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 9:52 pm
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Here's an opinion: I think Fender should just stop making 4-string basses altogether and concentrate on 2 types of 5-string basses. One type would be for those players comfortable with the usual Fender dimensions (i.e., 34 inch scale with 20-22 frets. I'd prefer 22 frets myself). The other type would be more suitable for players who either have smaller hands or just like a slimmer neck - something along the lines of the old Jazz Plus basses.

I think Fender (and players) would benefit from this change as they could trim down their product line (i.e., save money) while offering all players more affordable 5-string variants of their basses (5-string Jaguar? 5-string Modern Jazz? 5-string Telecaster?). Before you shoot down the idea that 5-strings are only for those players seeking the low end, I will tell that in my own playing I use my B-string more at the 5th fret and higher than I do the lowest frets as its easier to do scales across 5 strings in one position than it is (sometimes) to run up and down the neck).

Anyway, just an opinion.


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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 1:16 am
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hello fretless5 ^^

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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:39 pm
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We all have opinions just like other body parts and whatnot BUT it is nice to see that someone just comes right out with it-- does not beat around the bush and just says it straight out--- NO MORE 4 STRING BASSES.....EVER !!!! Wonderfull. So as soon as they don't make 4 string basses you know they'll just start making 3 STRING BASSES !!!!!! Then what the heck are we gonna' do?? Have you thought about that????? I didn't think so. :|


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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:36 am
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stroker vance wrote:
We all have opinions just like other body parts and whatnot BUT it is nice to see that someone just comes right out with it-- does not beat around the bush and just says it straight out--- NO MORE 4 STRING BASSES.....EVER !!!! Wonderfull. So as soon as they don't make 4 string basses you know they'll just start making 3 STRING BASSES !!!!!! Then what the heck are we gonna' do?? Have you thought about that????? I didn't think so. :|

You mean like this? Image

Or how about this?
Image

Where does it end?
Image

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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 9:00 am
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YES! A "NO" STRING BASS ! ! I want that! Does it come in Surf Green?




You have to admit this thread was derailed before I was done reading the first post. An excellent job I must say by the OP. A technical masterpiece in self de-railment. Who did you study under? Phelps? McKintosh?


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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 2:23 am
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I can understand someone named "FRETLESS5" campaigning for the demise of Fender 4 String basses. However I can not understand Fretless5 campaigning for their personal preference of a 22 fret neck since they are "FRETLESS5."

The day Fender stops making passive 4 string basses in favor of all 5 string basses or even all active basses, then I'll no longer be buying a new Fender. A 5 string is one string too many for me. I don't need anything lower than the open E. 20 frets are enough for me too, but I do like my 22 fret bass too. It really doesn't make that much difference as I rarely play much above the 16th fret at all anyway. I wasn't counting frets on a bass trying them out which is how I wound up with a 22 fret bass and it wasn't by design.


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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 5:02 am
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Dave, has there always been a sombrero in your avatar?

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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 5:14 am
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3-string basses were popular in the hands of players such as Tony Levin.

Image

Although he mostly uses 5-string StingRays (one of which is an OLP signature model) and 4-string Bongos, Ernie Ball had built a custom-made StingRay 3 for him.


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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:51 am
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the type music one plays may have something to do with what bass one plays. Some I guess are into checking how many frets , I don't either. If it sounds good and has 20 or 24 frets- who cares? There is not much use for a 5 string in the music I play in the band I'm in. None of it was written on 5. I'd be standing there with this heavy bass only playing the B string a few times a night in comparrison to how many times I play A. And that is what I do . Play A. I recieve rewards for A. Not B. I would like to own a 5 string bass but ALL the moderately priced ones sound like crap to me. Flubby fat B string response. Yuk. I can't afford thousands to experiment to find a good 5 for me.

No need to defend 5 string basses- I don't think there's anything wrong with the idea.


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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:21 pm
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Tochai wrote:
Dave, has there always been a sombrero in your avatar?


Actually the guy I got that hat from told me it was a Gypsy King dyed straw hat. It does sort of look like my old sombrero but my sombrero didn't have the teal blue crown trim...and no it hasn't always been on my avatar. It was added about 2 weeks ago. You are very observant Tochai!

A band I play with is going to be doing the Gypsy thing for Halloween gigs. Good theme. So there's another good idea that I can't take credit for. But I agreed with them that the whole pirate/skeleton/zombie thing had been done to death. Gypsies have mystique, suspense, tradition and magic associated with them so it works better for a bunch of old dudes than the aging pirate thing. Now if we can only find a violinist!


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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 5:51 pm
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i've tried quite a few 5 strings and to be honest i just don't like them... that B string always feels like a loose piece of spagetti in my hands....

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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 9:26 pm
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kgerry wrote:
i've tried quite a few 5 strings and to be honest i just don't like them... that B string always feels like a loose piece of spagetti in my hands....

I've heard that's why it's better to have a 35 inch scale for a 5 string.

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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 10:52 pm
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I play a 5 string. Which is a little odd because I'm in an Indie-rock band (not a genre known for 5 strings or drop tunings), but its been finding use in a lot of our songs. I've been using low octaves of the D and C# to emphasize a transition into a chorus or just when I want to play a low octave to change things up a bit. I've also used it for playing thirds and triads and in a new song I play a low D# while everyone else does E because it sounds dissonant, but not as sharp an as playing a D# on the A string.
But! It also weights about 13 pounds and I did get a case of the floppy B's. I have played a few Fender 5 strings. The one I liked the most was a Mexican standard Jazz. The B strings had a firm tone and nice tension, even comparable to the other strings.
It could be pretty cool to see a slimmer 5 string neck, but I've also heard ideas that the neck dimension can affect the tone. So maybe a slimmer neck would sound more like an Ibanez (which I'm not a fan of but have also thought look really classy and have nice looking wood).


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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 10:58 pm
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The Marcus Miller V has a slightly smaller nut width than a standard V.


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Post subject: Re: 5-strings and small hands
Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 8:51 pm
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slidewaysracing wrote:
kgerry wrote:
i've tried quite a few 5 strings and to be honest i just don't like them... that B string always feels like a loose piece of spagetti in my hands....

I've heard that's why it's better to have a 35 inch scale for a 5 string.


...and a 36 inch scale for a 6 string.


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