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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:52 pm
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Just stay with the 4 string. You can always get a 5 string later. But, from playing a number of 5 strings, the longer 35 inch scale does help the B string ring out. I had a Lakland for awhile but swapped it for a Mike Lull. Great B string but Lull's aren't cheap...luckily, the one I bought was used.


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:02 pm
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I've been playing bass for a little over 7 years. I started with a 4 string and bought a 5 string less than a year in. I played it all the time until recently purchases a new 4 string. I like the B a lot for playing heavier stuff. It's fun to write sick metal parts without being in Drop C. I also feel that drop tunings box you in to a certain style, where the chromatic (correct me if I'm wrong) tuning of a 5 string offers a more versatile way to play. I play in an Indie Rock band and I used the Low B on about 7 or 8 songs but its only useful for 5 of those and only NECESSARY for 1 of them. The others are just because I had the option and wanted to have fun. I play the 4 string almost exclusively now.
I also have big hands so the neck size was never an issue.
One of the biggest things to consider, like other people said, is if it'll work for the music you play. If you're influences don't play a 5 string then you probably won't find much inspiration.
But they are pretty fun :D


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:24 am
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This is a late reply. I agree with most folks, a standard P-bass will cover country particularly well and just about any other genre. It is a standard on many recording sessions for a good reason.
FYI: 5 String Double Basses…
http://www.billbentgen.com/bass/5_string-basses.htm

Ironically I was tossed into playing the V string by default by a Nashville bassist. I was hired to cover a tour after a studio album was finished. This particular session bassist tastefully integrated plenty of sub-contra notes into the tunes, hence my need for the big B. I initially had a Stingray 5 (I know the Stingray 4 was designed by Leo). Nice bass, but it didn’t nail the classic Fender sound I really wanted. The challenge was finding one that had a classic Fender sound that evenly extended with an excellent low B without compromising the tonality of the instrument. Of course, the size of your paws does make difference. V’s can be cumbersome for some folks, rendering the V option useless.
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Sidebar: Fender nailed the relatively recent MIA V’s! What a nice job.

I do strongly agree with Artic Bass that with a V string bass, there is a much greater demand from amplifier and strings to accurately reproduce notes below D. Big rigs need to be faster and little rigs need exponentially more power to cleanly handle the sub-contra notes. How good does music sound through a laptop without phones or external speakers? Bottom anyone?
Lastly,
chef wong wrote:
... Many bassists don't know their way around the neck. This mentality is generally the reason they chose bass...
I wouldn’t call them bassists. They certainly would not be sought after or paid for their musicianship, or lack of. I didn’t choose to play the bass because it was a shortcut or easy route to being a musician. There is way too many to count, but very earlier on the Late Great James Jamerson would put cork in that perception.


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 7:55 am
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Nice post contrabassist.
Looking at what genre of music one plays will help in the decision of 4 or 5 string. I can understand why so many believe a 4 string P-bass will cover country music just fine and it usually does.
I've always played locally and we've never been Nashville material, but we have fun and have managed to make somewhat of a big splash in our little pond. In the late 80's-early 90's I began hearing the "B" string on more and more country songs. Still hear it today. So in a way I feel like you. In order to cover current songs the best that I could, I needed a 5 string.
I picked up the 5 string in '92 and have played it ever since. I think those who don't play conutry music would be surprised how often a 5 string is used.
And my 5 string is a 4 string as well.

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2012 American Standard Precision V - Candy Cola Red
2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V - Surf Green
2011 FCS Custom Classic Special Jazz Bass V - Violin Burst
1996 MIM Stratocaster HSS - Black
1975 Precision Bass - 3 Tone Sunburst


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:35 am
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Funny you should mention this grho50 ..as I've been noticing the 5 string being used more in Jazz & some pop music...notablely bassist Adam Blackstone who's on the cover of this months Bassplayer is a 5 string player.....who's played with Kanye , Usher, Jay-Z
& Al Green.....


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:30 am
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Yeah, that "B" string isn't for just playing below the "E" note. It can come in handy when playing up on the neck.

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2012 American Standard Precision V - Candy Cola Red
2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V - Surf Green
2011 FCS Custom Classic Special Jazz Bass V - Violin Burst
1996 MIM Stratocaster HSS - Black
1975 Precision Bass - 3 Tone Sunburst


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:43 pm
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How I missed this thread before I have no idea. My apologies for not saying something before this.

I hadn't played for a few years and, when I decided to pick up the bass again, I bought a 5 string. Played it for about seven months and happened to play a FSR Precision which is and always has been my number one. I have that, a Jazz and a VM Modified Jazz, all four strings. when I got my Jazz, the five string went away via a trade.

The 5 string was not the bass for me. Stroker and Brother Dave said it well. All the reasons they shared were mostly mine too.

There are a lot of 5 string basses out there with a lot of happy owners, ghro5o probably being the happiest one. His is one of the nicest I've ever seen.

I seriously doubt if I'll ever even bother play another, let alone buy one, but that's me. Everybody has their own path to follow. As Sheryl Crow says, "If it makes you happy".

I'm stuck on four strings.


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 2:07 pm
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Well as I said earlier in this post .... I got my first 5 string almost a yr ago ( a 2011 AM DLX Jazz 5)...after playing bass for 33yrs & at first my playing was a little sloppy on the 5 string but now I gotta say I love playing this bass :D & when I go back to laying 4 string I find that I play a little better..........who knows maybe it's all in my head.


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:01 pm
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oxfan, I completely understand your's, Stroker's and Brotherdave's view point. Nothing wrong with prefering the 4 over the 5 and all of you have stated good reasons.
I hope my post didn't sound like I was saying the the 5 is better. It's not. Just different.
Each of us have our own likes and dislikes.
Whatever floats your boat, right?

_________________
2012 American Standard Precision V - Candy Cola Red
2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V - Surf Green
2011 FCS Custom Classic Special Jazz Bass V - Violin Burst
1996 MIM Stratocaster HSS - Black
1975 Precision Bass - 3 Tone Sunburst


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:21 pm
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If there is ANYONE here that can say they prefer their bass over others, it's you. Yours, without any doubt, is one of the finest I've ever seen and there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a preference.

It might just be that, Brother Dave, Stroker and I have never really understood the 5 string.

By the way, it was really cold sitting on your porch waiting for you, when are you coming home? Thank the nice lady for the cheese sandwich and the bottle of water.


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:53 pm
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Thanks,
I really can't say enough about this bass and I've already wrote too much and posted too many pics on this forum. Waitin' for somebody to say.......Oh shutup already! :lol:

Like everyone else I was excited before I got this bass, but the excitment has grown since I've got. There's only 3 or 4 days that I haven't played it. Even sittin' here at the house playing by myself or along with a CD is so much fun.

You know they have these in a 4 string version as well! :D

We're expecting some rain within an hour or so. Hope you brought your raincoat. If not I'll have that nice lady hand you one.
Oh wait a minute.......I'm not home.

_________________
2012 American Standard Precision V - Candy Cola Red
2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V - Surf Green
2011 FCS Custom Classic Special Jazz Bass V - Violin Burst
1996 MIM Stratocaster HSS - Black
1975 Precision Bass - 3 Tone Sunburst


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 7:21 pm
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There are those here who have posted pictures so many times, you could never catch up. go ahead, be a proud owner of a killer bass.

It's really windy in Oklahoma, I always wear leather so, rain isn't too big a problem. Doesn't "nice lady" get mad at you being gone so much?

As a bass player, I am obligated to always think of what bass I would buy next. If i were to buy next, it would be an American Standard Precision with a maple neck, or an American Standard fretless.


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:39 pm
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Nothing wrong with looking ahead.

It got a little windy here tonight. Gust up to 69 mph in OKC. It wasn't quite that bad here, but it did gust up into the 50 mph range.

One of the reasons that nice lady is so nice, she never really gets mad at me. A little annoyed from time to time, but never mad.

I haven't ever tried a fretless. Would like to some day.

I already own a P-bass with a maple neck. It's a '75 I bought used in '78. My first bass. It's not vintage though. In the first year or two (can't really remember) of owning the bass I was getting a pretty good buzz. I had the pickups changed out and that took care of it. I still get it out and play it every now and then, but only a couple of times since getting the new bass.

Again, please pardon my self-indulgence.
Image

_________________
2012 American Standard Precision V - Candy Cola Red
2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V - Surf Green
2011 FCS Custom Classic Special Jazz Bass V - Violin Burst
1996 MIM Stratocaster HSS - Black
1975 Precision Bass - 3 Tone Sunburst


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:04 pm
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Your Precision is exactly what I'm talking about. Do you leave your television on all the time?

By the way, some people came by with a bag of money for you, I happened to be behind the garage at the time, and were knocking. When they saw me they got all excited, congratulated me, and handed me $50,000, jumped in their car and left.

Too bad you weren't home. My Sales Engineer from Sweetwater is actually driving down on Friday to personally deliver my purchases!


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Post subject: Re: 5 string Jazz Bass question -BroDave, Ox, Vance, anybody
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:11 pm
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oxfan wrote:
.......By the way, some people came by with a bag of money for you, I happened to be behind the garage at the time, and were knocking. When they saw me they got all excited, congratulated me, and handed me $50,000, jumped in their car and left........

Oh, that must have been Cletus and Buford. Good ole boys, but a bit touched in the head. They like to make a big show of it when they get a new batch printed up. They bring it over to me so I can turn it over to the proper authorities for them. :shock:
Somehow they think it's okay if they don't actually spend it. :roll:

So what ya gettin' at Sweetwater? :lol:

_________________
2012 American Standard Precision V - Candy Cola Red
2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V - Surf Green
2011 FCS Custom Classic Special Jazz Bass V - Violin Burst
1996 MIM Stratocaster HSS - Black
1975 Precision Bass - 3 Tone Sunburst


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