5 string bass?

[thumper]

My dad thinks i should get one. does anyone have one?

[thunder_bird]

Ive played a few. The main difference is that the spacing between the strings is smaller which makes slap and pop harder. Thats the only thing that anoyed me about them. The low B string is really useful though.

[thumper]

So the fretboard isn't much wider than a normal base then?

[thunder_bird]

Its not alot wider

[gamma_function]

there are 2 types of string spacing that contibutes to the width of a five-string bass' fingerboard width. the most common type of spacing is 16-17 mm between string centers. this gives you a string spread at the bridge of about 2 an a half inches total. This type of spacing is very common and found on about 98% of fivers out there (e.g. ibanez, schecter, non-TRB yamaha, spector, fender, etc.).

The second type of spacing is typically 19 mm between string centers. This is the same dimension as would be found on 4 sting, fender-type (practically ALL) basses. The total string spread for a five string with this spacing is about 3 inches. This type is FAR less common, found mainly on boutique instruments (ie pedulla, yamaha TRB series) or as a option.

the exception to these rules is warwick. warwick basses (not the rockbass line) feature adjustable bridge spacing, allowing you to go move the strings as close or as far apart as you deem comfortable (with 2 13/16" limit). the problem is that the neck cannot change size to accomodate your string spacing preference. Warwick necks are not too wide, but are plenty fat (imagine the fat end of a baseball bat and you're in the right ballpark). I hope this helps.

more important than the fingerboard width is the scale length. many fivers are now made with a 35" scale as opposed to the traditional 34" scale used on 99% of basses since the first fender p bass. many people believe that the extra inch of string length helps the low b string to speak more clearly without the flappiness and mud that can arise on poorly designed 34" five string basses.


p.s. i prefer the wide spacing of the pedulla t and et basses (the buzz basses are great too) and have searched extensively for fivers with the 19mm spacing and only came up with the brands and types i listed. everything else is narrow spaced.

sorry about my poor typing skills.

[AnotherTicket81]

5-string bass is my preference. I've been playing mine for about 6-7 years and like someone else mentioned, the low B comes in handy, and helps out a lot I think. (Plus I love the lower sound when playing like, E or D and walking down instead of up.) I did notice 'at first' the difference in spacing between strings, but again, it's just something to get use to. Or it was for me anyway. Now I can't stand having to play a 4 string. As far as the neck goes, I have a custom made Carvin and I had the back of the neck ground down to fit my hand, so it's a little wider, but not too thick. I had to adjust the truss rod one time since I've had it, but that's only because my band played and practiced so much, I rarely got to put it down!!

Anyway, just my thoughts. It was definately worth the switch for me, but everyone's different.

Good luck.

[Peaceful]

Well, I have just (last Thursday) traded up my 4-string Ibanez Gio for a Samick Custom 5-string. I have spent most of this rainy weeking playing it. So far I am impressed. It is a full length neck versus the short neck Ibanez so the additional spacing between the lower frets took some getting used to. But once I threw myself into some pentatonic runs in various positions I soon adapted to the new spacing. It has a good deep growly sound through my Fender Rumble 100. The strings are slacker than on the shorter instrument. I found this made the snap, crackle, and pop stuff easier, although I have only just started to learn how to do it.

It has a healthy spacing between the strings at the bridge end, but is still reasonable at the nut end.

One nice thing about the 5-string it that one can do a two-octave run with only a slight position change. Another is to be able to do E-, F-, and G- keys in the fifth position.

I like the controls on the Samick - overall volume, fade between pickups, and a tone for each pickup.

I had never heard of Samick but according to Morgan they make guitars for other vendors. "If it says 'Made in Korea' it is probably made by Samick".


Any of y'all have any experience with them?

[Rock n' Blues]

I had never heard of Samick but according to Morgan they make guitars for other vendors. "If it says 'Made in Korea' it is probably made by Samick". Any of y'all have any experience with them?

Samick is the largest manufacturer of stringed instruments in the world. It's true...a lot of the Korean brands are really made by Samick...including some Epiphones.

[TeleTristan]

I used to have a Warwick Corvette FNA 5 string, I liked it and the spacing was pretty nice too. The neck was great but the guitar itself looked like a bucket full of A-Holes, I sold it and bought my Nano-Amp with part of the proceeds.http://www.warwickbass.com/images/fna5.jpg

[Rock n' Blues]

I used to have a Warwick Corvette FNA 5 string, I liked it and the spacing was pretty nice too. The neck was great but the guitar itself looked like a bucket full of A-Holes, I sold it and bought my Nano-Amp with part of the proceeds.http://www.warwickbass.com/images/fna5.jpg

I'm not sure that I like that Warwick look either. I play a four-string Fender Jazz. My bass instructor has several five and six-string Warwicks, so I'm assuming they must be pretty good. He says he hasn't owned a four-string bass in fifteen years.

[TeleTristan]

I bought it for a really good price from a friend... the top horn is extremely phallyc in shape... I just couldn't get into the thing, it played nice but that shape.

[Peaceful]

Samick is the largest manufacturer of stringed instruments in the world. It's true...a lot of the Korean brands are really made by Samick...including some Epiphones.

Thanks. Rock. It was kinda scarely spending all that money on an unknown (to me) brand. But your words encourage me. More than that, the way the instrument plays convinced me I done good.

Moral of the story? Trust your teacher.

[FadedCayenne]

thumper...i will never be able to think of you as anything other than that kid we told to go jerk off.

[t_shirtsnjeans]

I played a Samick 5 for years, only I had a high C instead of low B. I loved it, the only problem I had was the jack for the cord, I just learned to wrap the cord up through my strap to keep it in. It had actives, gold hardware, and very thin neck. I chose to go with 100's on the low E to 25 on the C and it was very nice on bends and I could play it for hours on end.
I eventually sold it since I didn't plan on playing bass again.
The two octave neck and string spacing worked well for me on a lot of stuff that I couldn't do with a 4 and a shorter neck, or one with less frets.

[Rogue Axel]

My dad thinks i should get one. does anyone have one?

A very cheap bass but has worked for me for a long time, and has been very reliable is the Rogue LX405 (I think, its one of the rogue series)

It has a close string setup though, so unless you are a younger players with smaller hands or someone who is used to that, then it might have some challenges, but will probably work well.