Advantage of 5 string bass

[fronobulax]

Well that, and the kind of music we're playing in the band doesn't really lend itself to five strings, anyway. :roll:

I'm with you there Sandy. Nobody was playing a 5'vr in the 60' and 70's! Now if you're playin' stoner/doom metal it's mandatory! (And tuned down three or four steps!)

You can always tune B-E-A-D and still use your 4-string bass.

Well you could but when I try it the results are less than satisfactory, mostly because the strings feel loose and floppy.

 

[krysh]

...
Well you could but when I try it the results are less than satisfactory, mostly because the strings feel loose and floppy.

use thicker or tighter strings, jamie.

 

[fronobulax]

...
Well you could but when I try it the results are less than satisfactory, mostly because the strings feel loose and floppy.

use thicker or tighter strings, jamie.

*snicker*

I suppose we should consider how much I really wanted to be in the alternative tuning :lol:

 

[mgod]

You can always tune B-E-A-D and still use your 4-string bass.

I've done that since 1985 with my Steinberger fretless. It requires an adjustment of technique, but any time you change basses you have to adjust anyway. You can hear it on a few records.

Same set of strings on there since 1987 (no idea what they are, RT treated them cryogenically and sent them as a test to see how long they'd last, but I never knew the brand. 25 years and still perfect).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu2H3X4lTmE