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That extra string will let you grab a bunch of low root notes like Eb, D and C so you won't have to go up for them, but then depending on your style maybe you grab notes below the root a lot anyway. If you're already grabbing say the G and F below a C then you'd maybe have less to gain than a player who mostly just adds chord tones above the root.
i guess what I'm saying is that it probably has more to do with your playing style than the genres you pay in.
Stand By Me.
That beautiful descending bass line gorgeously mooches on down to E but then you run out of notes and have to fly up an octave for the D notes which so obviously wants to be the lowest note in the phrase. Doesn't bother me enough to upgrade from my £45 Westfield bass though!
Be aware that the necks are a fair bit wider on a 5 string bass and you may not find you like that. Give it a play and see what you think. More range is only an upgrade if you use it and/or prefer that bass over your old one.
It is your call, but the large majority of players in those genres don't have a 5 string and most of the songs don't require them.
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And you can always tune your bottom string down to D to play Stand By Me...
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
I have sometimes wondered about tuning my bass BEAD exactly for that reason. So still four .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Fwiw I have a 4 string tuned standard & a 5 tuned DGCFA#
I cant say I've ever seen a lot of country bands but I did see the late Betsy Smittle once and she played 5 string and I'm pretty sure it was to reduce the stretches rather than for throwing in a few death metal licks.
The guy who plays bass in Toots and the Maytalls has a 6 string bass. He's quite fascinating to watch. These are songs from the 60s and 70s so he isn't using the extended rang up or down but to play stuff in one position. He's like a bass playing statue.
I think I will probably go for putting it in BEAD eventually - I went through the whole set list and I literally never touch the G string. It sounds thin compared to the other ones anyway - I prefer to play high notes by sliding up on one of the big strings, it sounds much better.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Playing up an octave doesn't always work, particularly in complex pieces with lots of instruments- playing up can get in the way of the other instruments. Everything needs its space.
And anyone who claims bass should be 4 string because that is traditional needs a slap.
the first double bass had 3 strings.
Bottesini was the reason they went to 4 because he, as the first bass virtuoso, needed it.
So anyone who says 4 only for that reason should only be playing 3 and should remove the G.
Never buy a 5 string unseen. On modest price instructions the low B can often be awful. Have to find a good one. Many bang on about needing a 35 scale but that's just not true. It's all about the quality of the construction and rigidity of the neck.
Cheaper instruments may benefit from 35 scale but the very best B I've ever heard is in a 34 inch scale instrument. So I bought it.
https://soundcertified.com/speaker-ohms-calculator/
Just for the wrong reason .
I did know that actually - a friend of mine has a very old double bass that was originally built as a 3-string and later modified, there's a plugged hole in the headstock where the peg spacing was moved.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein