OK, so I'll say this about a 5 String Bass

One things that's great you can play in a Box, i.e. the fifth goes straight up from the Root.and in standard pitch you get the low B in the key of E Bowel moving low.

 
Reece don't need no steenkin' 5-string bass...
 
 
He's happy with a 4-string...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tuned: B E A G
 
 

Same goes for guitars.
It really adds a whole new spectrum to guitars.

I really need an guitar with a low A#, but since i could only afford 20% of the price of one, i revived my old six-string to A# standard tuning using special strings (Now it looks even better than my main guitar). So now my problem is i need a bass that will compensate for that tuning, so right this instant, i just finished dismantling a war-torn bass guitar and planning to sand and refurbish (first time i'm gonna do it, so it's basically like studying too ).

You need a 7-string bass (L is 7 upside down)

oh brother!

After trying to build one and being a guitarist I'll say this...
I don't like them.

I think if lows that low are needed they should be provided by a synth.

There are too many complications in tone and tuning, not to mention playing it.

Adding a 5th string to the high end makes more sense to me.

The additional cost and effort for the few gained notes isn't worth it to me.

Never say never...but I'll probably never build another one with a low B.


Techical reasons- the 34" scale leaves the string tension with to much slack and
that contributes to tonal and tuning issues.
With a longer scale, 35"+, that increases string tension and may be the best
scale for this. I can't confirm as I'm not a bassist, never played a long scale but
it makes common sense to me.
Should I be right then players with small hands looking to play a 5+ string long scale
may have issues.
I also learned that string spacing for a 5 string has multiple choices. No more than I know
about the differences I picked the "normal" opposed to "wide". Not being a bassist and understanding the differences for the "feel" or technique's of playing the bass I simple chose the "normal".

I knew about tonal issues and tuning issues before I built it. It seems to be the nature
of the beast. I don't know. I do know that many try to resolve the issue with tapered strings as I informed Bapu.
All in all to me it means that all the "bugs" haven't been worked out or that it is just not
a good idea.
My opinion, as I previously stated, it is not a good idea to me for many reasons...but I'm not a bassist.

I'll also add that should one be thinking about getting one they may also want to get a
strobe tuner - full range in order to detect those lows.
 

And Bapu isn't Bapu without an Am note.

Lm?

LFB

(Low Flying Beagles)

Beagle




LE

Am u Be a Gle?

spacey


After trying to build one and being a guitarist I'll say this...
I don't like them.

I think if lows that low are needed they should be provided by a synth.

There are too many complications in tone and tuning, not to mention playing it.

Adding a 5th string to the high end makes more sense to me.

The additional cost and effort for the few gained notes isn't worth it to me.

Some people will claim a 5 isn't about the extra low notes, but I don't really get that. I guess maybe they like getting extra notes without having to shift positions. Personally, I wouldn't recommend a 5-er as a general purpose instrument, unless you specifically need one. Some people use them to great effect though.

Never say never...but I'll probably never build another one with a low B.  


Techical reasons- the 34" scale leaves the string tension with to much slack and
that contributes to tonal and tuning issues.
With a longer scale, 35"+, that increases string tension and may be the best
scale for this. I can't confirm as I'm not a bassist, never played a long scale but
it makes common sense to me.
Should I be right then players with small hands looking to play a 5+ string long scale
may have issues.
I also learned that string spacing for a 5 string has multiple choices. No more than I know
about the differences I picked the "normal" opposed to "wide". Not being a bassist and understanding the differences for the "feel" or technique's of playing the bass I simple chose the "normal".

The string spacing depends on how you play - I think people who play slap often like wider spacing. Others like wide because it matches the individual string spacing on a typical 4-string that they're used to.

I knew about tonal issues and tuning issues before I built it. It seems to be the nature
of the beast. I don't know. I do know that many try to resolve the issue with tapered strings as I informed Bapu.

Some types of strings provide a bit more tension (at the same gauge) to reduce the floppiness of the low B enough to make a difference. I tried DR Low Riders (45, 65, 85, 105, 130), based on some recommendations I read, and found they made a quite noticeable difference over "normal" RW's of the same gauge. Made the floppiness no longer a big deal on my 34" scale G&L 5.

All in all to me it means that all the "bugs" haven't been worked out or that it is just not 
a good idea.
My opinion, as I previously stated, it is not a good idea to me for many reasons...but I'm not a bassist.

In terms of the physics of it, I suppose the truth is all basses have some compromises due to the laws of physics, but it can be a bit exacerbated by those extra low notes. I think Leo Fender just happened on the 34" long scale standard as a good compromise between upright basses and what a guitar player adopting this new instrument could accept. Bass instruments will almost always present more challenges with size and weight, and the lower you go the bigger the challenges.

I'll also add that should one be thinking about getting one they may also want to get a
strobe tuner - full range in order to detect those lows.
   

I never found tuning to be a particularly big problem. Typical tuners might have problems quickly locking onto the low B (sometimes even low E), but it's not a big deal.


Personally, I'm mostly completely happy playing a 4, especially with a D-tuner on the E to get that low D easily. But it's fun, or even necessary, to have the extra notes sometimes.

And as Bapu has already discovered, I find you have to treat it as a different instrument to get the most out of it. 


Not debating you, just some rambling thoughts.

spacey



Techical reasons- the 34" scale leaves the string tension with to much slack and
that contributes to tonal and tuning issues.
With a longer scale, 35"+, that increases string tension and may be the best
scale for this. I can't confirm as I'm not a bassist, never played a long scale but
it makes common sense to me.
Should I be right then players with small hands looking to play a 5+ string long scale
may have issues.

[...]
I'll also add that should one be thinking about getting one they may also want to get a
strobe tuner - full range in order to detect those lows.
 

You're spot-on - to get those low tones with any clarity, you've got to have the long-scale, 35" or even 36" necks because given the frequencies you're working with, any less will be hobbled with perpetual "slap and slack" problems.

And... you're right, this creates issues for bassists with smaller hands because the longer neck means wider spacing  for the frets... I'd think that someone with small hands wanting to play a 5 would probably have to have a custom instrument made specifically for his/her hand size - there'd be some complicated design needs to work out.

And yes... strobe/electronic tuner is a mandatory thing... some of it's my hearing loss, but I've heard others say that the B is so low that hearing harmonics to reference from is almost impossible.

Russell.Whaley

spacey



Techical reasons- the 34" scale leaves the string tension with to much slack and
that contributes to tonal and tuning issues.
With a longer scale, 35"+, that increases string tension and may be the best
scale for this. I can't confirm as I'm not a bassist, never played a long scale but
it makes common sense to me.
Should I be right then players with small hands looking to play a 5+ string long scale
may have issues.

[...]
I'll also add that should one be thinking about getting one they may also want to get a
strobe tuner - full range in order to detect those lows.

You're spot-on - to get those low tones with any clarity, you've got to have the long-scale, 35" or even 36" necks because given the frequencies you're working with, any less will be hobbled with perpetual "slap and slack" problems.

And... you're right, this creates issues for bassists with smaller hands because the longer neck means wider spacing  for the frets... I'd think that someone with small hands wanting to play a 5 would probably have to have a custom instrument made specifically for his/her hand size - there'd be some complicated design needs to work out.

And yes... strobe/electronic tuner is a mandatory thing... some of it's my hearing loss, but I've heard others say that the B is so low that hearing harmonics to reference from is almost impossible.

I was wondering, for a short time about my hearing when I first strung it up that I may have hearing issues. It didn't take long
though to realize that is not the case. It's also nice to hear confirmation.

Should one build to a longer scale, 35 or 35" there is a tremendous about of tension. Although I don't know as I haven't built one I
can assume that the tension on the smaller strings is borderline of failure. I'm guessing at that point a luthier may want to
contemplate fan frets and multiple scale lengths.  Beyond my current ability/knowledge. I do find it interesting though.

I'm looking forward to my next guitar builds....they are much, much easier compared to the bass....IMHO.

Definite +1 on treating it as its own instrument, instead of as a 4-string with an extra string.  The 5s really do handle differently. Some of it seems to be related to the wider neck, but there's something, too, about fingering technique that's different.  I find my hand position coming closer to what you'd use with an upright bass in some respects, whilst with a 4 I tend more to be similar to a 6-string guitar.  Hard to describe.

Some day when I can afford it, I want to add a 6 to my collection and see how that compares to 5 and 4 as a regular-use instrument.

PS - This is a very pleasant thread .  I keep worrying that someone from upstairs might come by and decide we're not being combative enough...

A 5 String bass is the cure for the eventual sit in on a live Gig, Example:

In 2001 I played in a Blues/Rock trio here in New Mexico. We got a Gig at a local brewery and long about the 3rd set a Local band showed up and wanted to sit for a few songs. They were a Mexican conjuntos band who liquored up enough guts to ask. Being the helpful gents that we were we agreed to give em 3 songs at the beginning of the last set. I asked the Bass player if he knew how to play a 5 String and he said he didn't so I infatically informed him what ever you do forget about that top string and play the bottom 4 as if it were a normal Bass. well he didn't and I have to say that the eclectic mix of  Jazz/Fushion/Avante Garde/MexicanBand has still got me giggling to this day.