5 or 6?

[The_angry_bassplayer]

I've been playing for 11 months now and have just recently joined a new band. We write our own stuff and alot of it uses Drop D etc. and the general lowerend notes that most metally type bands use. I have an Ibanez Ergodyne EDB600 (which i love), but practicing today i realised instead of tuning my four string down, maybe go for a 5 or 6 string. I dunno which one to go for though, any suggestions?

Oh, and can you also suggest some 5 & 6 string models within the £500 mark, cheers

The AnGry Ba$$ PlAy£r :thumb:

[rh15951]

I've been playing for 11 months now and have just recently joined a new band. We write our own stuff and alot of it uses Drop D etc. and the general lowerend notes that most metally type bands use. I have an Ibanez Ergodyne EDB600 (which i love), but practicing today i realised instead of tuning my four string down, maybe go for a 5 or 6 string. I dunno which one to go for though, any suggestions?

Oh, and can you also suggest some 5 & 6 string models within the £500 mark, cheers

The AnGry Ba$$ PlAy£r :thumb:

Go for a 5 string. Try out Ibanez BTB405 and Yamaha RBX775 to start with.

[Foxfire]

Neither, ERBs are for people with small penises.

You don't want people to think yours is small, do you?

[jcs497]

Definitely 5...only get 6 if you really think you'll be needing a lot of high notes.

[EADG]

Neither, ERBs are for people with small penises.

You don't want people to think yours is small, do you?


He's not bashing them, he's interested in one. So help him out.

[jcs497]

Neither, ERBs are for people with small penises.

You don't want people to think yours is small, do you?
Good one :lol:

[Belfast Bassist]

well if your only looking for the low-end notes, 5 looks like your best bet. And since you already have and Ibanez, if your happy with it then i suggest you check out their fivers, they are all excellent basses, and most are under £500 (in NI anyway).

[Foxfire]

He's not bashing them, he's interested in one. So help him out.

Way to ruin my fun. :upset:

Try out 5s and 6s. I've seen tons of people who won't touch 5s but love 6s, and vice versa. Also take into consideration your needs. Don't be afraid of other ways of stringing either one (EADGC, F#BEADG).

It's a shame you're in the UK, because RondoMusic is a great way to test the water, in my opinion.

[Psychopsilocybin]

Ibanez BTB 405 would be a good first 5 stringer, it has 35 inch scale, mid scoop, which other 5 stringers in that price range don't have. If you have smaller hands, go with the sr505, it's got smaller string spacing. ANd if your feeling adventurous, go with the sr506 6 stringer :yes:

[Down'd Angel]

i would suggest 5 since you are looking for the lower end of the extra range...

you could just rearrange the strings to get EADGC if you wanted the higher notes...

EDIT: i strike the second notion for rh15951 on the yamaha rbx 775...i own the 374 and love it...i love the 774, but when i bought it, it was discontinued here in the US..:upset:

[Bassinator89]

Man, I just picked up a 4 with D tuner, so easy. If thats the only reason you want a 5er get a D! or go all the way and get a 6.

[Linkinbassist]

I'd reccomend a 6 string. i played a fetless 5 and the stringing felt awkward. On my 6er, the spacing is really nice, and you have the added extra of a C string...But try a 5 and a 6 (same make, same model line so there is no manufacture bias) and see what suits your hands...

[Foxfire]

Come on, I'd love to see someone running around with a 6er tuned F#BEADG.

:)

[Linkinbassist]

Come on, I'd love to see someone running around with a 6er tuned F#BEADG.

:)

wouldn't you need a new amp as well? to handle that low F#?

[rh15951]

Come on, I'd love to see someone running around with a 6er tuned F#BEADG.

:)

I'm gona try F#BEAD on my 5 now. Once I get a fat enough string for the F# :chug:

[Foxfire]

wouldn't you need a new amp as well? to handle that low F#?

Meh, I'm sure it'd be more of a problem if you had a low C#.

[rh15951]

Meh, I'm sure it'd be more of a problem if you had a low C#.

ampwise would be OK, you might perhaps need some 15/18" cabs?

[Foxfire]

ampwise would be OK, you might perhaps need some 15/18" cabs?

That's what I was referring to. ;) Well, you could always get the overtones...

[rh15951]

That's what I was referring to. ;) Well, you could always get the overtones...

Yeah I'm not sure a low F# would play too well through my 2x10 :p Any ideas where to get a suitable guage string in the UK?

[Phalanx]

Definitely 5...only get 6 if you really think you'll be needing a lot of high notes.
alot? i fail to see how 5 higher notes is "a lot". Useful? incredibly.

I'd go for a six string, you might find the extra strings incredibly useful (i sure did) and the advantages are incredible, more hand positions, higher notes, lower notes, double popping, ability to play some guitar parts. The list carries on and lets face it, six strings are becoming more and more popular on the boards these days, so try one out to say the least :thumb:

Yeah I'm not sure a low F# would play too well through my 2x10 Any ideas where to get a suitable guage string in the UK?

How does your 2x10 handle a low B?

[The_angry_bassplayer]

Cheers guys, they do a 5 string of my EDB600. It may be worth checkin out., dunno. And if anyone was curious my girlfriend just told me not to worry bout the small willy remark, the guy who said it probably has issues. lol :thumb:

[rh15951]

alot? i fail to see how 5 higher notes is "a lot". Useful? incredibly.

I'd go for a six string, you might find the extra strings incredibly useful (i sure did) and the advantages are incredible, more hand positions, higher notes, lower notes, double popping, ability to play some guitar parts. The list carries on and lets face it, six strings are becoming more and more popular on the boards these days, so try one out to say the least :thumb:



How does your 2x10 handle a low B?

Pretty well because I tuned it to handle that region :thumb: the downside is that it is a quite a large box :smash:

[Foxfire]

Cheers guys, they do a 5 string of my EDB600. It may be worth checkin out., dunno. And if anyone was curious my girlfriend just told me not to worry bout the small willy remark, the guy who said it probably has issues. lol :thumb:

She ever say anything about taking things too seriously? :-/

[Phalanx]

small willy, lol, its not the size that matters but how you use it....






and just for the record, I have a massive penis

[The_angry_bassplayer]

Haha nah i just thought wen she said it i had to add it, any way its not the size of the boat, its the motion of the ocean!

[LewsTherin]

small willy, lol, its not the size that matters but how you use it....






and just for the record, I have a massive penis



right. having a small one is okay.




not that i do. mine is prodigious.




oh, and foxfire, you have a gt-7, right?

what do you think of it?

[rh15951]

Any ideas where to get a suitable guage string for a low F# in the UK?

I don't know, perhaps someone else could answer this question?? :p :thumb:

[Phalanx]

Haha nah i just thought wen she said it i had to add it, any way its not the size of the boat, its the motion of the ocean!

stop talking about genitals. you lack maturity

[rh15951]

stop talking about genitals. you lack maturity

stop talking about maturity. you lack genitals

:p

[Phalanx]

stop talking about maturity. you lack genitals

:p

you sly little devil you :p

Christ, this thread has gone in an odd direction :lol:

[rh15951]

you sly little devil you :p

Christ, this thread has gone in an odd direction :lol:

sure has :chug:

[The_angry_bassplayer]

yeh

I like Carrot cake

it like two great things together.........carrots and cake!

[Belfast Bassist]

Man, I just picked up a 4 with D tuner, so easy. If thats the only reason you want a 5er get a D! or go all the way and get a 6.

Are those those things where you flick a lever and it releases tension and downtunes your bass?
Or am i way off?

[Linkinbassist]

you sly little devil you :p

Christ, this thread has gone in an odd direction :lol:

yes, it has...


*shifty, shifty eyes*...

[Phalanx]

Are those those things where you flick a lever and it releases tension and downtunes your bass?
Or am i way off?

spot on :thumb:

[Belfast Bassist]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Belfast Bassist
Are those those things where you flick a lever and it releases tension and downtunes your bass?
Or am i way off?


spot on

Is there a "proper" name for them other than "those things where you flick a lever", cause im quite interested in the idea of one.

[The_angry_bassplayer]

Howd u go about gettin a D tuner? or is it a prfitted thing like the rythm switch on a les paul (i havnt come across a D tuner B4)

[Phalanx]

you just flip this lever and it drops the string's tuning a whole tone

[Belfast Bassist]

Howd u go about gettin a D tuner? or is it a prfitted thing like the rythm switch on a les paul (i havnt come across a D tuner B4)

Just found some, google search "bass extender", its a replacement machine-head for your E string.

or if your lazy, http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Bass/Hipshot_Bass_Extender_Keys.html

[LewsTherin]

Howd u go about gettin a D tuner? or is it a prfitted thing like the rythm switch on a les paul (i havnt come across a D tuner B4)


http://www.hipshot.com

or

http://www.bestbassgear.com

or

http://www.allparts.com

or

http://www.warmoth.com

[Sergio]

Cheers guys, they do a 5 string of my EDB600. It may be worth checkin out., dunno. And if anyone was curious my girlfriend just told me not to worry bout the small willy remark, the guy who said it probably has issues. lol :thumb:


Before you get a 5 or a 6, think about whether or not your band uses open D a lot (if you're tuned to drop D). We use the open low-D a lot in my band, so having to fret it on the low B string would be annoying.

That said, I think the EDB would be an awesome choice. I've always loved Ibanez's Ergodyne basses. :thumb:

[Phalanx]

Before you get a 5 or a 6, think about whether or not your band uses open D a lot (if you're tuned to drop D). We use the open low-D a lot in my band, so having to fret it on the low B string would be annoying.

That said, I think the EDB would be an awesome choice. I've always loved Ibanez's Ergodyne basses. :thumb:

I can assure you the 3rd fret on the B string is not annoying to fret :thumb:

[Sergio]

I can assure you the 3rd fret on the B string is not annoying to fret :thumb:


It is if you're trying to play Lamb Of God style riffs, with all the chugging away on the open D.

[LewsTherin]

I can assure you the 3rd fret on the B string is not annoying to fret :thumb:

it can be, if you play open riffs on whats suppose to be the D string.

[Phalanx]

it can be, if you play open riffs on whats suppose to be the D string.

Not really, I once had to play quite alot of Nickelback (yeah, we stop cos they suck) and i quite enjoyed having to change hand positions from the tabs to suite playing the D on the B and not open. it was annoying at first but it really helps not having to juggle tunings on stage

[Linkinbassist]

Not really, I once had to play quite alot of Nickelback (yeah, we stop cos they suck) and i quite enjoyed having to change hand positions from the tabs to suite playing the D on the B and not open. it was annoying at first but it really helps not having to juggle tunings on stage

doesn't nickelbacks bassist use a 5 string spector anyway?

[Phalanx]

doesn't nickelbacks bassist use a 5 string spector anyway?

all the tabs I got were in Drop D :confused:

[Bassinator89]

doesn't nickelbacks bassist use a 5 string spector anyway?


Isn't it a warwick?

[Sergio]

Isn't it a warwick?

He's a Spector guy to the max. :thumb:

And the open-D usage I'm talking about is a bit harder than Nickelback. :p

[vashts80]

Fretting a D on the B-string would be hard if you have to jump around a lot...yes I know you can change positions of where you play the notes, but say you were playing

A|-----12-12-12
D|0000----------

or something....it'd be hard to string jump if you were playing death metal-like fast...

Screw it, I'm rambling.

I'd definitely go for a 6er. I have a 5 string, but now I have gas for a 6 because I don't want neck problems on my 5, and since I tune tenor with a normal 5-string set of strings (minus the 2nd thickest string which is .95 instead of .110) it can cause neck problems. Not to mention I sometimes tune down so I can play Nile

Speaking of which, if I was in AEADG tuning, what gauge should my low A be? I'm using a .132 right now with the highest possible action on my fretless and it still flops around quite easily.

[BenJammin]

I'd for for 6. It allows for less position changing. The C string is always nice to have around, but if you don't use it, just restring the bass with a low F#.

[thelowsoundofbass]

Fretting a D on the B-string would be hard if you have to jump around a lot...yes I know you can change positions of where you play the notes, but say you were playing

A|-----12-12-12
D|0000----------

or something....it'd be hard to string jump if you were playing death metal-like fast...


what about playing

g|-2-2-2------
b|-------3-3-3

???

but look at the ibanez sr305dx very lovely bass for the price (i should know, its my main bass)

lowsound

[vashts80]

Like I said, if you were playing death metal-like fast, skipping strings like that would be hard.

[thelowsoundofbass]

Like I said, if you were playing death metal-like fast, skipping strings like that would be hard.

no it wouldn't, and death meatl doesn't need to be played fast all the time. its the drums that drive the fastness of death metal, not bass

lowsound

[Linkinbassist]

no it wouldn't, and death meatl doesn't need to be played fast all the time. its the drums that drive the fastness of death metal, not bass

lowsound

...Now melodic prog death metal, with uber fast riffing is your main concern...

[thelowsoundofbass]

...Now melodic prog death metal, with uber fast riffing is your main concern...

that would be why i am learning to tap :thumb:

lowsound

[JBass]

if you're gunna go 5, you might as well go 6, having extra notes is neevr a bad thing, plus you get the chance to be more creative when the time aclls for it. Its also much more fun to jam on a 6 IMO...suggested models: Ibanez SR505 an 506 (depending on whether u want 5 or 6), Or if ur lookin to spend a bit more money try to find a warwick on ebay or something, the lows on them are amazing

[TheBassman238]

I've been playing for 11 months now and have just recently joined a new band. We write our own stuff and alot of it uses Drop D etc. and the general lowerend notes that most metally type bands use. I have an Ibanez Ergodyne EDB600 (which i love), but practicing today i realised instead of tuning my four string down, maybe go for a 5 or 6 string. I dunno which one to go for though, any suggestions?

Oh, and can you also suggest some 5 & 6 string models within the £500 mark, cheers

The AnGry Ba$$ PlAy£r :thumb:

Only go 5 or 6 if your comfortable with it... neck wise and feel other wise insted of helping you it will only slow you down. Also if your thinking 6 think if your guna use the high C.

But i own a 6er and i'd never go back(to owning only 4 that is). Its all personal prefrance

-TBM

[Alma]

It all depends. Try them both out.

I always craved 6 strings, but now im a 5 stringer guy. After playing more and more 6ers ive discovered that the bigger, flatter necks just aren't for me. I feel right at home on 5ers.

Its all personal preference.

[Acrophobia]

I personally say go for 5. I've had my share of 6-stringers but have now gone back to 4- and 5-stringers since I knew nothing about theory when playing them and so I became pretty useless to still have one (I hardly use the C-string).

[skingle]

I was in the same situation as you, I wasn't sure if i would have wanted the higher notes or not.I got a 5 and regretted it because now i want that higher notes. Its your call really.

[rh15951]

Speaking of which, if I was in AEADG tuning, what gauge should my low A be? I'm using a .132 right now with the highest possible action on my fretless and it still flops around quite easily.

try a .140 or .145

[Phalanx]

try a .140 or .145

wow, can you get B strings with that gauge, could you tell me where? I've long wanted a high gauge B string, 135s aren't cutting it for me

[rh15951]

wow, can you get B strings with that gauge, could you tell me where? I've long wanted a high gauge B string, 135s aren't cutting it for me

the fattest ive seen is .140

http://www.stringbusters.com/frameset.asp?MAIN=http://www.stringbusters.com/ko-kat/SINGLE%20STRINGS/BASS/ROTOSOUND/

[Phalanx]

the fattest ive seen is .140

http://www.stringbusters.com/frameset.asp?MAIN=http://www.stringbusters.com/ko-kat/SINGLE%20STRINGS/BASS/ROTOSOUND/

thanks for that, im tempted to order one

[rh15951]

thanks for that, im tempted to order one

me too once i choose which 4 string set to buy to go with it on my 5 string :p
.135 just isnt good enough :smash: