kwmlondon

Just to chip in my 5p's worth. My first experience of playing 5 sting was an Ibanez SR505. I loved the range and the approach and the neck was lovely and slim and fast which suited my small-ish hands, but I found it too difficult to play with a pick or to slap so I went the other way when I though "okay, I'm really into this, gonna go all-in" and got a Dingwall Combustion. Sometimes it is a bit of a challenge, either at near the first or 24th frets but to me it's mainly a technique thing. I mean, check this out: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=183742793618209 Not saying comfort's not something to consider but I was happy to learn to adapt to a wide string spacing and a long neck in exchange for a saleable, pickable bass.

Just got a Markbas LM gig bag that was just as described and a fair price, arrived in decent time and communication was spot on. Could not ask for a better process. Thank you Ash!

Pfft. I can sound EXACTLY like Victor Wooten. For one note. It all falls apart after that but that one note, man .... it's amazing!

Well, playing a bass isn't exactly rocket science is it? It's just whacking a few strings on a bit of wood, any idiot can do it, if that's your way of thinking.

I know but I DO LOIKE A CHALLENGE!!!

Yep. Am doing!

Yeah, there is a Larry Graham line that needs the open E to ring out while popping the E and D on the 10th and 8th frets of the first string... it's one of my favourites!

I can't. There's lines I play where I need open strings to be ringing out so not an option.

You know, slower can be a lot harder…

Yes it is just practice but there are definitely some compromises. Working out what you can get away with is where the experience comes in..

Well I have 3 basses: a 5 string, a 4 string with flats and a 4 string with wounds which do very different jobs. I’m finding it a lot easier to slap on the 5 string for sure!

Yeah you’re not wrong. There’s a reason why people splat (predictive text slap) on a 4 but that low b can be addictive!!!!

I think it’s the agility I’m missing. It’s not a natural thing, takes a lot of thought. Cheers for the input though, much appreciated.

Well, you could just ditch the bass altogether and have a kazoo, a microphone and an octave pedal.

Yeah, I think that I need to bring a whole range of techniques into play. I'm not trying anything wootenesque but there are some absolutely delicious Larrry Graham lines that need open strings to ring out - Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself has an open E while playing a few octaves higher so on an 5 string keeping the B from ringing out is a pain...

Yeah, this is what I'm doing - reaching over with the thumb for some sections then extending the index finger across at others I think the really tricky maneuvre is switching from one to the other. I'm also using the flesh of my palm to touch on the B and E strings when I can just to temporarily cut of any ringing. I'm a bit of a stickler for muting so it's driving me a bit mad! I guess it's just practise but man it feel fiendish...

Good tip. Thanks.

You've got to be a frigging octopus!!! Honestly... Gaaaaaahhhhhh! Absolutely no problem with fingers - floating thumb. Pick, bit more difficult but I've got it down but I'm in my early days of slap and I think I'm gonna have to put down the Dingwall and get back on the 4-string for a while. Anyone else get frustrated with ringing strings when slapping? And I can't really resort to one of those wrap things as some stuff needs open strings to ring out...

Bought a gig bag - super transaction, very good to deal with, I'm very happy. Thank you Graham!