chris_b Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 D tuners are fine if you have a 4 string bass and want the occasional use of some extra notes, but a 5 string bass is an instrument in its own right, and gives the player so much more than just a few low notes. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Another vote for the hipshot great piece of kit and as previously stated keep it property vasolined and graphite the nut. (that would be a strange conversation to walk into…) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
such Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Depends if you intend to do any heavy riffage with the open low string really. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelDean Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 I've never had a d tuner, but I've been in a originals post-rock band where swapping from drop d to regular tuning was required. I just turned on my tuner and retuned between songs. Didn't seem like a big deal at the time. I also spent time in a hip hop covers band and a function type band where a 5 string made a lot more sense. It's all horses for courses. If you picked up a second hand 4 and have a hunt for a d tuner, and it doesn't work out for you, you could probably pass it on again without losing much. Just don't necessarily get rid of the 5er straight away. Or at all. I like having different basses around that inspire me differently. I feel like sometimes the limitations of a 4 make me play a certain way. Other times, I want a 5 to expand my options. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 I just use a drop pedal and save a while lot of messing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 (For various reasons) I ended up with a heavily-strung (50-110) 4 string tuned to D standard. If I want E standard, I put a capo on the second fret. It wasn't at all what I had envisaged, and was driven by circumstances I hadn't forseen coupled with a touch of laziness on my part. The end result is really rather good, though. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 19 hours ago, chris_b said: D tuners are fine if you have a 4 string bass and want the occasional use of some extra notes, but a 5 string bass is an instrument in its own right, and gives the player so much more than just a few low notes. It is indeed. But for that one song where the vocalist struggles in the original key... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 5 hours ago, Bassfinger said: I just use a drop pedal and save a while lot of messing. I wasn’t aware of these, will check out, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted September 27, 2021 Author Share Posted September 27, 2021 Cheers all. It looks like there's no Basschat group-think so as with most of these things the conclusion is probably 'try yourself as it's all personal preference'. I'm gonna keep the 5 but might also get a cheap 4 and muck about with different tunings/hipshot/pedal etc. I've always been a one Bass person but should probably get over that mindset....it's a slippery slope though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 1 minute ago, SumOne said: I've always been a one Bass person but should probably get over that mindset. . . Why? What's wrong with being a one bass person? If it's a good bass and gets the job done, then who needs any more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted September 27, 2021 Author Share Posted September 27, 2021 Just now, chris_b said: Why? What's wrong with being a one bass person? If it's a good bass and gets the job done, then who needs any more? Yeah, it's mostly 'want' rather than 'need'. I guess 'the job' to get done can be quite different for someone wanting to play 70's slap to someone wanting to play low-tuned Doom or someone playing 60's Motown so I suppose having different Basses is a bit like having different cars, or bikes, or shoes....they all get the same basic job done, but some are better at specific jobs than others and just make things a bit easier or more fun - not really needed though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 1 hour ago, chris_b said: Why? What's wrong with being a one bass person? If it's a good bass and gets the job done, then who needs any more? Very true. But if God had meant bass players to have just one bass, She wouldn't have given @ped the idea of Basschat! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Al Krow said: Very true. But if God had meant bass players to have just one bass, She wouldn't have given @ped the idea of Basschat! Quite right too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Al Krow said: Very true. But if God had meant bass players to have just one bass, She wouldn't have given @ped the idea of Basschat! Except IIRC Ped borrowed the idea off the owner of "Bassworld" who probably borrowed the idea off TalkBass... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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