Are 5 strings necessary for playing metal?

That makes more sense, I was puzzled by your initial description ;)

Anyway, the ammount of adjusting you need to make to fit that fat B on your Wick depends on the gauge of the strings set; I'm currently using Dunlop Light (60 - 120) and it goes in without any modification whatsoever. Another fellow Wick owner told me he's using 130s and that it still works without any nut & bridge adjustment...
 
maiden black sabbath dio early metallice accept and many others use a four string.i play mostly metal until my jazz playing freinds drag me out.and i have always used a four when i wanted lower i would restring a extra bass.i'm lazey and at home i keep bass's with different tunnings for different songs so i don't have to retune for then.i put a older five sting rb on layaway so in a couple of months i'll give fives a try again.
 
Thanks for all the responses guys.

I went and tried out a cheap schecter 5-string and the tone wasn't too terrible, but I'm way attached to my Warwick to do anything but. I'll definitely keep the BEAD idea in mind. Until then, I guess we'll keep writing some awesome tunage in Db :P
 
I use both a 4 and 5 for Metal(death, thrash, etc.) All things considered I prefer the 4-string - and certainly would NEVER part with with my Warwick for a "cheap" 5. I've been into and playing Metal for over 25 years. Personally I think down-tuning(way down that is) is overrated and overdone. Most of the classic stuff I love to this day was done in either standard tuning or maybe down one half or whole step - and sounded monstrously heavy.
 
I'm gonna have to agree with the posts involving dramatic downtuning not being anywhere near necessary. Those videos that were posted of Lamb of God, for example, are heavy as anything and they only go down to Drop D tuning!
 
It is no secret that Warwick makes one of the best sounding 5 string basses out there and you would just gain if obtained one. It is just a matter of getting used to (and that takes some time) if switching from 4 to 5 especially if you've never actually played one. If using drop tunings, some say that a down tuned 4 stringer sounds more metal than a 5 string in standard tuning, especially if you're using some over driven sounds. I've been playing 5 string basses mostly if not the most, but just to add my 2 cents, I'd say that it would be a good idea to have both - a 4 and a 5er.
=g=
 
My five was my first 'good' ie expensive bass. I basically bought as good as i could afford. And where i live a Jazzman was about as good as a five string as you could try in a shop. I saved for ages, found exactly what i wanted and made sure i woudn't have to upgrade for ages (although i dont know i you upgrade LX's, you can go different though.) The only time i bought a 'try it out' bass was a cheap fretless. And now i want a real one....a wick o'course. But i am probably going to be a predominantly fretted player. If you are thinking a fiver, get a good one. Fives aren't just for metal remember, they were developed by jazz players, used by all sorts, and can be tuned high C for solo work.
 
I prefer my 5 string Corvette for everything I do. I love almost all styles and Genres of music and My Vette always work well. I don't have a need for a 4 string but keep a P-bass on hand for studio work because some just about force me to use it. Once they work with the Corvette a bit, they forget all about the p-bass. If you only keep one bass, I recommend a 5 string.

It is certainly a lot easier to use a 4 string for drop d stuff especially once you get used to it but I enjoy my 5 string more.

I toured for 2 years playing Creed cover songs which are mostly in Drop D and always used my 5 string. It was harder than using a drop d bass. I became a better player because I could play any song in any key just by sliding my left hand up or down the neck.
 
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Owdkasd said:
I toured for 2 years playing Creed cover songs which are mostly in Drop D and always used my 5 string. It was harder than using a drop d bass. I became a better player because I could play any song in any key just by sliding my left hand up or down the neck.
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The reason I hate alternate tunings... Da bass is tuned in da fourths! (Sorry you weird tunerz out there) :)
 
My short answer to the thread topic is no, you don't need a 5 string. In my experience the low B just gets in my way and is actually used very little. The little metal project I'm in tunes to E flat. We were doing a whole step down to D but the guitardist is in anymore band that tunes to E flat and he doesn't care to constantly retune all the time. Whatever floats his boat.

This touches on a question I've had for awhile now about whether I personally even need a bass with 5 strings. I've owned them for years but I find myself using it less and less.
 
JSmith said:
My short answer to the thread topic is no, you don't need a 5 string. In my experience the low B just gets in my way and is actually used very little. The little metal project I'm in tunes to E flat. We were doing a whole step down to D but the guitardist is in anymore band that tunes to E flat and he doesn't care to constantly retune all the time. Whatever floats his boat.

This touches on a question I've had for awhile now about whether I personally even need a bass with 5 strings. I've owned them for years but I find myself using it less and less.
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You may not need a 5 string, Especially if you aren't using the B string. It's really a preference but, If you end up playing with some different people, you may need it more. I enjoy using the B string to move me further up the neck ie; Using the 8th fret of the B string for the Key of G. That allows you to get 2 full octaves within 5 frets of movement.
 
I have a Fortress Masterman 5 string I am looking to sell....if you are at all interested, shoot me a PM and I can give you info....
 
You can also try a D-tuner....they are not the most popular gadget amongst the forumites but they work. They have their flaws, they have a to-short string post, need lubing, can take some time to tuen (about 30 secs once you get used to it) but i have one on my four and it comes in handy, plus if its giving you the ♣♣♣♣s you can ignore it and it works like a normal tuner. Juts dont believe the hype about it tuning down 2-2.5 semitones. The wick head stock prevent this.
 
Some good replies on this thread!

If you need the G-string in your band I suggest you tune B ADG. This is not easy to play in some situations but be sure to advance you skill in fast movements and precision by far.
Best is you buy a good set of strings for a fiver, and first of all try stringing your Corvette Std, tuning in different ways and try it all out for yourself. If you still decide to get a fiver you already have some spare strings for it.
Don't be scared of trying new things out. Swapping in an instrument you love and are comfortable with just to get a five string version should be the last option.

Regards!
 
So obviously you don't need a fiver so keep your bass. Most of the greatest rock music have been made on four stringers and to my delicate ears it sounds horrible, when the entire band get into a pissing contest for the lows.
A fiver is nice, however. The two octave reach is really nice to have handy... and it's never too early to start a bass collection.

Shop around. Make sure from the start, it's a good one you are saving up for. A crappy bass, especially one with crappy electronics, will frustrate you no end, whereas a good bass can do you wonders.
I have bought cheap instruments just to try different things and it's really not worth it. Quality rules.

Rant over.
 
I have 4 basses i total....

2of them are warwick corvette rock basses....

1 of them is a 4 string and the others a 5 string

i use the 5 string most of the time even if i dont go anywere near the lowest string! Just prefure it, its comfyer to play and looks cool as fook :)

Buy a cheap rock bass 5 string.if you get on with it, ideal, if not, sell it on, get another bass and tune it BEAD whilst keeping your current one EADG ;)
 
Like they said.

You don't need more than 4 to play metal. Marco Hietala uses a 4 string Infinity & Vampyre...I think his strings are heavier gauge though, I'm not sure which but I can ask. + he uses a Hipshot D-tuner...think about one of those on the stock, that might help.

Aaannnndddd if it was me, I'd just save for a 5 string...I don't think I could part with my Corvette, it was fate that I got it. Don't sell it, if you love it as much as I love mine, you'll regret selling.


Stupid YouTube won't let me see this Lamb Of God video, but it'll show me the other one cos it's not available in my country, wtf is that about???? Same band, different tune....jerks....lol I wanna see the big green VanHool bus conversion
Ian said:
[video=youtube;tI9KXK-X2Bo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI9KXK-X2Bo[/video]


Ain't that heavy ?
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I'll just leave it at that

Warwick Corvette ash 4 strings

[video=youtube;K003TNG40P8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K003TNG40P8[/video]
 
With respects to the D-Tuner from Hipshot, I think they are fantastic. Although I don't use one now, I had one on a bass back in my Band called Quake & loved it. Once you get it set up and follow all the procedures to a "T", It works flawlessly. Just flick the lever and a quick fine tine and you're good to go. Some songs are MORE fun to play in drop D. Try out "SpoonMan" by Soundgarden in Drop D. It's a Blast to play with the open D.

You can definitely get by with a 4 string and altered tuning in most situations. did it for years but then I got in a band called Kncuclehead and the guitarist had 4 guitars all setup different. one was drop D, one 1/2 step down, one was 440, one was down a whole step. I NEEDED a 5 string just to keep my sanity. Rodney was amazing on those 4 guitars and our hand positions never "matched" up but he was always in the right key. The 5 string gave me the range to play every song no matter which guitar he strapped on.
 
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