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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I was blessed with a little windfall from some property we sold a few years ago, and am considering purchasing that new Carvin Bass I have always lusted after. My primary instrument was always bass guitar up until a few years ago when the need for rythym took over, so I have lived with my 90's vintage Washburn all this time. It is a nice bass, but certainly a budget model. I have loved the 5 carvin guitars I have owned over the years (DC400, 2 cobalts, AE185 and another electric) for their quality, price and playability so I am wanting a Carvin Bass.
My question is....I have been very curious about 5 string versus 4 or 6. I have never even picked up a 5 or 6 string...always played 4. I see a lot of 5/6's up for sale as people go "back" to 4 strings.
What is the tuning on a 5/6 and does anyone see much advantage to them, or should I just stick to what I know. My style is nothing fancy but I do through in some bar chords on occassion as well as play around with slap and pluck. I have smaller hands, so this causes me some pause.
I know that many of you will say "BUY AN OVATION". Thanks, but I really want a Carvin.
Thanks for your wisdom. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Those Carvin Electric Basses are the best. The advantage of 5 strings is the same as 7 strings on a guitar, you get a greater palette of sound. I find that 4 strings on a bass, just like 6 on a guitar, are expressive enough. I'd stick with 4 strings unless you want to head off into jazz or shread territory.
Bass is fun, but unless I'm in a band, it gets boring fast. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I like the 5 strings, especially for church, because we do so many songs in D. I like to be able to go to a low D. On a 5 string the tuning is B,E,A,D,G. |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | That would make sense. I don't know how many times I felt cheated looking for a low D while walking down, only to have to jump up an octave. Feels like being an adolescent and having your voice change in the middle of solo.
By the way....what does the "hipshot" tuner do. I assume it drops your E string down a step or so? |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Yeah, but it doesn't look like they make one for bass. It's hard to tell, they have a lot of different options at HipShot Products . Including a 4 to 5 string conversion kit. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | I think it was Paul Templeman who suggested buying a five string set of strings and using the B E A D strings on a four sting bass. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I have a 6 string bass and sold off all my 4 stringers and 5 stringers because this one does it all. On my bass the normal 4 strings are in the middle with a high and low string added. It also has the Novex fret system which I think makes playing the 6 string as easy as a traditional 4.
I have other pics in my gallery. |
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Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 14
| I like being able to have atleast a 5 string for flexability alone. Especially with walking basslines and latin grooves, while playing jazz. But I've never considered a 5 or 6 as a necessity to a 4. |
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Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 14
| I have a 6 string bass and sold off all my 4 stringers and 5 stringers because this one does it all. On my bass the normal 4 strings are in the middle with a high and low string added. It also has the Novex fret system which I think makes playing the 6 string as easy as a traditional 4.
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I have other pics in my gallery. Also Stephent that is an extremely nice Dingwall, a nice Dingwall 6er is right up there on my GAS list. Those fanned fret do wonders for string proper string tension.
Also, while looking at some of your eye candy in your gallery I nitoced there's a similar Spalted Warrior incidentally on ebay now here
Cheers |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | A 5 string is probably the way to go for you. It gives you the low B and that gets you alot. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | ibz,
I love my warrior. The one that I own has the Dran Michael top (200 year old wood) and I do know that my guitar had THE FIRST MIDI SYSTEM ever installed. I worked with their main electronics guy on how to set it up switch wise and function wise for almost a month before we were both happy. I still have all the hand drawn notes and instructions from him on how the controls work. Good price on that guitar. It absolutely rocks! |
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OT-Bass Guitar Question