Members REMUS Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 I was just thinking, how do 4 string basses of the same sort of spec compare to 5 strings (or even 6+ if applicable). Anyone got two of the same to kiss and tell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 While I'm sure that there'd be some total differences (more metal on the bass due to a bigger bridge, more wood on the neck, etc...), I seriously doubt that you'd be able to tell the difference between them all other things being equal. Then again, I've done an in-depth A/B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GRANKOR Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 the pickups on a fiver will have more wire round them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ec437 Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 I was just thinking, how do 4 string basses of the same sort of spec compare to 5 strings (or even 6+ if applicable). Anyone got two of the same to kiss and tell? Yeah, for the most part. I don't have the same strings on my SR4 and SR5, but they sound similar nonetheless. There is really no reason for them to sound different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gruntollio Bass Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 Before I brought my ATK305, I tried an ATK300 (4 stringer) and I honestly couldn't say there was much difference between them other than the obvious physical differences between a 4 and a 5.Tone was pretty much exactly the same. In fact I'm considering getting an ATK300 fairly soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tylytle Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 they sound the same, well except for that b string part.. LOL Just kiddin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members REMUS Posted November 13, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 Thought so, I thought maybe the extra neck, body and pup mass might create a detectable difference in tone, thanks anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gruntollio Bass Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 Thought so, I thought maybe the extra neck, body and pup mass might create a detectable difference in tone, thanks anyway. It might depend on the type of bass, but I'm assuming in most cases you won't hear a wildly different tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Death Hands Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 To me, decent construction + active = no tonal difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 Yeah, for the most part. I don't have the same strings on my SR4 and SR5, but they sound similar nonetheless. There is really no reason for them to sound different. Sure there is. The pickups and preamps are different from an SR4 to an SR5. The older SR5's had the same parts, but the newer ones are more like a Sterling. SR4: Alinco magnet SR5/Sterling: Ceramic magnets Bongo: Neo magnets My SR4 and SR5 sound similar, but not quite the same. I prefer the sound of my SR4 to it...but I always play 5ers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roguetitan Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 i Have a 4, 5 and 6 string Rogue Pro models which aside from the extra lower and higher octave strings there is no tonal differences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jazz Ad Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 My SR4 and SR5 sound similar, but not quite the same. I prefer the sound of my SR4 to it...but I always play 5ers.This is not a good base of comparison because a SR5 is actually a Sterling 5.There is no tonal difference between a Sterling and a Stingray 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 This is not a good base of comparison because a SR5 is actually a Sterling 5.There is no tonal difference between a Sterling and a Stingray 5. There you go! Proved my point even more!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Darkstorm Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 If same woods, same strings, same pups except one is fiver and other fourer, and same center freqs for any active preamp, then yes will sound the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ec437 Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 Sure there is. The pickups and preamps are different from an SR4 to an SR5. The older SR5's had the same parts, but the newer ones are more like a Sterling. How old do you mean when you say "the older SR5's"? Mine was made in '95 and my SR4 in '89. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 How old do you mean when you say "the older SR5's"? Mine was made in '95 and my SR4 in '89. I'm not 100% sure on that. I think they changed them in the mid 90's, but I could be totally wrong. Yours very well might have the alnico pickups. If you're really curious, do some detective work over on the MM forum. I guarantee you'll find an answer. I'm doing some searching myself...cause now I really want to know!!! EDIT: I opened a thread over on their forum to get an answer...I'll post the results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DevilRaysFan Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 Argue with me all you want, but I think they sound different ---Without going into detail, I think 5s are mushier than 4s.... 4s, to me, sound tighter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members REMUS Posted November 13, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 you see, hypothetically, that is what I would expect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ec437 Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 Argue with me all you want, but I think they sound different ---Without going into detail, I think 5s are mushier than 4s....4s, to me, sound tighter OK, I'm arguing with you. My SR5 sounds plenty tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DevilRaysFan Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 you see, hypothetically, that is what I would expect. I have no scientific basis to prove anything...All I can tell you is that I played 5s all through the 90s...I was playing a LOT of country to work back in those days and a 5-String was a pre-requisite...I bought my G&L ASAT 4-String at the same time that I purchased a G&L L-2500 5-String ( I had other 5s back then too).... To me, the strings on the 5s I owned had a looser "response" of any 4-String I ever played - and their characteristics were different: the "E" string on a 5 now responds like an "A"-String on a 4, and the low "B" was just too damn big to respond like an "E-String" on a 4-banger... To me, its very noticable with slap bass --------slap bass on a 5 doesnt compare to slap bass on a 4-String Im not saying they sounded bad - thats not true at all - the L-2500 sounded great but it was a LOT darker and slighly less punchy than my ASAT, and the strings on all my 5s responded more "rubber-like" than any 4 Ive owned... I still own the ASAT and its my main bass...The L-2500 was gone before the turn of the century......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LanEvo Posted November 13, 2007 Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 I have noticed that there are no 5-string Jazz Basses that sound like Jazz Basses to my ears. Just the other day I was in a local Guitar Center. They had two 4-string Marcus Miller Jazzes and two 5-string Marcus Miller Jazzes. All fresh from the factory with new strings and everything (all delivered the previous day). The 4-strings had that classic Jazz Bass snap; that mid-range bump you expect with a good Jazz Bass. Neither of the 5'ers had those honky mids. Overall, the 5'ers sounded "darker" and more even in tone...which isn't really what you look for in a Jazz Bass! I have experienced the same thing with other 5-string Jazzes (Fender, Lakland, Atelier Z, etc.). The difference is even more noticeable on the passive 5'ers. I've never played a Sadowsky. I hear their 5'ers are supposed to sound pretty good. But then again, I don't really go for the "modern Jazz Bass" tone with scooped mids. Emre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members REMUS Posted November 13, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 13, 2007 hmmm... i'll see what my Lakland 5 sound like when I get it, but my Jm4 sounds allot like how you describe a Jazz 5 to sound. I like scooped mids, except on rics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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