Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

Dan Gable (7926)

ActiveBass Forum
10/8/2011 3:01 AM

I think I got Fender Jazz Paranoia. Especially when it looks like my Jazz with an extra string and then called a deluxe. Mine is just a M/M Jazz Standard. I know 5 strings been around for a long time.I never owned one, never played one. Now my thinking is from a writing point of view. (Writing below the open E- string). Which in jazz is common. I run across all the time. But never actually played a 5 string.
Mo you know Im just picking on you because I'm Jealous, lol! What's it feel and sound like to actually play below the tuned Electric bass? I want to buy one because it make sense.

Dan

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Re: Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

10/9/2011 7:58 AM

Sean Van Holder (32567) wrote:

Hey Dan, some years go I had the same dilemma, how on earth was it useful to play a 5-string when you can do it all on a 4-string? Now I'm switching between a Hfner violin bass (4-string shortscale) and a Ken Smith Designs Proto-V Jazz bass (5-string longscale) and I am really pleased playing the both! A 5-er makes things quite easier, not always but most of the time they just make sense!
I'd say, just go for it!

Sean ;)

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Re: Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

10/11/2011 1:38 AM

Dan Gable (7926) wrote:

Thanks Sean for the feedback. When you say quite easier are you refering to not having to slide up or down on the neck as much to get the extra notes and stay in the box?

Dan

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Re: Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

10/9/2011 12:49 PM

Marcus Hart (14325) wrote:

Go ahead and make the move Dan. I have 3 four stringers, but most of the time I play my 5'er. Once you adjust to that 5th string being in the way, you'll indeed find that some things are a bit easier to play.

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Re: Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

10/11/2011 1:40 AM

Dan Gable (7926) wrote:

Thanks Marcus for your feedback. I realize you play alot of Jazz. what do you find easier playing a 5 stringer?

Dan

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Re: Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

11/11/2011 10:31 PM

Marcus Hart (14325) wrote:

The easiest thing is being able to play below E without having to detune. When I was detuning my 4 stringers, I would sometimes forget to adjust my fretting - which resulted in wrong notes. The bass lines for some of the "smooth jazz" cuts we do, require playing notes below E. Not having to change my tuning to reach them is just easier for me. I don't do well with altered tunings - my feeble mind can't process the change fast enough :)

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Re: Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

11/13/2011 12:13 PM

Bo Hulsey (2238) wrote:

Weird.

I went the opposite way Marcus. I started on four for the first 5-6 years I played. Then I bought my first fiver and stuck with it for TEN years and loved it!

Then something clicked and I went back to four. I can't explain it, I just like my four better than either of the fives I've owned. Chalk it up to a preference thing, I guess.

Once again...weird; especially after I had played fivers for ten years.

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Re: Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

11/13/2011 2:24 PM

Marcus Hart (14325) wrote:

Do you still have one of your 5'ers in your arsenal .... just in case?

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Re: Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

11/13/2011 5:28 PM

Bo Hulsey (2238) wrote:

Yep. The Spector is in hiding at the moment. I'll eventually
dig it out and claim it's my greatest bass ever but right now
my Peavey is my starter. Go figure.

Like I said; weird.

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Re: Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

11/13/2011 5:32 PM

Bo Hulsey (2238) wrote:

To be honest, I'll probably dig it out tonight and goof around
on it because of our discussion. Hehe...

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Re: Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

10/9/2011 3:54 PM

Brad Mock (15518) wrote:

5 string basses offer a lot of possibilities and not just for the low notes. I like being able to articulate low E which you cannot do on a 4 string and it opens up possibilities for riffs that are hard to play in 1st position.
I got a Peavey Dyna Five bass when it was in the prototype stages, mid 80's and while not my main squeeze it is a bass that gets a lot of play and recording time.

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Re: Mayor Mo's New 5 String fender Jazz, I'm Jealous

10/11/2011 1:45 AM

Dan Gable (7926) wrote:

Thanks Brad for the feedback. I also like to play classic rock. I understand what your saying about making it harder to playin the first position. so you dont have to slide as much to get to the higher octaves? that makes sense.

Dan