A question for fellow bass players!

[Azaraxzealot]

I'm trying to decide between a used Ibanez SR385 5 string bass and new Epiphone Thunderbird 4-string bass

in both cases i'd need to buy new strings because i prefer half-wounds, but i just want to know which one may be better, i just need a functional one that will last me a long time and has fairly good sound quality.

on the one hand, i like having that lower string for playing in keys lower than G so i don't have to move it up an octave, but i'm also already okay and used to playing with just 4 srings (and 20 frets, since i never use the higher ones anyway), so what do you think escapists?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/2244933180.html - the Ibanez 5 string

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-Epiphone-Thunderbird-IV-Bass-100388504-i1150015.gc - the Epiphone Thunderbird 4 string

 

[lolelemental]

Personally, I'd take a 5 string over a regular bass any day, just because of the convenience of not having to tune to drop D whenever we go there. But strings are going to be a bit more expensive for you when you decide it's time to replace them.

It comes down to how often (or not) you play in standard tuning

 

[NuclearPenguin]

Thunderbirds sound bad apparently.
Also 5 strings. How can you pass it up.

 

[BonsaiK]

I have an Epiphone Thunderbird and I love the sound, it sounds a lot better than the P-bass I used to have. Your biggest problem with a Thunderbird won't be the sound, it will be the weight, feel and neck-heaviness, so try before you buy. I like the way it feels but many don't, so whatever you do don't buy one blind. Also be aware some of the variants of the Thunderbird such as the Goth, Blackbird, T-Bird Pro etc do feel subtly different so try them too if you're considering buying.

Bass players with more than 4 strings on their instrument are just trying to compensate their shattered egos because they feel like demoted guitarists. There's really no need. Also 5 strings adds to their weight once again and the neck starts to feel more and more like a cricket bat the more shit you add. If you're into heavy drop tunings a bass player can just drop their E string permanently, no need to carry around another string. I'd only consider a 5-string if you were wanting to do really really fancy shit, but then if you're playing that stuff you're not really playing bass at all.

If I knew what type of music you were going to play with this instrument I could advise you further.

 

[NuclearPenguin]

Bass players with more than 4 strings on their instrument are just trying to compensate their shattered egos because they feel like demoted guitarists. There's really no need. Also 5 strings adds to their weight once again and the neck starts to feel more and more like a cricket bat the more shit you add. If you're into heavy drop tunings a bass player can just drop their E string permanently, no need to carry around another string. I'd only consider a 5-string if you were wanting to do really really fancy shit, but then if you're playing that stuff you're not really playing bass at all.

Options.

 

[zen5887]

Thunderbirds sound like shit, they are muddy and dull, and that Ibanez had a lot more tonal options. Also the T-birds are poorly designed, they are horribly top heavy so they head dive if you let go of the neck. This also means that the extra weight on your left hand makes it harder to play fast. Plus for the price, you can get a lot better.

Yeah, I don't like T-birds much..

 

[electric method]

You also have to take into consideration the difference between short scale basses and full. Ibanez basses are short scale. This means your strings will not have lots of tension in them but be fairly loose even when tuned, will go out of tune much faster, and feel like silly putty on the E and A stings. There is also the price increase for 5 string restrings too.

Epiphone is to Gibson what Squire is to Fender. Don't get me wrong, there are some really nice Epis out there, but mainly they are not all that good. I don't think I have to say anything about buying used here either.

Also, what type of pick up set up did each bass have? Where the electronics active or passive? What is your play style? What type of rig do you use?

Personally I have a Fender J and a Fender Deluxe active P-bass (it's a hybrid combining qualities of the P and J with active electronics). I also have an Ibanez that almost never gets played. Between the two Fender basses I can play pretty much anything I want. At the end of the day though it's going to come down to what you prefer and like the feel of. Also, remember if you buy new you will probably get a much better warranty than used if you get one at all.

 

[BonsaiK]

Bass players with more than 4 strings on their instrument are just trying to compensate their shattered egos because they feel like demoted guitarists. There's really no need. Also 5 strings adds to their weight once again and the neck starts to feel more and more like a cricket bat the more shit you add. If you're into heavy drop tunings a bass player can just drop their E string permanently, no need to carry around another string. I'd only consider a 5-string if you were wanting to do really really fancy shit, but then if you're playing that stuff you're not really playing bass at all.

Options.

Depending on the use, you might not need options though.

I know a guy who used to play a bass guitar with only two strings on it. When he was asked why he only had two strings on his bass, his standard reply was "in case I break one".

In other words, I don't need a space alien sample present on my keyboard if I know I don't ever want to sound like a space alien.

 

[spookydom]

I have an Epiphone Thunderbird and I love the sound, it sounds a lot better than the P-bass I used to have. Your biggest problem with a Thunderbird won't be the sound, it will be the weight, feel and neck-heaviness, so try before you buy. I like the way it feels but many don't, so whatever you do don't buy one blind. Also be aware some of the variants of the Thunderbird such as the Goth, Blackbird, T-Bird Pro etc do feel subtly different so try them too if you're considering buying.

Bass players with more than 4 strings on their instrument are just trying to compensate their shattered egos because they feel like demoted guitarists. There's really no need. Also 5 strings adds to their weight once again and the neck starts to feel more and more like a cricket bat the more shit you add. If you're into heavy drop tunings a bass player can just drop their E string permanently, no need to carry around another string. I'd only consider a 5-string if you were wanting to do really really fancy shit, but then if you're playing that stuff you're not really playing bass at all.

Gota agree on the whole here with Bonsaik. You don't need a five string and it is overcompensating. Not everybody can play it like they was Les Claypool you know? I have been a session musician for almost 20 years now. In that time only ever owned one five string. That's becouse I loved the tone on it. This was a yamaha. My advice when buying any guitar not just a bass is that you have to play it first. Every guitar despite it's make has it's own kind of feeling and sound, You wont know if it's right for you until you pick it up and get a feel for it. Have owned five Ibanez guitars over the years but only two of their basses. Though I loved the guitars at the time the basses to me they felt kind of plastic and fake. But each to their own.

 

[johnnyjazz]

i been playing on a fender jazz bass for years now but i say the Epiphone Thunderbird, both of em sems like all right instrument

but you have to feel these things yourself. go to a store try some basses, dont hurry if you not completely in love with the instrument. better to have instrument yah love instead of a instrument someone on the internet recommended you to buy.

best of luck johnny j jazz

 

[electric method]

Heck, a lot of the standard setters for bass don't play 5 strings. I am thinking Jaco, Marcus Miller, Geddy Lee. I agree with Bonsaik as well, more strings = over compensation. Plus one basically has to relearn how to play and the added fingerings. Not to mention the extra weight of the bass. We bassists have enough weight we lug around no need to go adding to it.

 

[johnnyjazz]

ouh yes get a damn dubbel bass nothing better then that =D


(sorry dubbel post)

 

[zen5887]

@BonsaiK and @spookydom

I've got a five string for a few reasons. It saves me down tuning in a few songs, I used to play a load of metal, so the lower notes came in handy, the B string helps my speed the E string by stopping my fingers, it helps me jump from the lower notes to the higher notes quicker, and it gives me an option to add a high C in case I want to play chordal or solo stuff (which I have done, it was a lot of fun).

Obviously I'm not going to use all of these in every band I play in, but it gives me the option, and versatility to me is what being a Bassist is all about.

And its not much of a hindrance, it might be a bit harsh on my back if I'm rehearsing for hours and hours at a time, but regular breaks solve this.

 

[johnnyjazz]

i agrre whit you, i been playing 4 string always, i tryed playing 5 like 4 or 5 years back but i fellt like some silly guitar player

 

[BonsaiK]

I have an Epiphone Thunderbird and I love the sound, it sounds a lot better than the P-bass I used to have. Your biggest problem with a Thunderbird won't be the sound, it will be the weight, feel and neck-heaviness, so try before you buy. I like the way it feels but many don't, so whatever you do don't buy one blind. Also be aware some of the variants of the Thunderbird such as the Goth, Blackbird, T-Bird Pro etc do feel subtly different so try them too if you're considering buying.

Bass players with more than 4 strings on their instrument are just trying to compensate their shattered egos because they feel like demoted guitarists. There's really no need. Also 5 strings adds to their weight once again and the neck starts to feel more and more like a cricket bat the more shit you add. If you're into heavy drop tunings a bass player can just drop their E string permanently, no need to carry around another string. I'd only consider a 5-string if you were wanting to do really really fancy shit, but then if you're playing that stuff you're not really playing bass at all.

Gota agree on the whole here with Bonsaik. You don't need a five string and it is overcompensating. Not everybody can play it like they was Les Claypool you know? I have been a session musician for almost 20 years now. In that time only ever owned one five string. That's becouse I loved the tone on it. This was a yamaha. My advice when buying any guitar not just a bass is that you have to play it first. Every guitar despite it's make has it's own kind of feeling and sound, You wont know if it's right for you until you pick it up and get a feel for it. Have owned five Ibanez guitars over the years but only two of their basses. Though I loved the guitars at the time the basses to me they felt kind of plastic and fake. But each to their own.

Yes I agree. I love my Goth T-Bird but I've played other people's and I really hate some of them so the OP should be aware that even from one instrument to the next of exactly the same model the feel can change. That's because these things are made out of wood, and two cuts of wood even from the same tree can vary in weight and density depending on which part of the tree was used.

I've never owned an Ibanez bass so I can't comment there, I haven't seen one I like the look of enough to want to pick up with the exception of those Jet King ones which I have to try one day. I've got an Ibanez acoustic guitar which is functional but meh, want to get rid of it. I used to have a 4-string fretless Yamaha bass that I thought was really good. It was cheap too, which made it even better in my eyes. Fuck expensive shit. I also had a Gibson bass once and that was horrible. I was so happy when I sold it for a fraction of its market value, what a hunk of junk, the Epi T-Bird is superior in every respect except build quality, but then I don't really care about build quality as my instruments are in and out of the repair shop so often that they're going to get an all-new build eventually no matter what.

 

[johnnyjazz]

20 years you got some experience under yah belt there, i only been around for the last 12 =D

and if you wanna play damn 5 string get a guitar and call it a damn bass

 

[spookydom]

@BonsaiK and @spookydom

I've got a five string for a few reasons. It saves me down tuning in a few songs, I used to play a load of metal, so the lower notes came in handy, the B string helps my speed the E string by stopping my fingers, it helps me jump from the lower notes to the higher notes quicker, and it gives me an option to add a high C in case I want to play chordal or solo stuff (which I have done, it was a lot of fun).

Obviously I'm not going to use all of these in every band I play in, but it gives me the option, and versatility to me is what being a Bassist is all about.

And its not much of a hindrance, it might be a bit harsh on my back if I'm rehearsing for hours and hours at a time, but regular breaks solve this.

Yeah I sounded like I was genralising to much. Every player is diferent, Just stick with what you like. I don't consider five strings to be a hinderance at all. All I am saying is that after a while I just found I didn't need my one and I could do everything fine without it. Have also owned a six string and a twelve string bass (That was awsome!) I had all sorts before I finaly settled on my vinatge p-bass that I fell in love with at first play. Doubt I will ever buy another bass unless I have to. Also own a 1980's Washburn semi-acoustic ab20-b. Looks dated now but sounds awsome.

 

[similar.squirrel]

I would opt for the Ibanez. Not just for the five-stringedness of it, but because they make damn fine bass guitars. Epiphone ain't bad, but it's not Ibanez.

 

[johnnyjazz]

I would opt for the Ibanez. Not just for the five-stringedness of it, but because they make damn fine bass guitars. Epiphone ain't bad, but it's not Ibanez.

if yah want a real bass that stand the test of time fender is the way to go

 

[similar.squirrel]

I would opt for the Ibanez. Not just for the five-stringedness of it, but because they make damn fine bass guitars. Epiphone ain't bad, but it's not Ibanez.

if yah want a real bass that stand the test of time fender is the way to go

Um..Where does Fender come into this, though? The OP has a choice between an Ibanez and an Epiphone.