5-string Basses and Me

Buenos dias, mi amigos!

Would you like some déjà vu? Remember my post about how I cannot play fretless basses? It appears that I have the same relationship with 5-string basses.

Well, maybe it is not the same relationship, though the results are the same. As you may remember, my big problem with fretless basses is that I am unwilling to take the time to learn how to play them properly. The 5-string dilemma is a little different. I can play a 5-string without much more effort (but quite a bit more concentration), but I have no good reason to own one. Apparently I have never run into circumstances where I really NEED to have a 5-string.

Please do not take this the wrong way: I do not have any good reason not to like them. I have owned a sampling of the best 5-string basses on the planet, including Sadowsky, Musicman, Steinberger, Spector and Fender. But when it comes down to it, I end up not playing them and selling them within a few months after I buy them.

Maybe I am just a traditional Precision/Jazz Bass kind of guy.

Perhaps I can blame my buddy Jack, because that is what he mostly plays, and he inspires me to make a little more out of my bass playing. If you combine that with my group of friends that seem to always be selling tasty 5-strings, you can see my problem.

Hopefully I will be able to withstand temptation again, but my friend John is selling a choice 25th anniversary MusicMan 5-string…

Mahalo!