Fender American Jazz 5 String or 4 String?

[Hugh Jass]

I noodle around on bass and record loops to play along with them on drums and guitar. I currently have a Squire short-scale telecaster bass. But I have wanted an American (Deluxe / Elite/ Ultra) Jazz bass for a long while.

The question I have is: Fender Jazz 5 String or 4 String?

I love the idea of a 5 string. But am slightly worried I won't ever get used to the chunkier necks. Also - I am not playing metal (classic rock, blues, and jazz) and probably don't need the bottom "B" string. I don't need it - but if it's there I'd use it - I am just worried about playability.

 

[CC Cirillo]

Just about every bassist I’ve ever played with has at one time or another showed up to a rehearsal with a new five string.

But never a gig or a session.

 

[afwdrums]

get a 4 string

just like keyboard players who stand up when they play, there's something about a 5-string bassist that I inherently just don't trust

 

[Seb77]

Lee Sklar explained his use of a modern 5-string bass as a means to imitate synth bass. His most-used "Frankenstein" bass is a 4-string. A classic range of pitches, most double basses are 4-string as well, 5-string ones are used in orchestral music mostly.
Thinking in terms of arrangement, a low E or F is pretty low already; oftentimes tones higher up the neck are used for more punch.

 

[thejohnlec]

I actually gig a lot on bass and primarily play a 5-string (Ibanez BTB with Bartolinis - I love the wider neck). Players who know how and when to use that B string will do so tastefully and won’t overwhelm everyone with that extended low end. It’s nice to have that option, not only for flat/sharp keys, but also for hand positions in the upper register. My Jazz and my fretless are both 4-string, but I’ll spend 95% of the gig on the 5. I don’t play any metal either - country rock, pop, and contemporary worship on Sundays are my primary bass events.

The Jazz spacing across the 5 strings is still fairly close and shouldn’t take long to get accustomed to. It just really come down to determining your needs and what will suit you. Cheers and enjoy!

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

Four string. You don't need a fifth string other than the rare low B. Many top players use 4 strings and it's plenty. Obviously Jaco, Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke, John Paul Jones, Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, on and on.

I have a 4 string jazz bass. The only other bass I have is a 4 string fretless which is a completely different animal. But I can't ever imagine the need for five strings. I've played rock, blues, Jazz and was even a bassist in a reggae band and four strings was plenty to do everything I needed.

 

[cruddola]

I noodle around on bass and record loops to play along with them on drums and guitar. I currently have a Squire short-scale telecaster bass. But I have wanted an American (Deluxe / Elite/ Ultra) Jazz bass for a long while.

The question I have is: Fender Jazz 5 String or 4 String?

I love the idea of a 5 string. But am slightly worried I won't ever get used to the chunkier necks. Also - I am not playing metal (classic rock, blues, and jazz) and probably don't need the bottom "B" string. I don't need it - but if it's there I'd use it - I am just worried about playability.

My brother took a friend's 6-string Ibanez for a ride and loved it, but his hands said no within a week. He then went to a 5-string version. His hands said no within two weeks. He's back to his old quad-stringed Ibanez guitars. Old Age gets them all.

 

[Treviso1]

A bass has 4 strings. A guitar has more than 4 strings. Sorry, for a Fender Jazz... it's got to have 4 strings. If you must get a 5 stringer, get a different brand.

 

[DD]

Couldn’t you go with 4 string and add a Hipshot Xtender option to be able to drop down when you need it? I don’t play bass but have seen those and sounds like very cool option.