Jun 24, 2011 best combo amp for 5 string. Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs BG' started by owenkillerB5, Jun 24, 2011. Jun 24, 2011 #1. Jun 15, 2011. Got a killer b 5 Tobias and wondering what the best combo amp would suit it? It does very well on 5 string bass with the really low frequencies chopped down. EQ is everything with a 5 string. Oct 15, 2015 The first time I used Garageband the first thing that grabbed my attention was the string tracks. For this week I explored the string tracks and added a twist to them. String instruments, I don’t get it: Strings instruments are any instrument that produce sound from the vibration that comes from a string (they are also known as chordophones). 5 String Bass Guitar Strings If you've made the move from four strings to five, then you know how important great tone is. Treat yourself and your audience to the fresh sound of a new set of Five-String Bass Guitar Strings from AMS. Jan 10, 2018 In GarageBand for iOS 2.3, use the Sound Library to download additional free sound packs to use in your songs. Sound packs contain individual or combinations of Touch Instruments, Apple Loops, Live Loops templates, and guitar and instrument presets.
Download Example 1 SR1205 - Pickup balance even, Tone controls set at detents. | |
Download Example 2 SR1400 - Pickup balance even, Tone controls set at detents. | |
Clips recorded direct into GarageBand through an Axeport Pro interface. |
Even with these appointments, these two basses will not break the bank. Each comes in at just a little over a grand, which is a lot of instrument per dollar.
Garageband 5 String Bass Guitar
What’s in Common?
Along with the slim necks and sleek bodies, both basses share several hardware components. Both have easy-turning Gotoh tuners and Ibanez’s Mono-Rail bridge that utilizes separate units for each string. This design really does a great job of transferring string vibrations and takes just one screw to adjust each unit’s string height—so no worrying about having less-than-even saddle to plate contact. The pickups on both basses are Nordstrand Big Singles, which Nordstrand describes as providing “huge, full, loud, aggressive single-coil tone.” Or, to use a well-worn comparison, a “Jazz bass on steroids.” The key to this pickup design is turning traditional Jazz bass pole pieces at a 45-degree angle, allowing a wider pickup with more wire.
To check out the difference, I pulled out a Jazz bass without steroids—my stock 1974 model—and played all three basses with a flat EQ and both pickups set to the same volume level. Certainly, both Ibanez basses were a little louder than my passive Jazz, but not radically so. Likewise, both Ibanez basses did have somewhat more punch and clarity than the Jazz. Despite having the same pickup design, I was surprised to find that the 5-string 1205E had a noticeably deeper, fatter tone than the 4-string, probably from differences between the body woods (more on that soon).
The polepieces of basses' Nordstrand Big Singles are turned at a 45-degree angle. The pickups were slightly louder, with more punch and clarity, than a vintage J-bass pickup.
Another common trait with these two basses is their electronics design, which includes three bands of EQ, a switchable midrange center frequency, and an EQ defeat switch. All three bands of EQ are cut/boost, so both basses are able to cover a wide range of sound. Also onboard are controls for pickup blend and master volume. The jack on both basses is set into a neat scoop on the front of the body to avoid the usual 90-degree angle between body and plug—an extra bit of security when you accidentally step on the cord and yank the plug.
One thing I noticed on both basses was that the control cavity was attached with screws into threaded inserts. This is an important touch to avoid stripping the body wood after a bunch of battery changes, but that problem could also be avoided by going with a separate battery box. I always worry that a wired battery clip will eventually need replacing or repairing. Inside the control cavity, I found more wire than I’d normally like to see and a preamp floating under a piece of foam. I always thought leaving extra wire beyond what’s needed for hooking up the pickups acts like a noise antenna. Combining that extra wire with conductive paint shielding (I prefer copper foil) and single coil pickups usually equals a recipe for some extra noise. With the pickups set at even levels, both basses were relatively quiet. But I usually like to favor one of the two pickups in a single-coil bass setup since it produces a touch more punch and clarity. Unless I held these basses at the correct angle to my amp, the noise was noticeable, although not much more so than my Jazz bass.
Why are there different numbers of strings?
Basses most often come in 4-, 5-, and 6-string models. Though, any number of strings is possible.
The first electric basses to be produced came with 4 strings. For many years that’s all there was and that’s all people felt they needed. A lot of music has been played on 4-strings.
The reason for having more strings is to add more range to the bass. More range means being able to play more lower pitched notes and/or higher pitched notes. Also, the more strings you have under your fingers, the more notes you have under your fingers. With more strings you don’t have to shift around the neck of the bass as much.
The popularity of 5- and 6-string basses exploded in the 80’s. A couple of things caused this to happen. First, bassists in the 80’s were competing with electronic keyboards. Many bassists were being replaced by computers and keyboards because they could play lower bass notes than a standard 4-string bass. To compensate, some bassists began playing 5-string basses that added 5 lower-pitched notes to their arsenal.
Secondly, a number of amazing bass players in the 70’s took the electric bass to new heights. Bassists like Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius and Jeff Berlin showed the world electric bass players could really solo and play a melodic role, too. With this new frontier for bass players opened up, bassists wanted more range to play solos in. By adding another string, a 6th string, on the high end of the bass, bassists could reach higher notes more comfortably.
Are more strings harder to play?
There is definitely more to control and keep track of as you add more strings. Beginners don’t often realize there is a lot of work in keeping the bass strings quiet in addition to getting the notes to ring out. The more strings there are, the more there is to keep quiet.
Also, the strings get closer together making some playing styles (e.g. slap bass) a little trickier. You have to be more accurate. And, the neck gets wider. That means more reaching and stretching on the neck of the bass. Regardless of what you choose, there’s going to be work and practice involved. And, you can always switch later on. It’s not that hard to go from one to another.
How many strings should you get?
The 4-string bass has been around the longest and a lot of music has been played on it. For most people a 4-string bass is adequate if not perfect for them. Why get more strings if you’re not going to use them?
It is possible to tune a 4-string bass lower than its standard tuning and it is very common to do so. You can tune it lower by 2 or 3 notes if you need those lower pitches from time to time. Since it is not designed to be tuned that low, you might not get the best sound or playability by tuning a 4-string bass lower, but it is an option.
For most styles you’ll probably be ok with a 4-string. If you’re into heavier music that’s popular today, you may want a 5-string bass where you can reach those lower notes without having to detune your bass.
I think it’s better and easier for you to learn to play in a standard tuning with an extra string rather than some alternate tuning on a bass with fewer strings. If you need those low notes a lot, you should consider a 5-string.
Garageband 5 String Bass Tuning
An alternative to getting a 5-string bass would be to get a 4-string bass and string it like the lowest 4 strings of a 5-string bass. Some manufacturers are designing basses like this now. It would be tuned BEAD, instead of the standard 4-string bass tuning EADG.
If you are buying your first bass, you probably don’t want a 6-string bass. It’s overkill. And, in the beginning you should probably focus on playing the traditional role of the bass anyway. That means playing the lower notes more often. You can save the 6-string for your second or maybe third bass if you find you need one.
Next: What Scale Bass Do I want?
Back to the Bass Buying Guide