The Surprising History of 5 String Bass

5 string basses are ubiquitous these days. Though not everyone uses them, they are commonly used in everything from pop and jazz to rock and metal, and they’re considered essential by many working musicians. 

5 string basses let players expand their harmonic range, play certain figures with less movement, and avoid re-tuning for certain songs. It’s not hard to see why they’ve become a standard tool in the arsenal of professional bassists. 

But where exactly did 5 string basses come from? Who invented them? How did we go from four string to 5 string basses and why? In this article, we’re going to take a deeper look at the history of the 5 string bass. 

Before the 5 string

To truly tell the story of the 5 string bass, we have to go back before the 5 string. So let’s start there and look at some early bass history. 

Upright Origins

The first 5 string bass instruments likely date back to the 1700s. However, these bases were tuned very differently than both modern 5 string double basses and modern 5 string electric basses. They used FADF#A, instead of the modern BEADG. 

The first 5 string orchestra bass dates back to 1880, and instrument maker Carl Otho filed the first patent for a modern upright 5 string bass in 1881. These basses were tuned CEADG or BEADG, which is still what’s used for upright 5 strings. BEADG is what’s most commonly used on electric 5 string basses as well. 

These basses actually got used a lot. Hans von Bülow used them for Beethoven’s symphonies, and Willy Krausse used them while playing in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. As with modern 5 string basses, one of the big advantages of these basses was that they allowed players to play more across the neck instead of up and down it. 

Though upright 5 string basses may be similar to the modern electric 5 string in many ways, they’re also a far cry away from basses you see at your favorite guitar store. So let’s keep going and figure out how things went electric. 

Going Electric

Now, let’s shift focus and take a look at the first electric basses. The very first electric bass came in the 1930s. Paul Tutmarc, a musician and inventor, introduced the Model 736 Bass Fiddle in 1935. It was sold in the Sears Catalog, and it is very similar to a modern electric bass. 

That said, these basses didn’t really catch on. Only around 100 of them were ever sold, and these basses faded into obscurity as time went on. They are a highly valued collectors item these days though, selling for thousands upon thousands of dollars. 

Electric basses as we know them come from the 50s thanks to, yet again, Leo Fender. In 1951, Fender started producing the P-bass, which is still one of the most popular basses on the market. This bass very quickly became the go-to bass for anyone playing rock, pop, and any music that didn’t require an upright bass. 

It’s stunning that Fender was able to revolutionize the world of guitar and bass at the same time. The Telecaster was also introduced in 1951, making it a truly landmark year in the world of music. I digress; back to the basses. 

Unsurprisingly, the introduction of the P-bass opened the floodgates for other manufacturers. Gibson released their short-scale EB-1 bass in 1953, and Hofner came out with the iconic violin bass in 1956. The Rickenbacker 4000 model also came out in 1957, and they were the first neck-thru electric basses. 

We’re getting closer to a proper 5 string bass, but we’re still not quite there. So further down the bass rabbit hole we go. 

Six Before Five

Before we had 5 string electric basses, we had six string electric basses. Well, sort of. In 1956, Danelectro introduced the UB-2 baritone guitar/bass VI, tuned EADGBE like a guitar but an octave down. It quickly became a popular session instrument due to its unique sound and use.

Then, Fender introduced their Bass VI in 1961 as a response to the UB-2. Again, they were tuned just like a guitar but down an octave. These became even more popular and iconic than the UB-2, despite being almost exclusively a session instrument (they were rarely played on-stage). The Fender Bass VI is still made today as well and is a popular option for players that want a different sound. 

There is considerable debate about whether Bass VI type instruments are actually basses or guitars. Some argue that they are more of a baritone guitar than a bass, while others maintain that they are closer to a bass to their low tuning. Regardless, they are an extended range bass-like instrument that is an important part of the 5 string bass’ history.

The First 5 string Bass

Now, we have almost arrived at the first modern 5 string bass. In 1965, Fender released the Bass V. Though it only had fifteen frets, it was the first electric 5 string bass. However, it was set-up with a high C instead of a low B, being tuned EADGC. This is still a tuning people use today, but the low B setup is the most common and what we think of as a modern 5 string.

However, the Bass V was not a big success for Fender. Players simply did not like the Bass V, likely due to size, shape, and narrow string spacing that could make playing difficult. Only about two hundred were made between 1965 and its discontinuation in 1971. 

So, after the Bass V’s relative failure, how did 5 string basses ever catch on? And when did the switch from high C to low B happen? As with guitars, custom builders in the 70s had a big impact on 5 string basses. 

In 1974, bassist Anthony Jackson asked luthier Carl Thompson to make him a six string bass, tuned BEADGC. However, Jackson was unhappy with the instrument due to the close string spacing used, which was done to accommodate the pickups of the time. In 1976, the modern 5 string electric bass, tuned BEADG, was born when Carl Thompson finished a 5 string with a low B that year. 

And Alembic—the instrument and audio company that was founded by Grateful Dead soundman, acid cook, and audio innovator, Owsley Stanley—made their first 5 string bass for Jimmy Johnson in 1976 as well. Alembic, being a very tech focused company, used custom pickups designed for 5 string bass and active electronics—features that are now standard for 5 string basses. 

At this point, the modern 5 string bass had been established. And with the custom instrument craze of the 70s, countless more five (and six) string basses were made. With more and more bassists giving them a try and coming to love them, the 5 string bass was set to become a standard piece of gear. 

Evolution of the 5 string Bass

Post 70s, the 5 string bass really caught on as a common choice for bass. Countless manufacturers started making them, with everyone from Peavey, Yamaha, ESP, PRS, Steinberger, Washburn, and more jumping on board during the 80s. 

It’s also worth mentioning that 5 string basses in the 70s and even 80s were largely unaffordable. These basses were typically custom or high end instruments that could cost thousands, which limited their use to players who could afford them. As a result, they were mainly used by pros and weren’t as commonly seen being used by bar bands, small bands, etc. 

In the 90s though, 5 string basses became so common and popular that more affordable models were introduced. With companies like Fender and Ibanez making relatively cheap 5 string basses overseas, they became an affordable option for players of all levels. 

Now, in the 2000s and beyond, 5 string basses are commonplace. They are affordable, and you can get them in any range, from beginner models that cost a few hundred to highly detailed custom basses that cost thousands. 

Bassists of all skill levels and genres are using them, largely due to the extended range and ability to play certain parts horizontally across the neck instead of vertically. Most professionals keep on in their bass lineup, as they are near essential for a lot of modern music. Whether it’s broadway or blast beat filled death metal, 5 string basses are near impossible to avoid these days. 

Despite their rise in popularity over the years, they have actually changed very little since the first models that came out in the 70s—similar to how electric guitars are largely unchanged since the first Strats, Teles, and Les Pauls. 

Electronics, materials, and manufacturing processes have changed, but they are fundamentally near identical to those early 5 strings from Alembic and others. One of the only notable changes is that the necks have gotten wider to make playing them easier, as many of the 70s 5 strings had narrow string spacing. 

The 5 String Story

Though 5 string bass instruments have existed for hundreds of years, it took a few decades for the modern 5 string to be born. From the first electric bass in the 30s to the P-Bass to the Bass VI to the Bass V to the custom 5 string bassess from the likes of Carl Thompson and Alembic, it took a lot of iteration to finally settle on the modern 5 string setup. 

Today, 5 string basses are everywhere and an essential part of modern bass playing. So next time you pickup, see, or hear a 5 string bass, take a moment to think about all of the innovation and experimentation it took to get there. And of course, string your 5 string up with a set of Stringjoys and have some fun!