A four-string bass is tuned E, A, D, G, like the lowest four strings of a guitar an octave down. A five-string adds a low B below the E, five more semitones at the bottom. That covers the low notes of keyboard bass lines, drop-tuned metal and a lot of modern pop and gospel, without retuning.
On November 3, 2026, Thomann had 965 four-string basses in stock and 651 five-strings, plus 77 six-strings.
| Basses | Median price | From | Median nut width | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-string | 965 | $1,031 | $111 | 39 mm |
| 5-string | 651 | $1,233 | $167 | 45 mm |
| 6-string | 77 | $1,681 | $223 | 54 mm |
What the fifth string costs
The medians above mix different basses. A fairer test is the same bass in both versions: we found 97 models that Thomann sells as a four and a five. The five costs a median 8.3% more, about $94. In 12 of the 97 it costs the same or less, and in 12 it costs 20% or more.
ESP LTD B-205DX, $619
A poplar body, a roasted maple neck, 24 frets and two humbuckers with bass and treble controls. The four-string B-204DX is the same bass for $593, so here the low B costs about $23. #1 of 3 5-String heavy basses.
| Four-string | Price | Five-string | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squier Affinity Jazz Bass | $316 | Affinity Jazz Bass V | $324 |
| Yamaha TRBX 304 | $492 | TRBX 305 | $546 |
| Yamaha TRBX 504 | $694 | TRBX 505 | $729 |
| Fender Player II Modified Jazz Bass | $1,120 | Player II Modified Jazz Bass V | $1,294 |
| Fender AM Pro Jazz Bass | $2,399 | AM Pro Jazz Bass V | $2,522 |
Fender Player II Modified Jazz Bass V, $1,294
The five-string version of Fender's Player II Modified Jazz Bass, at $174 more than the four. #1 of 49 5-String J-Basses.
The neck: wider, and sometimes longer
The fifth string has to fit somewhere. In Thomann's listings, the median nut is 39 mm on a four-string and 45 mm on a five. The B-204DX and B-205DX go from 40 to 45 mm; Squier's Affinity Jazz Bass V is 47.6 mm. Players with small hands notice that in the first week.
The low B is also the string most likely to sound floppy, because it is so thick for its pitch. Some makers give five-strings a longer 35-inch scale to keep it tight: 59 of the 522 five-strings with a listed scale have one, against 2 of 793 four-strings. Most still use the standard 34 inches.
Squier Affinity Jazz Bass V, $326
Squier's cheapest five-string, with a poplar body, two Jazz Bass single coils and a 47.6 mm nut. #35 of 49 5-String J-Basses.
Which one to start on
Start on four strings if you are learning with a teacher, play rock, blues, funk or jazz, or have small hands: most method books and transcriptions are written for four, and the narrower neck is easier to learn on. There are more of them, too, especially for left-handers: 104 left-handed fours in stock against 42 fives.
Start on five if the music you want to play goes below E: metal tuned down, worship and gospel, or bass lines copied from synths. Learning it from the start is easier than switching later, and the extra string adds less to the price than most beginners expect.
And six strings?
Six-strings add a high C above the G, for chords and solos rather than lower notes. The 77 in stock have a median 54 mm nut and a median price of $1,681, which makes them a specialist's instrument.
Where the numbers come from. Every electric bass Thomann had in stock on November 3, 2026, from its partner feed, without bass sets. The number of strings comes from Thomann's category or description. Pairs are basses whose names differ only in the string count and finish; for each pair we compare the cheapest four with the cheapest five, so some pairs compare different colors. Nut widths and scales are from Thomann's descriptions.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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