re: 4/5/6 string bass

[Steve Lawson <steve@steve-lawson.co.uk>]

 >>>is that "guitar top" or "everybody else" top?

(personally, I really don't like light strings on the low notes and  
always go for
the thickest possible )<<<

top meaning high notes.

If thicker lower strings work for you, go for it, but my own  
experience is that you get exactly the effect you're talking about -  
a loss of clarity and intonation above the 5th fret. With a lighter B  
and E string, I get a lot more clarity and better balance across the  
strings. YMMV.

cheers

Steve
www.stevelawson.net - site
www.stevelawson.net/store/ - shop
http://steve.anthropiccollective.org - blog
www.myspace.com/solobasstevelawson