The First Five String Bass....

[LowEndWonder]

Here is a picture of Led Zeppelin approx. 1973-74.
Look closely at JPJ's bass, it's a five string! There were no fivers in productiopn back then. It looks like a Modified Mustang. I thought I was seeing things at first but count the tuners, there's five of them. That had to be the first five string.
It was probably tuned E-A-D-G-B. Here's a pic below.....

[WackyT]

Looks like a Fender Bass V, produced between 1965 and 1970.

[just strum]

Wack, I believe you nailed that one.

[mrmudcat]

Big zepp fan and yes thats the bass brother!

[sunvalleylaw]

Cool! So anyone know if it was the first production five string bass?

[mrmudcat]

Sun check the wikipedia link above.Indeed it was the first 5 stringer....Leo was from the damn future brother dont ya know!!:

[sunvalleylaw]

Oh, ok. I didn't know it was a wiki link. I thought maybe it was a Fender or vendor one. I continue to be impressed with Leo. I would like it if PBS would do an American Master series spot on him like they did on Les Paul. Les is more of a player, but Leo sure did a lot with his knowledge.

[wingsdad]

Sun check the wikipedia link above.Indeed it was the first 5 stringer....Leo was from the damn future brother dont ya know!!:

You got that right, 'cat

And launching production in '65, this was one of Leo's 'swan songs' as the CBS purchase of his mother lode was imminent.

The 5th string on the Bass V was a C, not seeking more bottom end, but seeking more low-mid tones. And that makes sense, given that shorter scale basses are sometimes known as 'piccolo' basses.

(DOH...redundancy there...I should've read the wiki article first.)

[LowEndWonder]

You learn something new everyday!
So Fender originated the Five String! :