Before I got my 5 string bass, I expected I'd be using the lower notes that were available whenever I could, but I find that I make more use of the 5th string in positions up the neck that aren't necessarily lower than the E. I haven't studied the bass seriously, but I've doubled on it in a couple of bands.

I was wondering if other 5 string players have had the same experience?

I feel like I could write a book on how and when to use the 5th string. It's something that in my work and in the bass players I've heard can make or break a bassline. I see a lot of rock guys just sit on the lowest notes they can, but lose the actual motion of the line because of it. The lower the string, the more finesse is required.

I had an ex that could not grasp that either, so is this something that is common with anyone but a pro? From what I remember he stuck to the pretty simple of all songs (even though he did dabble in some RATM works too).

Speaking of how low the bass line is, it reminds me of hearing that the bass in Queen's "You're My Best Friend" was intentionally placed high so that the radio speakers of that era would reproduce it well.

I guess that makes sense, but I doubt many people are influenced by that these days.

John Deacon always played around in the high range in his basslines. He was a very melodic and tasteful player who wasn't afraid to think like a pianist or a guitar player, a fact that Freddie Mercury and Brian May constantly praised in him.

Speakers of that time would have had no trouble prouducing a low E (just around 100 Hz). Frequency response hasn't been a problem for a very long time, and PA speakers generally have a band from about 30Hz to 15Khz, alot larger than any 4 or 5-string bass could produce without an octave pedal. Check out his line on "Bicycle Race." It's ALL OVER the place, sliding between octaves almost every phrase, something that also permeated his work. And on "Somebody to Love" he just sings like a bowed upright through the line.