5 string basses under $3500
 

So I'm interested in spending up to $3500 for a 5 string (NOT fretless) bass. I know it's a lot; I'm a musician but bass is not my main instrument. Nonetheless, sensational sounding bass is what I live to hear, and I do play. Suggestions for the best ax out there in that price range? I know good basses can be had for less, but I'm stubborn.

Pick pretty much any bass manufacturer... If you have $3500, you're probably walking away with their top of the line model.

Definitely a Sadowsky Metro!
http://www.sadowsky.com/instruments/metro.html

F Bass
Warwick

Your options are vast with that budget, you can get pretty well whatever you want short of rare woods and a select few builders.

If you want a great B Dingwall is your only choice. :D

Fender American Deluxe Jazz bassV
Fender Marcus Miller V
Fender American Standard jazz bass v
Fender American Deluxe P Bass V
Fender American Standard P Bass V

Squier VM Jazz 5 would be a great choice. You don't need to spend $3500 to sound good.

+1000

Got an F Bass BN5 after playing a MM Sterling 5 and the Lakland 55-02. The MM is gone and the F is what I have been looking for. Definitely check those out.

Nobody has said it yet but Spector. I have a Warwick 5 and was blown away by its B string. Then I got a Spector and was blown even more away by that B string and its general comfort, playability and sound. Then I got a more expensive Spector (Euro 5LX) and was eeevveennn more blown away! :D

Go out and try some basses though. You're not gonna find what you like asking a bunch of people on the internet.

But Spector/Warwick I'd go for :D

+1

Heck, for $3500 you could go for a used Sadowsky NYC. Definitely worth it IMO but the Metros aren't nothing to laugh at either. I have one of each and have never received so many positive comments about my tone.

Youve given no info at all about what basses you like or what type of sound you want. Something you seriously need to pin down.

Really, that's a lot like saying, "I've got $100,000, and I want a really good car."

-jb

For that kind of $ you could probably get a custom shop model from most companies.

Give Kevin Brubaker a shot at Brubaker Guitars.

I have no idea what your tastes are. For MY tastes it would be a used MTD 535 or a used Sadowsky NYC 5 Jazz. There have also been some really nice used Smiths in the classifieds lately. The good thing about the used market when it comes to high end basses (especially on TB) is that the instruments tend to be very well cared for.

Your options at that price are basically limitless. Try everything, buy what you like.

I'd say if you're going to spend $3500 you need to audition basses, there are a whole lot of tones and feels out there for that much money and you won't like all of them.

If it were my money I'd look at G&L or Lakland.