Lots of good suggestions here. I’d suggest you spend a little time playing different basses to decide on the string spacing that appeals to you. They vary from 16.5 to 19 mm at the bridge, and to me this is the most noticeable spec. You can find any of those spacing used in your price range. Scale length can be important to some players too, but I don’t think you’ll find many 35” scale 5’s at that price.
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5-string basses & playing
- Thread starter rapha
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- 5-string 5-string bass
Sterling by musicman Stingray HH, one of the better sounding B strings that I’ve come across for that cheap, the whole bass plays and sounds great
Also the Ibanez Atk 305, which is another nice 5 within your budget, single pickup though, the j/mm is a bit more. I had a 305 that was killer, just picked up a 700 because that pickup and preamp are really nice
Also the Ibanez Atk 305, which is another nice 5 within your budget, single pickup though, the j/mm is a bit more. I had a 305 that was killer, just picked up a 700 because that pickup and preamp are really nice
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My own experience, your mileage may vary, etc etc etc
When I first picked up a fiver, I didn't really have a concept about the difference in nut width. I just picked the one I played that I liked the most. It was an Ibanez Soundgear. So a bit narrower in that regard. When it came time to upgrade I went with an Ibanez BTB, but I could not gel with the wider width and 35 scale, so I sold it and stayed with a better quality Soundgear for a few years. When I upgraded again I picked up an EBMM Stingray 5 and it absolutely felt like home to me. It felt like that fifth string belonged there and I was never fighting with it being a part of my fretboard.
However, I do believe that a lot of my preference comes down to the instruments I chose leading up to getting that Stingray. The advantage you have is that there seems to be a bit more of a flexible "standard" with mass-produced five strings. But for me, coming from playing 34 scale Fenders and Ibanez Soundgear basses, the 34 inch scale and nut width of the Ernie Ball Stingrays are a perfect fit.
When I first picked up a fiver, I didn't really have a concept about the difference in nut width. I just picked the one I played that I liked the most. It was an Ibanez Soundgear. So a bit narrower in that regard. When it came time to upgrade I went with an Ibanez BTB, but I could not gel with the wider width and 35 scale, so I sold it and stayed with a better quality Soundgear for a few years. When I upgraded again I picked up an EBMM Stingray 5 and it absolutely felt like home to me. It felt like that fifth string belonged there and I was never fighting with it being a part of my fretboard.
However, I do believe that a lot of my preference comes down to the instruments I chose leading up to getting that Stingray. The advantage you have is that there seems to be a bit more of a flexible "standard" with mass-produced five strings. But for me, coming from playing 34 scale Fenders and Ibanez Soundgear basses, the 34 inch scale and nut width of the Ernie Ball Stingrays are a perfect fit.
Look into a used Schecter session series stiletto or riot
Or maybe ESP LTD B205.
SBMM is the obvious choice
High quality basses for not a lot of money
My experience was different than others when making the switch to five string.
I found that the narrower string spacing made it easier because I could feel where I was on the neck more easily without having to jump farther in between strings. Not Being left out in the ozone with all that fretboard area.
Still not a fan of wide spacing. Too much work. I let the narrower spacing work for me by economizing movement of both plucking and fretting hands.
Also, narrower spacing forced me to clean up my thumb technique making it more precise
Or maybe ESP LTD B205.
SBMM is the obvious choice
High quality basses for not a lot of money
My experience was different than others when making the switch to five string.
I found that the narrower string spacing made it easier because I could feel where I was on the neck more easily without having to jump farther in between strings. Not Being left out in the ozone with all that fretboard area.
Still not a fan of wide spacing. Too much work. I let the narrower spacing work for me by economizing movement of both plucking and fretting hands.
Also, narrower spacing forced me to clean up my thumb technique making it more precise
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I agree that 18mm is a sweet spot, and it's what I prefer, but disagree a bit on the "demographics". There are a lot of "modern" 5ers with 16.5mm spacing - my own first 5er was a Schecter Stiletto Elite 5 that was a wonderful bass, especially for $700, but the 16.5mm spacing was just too tight for my big hands playing fingerstyle. But I really don't think 16.5 dominates the 5-string landscape. It's more of the lower limit. Many, including G&Ls, are 17mm. Almost all Fender and Squier 5ers are 18mm. The one 19mm exception I've come across was the Squier Contemporary Active Jazz V, presumably because of the pickup design.
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My Sire was $439 shipped to my door . Won't find another new 5 string bass this quality for that kind of money .
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Don't have a bass to recommend.. but the best thing you can do is start working on your floating thumb technique, because that big ol' fat B string will ring out if you don't have it muted.
That was the biggest hurdle for me. The Low B becomes more familiar the more you use it
It took me a few months to turn that thought into muscle memory.. so don't get discouraged by it.. just keep it a conscious thought while you play until you no longer need to think about it.
That was the biggest hurdle for me. The Low B becomes more familiar the more you use it
It took me a few months to turn that thought into muscle memory.. so don't get discouraged by it.. just keep it a conscious thought while you play until you no longer need to think about it.
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G&L tribute, MM Sterling, Ibanez, Yamaha would be good choices. I have also stumbled across a few Peavey's that were nice.
I have a Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass V HH that I got used in great shape for well under $500. Looks great, plays great, but TWELVE POUNDS. I bought it just before the pandemic shut us down; I hope sometime this summer to gig with it for more than part of a set. I'm old and not nearly as vigorous as I once was (I still jump off drum risers, as long as they aren't higher than 24 inches
) so I'll see how that works out!
) so I'll see how that works out!
It’s interesting to hear all the different brands, spacing etc.. I have 2 Carvin 5’s. 1 fretted, LB75 with a MM at the bridge and a single coil jazz up front. The fretless is a BB75 with 2 single coils. Besides realizing I don’t really like the all maple tone of those basses, I don’t really play either of them since I moved to a 6 string (Clements Kim) last year. The advantages of the 6 is you have everything in one package, the low B and a high C for chords. My 4’s get picked up once in a while but here’s the thing about that low B especially: as you play up the neck with it, 1. the tone of your playing changes. 2. You have easy access to many notes without a lot of wasted hand movement. The other strings also have different tonal qualities in different places on the neck. So much more than a 4. I love playing a good funk line high up on the neck for a really woody round tone than move to the D, G, and C down at the head end for a plucky jazz sound. Also I have found a five and six string do wonders for my left hand positions especially jumping back to 4 nice in a while. Didn’t take long to learn either.
As far as the Heartfield DR (4) goes, yes, I do like it - mainly because it’s light and has a slightly smaller body. Great for lugging around to gigs and for long practice.
I got lucky and got it for cheap. The pickups were finicky (probably age) so I upgraded them (to Barts if I remember correctly).
The only issue I have with it is the color. I would describe it as mayonnaise...
So yes, a 5-string version of a DR would be nice (in another color), but go find one!
I got lucky and got it for cheap. The pickups were finicky (probably age) so I upgraded them (to Barts if I remember correctly).
The only issue I have with it is the color. I would describe it as mayonnaise...
So yes, a 5-string version of a DR would be nice (in another color), but go find one!
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Can someone shed some light on all the different SR models? Tons of options there, too many to try.
I heard the higher the model number the better the build/quality and that I should not go below a 500-er model. But that would probably be over my budget.
And then there are the GSR (Gios) - they look and are cheaper. Not sure if that’s necessarily reflected in lesser quality?
I heard the higher the model number the better the build/quality and that I should not go below a 500-er model. But that would probably be over my budget.
And then there are the GSR (Gios) - they look and are cheaper. Not sure if that’s necessarily reflected in lesser quality?
SR600e/605e/606e comes with Nordstrand pickups vs the Bartolini BH2 pickups that come in an SR500e/505e/506E.
SR400 and lower have Ibanez branded pickups if I'm not mistaken. The SR Premium put some fancy top woods on the body and get a some gorgeous finishes, some models come with Aguilar pups, others with Nordstrands.
The SR500 in my avatar photo was my first bass.. they aren't bad.. but I ended up falling out of love with mine.. where my TMB505 with it's 2 band EQ and Nordstrand P/J pickups just makes me smile every time I pick it up.
That being said, newer SR505E's use Bartolini BH-2 where mine used MK-1 pickups.. not sure how they compare. And you might like it more than me. They also have the EQ bypass switch these days for a passive tone.
ANd what's more.. you can always change those components out if you want to at a later date.. and it is likely to be a lightweight and fast playing bass.
Do any of you have experiences with some of the cheaper brands, like Dean, Cort, Jackson, Rogue, some of the Epiphone, Carvin... and the like? Is it worth looking into these?
I was also wondering about brands that are a bit harder to try out in-store, but sometimes show up in local listings, like Traben, Tune, Tanglewood, Firewood, and some of the 80's-90's Japanese brands... and older models (or brands) that are not available new anymore, like certain Aria, Peavy, Spector, Schecter... models. I've also seen some affordable-ish Gibson basses...?
Thanks guys for sharing!
I promise I'll report some of my experiences as soon as I get to test-drive some more (we got a ton of snow here in NY and with the COVID situation..., and who knows when GC is closing its doors for good...) and am able to a make decision.
I was also wondering about brands that are a bit harder to try out in-store, but sometimes show up in local listings, like Traben, Tune, Tanglewood, Firewood, and some of the 80's-90's Japanese brands... and older models (or brands) that are not available new anymore, like certain Aria, Peavy, Spector, Schecter... models. I've also seen some affordable-ish Gibson basses...?
Thanks guys for sharing!
I promise I'll report some of my experiences as soon as I get to test-drive some more (we got a ton of snow here in NY and with the COVID situation..., and who knows when GC is closing its doors for good...) and am able to a make decision.
Ive played good and bad at all price levels, and you never know what you might like until you try. True, that’s never been harder than now. The internet has opened a world of options to consider, but it’s also shrunk the opportunities to sit down and try out instruments. COVID doesn’t help. If you’re patient and willing to travel a little, at least your part of the world still is chock full of options.
If you're looking for an SR, then the used market is your best friend for finding one in your price range. Happy hunting.
Used Gear | Reverb
I have the rogue pro fiver but it is a older model built in korea. Bought it used a good bass that has a few things on it you would not see on cheaper basses .
