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5 String for $300-$500?
- Thread starter Peeved T-40
- Start date
I got my Yamaha BB235 (in black) new for $331 out the door. Build quality 5/5, sound 5/5, looks 5/5, my ability to play a 5 string 1/5.
I play a Schecter 4 string that is faboulous with the fit, finish and feel.
Sound? A bit wonky compared to my JBasses.
I solved that with a Sadowsky pre-amp. Next to perfect now.
Ibanez 500 series 5's are on sale at MF: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/ibanez-sr500e-5-string-electric-bass/ My Ibanez SR500 is an absolute killer axe, I was going to (still might) pick up one of these, maybe in the CG/FM burl variant (of which I have the 4 string): https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/ibanez-sr505epb-5-string-electric-bass
just watch the sales. when musician's friend does the 15% off thing CALL them. you can probably do something similar at sweetwater. if you have a local music store by all means give them a chance. i don't so online stuff happens a lot around here. i have played my TRBX505 for over a decade. the amazing thing is the MF price is still the same now, it was listed at 550 back when i got mine in '10 and i got it for 475 with the discount. there are a lot of sounds when you get used to what you can do with each pickup. as someone else said it does well to get a vintage vibe if you go passive. a great thing about that is the passive and active output is VERY similar so switching back and forth on stage is pretty easy. no hum since not single coils. i've had no reliabilty issues with mine whatsoever. just two truss rod adjustments over the years (which i do myself, very easy on this bass). i still rehearse with it or take it to unknown gigs (ie maybe rough bar) otherwise now i play a yamaha BBNE2 nathan east or G&L M2500 mostly. but i could easily go back to gigging the 505 as my only 5 string. the other instruments on your list are also very good choices by the way. good luck with your selection, have fun!
yamaha BB235 is what my friend has and he loves it. It blew away the sterling that he compared it side by side to, both in build quality and tone
Nothing wrong with any of the basses the OP listed. In my experience, Fender/Squier are earlier to sell than Schecter and LTD...if you decide to change your mind or upgrade later on.
Opinion: Find a used Schecter Model T Session 5, MIK build (though later they moved to Indonesia I think), Hipshot and Schaller appointments, EMG USA P/J pickups and EMG USA 18v Preamp, nice neck on it and goes toe to toe with a lot of heavy hitters for a fraction of the price.
In the past 5-6 years or so I've bought the following 5ers in your price range:
Yamaha BB415
Yamaha BB G5
Ibanez ATK 805e
I can recommend all of them and have gigged with each. It might come down to the sound and tonal flexibility you like plus the ergos. (Those all are 34" scales and have similar neck profiles but the G5 is 19mm spacing, the other two 18mm. Each weighs between 9 and 9.5 lbs.)
Yamaha BB415
Yamaha BB G5
Ibanez ATK 805e
I can recommend all of them and have gigged with each. It might come down to the sound and tonal flexibility you like plus the ergos. (Those all are 34" scales and have similar neck profiles but the G5 is 19mm spacing, the other two 18mm. Each weighs between 9 and 9.5 lbs.)
Only $125 shipping. Can buy a new Yammy with warranty shipped free under the total cost. Stop with the Reverb links.
Likely all made in the same 1-2 Korean and/or Indonesian factories. Barring the random lemon, they will probably all be very serviceable, good quality, and sound good. It's really all down to personal preference. I'd likely buy a used peavey millennium usa. Can be found under $500 if you look, and destroy all the imports. Ymmv
Yerp, the gold paint/whatever it is, really doesn't age well.
Just got a new shiny set of tuning pegs in, should have them on this coming weekend.
Schecter Stilletto Custom 5
Still contemplating the bridge replacement...don't want to put more holes in it...
but there's got to be a better replacement available.
I think I already got new knobs, but I forget...haven't actually looked at it since the move in December.
Mostly been working on the Motorcycle & practicing on the 6-string Peavey Shark Bass
I have played all of the models you mentioned when looking for a 5er.
The TRBX305 has ceramic PUPs, which are a little deeper voiced than alnico PUPs. The EQ switch I found more useful than I thought it would be. It actually goes from scooped to flat to an inverted scoop. Very close to a mid knob, but a little more. Since I have average hands, I like that it is 34" scale.
I really liked the Schecter Stealth 5. The issue I heard in reviews was not the PUPs, but the preamp distorts when boosting on the EQ knobs (cutting is fine). I agree with that assessment. I found the neck MM PUP pretty close to a MM bass. It is 35" scale. Almost bought it, even with the preamp issue. It was that good.
The Jackson was meh to me. The feel, the sound... just didn't bond with it.
The Ibanez was quite good. The PowerTap switch I did not find appealing. Bass was very light with tight string spacing (which I like). Here is a subtle difference between the Yammy and the Ibanez... the Ibanez has a wider string spacing at the nut, but smaller at the bridge. I liked the spacing on the Yammy a little more.
Even considered a SUB 5er, but bought a Yammy because I thought it was more versatile. I also would not buy a SUB without trying the actual unit I was going home with. I found them to sound a little different from one to the next.
Since I don't keep a stable of basses, and my bass budget is about the same as yours, I went for the Yammy. I play it with med gauge ProSteels. Best all arounder that I didn't feel like I had to mod after bringing it home. Active with the best pre of the bunch, good ceramic PUPs, good build quality, versatile, nice smooth 5 piece neck, tightish string spacing with a little more room at the PUPs, small headstock so no neck dive.
Hope that was on subject, but whatever you decide, enjoy!
The TRBX305 has ceramic PUPs, which are a little deeper voiced than alnico PUPs. The EQ switch I found more useful than I thought it would be. It actually goes from scooped to flat to an inverted scoop. Very close to a mid knob, but a little more. Since I have average hands, I like that it is 34" scale.
I really liked the Schecter Stealth 5. The issue I heard in reviews was not the PUPs, but the preamp distorts when boosting on the EQ knobs (cutting is fine). I agree with that assessment. I found the neck MM PUP pretty close to a MM bass. It is 35" scale. Almost bought it, even with the preamp issue. It was that good.
The Jackson was meh to me. The feel, the sound... just didn't bond with it.
The Ibanez was quite good. The PowerTap switch I did not find appealing. Bass was very light with tight string spacing (which I like). Here is a subtle difference between the Yammy and the Ibanez... the Ibanez has a wider string spacing at the nut, but smaller at the bridge. I liked the spacing on the Yammy a little more.
Even considered a SUB 5er, but bought a Yammy because I thought it was more versatile. I also would not buy a SUB without trying the actual unit I was going home with. I found them to sound a little different from one to the next.
Since I don't keep a stable of basses, and my bass budget is about the same as yours, I went for the Yammy. I play it with med gauge ProSteels. Best all arounder that I didn't feel like I had to mod after bringing it home. Active with the best pre of the bunch, good ceramic PUPs, good build quality, versatile, nice smooth 5 piece neck, tightish string spacing with a little more room at the PUPs, small headstock so no neck dive.
Hope that was on subject, but whatever you decide, enjoy!
I have played all of the models you mentioned when looking for a 5er.
The TRBX305 has ceramic PUPs, which are a little deeper voiced than alnico PUPs. The EQ switch I found more useful than I thought it would be. It actually goes from scooped to flat to an inverted scoop. Very close to a mid knob, but a little more. Since I have average hands, I like that it is 34" scale.
I really liked the Schecter Stealth 5. The issue I heard in reviews was not the PUPs, but the preamp distorts when boosting on the EQ knobs (cutting is fine). I agree with that assessment. I found the neck MM PUP pretty close to a MM bass. It is 35" scale. Almost bought it, even with the preamp issue. It was that good.
The Jackson was meh to me. The feel, the sound... just didn't bond with it.
The Ibanez was quite good. The PowerTap switch I did not find appealing. Bass was very light with tight string spacing (which I like). Here is a subtle difference between the Yammy and the Ibanez... the Ibanez has a wider string spacing at the nut, but smaller at the bridge. I liked the spacing on the Yammy a little more.
Even considered a SUB 5er, but bought a Yammy because I thought it was more versatile. I also would not buy a SUB without trying the actual unit I was going home with. I found them to sound a little different from one to the next.
Since I don't keep a stable of basses, and my bass budget is about the same as yours, I went for the Yammy. I play it with med gauge ProSteels. Best all arounder that I didn't feel like I had to mod after bringing it home. Active with the best pre of the bunch, good ceramic PUPs, good build quality, versatile, nice smooth 5 piece neck, tightish string spacing with a little more room at the PUPs, small headstock so no neck dive.
Hope that was on subject, but whatever you decide, enjoy!
Thanks. this pretty much mirrors what I'm finding except, for me, the Ibanez is nudging slightly ahead. I just find the preset toggle on the Yamaha strange and not very enticing. I like the ability to put the Yamaha 505 into passive mode though. but the the split/power tap feature on the Ibanez seems pretty neat and more interesting to me than the preset toggle on the 305.
The Jackson has fallen to last place. It just doesn't seem different enough from the Ibanez... Infact they kind of seem like the same instrument... Exept he jackson is a little uglier. It's too... lobe like...
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a japanese made ibanez like these would be better than those
this first one is really clean and a good price. i’m not affiliated with any of these listings.
Ibanez SR885 1993 Gloss Black | Noble Barnes and Barber Shop | Reverb
Ibanez Soundgear 885LE 5 String Bass Guitar | eBay
SOLD - 1986 MIJ Ibanez RB885. Light and punchy!
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This thread GASsed me into pulling the trigger on a Yamaha from Sweetwater. GASed so bad I thought I got a 5 and ordered the 4. Loved the one I played long ago so the order is going to stand as I just sold a bunch of gear.
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