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5 String for $300-$500?

#101
DwaynieAD said:
modern sterile nasally tone rather than big thick fat bass tone.

squier or sterling by music man five strings would be what I would go for. had an ibanez it was bleh. have a fender jazz its great.
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The Yamahas *can* be that way if one EQ’s it that way, but the pre’s on the 500 and 600’s can be easily pushed into surprisingly P like low mid thump by just boosting the bass and mids, IME. I have found the Ibanez in that price range tend to have that sound pretty much baked in and harder to dial out. I’d put the similarly priced Yammy’s on a whole other level with regards to the electronics package, sporting AlNiCo V as opposed to ceramic pickups, which I tend to favor for most applications. Of course, all IMO, etc,.
 
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#104
Peeved T-40 said:
Is there a good quality 5 string bass that could be had for between $300-$500?

I've been looking at these so far:
Yamaha TRBX350
Ibanez SR405EQM
Jackson JS3QV
Schecter Stiletto Stealth 5

If anyone has any opinions on any of these or has suggestions for some used basses to look into instead, I'd love to hear them!
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IMG_20201027_111903593.jpg
 
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#109
I originally owned the 4 string for 3 years. Went looking for a 5er, so I went shopping... a lot, then pondering a little. I decided I loved the 4 so much, I just bought the TRBX305.

I originally bought my 304 used for $205US. Waited for months for a used 5er to show up used. I found one in perfect condition for $200. Jumped on it the day it was posted on GC's site. Went to my local store, paid cash, had them call the Miami store that was selling it to make sure the bass was removed from the sales floor. Get an email 3 days later that the order was cancelled. After the selling stores manager lied to me a few times, local store investigates and finds it was sold two days after I bought it. The local store gives me $100 dollars off a brand new one. Mad at selling store, but have to tip my hat to my local store (Gainesville, FL). They tried to make things right, even though it was not their fault.

The wait list was so long through GC corporate (months due to COVID), that the Gainesville store ordered one direct from Yamaha. Somehow both showed up. I took one home - the other sold in days. One of the local store managers said they need to stock them when they become more available.

It is hard to find them for sale used, and if you do, they cost nearly as much as a new one. COVID not withstanding, says a lot about the bass itself.
 
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#110
Teck_Instructor said:
I originally owned the 4 string for 3 years. Went looking for a 5er, so I went shopping... a lot, then pondering a little. I decided I loved the 4 so much, I just bought the TRBX305.

I originally bought my 304 used for $205US. Waited for months for a used 5er to show up used. I found one in perfect condition for $200. Jumped on it the day it was posted on GC's site. Went to my local store, paid cash, had them call the Miami store that was selling it to make sure the bass was removed from the sales floor. Get an email 3 days later that the order was cancelled. After the selling stores manager lied to me a few times, local store investigates and finds it was sold two days after I bought it. The local store gives me $100 dollars off a brand new one. Mad at selling store, but have to tip my hat to my local store (Gainesville, FL). They tried to make things right, even though it was not their fault.

The wait list was so long through GC corporate (months due to COVID), that the Gainesville store ordered one direct from Yamaha. Somehow both showed up. I took one home - the other sold in days. One of the local store managers said they need to stock them when they become more available.

It is hard to find them for sale used, and if you do, they cost nearly as much as a new one. COVID not withstanding, says a lot about the bass itself.
Click to expand...

The same can be said for the Ibanez 405 EQM. I waited two months to find one. Even the used ones seem to sell fast.
 
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#111
Thanks to this thread my Yamaha TRBX305 arrived today from Front Row Electronics (ordered Wednesday, got free 2-day shipping, packaged well, double boxed).
It is a SUPERB instrument. It's instantly my other fave 5 string fretboard (other being a V3 Sire which is quite different.. rolled edges, different wood and spacing). I worked through a Fender Player Jazz 5 that felt like an uncomfortable tree and a Schecter Stiletto 5 that just didn't feel/sound right ever. This Yamaha 305 however feels incredible and sounds great out of the box. Going to make some action/truss/intonation adjustments, oil the boards and maybe swap out the stock (D'Addario?) E-G for DR Sunbeams (It would be nice to have the B as a Sunbeam also but I got what I got).
I like the Ibanez SR 5 string necks but I love their 4's, particularly the 500 series wood. Initial sense is I like the Yamaha neck on a 5 string more than the Ibby. Maybe it's the spacing or the curvature but it feels really really good. I know, BS w/o photos. Once she's doctored up I'll post, but, for $399 retail I cannot imagine this axe can be beat.
 
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#113
Bassiclees said:
Thanks to this thread my Yamaha TRBX305 arrived today from Front Row Electronics (ordered Wednesday, got free 2-day shipping, packaged well, double boxed).
It is a SUPERB instrument. It's instantly my other fave 5 string fretboard (other being a V3 Sire which is quite different.. rolled edges, different wood and spacing). I worked through a Fender Player Jazz 5 that felt like an uncomfortable tree and a Schecter Stiletto 5 that just didn't feel/sound right ever. This Yamaha 305 however feels incredible and sounds great out of the box. Going to make some action/truss/intonation adjustments, oil the boards and maybe swap out the stock (D'Addario?) E-G for DR Sunbeams (It would be nice to have the B as a Sunbeam also but I got what I got).
I like the Ibanez SR 5 string necks but I love their 4's, particularly the 500 series wood. Initial sense is I like the Yamaha neck on a 5 string more than the Ibby. Maybe it's the spacing or the curvature but it feels really really good. I know, BS w/o photos. Once she's doctored up I'll post, but, for $399 retail I cannot imagine this axe can be beat.
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Congrats! Gotta love that feeling when you and an instrument really click. Looking forward to pictures!:bassist:
 
#115
Bassiclees said:
Thanks to this thread my Yamaha TRBX305 arrived today from Front Row Electronics (ordered Wednesday, got free 2-day shipping, packaged well, double boxed).
It is a SUPERB instrument. It's instantly my other fave 5 string fretboard (other being a V3 Sire which is quite different.. rolled edges, different wood and spacing). I worked through a Fender Player Jazz 5 that felt like an uncomfortable tree and a Schecter Stiletto 5 that just didn't feel/sound right ever. This Yamaha 305 however feels incredible and sounds great out of the box. Going to make some action/truss/intonation adjustments, oil the boards and maybe swap out the stock (D'Addario?) E-G for DR Sunbeams (It would be nice to have the B as a Sunbeam also but I got what I got).
I like the Ibanez SR 5 string necks but I love their 4's, particularly the 500 series wood. Initial sense is I like the Yamaha neck on a 5 string more than the Ibby. Maybe it's the spacing or the curvature but it feels really really good. I know, BS w/o photos. Once she's doctored up I'll post, but, for $399 retail I cannot imagine this axe can be beat.
Click to expand...

Had you handled one in store before or did you just dive in and order one blind? Only asking because I'm quite a distance away from a store that would carry them so if I get one, it'll likely be a blind order.
 
#116
@DCWalt 100% sight unseen. Ordered from vendor via Amazon (bonus was Prime so if there was an issue it would be free returns). Ordered Wednesday, arrived today.
I'm floored how great this instrument is. Will post a brief photo here (because I'm due) and a proper NBD post later with thoughts and more of a 'review'.
tl;dr - Fingers just roam naturally and swiftly across the wonderfully proportioned fretboard, growly magic comes out the other side. If you are thinking of getting one and can find one 100% do it. This axe punches way way above its price point. Fret ends, bridge, tuners, pots... the whole package screams quality and the sound and feel are just incredible and I've not even dug in and bonded properly. Stock strings (D'addarios I think) are fine/great, not putting the DR Sunbeams on (at least not yet). Setup was a breeze, 1/8th turn on truss, micro adjustments on bridge. Feels like it was set up at the factory as intonation, action and even neck bend is all pretty spot on. Action is set mid-height, pops and slaps with no problem. The wood on the neck didn't need much F1, it was not dried out as some can be when new. The p/u's have a detent for your thumb which I've never seen before and I didn't realize I was even using it until I looked and saw it there... thumb just naturally sat in that well designed pocket.
I'm sitting here after a looong work week, watching the Snyder Cut and just playing along with the score and it feels and sounds so so good.
Yammie5TB1.jpeg
 
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#117
Bassiclees said:
@DCWalt 100% sight unseen. Ordered from vendor via Amazon (bonus was Prime so if there was an issue it would be free returns). Ordered Wednesday, arrived today.
I'm floored how great this instrument is. Will post a brief photo here (because I'm due) and a proper NBD post later with thoughts and more of a 'review'.
tl;dr - Fingers just roam naturally and swiftly across the wonderfully proportioned fretboard, growly magic comes out the other side. If you are thinking of getting one and can find one 100% do it. This axe punches way way above its price point. Fret ends, bridge, tuners, pots... the whole package screams quality and the sound and feel are just incredible and I've not even dug in and bonded properly. Stock strings (D'addarios I think) are fine/great, not putting the DR Sunbeams on (at least not yet). Setup was a breeze, 1/8th turn on truss, micro adjustments on bridge. Feels like it was set up at the factory as intonation, action and even neck bend is all pretty spot on. Action is set mid-height, pops and slaps with no problem. The wood on the neck didn't need much F1, it was not dried out as some can be when new. The p/u's have a detent for your thumb which I've never seen before and I didn't realize I was even using it until I looked and saw it there... thumb just naturally sat in that well designed pocket.
I'm sitting here after a looong work week, watching the Snyder Cut and just playing along with the score and it feels and sounds so so good.
View attachment 4209767
Click to expand...

What are your thoughts on the weird preset toggle thing and only having a two band EQ. This bass is at the top of my list but those are the only things holding me back from settling on it. I would prefer a 3 band EQ and I just don't know how much I care about or how much I would use the toggle thing. I feel like I would just leave it on flat all the time
 
#118
@DCWalt So far I’ve zero concerns about sonic range potential in this configuration and my ability to dial it in. The 5 shapes from the switch plus the 2 bands and the differences between the p/u’s and balance thereof is lots of variety.
 
#119
Peeved T-40 said:
Had you handled one in store before or did you just dive in and order one blind? Only asking because I'm quite a distance away from a store that would carry them so if I get one, it'll likely be a blind order.
Click to expand...

Yamaha is the only brand that I wouldn't hesitate buying sight unseen - I believe it also carries lifetime warranty. I would also recommend going up to the TRBX505 for a small difference in cost.
 

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