$800, 5-String Bass Shoot-Out

[BigBigGuy44]

Ibanez ATK.

New 815E model. Looks just like the Prestige 1205 but almost half the price.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/ibanez-premium-atk815e-5-string-electric-bass-guitar

ATK's are a very underrated bass.

 

[Chef]

Definitely the Lakland. I have one and it's fantastic!

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Yeah.
I dunno how they do that for $800.

 

[mark beem]

Yeah.
I dunno how they do that for $800.

To be fair, I bought mine used. These were $1K+ new at the time they came out. Still I've seen the natural 55-01s new going for under 9 bills.

 

[Chef]

that's not spalted like yours

 

[mark beem]

that's not spalted like yours

Yeah, that's what I meant by "natural 55-01s". Essentially the same bass minus the fancy-shmancy top veneer. Sorry for any confusion. Should have been clearer.

 

[exidor]

hears one to consider may not be what your looking for. but man I'm getting one this year it will most likely be my only bass purchase in 2015 . it comes out in march. I saw it in the NAMM thread
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[TinIndian]

I voted Lakland firs and fore most because I already own the Ibanez BT675
That said, I would seek my Lakland to be with a maple fingerboard.
Ray and Fortress are behind due to their tighter string spacing, and I like the full 3/4" (19mm) on my 5-strings, as well as 35" scale.

I am looking for a backup/alternate to my Lakland 55-02 as I only own the one 5 string. I too like the 35" scale and 19mm string spacing but it seems a little tough to find alot of choices with those specs in an under 1,000.00 package. Are the BTB's 19mm? Does anyone know about the ATK 5er's like the 805e?

 

[fuzzychaos]

I love Lakland, but for $800ish new I like the Ray35. 55-02 is killer though.

 

[Boom762]

Either way, that's a nice one, even though I voted for the Lakland because of the normal string spacing and 35" scale

You know, one of the features that pulls me towards the Rockbasses is Warwick's 3D Bridge. The bridge allows you to change the string spacing at will.

 

[Bassitudes]

Absolutely the fortress. you could buy a real german one at that price, tho, used. those instruments wear, or rather don't wear very much at all, so used is still VERY good. also brand new G&L tribute 2500s are around that price, and even a bit less used. i don't like mid-range MM or Ibanez stuff, but both of their top end and entry level stuff in the chron-don. warwick's good on every level.

 

[Bassitudes]

I voted Lakland firs and fore most because I already own the Ibanez BT675
That said, I would seek my Lakland to be with a maple fingerboard.
Ray and Fortress are behind due to their tighter string spacing, and I like the full 3/4" (19mm) on my 5-strings, as well as 35" scale.

You can adjust string spacing on warwick bridges...

 

[crucislancer]

How about the new Schecter Diamond-J 5 Plus?

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$799, 35" scale.

 

[spanndrew]

Ibanez puts out a better product than most people realize.

 

[Bassitudes]

Ibanez puts out a better product than most people realize.

I just can't stand them cheap bart pickups they put in most everything. Nice to see the new ones coming with nordstrands, but even then those wouldn't be my primary choice for "boutique" pickups. Many different companies have stock pickups that feel more musical than both of these brands.

 

[geoff_in_nc]

Personally my Peavey Axcelerators are exactly what I want, and they're low cost. That said, what I like in a bass and what sound I seek may be radically different than everybody else. The only thing I'd strongly recommend to anyone buying a 5er is a 35" scale. Everything else is personal taste in my thought process.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I would probably take the 55-01 first, then the Warwick Fortress, and then the Sterling by Ernie Ball five.

 

[Max Blasto]

I am looking for a backup/alternate to my Lakland 55-02 as I only own the one 5 string. I too like the 35" scale and 19mm string spacing but it seems a little tough to find alot of choices with those specs in an under 1,000.00 package. Are the BTB's 19mm? Does anyone know about the ATK 5er's like the 805e?

Yes, BTBs are 19mm and 35".

 

[Max Blasto]

I just can't stand them cheap bart pickups they put in most everything. Nice to see the new ones coming with nordstrands, but even then those wouldn't be my primary choice for "boutique" pickups. Many different companies have stock pickups that feel more musical than both of these brands.

Honestly, I don't know whether my BTB 1005 has "them cheap bart" pups or not, but the stock ones in there now sound terrific to me.
What bart pickup would you say is better?

 

[FatStringsRule]

What no Sr 755 ??

 

[gjbassist]

I voted Lakland out of what you listed in the poll. My first thought when I saw the thread title though was a Brubaker Brute.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00PM...&dpID=41B8Tll0FYL&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SY200_QL40