Affordable Medium Scale 5 String Basses?

[JoeBassGuy17]

This question may have been asked on the board before, but I figure it may be worth mine and anyone else's time. Are there any affordable (Sub $500) Medium Scale (32-33") 5 String basses available?

 

[nukes_da_bass]

The very nature of a budget 5 requires at
LEAST a 34 scale to accommodate the B string.

You have companies like Landing and Birdsong that do short and mid scale 5ers but they are anything BUT budget because apparently it takes talent to create a 5 string that sounds good under 34 scale.
Kala U bass? It's micro scale...

 

[JoeBassGuy17]

Thanks for the information. It seems like there are only short scale solutions (Ibanez Mikro, Fender Mustang), standard scale and long scale (Ibanez and Warwicks with 36" scale). It seems like an untapped market.

 

[NicJimBass]

There is this one, but it's a 30" scale. I bought one for my young sons to learn on, and it's surprisingly good all around. I've considered playing a gig with it just for fun.

 

[JoeBassGuy17]

Thanks for the recommend, that looks like a good choice as well. I know that Ibanez just released a 5 string version of their Mikro bass, but it would be nice to find one that wasn't in the 28-30" scale length, it's almost too close at times.

 

[JoeBassGuy17]

I wonder if there are any other options aside from going the custom route with a luthier?

 

[hdracer]

Keep your eye open in the classifieds here.
I have seen a couple Birdsongs sell for good prices.

 

[JoeBassGuy17]

Just a bump to this thread to see if anyone else has any suggestions on this topic.

 

[Mekana]

Warwick will be coming out with a medium scale Corvette Rockbass 5er soon. Not sure of pricing or exactly when available. Something to watch, anyway!

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/medium-scale-warwick-rockbass-5er-just-changed-everything-854054/

 

[ebonalley]

This:
Link Removed

 

[JoeBassGuy17]

Just a bump to see if much has changed in the way of affordable medium scale 5 string basses, aside from short scale offers of Ibanez and ESP, and the Warwick Rockbass Medium Scale 5 string. Any other options out there?

 

[Temcat]

There was also a shortscale Brice 5er from Rondo.

 

[gillento]

this one: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

30,3" scale though

 

[steelbed45]

Just a bump to see if much has changed in the way of affordable medium scale 5 string basses, aside from short scale offers of Ibanez and ESP, and the Warwick Rockbass Medium Scale 5 string. Any other options out there?

I haven't found any. I was banking on the Warwick, but I've moved on to looking at another custom build. Of course, if you find something, please pass it along.

 

[Cliff Bordwell]

Warmoth offers shorter scales now.

 

[LUpton]

But no 5 strings shorter than 34"....

 

[Kevin aka Kebo]

Its an untapped market for a reason....

 

[JoeBassGuy17]

Just another bump to keep the discussion going if there are any basses I am not familiar with that will fit this segment of the market.

 

[oheare]

I'm reviving a zombie thread for my own nefarious purposes (bwa-ha-ha).

Have there been any developments in the medium-scale 5-string bass world? I've already got the shortish scale covered with an Ibanez Artcore and a Mikro, and the super-short with a Kala, but I'd like to see something in the 32"-ish range.

(Of course, what I really want is a medium-scale Alembic Series (I or II, not fussy) 5-string for under a grand. And a pony...)

Anybody?

 

[Aidil]

I'm reviving a zombie thread for my own nefarious purposes (bwa-ha-ha).

Have there been any developments in the medium-scale 5-string bass world? I've already got the shortish scale covered with an Ibanez Artcore and a Mikro, and the super-short with a Kala, but I'd like to see something in the 32"-ish range.

(Of course, what I really want is a medium-scale Alembic Series (I or II, not fussy) 5-string for under a grand. And a pony...)

Anybody?

Are you in the same sub $500 budget as the almost 6 year old OP?

For just a tad under a grand, Ibanez Volo BTB845V is a 33" medium-scale 5 string bass.

The catch is stock strings and tuning which are .032-.100 EADGC. But, just as previous Volo model BTB33, you can swap the strings with .045-130 to have it with low-B (may require modding the nut slots a little bit, which shouldn't be a big deal).