Basses meant to be Five Strings

[powellmacaque]

I've been thinking about this for a while and can't seem to find any info about it, but what basses (preferably production models) were designed as five strings, not as "big brothers" of their four string counterparts?

I would think maybe Warwick or Lakland would do something like that, but I could be wrong.

The reason why I ask is because I'm in the market for another five string after trading in my Stingray 5 for cash. I liked the bass, but four string 'Rays just seem a little more ideal to me in their playability and sound.

 

[loveandbass]

i wanna say modulus.

 

[powellmacaque]

I guess as an additive, which basses designed as big brothers to four strings actually function better as 5-bangers?

 

[mikeswals]

Well odd you want to trade it in, but the StingRay 5 was a complete 5-string design. It was nothing like the SR4.

The only other basses I can think of is the Spector NS-5, wether you go with the US or Czech/Euro. It's also very different from the original NS-2. Same for the Wal MKII, was designed specifically different as a 5 vs the original MKI.

 

[KsPiNeSh]

Agree with the Spector comments. Not sure how much you're looking to spend, but the vast majority of Roscoe basses are 5-strings and, IMO and IME, the sound and build quality are both phenomenal.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Ibanez ATK's make more sense to me as 5-strings, than as 4's. The 5-string neck feels chunky in a pleasing way to me, while the neck on the 4-bangers just feels too bulky.

I like wide fingerboards, like on old P-basses. For that reason, when it comes to Jazz basses, I prefer the V's that come with wide nuts as compared to their 4-string counterparts, which always feel too crowded to me.

 

[jordak]

Ibanez BTB series

 

[spade2you]

Depends.

For metal?

 

[PersonalTraynor]

DEFINATELY the Ibanez BTB series. I tried to love 4 string versions of the beauties but just couldn't they just felt wierd.

Also Peavey cirrus basses scream to be 5 stringers for the same reasons...


Must be the 35 inch scale necks on these examples...

 

[Ric5]

Most 5 string basses are simply redesigned 4 string basses.

 

[G On Bass]

Lakland for sure

some Carvin models. like the BB75, B25 and SB5000

 

[Zooberwerx]

Dingwall for sure...that's pretty much their stock-in-trade.

Riis

 

[mikeswals]

I just rembered another specific 5. The MTD 535. My friend wanted a 4 string MTD back during that first year Mike Tobias started, and Mike commented he hadn't built any 4 yet. So he got the first 4 (435) after a long wait.

 

[Unrepresented]

Warmoth Gecko fits that description. They don't offer a straight across 4 banger version of it, although they have created a similar style with a four string option.

 

[electracoyote]

Also Peavey cirrus basses scream to be 5 stringers for the same reasons...

+1, to the point I suspect that model was specifically designed and developed to compete in the five-string market.

 

[spade2you]

Most 5 string basses are simply redesigned 4 string basses.

+1000

 

[AmadeusXeno]

3 basses come to mind for me. Warwick Thumb 5 which has the pup's set differently then the 4 string version. Ibanez K5 which has different pup and eq then any other Ibanez. Also the Ibanez GWB which as far as I know is the only production bass that comes with a ramp.

 

[mmbongo]

Stingray 5, I remember it being one of the first 5 stringers designed from the ground up to be a 5 string.

Spector also nailed the 5 string design.

 

[Marko 1]

I guess as an additive, which basses designed as big brothers to four strings actually function better as 5-bangers?

Imo... all of them.

 

[Audiophage]

I just rembered another specific 5. The MTD 535. My friend wanted a 4 string MTD back during that first year Mike Tobias started, and Mike commented he hadn't built any 4 yet. So he got the first 4 (435) after a long wait.

I've always thought that 4 string MTD basses look like they are missing something. The same with the Ibanez BTB.