best “dirt cheap” 5 string?

[Clark Westfield]

Was just presented with this dilemma this week.

I was looking on Craigslist for weeks for a 5 string with no luck.

Then was doing research on a Ibanez Talman for $250.

Then a Yamaha BB235 for just a hundred more than the Talman.

I was then thinking, I have all really nice basses so why get a 5 that is cheap?

So I finally bit the bullet and purchased a Yamaha BB435, upgraded from the BB235.

I wanted something cheap, but couldn't just settle.

If I hate a 5 string and need to bail on it, I can get most of the money back.

But I won't.

Sweetwater also gave me a deal, and free financing for 2 years, made my upgrade even easier.

Now Sweetwater has them back ordered because of some sort of stuck boat in a canal, so I'll see it in June.

 

[spatters]

So I finally bit the bullet and purchased a Yamaha BB435, upgraded from the BB235.

Yamaha BBs don't qualify as "dirt cheap" in the objective sense...but they're dirt cheap compared to the quality, workmanship, and sound you get out of them. If what you want is a P/J, you'll be very happy. The 435 is a meaningful upgrade over the 235.

Word of caution: when buying strings, pay close attention to winding length if you want to string a BB through the body (you should). They're right on the borderline between long and extra-long scale, and which one you need can depend on precisely how long your preferred string manufacturer winds their strings.

 

[Clark Westfield]

Yamaha BBs don't qualify as "dirt cheap" in the objective sense...but they're dirt cheap compared to the quality, workmanship, and sound you get out of them. If what you want is a P/J, you'll be very happy. The 435 is a meaningful upgrade over the 235.

Word of caution: when buying strings, pay close attention to winding length if you want to string a BB through the body (you should). They're right on the borderline between long and extra-long scale, and which one you need can depend on precisely how long your preferred string manufacturer winds their strings.

Thanks for the string tip.

I wanted to go super cheap to learn the 5 string, but it pains me to spend good money after bad on a cheap instrument.

I was looking at the Harley Benton's, and with the shipping they are $200 or more.

Ibanez Talmons are cool, but borderline.

Both are indeed something cheap, then I seen a Bass Player article raving about the 435. So I'm all caught up on bills and treated myself.

Plus the Sweetwater credit deal you can't beat.

My other basses are higher end, so the Bb435 should work out and be a super keeper.

Some of the cheap basses out there are cheese graders on the fretboard which is a $75 fix in my neck of the woods, so I just splurged and avoided the hassle.

Just my 2cents.

 

[ejaggers]

Hey @hfyu,
Did you ever make a decision on a 5er?.....05791

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I scored a Squier 5 string J a few years back that has been good to me.