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Best 5 String For Under $1500?
- Thread starter BassNGuns
- Start date
Depends on what you mean by a thin neck, but if I were you I'd see about getting a used Spector Euro 5. They're beautiful basses which sell for $2000 new but can be had for around $1000 if you keep an eye on CL and ebay. I'd be hard pressed to call the neck thin, but I wouldn't say it's a tree trunk either. If you have a music store near you, try one out.
mikeyswood
Inactive
+1 on that lol...
But I would give a shout out to the Music Man Sterling 5 HH. Quality across the board.
The neck is one of the best in my book. Much thinner neck than the AmFDJ V and very comforable.
- Dec 7, 2007
- 203
- 0
- Disclosures
- Keeping the Groove staying out of Treble
+1, If you are talking new basses, I would say Carvin although lots of Lakland Skylines run under $1,500 too.
Thanks so far folks.
Ya, I've been looking at the Lakland Skylines.
I heard a guy playing a 55-02 and sounded awesome.
The bodies look kind of thick, but I'll check em out.
Any other opinions on like Schector or Warwick?
Also, what I mean by thin is more like depth instead of width.
Ya, I've been looking at the Lakland Skylines.
I heard a guy playing a 55-02 and sounded awesome.
The bodies look kind of thick, but I'll check em out.
Any other opinions on like Schector or Warwick?
Also, what I mean by thin is more like depth instead of width.
+1 With these bases new, MTD Kingston, Zon Sonus are nice also
Used: Fender Marcus Miller 5 string, Lakland DJ5, pop now and then.
I would be patient save a couple extra dollars and get a Nordy VJ5 used.
Ibanez Soundgears have thin, fast necks. The Soundgears begin in the low-mid hundreds and go up from there. For $1500, you can pick up one of the Prestige line of Soundgears.
The BTB series is supposed to be the next step up from the Soundgear line but I don't own a BTB so I cannot comment on the neck.
The BTB series is supposed to be the next step up from the Soundgear line but I don't own a BTB so I cannot comment on the neck.
New: Lakland Skyline, EBMM,
Used: Valenti (if you're lucky to see one at that price but it does happen), Peavey Cirrus
Used: Valenti (if you're lucky to see one at that price but it does happen), Peavey Cirrus
I freaking LOVE my Peavey Cirrus USA 5, got it for $850 and it beats out my Warwick Corvette Std. 5. Now tomorrow my Thumb NT 5 will be arriving, and we'll see how that ends up 
The best luck I've had with 5's in the price range you're looking at have been Ibanez SR series basses and my Cirrus. I obviously rather like Schecters, but if you have $1500 to spend, you can do better IMHO; they are great for the price, but once you start looking a little more expensive, the electronics can't usually keep up. I've only ever played one Lakland and don't know the model, but it was very nice and a 5 to boot! I've only played EBMM basses at stores, and I'm currently restraining myself from buying one
The best luck I've had with 5's in the price range you're looking at have been Ibanez SR series basses and my Cirrus. I obviously rather like Schecters, but if you have $1500 to spend, you can do better IMHO; they are great for the price, but once you start looking a little more expensive, the electronics can't usually keep up. I've only ever played one Lakland and don't know the model, but it was very nice and a 5 to boot! I've only played EBMM basses at stores, and I'm currently restraining myself from buying one
If you want a thin neck, Ibanez is where it's at. I own a SR4005 (Prestige series -- made in Japan), which falls right at the upper bound of your budget (I bought it new for 1500€
and it's a brilliant instrument.
Electronics-wise, it has Bartolini pickups (custom design based on MK2's, I believe) paired with a 3-volt preamp (running at unity gain -- yes, it's weird having 2 AA batteries in my bass, but it works ) with 3-band EQ (and a mid-Q knob), which gives you a pretty wide range of tones.
As for playability, it has a thin, ridiculously fast neck, with excellent treble access. 34" scale. One thing you need to keep in mind though, is that the string spacing is pretty tight -- 16.5mm. It's great for fast fingerstyle playing, but it makes slapping more difficult.
and it's a brilliant instrument.Electronics-wise, it has Bartolini pickups (custom design based on MK2's, I believe) paired with a 3-volt preamp (running at unity gain -- yes, it's weird having 2 AA batteries in my bass, but it works
) with 3-band EQ (and a mid-Q knob), which gives you a pretty wide range of tones.As for playability, it has a thin, ridiculously fast neck, with excellent treble access. 34" scale. One thing you need to keep in mind though, is that the string spacing is pretty tight -- 16.5mm. It's great for fast fingerstyle playing, but it makes slapping more difficult.
