Best 5 string youve ever played

[chadhargis]

I've not spent a lot of time with a vast number of 5ers, but I own a Ibanez BTB Prestige and a G&L L-2500.

Both have good B strings, but strings make a DRAMATIC difference. I had a set of Chromes on my BTB and the B sounded awful. Loved the other 4 strings, but the B stunk. Put a set of Circle Ks on and all was well with the world on the B, but the D and G strings were too "zingy". I went to nickel wound D'addarios and I'm in love with those strings on my BTB.

My G&L is wearing TI Jazz Flats and they ROCK! The B is fat and funky with those flats. TIs ain't cheap, but they sound good.

 

[MrLenny1]

So far my Tobias Classic 5!

 

[MarTONEbass]

The best low B I have ever played in a Modulus Q5, second best would be a Lakland 55-94.

 

[CannyBusDriver]

My J Worrell Fretless, with epoxy fingerboard and humbuckers. Other than that, i'd say musicman's or warwick $$

 

[capnsandwich]

Tom Bowlus' Skjold Lions Pride 5'er was up there on my list. I played a redwood Acacia 5'er a few years back that was a great bass as well.

So as far as your question is concerned:

Lakland
Sadowsky
Skjold
Valenti
Lull
Fodera all come to mind.

 

[bucephylus]

I sometimes wonder if some of you cats actually read the OP. The question was looking for rec's for a college player for a decent, reasonable cost 5.

What's with all the posts debating qualities of the B string at 34" vs 35" for boutique level instruments that are out of the price range? Really.

My 2c to the OP: the most reliably decent and semi-affordable 5 is the StingRay5, IMO. I believe you can find them used for about $800 if you really look hard and take your time. Less than that and you will find a lot of things you give up. The Peavey Axcellerator is pretty decent, but has a basswood body, which is soft and can create some issues. Also, they have been out of circulation for a while and can be hard to find. GL!

 

[Bass Viking]

Drew, glad you found a bass that you could afford that you are happy with.

I quoted your post for emphasis. I don't know how this thread got derailed from 'Best 5 string' to 'Best low B string'.

A great B string is one component of a great 5 string. But it is not the only component.

The weak point of a 5 string is usually the B string. There are many good 4 string basses available but fewer good 5 stringers, so it's helpful to point out which ones have a solid low B (and which ones don't).

The best low B I have ever played was on a Dingwall Afterburner. The bass was very good overall too, but out wasn't the best 5 that I have ever played, and frankly, it didn't work for me, in spite of the great low B.

My Afterburner, and all Dingwalls I've played, had the best low B. Overall though, I prefer my Sadowsky but the question of which 5 stringer is "the best" is answered by "best for whom?"

 

[mindwell]

I'm not answering the OP's question directly, but I'm a small guy, too, and I faced a similar dilemma regarding the 35" Cirrus scale length and its effect on my wrist. But where I moved upwards, at first to a Sadowsky Metro M5-24 and now to a Ken Smith CR-5 (I'm 42, have money, and an understanding wife), the OP may want to check out the 34" scale bolt-on Cirrus that GC has in their used section at $599. It's at their Orange, CT, store. I haven't played a bolt-on versus a neck-through Cirrus, but assuming they're similar, this could be a way to retain desirable aspects of the Cirrus (neck profile, sound, ergonomics etc) while saving the wrist, and without having to financially overcommit.

And as someone who now has completed the Cirrus-M5-Ken Smith cycle and has lived to tell, I feel qualified to say that these three basses are more like cousins then siblings. Their neck profiles are nothing alike: Cirrus is narrow and squarish, M5 is beefy and Fenderish, and Smith is sculpted and narrow-shouldered all the way down. I believe the Sadowsky has a 12" neck radius: not sure about the other two. Sonic characteristics also differ: Cirrus has more low-mid burp, M5 is high-mid aggressive, while Smith is very, very refined. Ergonomically, the Sadowsky was most comfortable to wear, even though mine was heavier than the Cirrus; 4 hour gigs were a breeze with the M5. Smith is heaviest of all, though it sounds like I just got lucky with the one I landed. Ha. Ha.

In the end, I can execute passages on the Smith that simply weren't possible with the other two basses, and its responsiveness is remarkable: you get out what you put in. The Sadowsky used cost me twice what the Cirrus did used, but wasn't twice as good across the board--for me. By contrast, the Smith (also used) cost nearly 1/3rd again as much as the Sadowsky, but IS noticeably better--for me. And the Smith cost almost three times what the Cirrus did, but was in no way three times the bass! So the moral here is that even when you spend double or triple the money, you don't necessarily double or triple the return.

Finally, with the exceptions of my Smith and Pedulla Pentabuzz fretless, I don't think the Cirrus can be beaten by any other 5 I've owned. That includes two Stingray 5's, Lakland Skyline JO and DJ 5's: great basses, all, and great B-strings all as well. I also liked the Cirrus more than my Lakland USA 5594 Classic, though the latter was better-constructed and finished.

My unsolicited advice? Until you're an old man with discretionary income and incurable GAS, check out that "cheapo" bolt-on, 34" USA Cirrus. Perhaps others can comment as to whether the bolt-on version is similar enough to the neck-through.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Dingwall is always an obvious choice, although I don't know how the Combustion line compares yet.

The Combustion has a more traditional type of sound than its Afterburner counterparts, but still benefits from the added scale length and balanced strings. It's not a cheap Afterburner, it's a sound of its own.

 

[ilovenofrets]

Not a big fan of 5-ers, but I recently tried the Sterling by MusicMan Ray 35. An incredible deal on a great-playing 5 with killer MM tone. And the B sounds nice and balanced with the other strings. Fantastic bass at a price that won't break the bank, and a really nice MM gig bag is included. Street price is $729.99

 

[cnltb]

DINGWALL. And that's NOT only because of the fabulous B-String, but because of everything else, too: sound, weight, playability....

They are sooo well made.
Really nice to see!

 

[denchiq]

I sometimes wonder if some of you cats actually read the OP. The question was looking for rec's for a college player for a decent, reasonable cost 5.

My 2c to the OP: the most reliably decent and semi-affordable 5 is the StingRay5, IMO. I believe you can find them used for about $800 if you really look hard and take your time.

The OP is not entitled to buying new. On the contrary, my "rec" is a used Lakland 55-02, which may be found in the same range that a MM5, but is a better deal from many points.

Used US Laklands I've seen go for as little as $1300. A certain blonde/maple 55-94 comes to mind (which is in Russia now, to my knowledge).
And once I missed a rare US Lakland 5 "The Stingray Killah" - single MME in the exact SR spot (granted it is a 35") , no coil tapping as on MM Classic SR, - by that much, it went for $1150 or so Hate evilbay!

 

[Martin89]

Ibanez ATK305, extremely happy at college kid prices, very versatile, and probably the only 5 I'll ever own. My buddy who's played bass for the last 14 or so years and strictly owns 4s(9 of them to be exact, from G&L, Fender, MM etc.) is now on the look out for a 305 after playing mine.

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

Any of these will do....

 

[spade2you]

The weak point of a 5 string is usually the B string. There are many good 4 string basses available but fewer good 5 stringers, so it's helpful to point out which ones have a solid low B (and which ones don't).

I agree. I have played many basses that have a good EADG, but the B is total flop city. Fit, action, etc. aside, I don't think I've played too many basses that had a seriously flawed E, A, D, or G.

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

Sometimes a different set of strings with more tension will cure the floppy B. Ernie Ball flats have a lot of tension & have changed my opinion of several of my own basses. I would never have bought them, but that's all the store had. Now I love them on some basses.

 

[Nedmundo]

I sometimes wonder if some of you cats actually read the OP. The question was looking for rec's for a college player for a decent, reasonable cost 5.

What's with all the posts debating qualities of the B string at 34" vs 35" for boutique level instruments that are out of the price range? Really.

Good point. I think many of us went with the thread title.

Considering the value angle, it would be G&L L-2500 Tribute. The most recent Tributes I've played have fantastic quality, and are amazingly close to their USA counterparts. They are far better than any MIM Fender Jazz V I've tried. Also look into the MTD Kingston Saratoga (J) and CRB (P), or, if you want 35" scale, the Kingston Heir. I've only tried the four string CRB, but it seemed very nicely done, especially for the price.

 

[lamarjones]

If it's deals that is the key.......

I recommend a used Cirrus 5. should be able to pop one for around 800 on a good day, and sometimes there are better days. It's a starting point and a great bass. PLUS, a killer deal imo.

The opposite obvious approach is a used Fender USA J V for about 600 if you can make it happen.

FWIW the only reason I do play a 35" is that I like to bend notes and can't do so as well on a 35". HUGE difference in bending, the rest isn't a big deal.

 

[SJLee]

Love the Lull P5. I've had it 8 years and regardless of the season, temperature, humidity or dryness from central heating, it's never needed a neck adjustment or needed to be tuned aside from changing strings. Solidly in tune and the intonation is always there. Some may not like the 35" scale but all notes up and down the neck are spot on.

 

[Peepaleep]

Man, I LOVE my Lakland Skyline JO 55-60. You can get them for under $900 used - look around. For less than that, my Schecter Stiletto Custom 5-string cost me around $300 used and it blows away my Mexican 5-sting J (which cost me $250 used). It's not the Lakland, but it's a good bass.

IMO, go for the Lakland - it slams.