Best budget 5 string

[Mike19]

Theres a few Ibanez's 5'rs gettable in that price range new via internet store prices. Thatd be my pick for a fiver due to narrow necks and overall qaulity.

+1

I'm saving up for a new 305 or a used 505.

You might want to narrow your choices by scale (34" or 35"), neck width, neck radius, string spacing, weight and balance and passive or active.

 

[bassman03]

Does anyone have a picture of this in Artic White? There's the option on websites to get it with that color but no picture with it.

 

[PZapdos]

ESP D5 is reallllly nice for the $450 new, It's on par with a lot of $800-1000 basses

neck through, bridge is strung-through, its not basswood (i hate basswood ), 3 band EQ,

Invalid Link Removed

You can get a used for $300 probably and then upgrade the pickups and it will sound as nice as a $1000 bass easy

(this is the next bass im buying, my friend has one and i love it.. but i just cant justify it right now since i just bought a warwick

 

[steelhead2]

person posted a Squier 5 string with a Peavey Combo 300 amp on c's list for 250 OBO,,gone now of course,been wanting the `combo 300' butofcourse! a 5 string for NOTHING!(after the amp purchase)= uh yeah!

stinking craigslist! one time a person posted a Fender fretless for 150, now if it was made in USA i don't know but the post was deleted in a half hours time=that i DO know

stay on it you'll find it

 

[Mike19]

ESP D5 is reallllly nice for the $450 new, It's on par with a lot of $800-1000 basses

neck through, bridge is strung-through, its not basswood (i hate basswood ), 3 band EQ,

Invalid Link Removed

WOW! Gorgeous 34 incher.

Direct competition with the Yamaha BB415 (passive), the Cort Curbow 5 (active) and the Ibanez SRA305 (active).

So many choices, so little money.

 

[oldrookie]

G&L tribute 2500, for sure. Got one myself for 350 used (somehow) they are normally around 500 i think used.

Great thing about this G&l Tribute bass is that these has the same electronics in it that the G&L 2500 has, so...... Great electronics, Cheap bass

+1
I'd add..."Great bass" to your description.

 

[Mo' Bass 00]

Does anyone have a picture of this in Artic White? There's the option on websites to get it with that color but no picture with it.

Here's one owned by LiquidMidnight!
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Zapp]

interesting thread.
I was interested in the Squier fiver mentioned here until I picked one up. too stinking wide and odd shape neck. much prefer something like the MM SR5 [expensive] or the upper end SDGR such as mentioned here.

Question: does the ESP LTD D5 have similar size neck to SR5 or SDGR 505 ? comparo?

 

[Jim Carr]

... or the first series of passive MTD Artist basses (MM style pickup). On eBay for under $400.

+1

However, they are hard to find, and you may have to bid high and fast to snag one. I tried nearly a half dozen times, and finally did "the buy it now" dance for $550. Ouch. I guess it's all in the fingers.....LOL!

Pics coming as soon as it arrives.

Here is a taste of passive MTD 5er tone:

This features Anthony Nembhard, who is also on GospelChops vol. 1

 

[Radical Edward]

I concur.

I, as well.

 

[Doug Parent]

Cort Josh Paul
MTD Artist or Kingston
Carvin is VERY consistent
Squire's much better than I expected....much.

 

[NickInMesa]

+1 for the Squier Affinity Jazz V

I owned one for a month, it was decent but not into 5ers.

 

[Crystalman85]

If you want an active bass, I would recommend either the schecter stiletto basses or the ibanez soundgear(sr) and soundgear extreme(srx) basses. if you want a passive bass, go for one of the passive fernandes basses. either the gravity 5x or the tremor 5x. I'm planning on buying a fernandes gravity 5x real soon.

 

[AREA]

Carvin basses........PERIOD!!! Man!! It's just hand's down,one of the world's mysteries as to why in H-E-L-L people don't mention these basses!! Keep it up guys!! That way,they'll keep goin' for birdy prices......Cheap,cheap!!
But.....I'll be damned if those basses don't deserve more credit.

To the OP:
Get one!! YOU WILL NOT REGRET THIS DECISION!!! In fact,you'll probably want to pay me after getting a killer 5'er from Carvin.

PM me......And I'll give you my address for my advice....I'll be waiting!

+1

 

[Bassist Jay]

Theres a few Ibanez's 5'rs gettable in that price range new via internet store prices. Thatd be my pick for a fiver due to narrow necks and overall qaulity.

+2

The SR 305, and SR 405 are both under $500.00 but if you spend an extra $70.00 or less if you can negotiate a deal, then look at the SR 505 because it is a really nice bass with Bartolini's and a beautiful wood grain. It will actually be my next electric bass that I buy. I went in to a Guitar Center not to long ago and negotiated with the guy 15% off the price of the bass and no tax and he agreed so that puts the price at $492.00 out the door.

 

[Zapp]

i would always shop the Ibanez sgr's used via ebay, craigs, here... they get whacked in aftermarket. decent basses very cheap - Ibanez changes the models so often that good models go prematurely 'obsolete' as people flock to newbie models. I've lately marked and watched several of the high end bart-equipped, bart-preamp models go for 5-600 range.
I should point out that if lucky and patient, for just a little more you can pickup a MM SR5...

+2

The SR 305, and SR 405 are both under $500.00 but if you spend an extra $70.00 or less if you can negotiate a deal, then look at the SR 505 because it is a really nice bass with Bartolini's and a beautiful wood grain. It will actually be my next electric bass that I buy. I went in to a Guitar Center not to long ago and negotiated with the guy 15% off the price of the bass and no tax and he agreed so that puts the price at $492.00 out the door.

 

[RDT]

Ibanez Sr 505 is, new, just a little over your $500 mark. However, used, as others have said, they can be bought well under your limit.

They're only a 34" scale, but that can be good for the new 5 string user. Also, they have a very thin neck. And they're relatively light in weight.

That said, I really like my SR505, especially strung with LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats.

 

[realbadgroove]

Ibanez hands down they make some of the nicest lower level basses. A few friends have had there base models and Ive always liked them

 

[MNAirHead]

I'll add an other one to the list.

Millenium 5 Plus.

Again.. USA made.. sold for $$$$$$$ not understood from the market - now catching on.. the prices are rising unlike most budget basses.

 

[joshmickelson]

I just got this for $120 shipped, looking forward to tinkering around on a 5er

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=641205