Buying a 5 String Bass Sight Unseen

[overgeared]

So i'm looking to get a 5-string as there are some songs I am needing to play that go below E. I'd rather play the correct note than an octave above on my 4-string. The problem is with the demise of PMT there are no instrument shops in my city, with the exception of 1 that usually only has 2nd hand gear in and can be very hit and miss in terms of what basses they have at any one time. I have found a nice looking Cort C5 Deluxe on Reverb that is within my price range so was wondering what people's opinions on buying a bass sight unseen from the 'net? It seems to be from a music shop in another city so I'm a little bit more reassured than if it was a private seller.

Alos, how does a Cort compare to a 4-string Squier Jazz or Precision in terms of neck feel (I have one of each)?

Thanks

 

[chris_b]

Why don't you spec out a 5 string model of a bass you already know, like the Squire?

5 string Sire's get good reviews.

 

[bholder]

5 string Sire's get good reviews.

Yup, and not just the 5 strings. Pretty much everything they make does. (Maybe it's just me, but I don't think so! )

 

[backin82]

So i'm looking to get a 5-string as there are some songs I am needing to play that go below E. I'd rather play the correct note than an octave above on my 4-string. The problem is with the demise of PMT there are no instrument shops in my city, with the exception of 1 that usually only has 2nd hand gear in and can be very hit and miss in terms of what basses they have at any one time. I have found a nice looking Cort C5 Deluxe on Reverb that is within my price range so was wondering what people's opinions on buying a bass sight unseen from the 'net? It seems to be from a music shop in another city so I'm a little bit more reassured than if it was a private seller.

Alos, how does a Cort compare to a 4-string Squier Jazz or Precision in terms of neck feel (I have one of each)?

Thanks

I played a 5 string Cort Artisan A5 for a long time that had a great setup, and sounded good. The nicer Cort models are good quality. Their lower end stuff isn't great.

Most of us have probably purchased basses online using only photos and descriptions for reference. It's not ideal, but it's nearly required in a lot of locations these days.

There are many, many good 5-string bass options in that price range, but they will be hit or miss on quality. Good luck with the search!

 

[bholder]

so was wondering what people's opinions on buying a bass sight unseen from the 'net?

I've done quite a lot of that and generally been happy with the results. Dozens of instruments, rarely any problems. (Have encountered maybe 2-3 bad sellers over the decades, but yeah..._)

 

[ahbass2500]

I have no problems buying a bass from the internet without getting hands on it first (in fact most of my purchases have been done this way). However, it is riskier if the bass is higher string count than you are used to and you have not tried that model at some point. I find that as I add string count, my sensitivity to neck dimensions and string spacing starts to go up.

4 strings = I basically do not care on neck dimensions
5 strings = I dislike some of the wider/flatter options, but find most playable
6 strings = I find it hard to find something I am comfortable with (finally did, but it took me years to find one)
7 + strings = complete novelty; I like to try them in stores when I see them so I can laugh at how uncomfortable they are to me

 

[Zooberwerx]

So i'm looking to get a 5-string as there are some songs I am needing to play that go below E. I'd rather play the correct note than an octave above on my 4-string. The problem is with the demise of PMT there are no instrument shops in my city, with the exception of 1 that usually only has 2nd hand gear in and can be very hit and miss in terms of what basses they have at any one time. I have found a nice looking Cort C5 Deluxe on Reverb that is within my price range so was wondering what people's opinions on buying a bass sight unseen from the 'net? It seems to be from a music shop in another city so I'm a little bit more reassured than if it was a private seller.

Alos, how does a Cort compare to a 4-string Squier Jazz or Precision in terms of neck feel (I have one of each)?

Thanks

Cort builds to a price point as do others. What does your secondhand market look like? I would hit-up the TB classifieds first.

Riis

 

[WayneP]

If this is your first 5-string, I wouldn’t recommend buying anything sight-unseen.

There is a lot more “variety” (for lack of a better word) with 5-string necks than 4-string: Neck width / string spacing (16.5mm, 17.5mm, 18 mm, 19mm) and neck thickness (“C”, “D”, asymmetrical). There are unlimited combinations of the above. You need to find the right one that works for you.

If you don’t have access to a variety of instruments, it would be worth your while to take a trip to a city with a number of guitar shops and get your hands on as many as possible.

When you find one that gels with you, go from there. You can open a TB thread asking “looking for a 5-string with a neck as close to Brand X Model Z as possible,” and you’ll get recommendations from the great folks here.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Official Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Official Heartfield Club #36
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Official Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners Club
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide

 

[ardgedee]

If you're comfortable with 4-string necks the Soundgear 5-strings can be worth trying, their necks are fairly narrow and flat. However the strings are also tight together at the bridge which can make picking more challenging. But it depends on your technique, your adaptability (or willingness to adapt) and the various X factors that make something appealing or not.

Echoing what other people have said: It's worth making some effort to try a few out first, even if it means a roadtrip or calling in some favors from musician friends. Adding a string can complicate your playing in ways you might not expect so it's worth spending quality time with some before you commit to one.

 

[MCS4]

As a lefty, almost every instrument I have purchased has been online. Make sure to buy from a place with a decent return policy. However, since you probably are a righty, you might consider whether it is worth making a drive to a music shop or two, even if it is a bit farther than you would normally go, so that you can put your hands on some five-string options. Even if you don't actually buy a bass from a shop, you'll at least get a better idea for how some different fivers feel, sound, play, etc. that might make a difference in what you choose to buy, and of course you could get lucky and find the right one in person.

 

[bholder]

Great responses - sorry I posted before realizing OP's main issue was not yet knowing what they like / find comfortable - so yeah, get out some and check out as many different 5ers as you can.

 

[tpaul]

Moving from 4 strings to 5, the neck feel is going to change significantly even if you stick to the brands you're comfortable with.

I'd try the local shop and other sources for nearby gear, like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. You want to be able to try before you buy, at least until you know what will work for you.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Court makes a good product and is competitive with others in same price range
If seller has return policy shouldn't be a problem

Many of us don't have access to decent Retailers or what we are interested in even if a few stores nearby

Also many here seem to expect you to drive hundreds+ miles and spend untold hours of your time
Let them do that
Buying online with return privileges is becoming fairly normal

 

[Pings Bass]

I used to think I had to play an instrument before I bought it, but I've bought a couple sight unseen in recent years. It's hit or miss, and return policy or resale value is the decider for me, i.e. if I only have to pay return freight or it's an easy flip, it's probably worth it to try it out. The first one I bought was a used G&L Tribute L-2500 from GC. Great deal, but it was a neck diver. I flipped it a year or two later. Then I bought an Ibanez 6-string fretless, and it's a keeper. The used GC bass was shipped to my local store for free, and returnable with a $25 shipping charge. The Ibanez was from MF, shipped to my house for free, but I don't recall what the return fee would have been.

There is a lot more “variety” (for lack of a better word) with 5-string necks than 4-string: Neck width / string spacing (16.5mm, 17.5mm, 18 mm, 19mm) and neck thickness (“C”, “D”, asymmetrical). There are unlimited combinations of the above. You need to find the right one that works for you.

The good news is if you haven't cultivated preferences in these areas, it won't really matter. You can get used to whatever spec the bass you get has (unless you have some kind of physical disability or are of unusual size). I couldn't begin to tell you string spacing or neck profile on any of the several basses I've ever owned over 40+ years. For my money I never sweat the little differences, but focus on things like if it can take a good setup and hang on a strap ergonomically. Most modern instruments can take a good setup, but there are a lot of neck divers out there.

 

[ardgedee]

The used GC bass was shipped to my local store for free, and returnable with a $25 shipping charge. The Ibanez was from MF, shipped to my house for free, but I don't recall what the return fee would have been.

Guitar Center and Musician's Friend are the same company. They share the same return policy, with the exception that I'm not sure whether you can return MF purchases to any GC store the way you can an online GC purchase.

 

[Paul New]

I would guess that at least 75% of instruments these days are sold on the internet, sight unseen. It’s probably higher, but I don’t know. I use Sweetwater mainly, and they have an easy return policy.

 

[Jefenator]

Over the years I've bought the bulk of my instruments, sight unseen. (8 out of the 10 BGs I currently use.)
If I were to wait for my Holy Grail to come up in a local store or on CL in this smaller regional market, the next ice age might arrive first.
My experience has been that it's a crapshoot, either way.
I've bought basses in person that seemed amazing in the showroom and at home, then proved to be lousy on the gig.

 

[Blues Daddy]

Hey @overgeared , you may not need to buy a 5 string guitar . . . . if you already have more than one bass you might consider re-stringing one of them B E A D (instead of E A D G) . . . . or if you don't have a 'spare' bass then shop around and buy a four string instrument and string it B E A D.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

Check out a Dean Edge-1 5 string. The price is right and it is a good stable bass. At $349 it's worth a look.

 

[GTHintz]

So i'm looking to get a 5-string as there are some songs I am needing to play that go below E. I'd rather play the correct note than an octave above on my 4-string. The problem is with the demise of PMT there are no instrument shops in my city, with the exception of 1 that usually only has 2nd hand gear in and can be very hit and miss in terms of what basses they have at any one time. I have found a nice looking Cort C5 Deluxe on Reverb that is within my price range so was wondering what people's opinions on buying a bass sight unseen from the 'net? It seems to be from a music shop in another city so I'm a little bit more reassured than if it was a private seller.

Alos, how does a Cort compare to a 4-string Squier Jazz or Precision in terms of neck feel (I have one of each)?

Thanks

Just wanted to ask, have you played on a 5 string before? If so then you know what you're getting into. The neck will be beefier closer to your precision bass but the strings will be closer together. If you struggle with it at the start it's normal. Just don't expect a similar feel to the 4 strings. As far as Cort basses, I'd say they are great. They provide parts and labor for many other brands and you'll get something very good and easy to upgrade if you want. Personally I'd be looking at Ibanez, esp ltd, Yamaha, and Schecter too. All very safe bets you'll get a good bass at a decent price point. I'm not worried about buying online. I live in a very isolated small area and if not for online I'd never own anything nice. As long as you can return it if there's something really wrong you're fine. Buy it and see what you think. Personally I went to 5 string and it's all I like to play anymore.