Cheapest (<$250) 34" or 35" Scale 5-String Basses Such as Harley Bentons?

[ASoggyFry]

Are there other such brands that offer decent or good basses for insanely low prices?

Separate question: For Harley Bentons (or other such passive preamp and passive pickup basses): Can we make them active by simply popping in a pair of active EMG pickups? Or popping in an active preamp? Or not?

 

[brianrost]

Are there other such brands that offer decent or good basses for insanely low prices?

Ibanez has 5 strings at $250, Squier starts at $300

Separate question: For Harley Bentons (or other such passive preamp and passive pickup basses): Can we make them active by simply popping in a pair of active EMG pickups? Or popping in an active preamp? Or not?

There’s no such thing as a passive preamp. I think you meant passive tone controls.

EMG sets are active pickups with a passive tone control. The tone control pot is included as it’s a very different impedance than the typical pot used in a passive bass.

Of course you can add a preamp to any passive instrument, but a decent preamp might just expose the weaknesses of the cheaper pickups. Not to mention it will cost as much as the bass

 

[DWBass]

Glarry

 

[dabbler]

A few years back I would have said SX, and they ARE really good values too (I have *cough* quite a few). But in today's market I'd go with Harley Benton, and I have a few of them too.

 

[James Flowers]

I have a Ktaxon 5 string that I picked up from Amazon for $69. Not the world's best instrument for sure, but it plays and it was priced right for a "I just wanna play with a 5 string" moment.

 

[JRA]

Are there other such brands that offer decent or good basses for insanely low prices?

if you like to tinker with your axes, and if you modify them to enhance the playing experience (or the looks), a glarry's base price might be the best choice (and ktaxon, etc.). if you want something that you don't have to mess with (much), then HBs are probably the best choice, price-wise.