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First 5 String Bass

B

bassman700

Nov 6, 2011
45
3
#1
I've only owned 4 string basses, and I'm looking to change it up a bit... I'm wondering what a good 5 string bass would be for a first timer? I was looking at the "Sterling by Musicman Ray35" and it seemed within my price range, and I haven't heard anything bad... What do you guys think?
 
#3
Everything DerTeufel said. You've gotta try them to see what you like, but for me, being a mainly four string player, the stingray 5 was the most comfortable for me. I've owned a couple other 5s including a lakland, and they just never stuck like the EBMM did.
 
#4
Like DerTeufel said, it's impossible to give generic recommendations. Different people like different necks, different pickups, all that. What's your budget, for one thing?

Just for an alternative, I utterly love my Yamaha BB415, so you might try the new model (the BB425x) or get a used 415 if you can find one... people don't seem to let them go very often...
 
#7
After playing nothing but 4s for the past 20+ years, I got a wild hair and decided to try a 5. I found a Carvin LB75 (neck thru, active PUs, killer bass) on my local CL for $350 last Friday. Winning!

I love it. You should definitly check it out. I hwas also considering the Brice 5 strings at Rondo as a starter but glad I found this Carvin first.
 
#11
Mtnman said:
Check out an Ibanez BTB 5 if you can find one. The string spacing is a bit wider than most 5ers so it makes the transition from 4 a bit easier.
Click to expand...

My experience was the opposite. I was forced into playing a 5 with a band opportunity that I couldn't/wouldn't turn down. I picked up a couple of cheap 5s, and wrestled with them because I was so used to the width of the 4 string neck. Then I picked up a cort curbow which had narrow string spacing and I felt I finally arrived, but there was nothing else about that bass that I liked. That was right around the time I realized I was going to stick with that band, and I bought myself a Bongo. Was completely happy. String spacing on that was just a wee bit wider than the Curbow. Point of all this is that the transition for me was a lot easier with spacing that was more narrow than the 4 string I was used to, not equal to with the added B string. That threw me.

I had a rough time making the transition, partly because the music I was playing was pretty complicated zappa like material. If you struggle at all I'd suggest making the 5 your only bass until it becomes 2nd nature. I didn't feel totally at home until I did that.
 
#12
hrodbert696 said:
Like DerTeufel said, it's impossible to give generic recommendations. Different people like different necks, different pickups, all that. What's your budget, for one thing?

Just for an alternative, I utterly love my Yamaha BB415, so you might try the new model (the BB425x) or get a used 415 if you can find one... people don't seem to let them go very often...
Click to expand...

Budgets around 600-700... I understand it's impossible to give a recommendation. I am brand new to 5-strings (Only played one and it was for less than 15 mins at a store.) I'm just looking for a little feedback on the ray35, as it was one of the 5ers I was looking at
 
#13
Highly recommend checking out a Lakland Skyline 55-01 for that price range. The 19mm spacing is great and along with a fantastic neck make it a very playable 5 string. The stock Bart pre-amp and pickups sound good and have a wide variety of tones. Many threads on TB for people that have modded the electronics. Good luck in your search.
 
#14
+1000!

the Lakland 5er neck is one of the best in the biz....and - if you like it, you can play ANY Lakland 5er as all of the necks (exception being Skyline DJ5s) are the same.

if you can boost your budget a bit, I might suggest a used 55-02...the 55-01 is sweet but the tonal variety you can get from a 55-02 is sweeter still!

good luck!

Mike_R30 said:
Highly recommend checking out a Lakland Skyline 55-01 for that price range. The 19mm spacing is great and along with a fantastic neck make it a very playable 5 string. The stock Bart pre-amp and pickups sound good and have a wide variety of tones. Many threads on TB for people that have modded the electronics. Good luck in your search.
Click to expand...
 
#15
For a decent 5er on a budget, the OP's Ray35 isn't bad - I would also recommend checking out an Ibanez sr505, for another excellent value in a 34" 5er... Similarly, on the used market Spector's Legend 5 and Schecter's Stiletto Elite 5 are both pretty good 35" 5ers for the money, IMO... I never really cared for 5ers by G&L or Yamaham since their necks are a bit to "chunky" for my tastes - same thing with Warwicks...


- georgestrings
 
#17
I would suggest trying a 5 string Brubaker Brute. They sound awesome. They come in two configs J/J (JJX) and J/MM (MJX) you can probably pick up a really nice used one in the classified section if you don't want to buy new. These are a great value for the money basses. Soon Brubaker is coming out with a 5 string single cut version of the brute. This is a little more than the double cut brute and comes in a J/MM pickup config.
 

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