Looking for pointers for my first 5 string. Budget $500, used definitely an option.
Looked at Squier affinity/CV/VM; Ibanez SRs; Yamaha TRBX; Sterling stingray… what else is out there worth my attention? I play a variety of styles (r&b, yacht rock, salsa, nothing distorted, mostly clean), if that helps. Although im leaning active pre this time, old reliable passive is ok.
so the first thing you should do is go to a music store and play some 5’s, and figure out what kind of spacing you like. Newbies on 5 tend to have one of two preferences- they may prefer narrow spacing because it keeps the neck a manageable size and keeps muting easier to learn. The other school is guys who prefer the spacing to be about the same as their 4 string, which typically makes for a pretty widespread 5 string- generally I find that most people want the 5 string to be a litttttle bit tighter than their 4, but lots of people do exist who prefer the constant spacing and/or just generally prefer wide spacing across the board.
With that-
Ibanez makes the best cheap basses in the game, their ubiquitous PJ AND dual soapbars have a tasty variety of tones, and I think particularly good for your style needs. I also think their 5 strings are particularly good-feeling as long as you don’t PREFER a think chunky neck. The pickup position for Ibanez’s PJ basses are the best-sounding PJs I’ve ever played, and that includes the $200 GSR basses and the Mikro 5!
I don’t feel that fender makes great 5 strings below a certain price point, and certainly not a fan on the squier side.. that said, you probably wouldn’t hate a 5string jazz, depending on the kinds of compromise you can stomach, and whether you find a ‘good one’
Yamaha is great, and I think you can view it the same as my description of Ibanez- I
personally don’t find that Yamahas inspire me, but enough people I respect love them that I know it’s a
me thing , I just find that when I have a cheap Yamaha, I wish it was a cheap Ibanez.
I have no love for musicman basses, and even less for the sterling-level instruments. I don’t generally like the sound of a stingray, but besides that I dislike the feel. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I think I remember their 5’s having a massive spacing that I find very uncomfortable, and for a lot of 4 string players, the transition may be uncomfortable.
