inexpensive 5 string basses?

[B-Mac]

in 1993, the first bass i ever had to use regularly was a 36" 5 string with a neck so wide at the 12th that i HAD to play over under as my hand could reach scross it, and it weighed a metric ton. after that, i switched to 4 strings except for a very short period with a mikro 5 string.

but i'm realizing that some of the songs i like to play would really benefit from having a lower string rather than doing workarounds or tuning down.

my first thought was a mezzo 5 string, as i really like the neck on my mezzo 4. but there are a couple things - first, the 5 string mezzo has the same nut width as the 4 string, and while i love the 4 string version, i might love it less if the strings were crammed closer together. issue two is no one has one in stock.

it seems like ibanez is my best bet due to my issue with weight and my shoulder issue, which keeps me from reaching over a large lower bout without pain. the thing is, all the ones i'm considering have the same nut width as the 4 strings and as each other. maybe it'll be fine.

the only ones in stock that i can find are the GSR105 - i have 2 GSR100s, and i love 'em, but the shape/weight means limited playing time - and the GSR205, which has a finish i don't like, but i can live with that. the lightest one sweetwater has has a doable weight. if i kept it, i'd probably change the pickups.

i came very close to buying a GSR200 or SR300 five or six years ago, but ended up with a used SR500, which i've since sold. my shoulder problems have changed since then, and playing a bass for a few minutes at a store has never really let me know what playing it for real on my own chair or on a strap will be like for my shoulder.

i'm sort of asking for thoughts on the above basses, kind of musing it through. right now, my mezzo is my most comfortable bass to play, and it's become my go-to.

i have emailed our rep at sweetwater to ask if he has an approximate date when they'll have more 5 string mezzos or maybe some more 5 string SR305s in case there were some lighter ones than they have now.

Isn’t the Mezzo medium scale? 32”?

Does what you’re looking for have to be 32” or shorter?

 

[ardgedee]

Local Craigslist works well for me sometimes. Listed at $275, I drove 20 minutes to check this out and paid $240. Seller didn't know anything about it except he got it in a trade package deal and said it had one too many strings. I still don't know what it is, but it functions without any issues, sounds good to excellent, feels comfy, and weighs 8.72lbs. I've done nothing to it but change the strap buttons:

View attachment 4715734

That's an Ibanez Ergodyne EDC 705.

I have an Ibanez Ergodyne EDB 600 -- not a five string, but I've found it a little more comfortable to play sitting down than Soundgear basses because of the body shape. The shape is similar to Soundgears but most EDB models have slightly thinner bodies and arched backs so they can snug closer to your belly. I like it enough that I've been contemplating getting an EDB 605 or EDC 705.

 

[B-Mac]

@pcake What about an Ibanez Talman TMB35?

They’re close to your budget, 5 string, 30” scale and the nut is supposedly 1.77” wide.

There’s a used one in ‘Mint’ condition on Sweetwater for $299 right now.

 

[tubatodd]

in 1993, the first bass i ever had to use regularly was a 36" 5 string with a neck so wide at the 12th that i HAD to play over under as my hand could reach scross it, and it weighed a metric ton. after that, i switched to 4 strings except for a very short period with a mikro 5 string.

but i'm realizing that some of the songs i like to play would really benefit from having a lower string rather than doing workarounds or tuning down.

my first thought was a mezzo 5 string, as i really like the neck on my mezzo 4. but there are a couple things - first, the 5 string mezzo has the same nut width as the 4 string, and while i love the 4 string version, i might love it less if the strings were crammed closer together. issue two is no one has one in stock.

it seems like ibanez is my best bet due to my issue with weight and my shoulder issue, which keeps me from reaching over a large lower bout without pain. the thing is, all the ones i'm considering have the same nut width as the 4 strings and as each other. maybe it'll be fine.

the only ones in stock that i can find are the GSR105 - i have 2 GSR100s, and i love 'em, but the shape/weight means limited playing time - and the GSR205, which has a finish i don't like, but i can live with that. the lightest one sweetwater has has a doable weight. if i kept it, i'd probably change the pickups.

i came very close to buying a GSR200 or SR300 five or six years ago, but ended up with a used SR500, which i've since sold. my shoulder problems have changed since then, and playing a bass for a few minutes at a store has never really let me know what playing it for real on my own chair or on a strap will be like for my shoulder.

i'm sort of asking for thoughts on the above basses, kind of musing it through. right now, my mezzo is my most comfortable bass to play, and it's become my go-to.

i have emailed our rep at sweetwater to ask if he has an approximate date when they'll have more 5 string mezzos or maybe some more 5 string SR305s in case there were some lighter ones than they have now.

Your search is over! Cort C5 Plus. It is amazing. I have one and it is SO well built and a pleasure to play.

Brand New Bass Guitars | Reverb

Pitbull Audio has it in stock. I can usually get great deals from them
Cort C5 Plus ZBMH 5-String Bass, Zebrawood Top, Open Pore Tabacco Burst

 

[ElectricBass72]

Neck may be too wide for you, but Ibanez Talman TMB105 is an option at $300. I have the 4-string version and it's awesome bang for the buck.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

in 1993, the first bass i ever had to use regularly was a 36" 5 string with a neck so wide at the 12th that i HAD to play over under as my hand could reach scross it, and it weighed a metric ton. after that, i switched to 4 strings except for a very short period with a mikro 5 string.

but i'm realizing that some of the songs i like to play would really benefit from having a lower string rather than doing workarounds or tuning down.

my first thought was a mezzo 5 string, as i really like the neck on my mezzo 4. but there are a couple things - first, the 5 string mezzo has the same nut width as the 4 string, and while i love the 4 string version, i might love it less if the strings were crammed closer together. issue two is no one has one in stock.

it seems like ibanez is my best bet due to my issue with weight and my shoulder issue, which keeps me from reaching over a large lower bout without pain. the thing is, all the ones i'm considering have the same nut width as the 4 strings and as each other. maybe it'll be fine.

the only ones in stock that i can find are the GSR105 - i have 2 GSR100s, and i love 'em, but the shape/weight means limited playing time - and the GSR205, which has a finish i don't like, but i can live with that. the lightest one sweetwater has has a doable weight. if i kept it, i'd probably change the pickups.

i came very close to buying a GSR200 or SR300 five or six years ago, but ended up with a used SR500, which i've since sold. my shoulder problems have changed since then, and playing a bass for a few minutes at a store has never really let me know what playing it for real on my own chair or on a strap will be like for my shoulder.

i'm sort of asking for thoughts on the above basses, kind of musing it through. right now, my mezzo is my most comfortable bass to play, and it's become my go-to.

i have emailed our rep at sweetwater to ask if he has an approximate date when they'll have more 5 string mezzos or maybe some more 5 string SR305s in case there were some lighter ones than they have now.

I love my Ibanez GSRM25. It's a Mikro scale 5 string. I have shoulder issues too and this one doesn't aggravate them. Plays and sounds great, even the B string. Out of stock at sweetwater, but there are a few on Reverb now.

Also, Kiesel can build you a 5 string 30" scale. If you get headless, that can really help with shoulder issues, as you can tune at the bridge and not have to reach for tuners at the end of the neck.

Good luck!

 

[4Mal]

90's to early 2000's MIJ (Fujigen) Fernandes are sometimes available in that range. I snagged one from Reverb at 430 shipped a while back. The quality of these is stunning for the investment level.

 

[yodedude2]

this is a lot of bass for the money Squier MB-5 Modern Bass 2002 - 2007 | Reverb
maybe even get lucky and find one of the m.i.j. 'fender' versions

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I have an Ibanez GSR205SM that is really a good bass. the neck is both narrow and slim. I put some DR Pure Blues on it and it sounds really good. My only complaint is the neck is too narrow which makes the string spacing a little tighter than I like, but it is also th1n, which I do like.

 

[deesonic]

I'm a happy 4 string guy but recently had an itch for a 5 string just to mess around with. I saw that MF was running an online sale on the Sterling by MM Stingray5 bass in vintage cream for $300. Oddly enough GC didn't have that same sale going, but I happened to visit my local GC Monday and they had one on the wall for regular price, $400. I tried it and liked it and told the manager that MF had it for $100 cheaper online (of course, GC owns MF). He offered to price match it on the spot. I couldn't resist. I haven't had a whole lot of time to play it yet, but so far it seems like a quality instrument for the price and the B string feels and sounds good and not flabby. That's one of the first things I always think about when looking at 5's. So yeah, that might be a quality budget 5 string option for you. I once owned a Squier VM Jazz V that looked and sounded great, but it was like 12 lbs, so I let it go! I haven't weighed the Sterling but it feels no heavier than my 4 string P or J basses I typically play.

 

[five7]

I like the pickups on my mezzo 5 better than the EHB 5 I had. String spacing is 18mm at bridge. Really enjoyable bas IMHO.

 

[TomB]

I think the Ibanez TMB 35 checks the boxes if you’re ok with short scale. They run between 8 and 9 lbs. I wish it weren’t mint green, but…

I’ve been completely won over to the short 5’s, but my Serek ain’t cheap .

 

[InhumanResource]

in 1993, the first bass i ever had to use regularly was a 36" 5 string with a neck so wide at the 12th that i HAD to play over under as my hand could reach scross it, and it weighed a metric ton. after that, i switched to 4 strings except for a very short period with a mikro 5 string.

but i'm realizing that some of the songs i like to play would really benefit from having a lower string rather than doing workarounds or tuning down.

my first thought was a mezzo 5 string, as i really like the neck on my mezzo 4. but there are a couple things - first, the 5 string mezzo has the same nut width as the 4 string, and while i love the 4 string version, i might love it less if the strings were crammed closer together. issue two is no one has one in stock.

it seems like ibanez is my best bet due to my issue with weight and my shoulder issue, which keeps me from reaching over a large lower bout without pain. the thing is, all the ones i'm considering have the same nut width as the 4 strings and as each other. maybe it'll be fine.

the only ones in stock that i can find are the GSR105 - i have 2 GSR100s, and i love 'em, but the shape/weight means limited playing time - and the GSR205, which has a finish i don't like, but i can live with that. the lightest one sweetwater has has a doable weight. if i kept it, i'd probably change the pickups.

i came very close to buying a GSR200 or SR300 five or six years ago, but ended up with a used SR500, which i've since sold. my shoulder problems have changed since then, and playing a bass for a few minutes at a store has never really let me know what playing it for real on my own chair or on a strap will be like for my shoulder.

i'm sort of asking for thoughts on the above basses, kind of musing it through. right now, my mezzo is my most comfortable bass to play, and it's become my go-to.

i have emailed our rep at sweetwater to ask if he has an approximate date when they'll have more 5 string mezzos or maybe some more 5 string SR305s in case there were some lighter ones than they have now.

Have you tried the Ibanez ATK line? They can be had in your price range and are very comfortable, plus they sound great! Pretty decent stingray type of tone. They are different from the more typical Ibanez products but cool basses overall.

 

[pcake]

for the folks in this thread who don't know me, i need a bass 8 pounds or under - since under is possible, that's what i'm going for. 9 pounds is impossible due to shoulder damage, and it could cause further damage as well as pain that lasts for a week to three weeks.

both thelong and short scale talman lower bout hurts my right shoulder, so that's out.

the mezzo will be in stock in late august or september (as ben from sweetwater says, that could get pushed back).

Move a cheap 4-string to BEAD if you won't miss the G?

i tune to BEAD quite a bit, but it doesn't let me play the songs the way i want to play them.

no wall, but it'll do

Isn’t the Mezzo medium scale? 32”?

Does what you’re looking for have to be 32” or shorter?

it is, and no, it doesn't.

 

[scuzzy]

That's an Ibanez Ergodyne EDC 705.

I have an Ibanez Ergodyne EDB 600 -- not a five string, but I've found it a little more comfortable to play sitting down than Soundgear basses because of the body shape. The shape is similar to Soundgears but most EDB models have slightly thinner bodies and arched backs so they can snug closer to your belly. I like it enough that I've been contemplating getting an EDB 605 or EDC 705.

that one is an edc705 knock off. why knock off an obscure 90's bass? who knows. but it was done. I had a bona-fide (he's a suitor!) Ibby edc705 and it was a great plastic bass. i miss it sometimes.

 

[TomB]

Have you looked at mini-P basses? They’re all under 8 lbs and can be strung BEAD, very easy to play the upper frets as well if you miss the G string. Sorry if you addressed this idea already.

 

[rojo412]

Looks like a brick wall to me...

Anyway, Ibanez would be my recommendation as well. Light, well made. Sometimes they benefit from better pickups and/or preamp, but they build well.

 

[TomB]

Cheap, light, short-scale, 5-string, sounds good. Pick 4.

 

[Snert]

Cheap, light, 5-string, sounds good. Pick 3.

Ibanez SR305. All 4.

 

[TomB]

Ibanez SR305. All 4.

You’re right! I changed my post. Thanks .