Looking for an affordable 5-string bass for home recording

[TLBass]

Hello, first post here.

I play the guitar, not really the bass as of yet (so there's technique to be built), and I'm looking for a 5-stringer that I could use to record at home, pretty much.

I'm looking at second hand listings in my country, and there weren't many options anyway, but 3 seemed to fit my range price-wise:
The cheapest (converted to $155) is an Ibanez GSR205. Seller doesn't say much in the ad other than "used" and "nice bass for a good price"; it's hard to tell much from the pictures. To my understanding, this guitar was made in Indonesia (?). (No longer available)

The second in price ($335) is a Warwick RockBass Vampyre 5. The condition is stated as "like new". (No longer available)

And the most expensive option ($413) is another RockBass: the seller simply wrote "Warwick Streamer 5", but looking at its design it seems like the RockBass Streamer Standard 5. The person says it's "new from the store", supposedly never have been used, "sold because I'm switching to electronic music". (Traded with a store that now asks $26 less for it... WT*?)

Well, as far as I understand, the RockBass brand is made in China. Also, regarding electric guitars, I usually don't like the sound of active pickups much, and the Vampyre 5 seems to be using them, but I don't know about their sound within bass guitars. All three have a 34" scale length, but the GSR205 has only 22 frets while the Warwicks have 24. Perhaps I should also mention that for some reason, I can see some photos of RockBass headstocks show a "RockBass" logo and some show a "W" logo, and here the Vampyre listing shows the "RockBass" logo while the Streamer one shows the "W". I don't know why is that and whether that matters. Year of manufacturing, perhaps?

So, any thoughts from people familiar with these?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Herrick]

I don't know if you're into Fenders but the Jazz Bass Vintage Modified 5-string is supposed to be real good. It's $379 new but I'm not sure how much that would be in your country. I haven't played it myself. Good luck and welcome to Talk Bass.

 

[TLBass]

I don't know if you're into Fenders but the Jazz Bass Vintage Modified 5-string is supposed to be real good. It's $379 new but I'm not sure how much that would be in your country. I haven't played it myself. Good luck and welcome to Talk Bass.

They are real thieves where I'm from. I didn't even find the 5-string version, but the 4-string one would cost the equivalent of $660. And that's if I were to pay in cash.

I'm from Israel, by the way. Take any price you're used to and add between 25% and 100% to it.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

I hope that shipping is not too much from this site, but give Thomann a try.

Herzlich Willkommen

They are based in Europe. You can also choose your country on the menu and convert to your country's currency.

This is a very affordable 5-string bass.

https://www.thomann.de/intl/harley_benton_hot_rod_5_bass.htm

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I really think Squier Affinity J-Basses are great given that they currently run about $229. They take a great setup, especially if you shim the neck with maybe a stout piece of cardboard, and deliver legitimate Jazz Bass tone.

 

[TLBass]

el_Bajo_Verde

Hey, I'm familiar with Thomann, I've ordered a keyboard from them some months ago. In this price range it wouldn't be worth it, though, because their shipping rate to Israel is a flat €50.

Dr. Cheese

As I mentioned in my comment above, the local prices are almost never close to what you're familiar with in the US. I just want opinions about the 3 models I've named.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Hey, I'm familiar with Thomann, I've ordered a keyboard from them some months ago. In this price range it wouldn't be worth it, though, because their shipping rate to Israel is a flat €50.

As I mentioned in my comment above, the local prices are almost never close to what you're familiar with in the US. I just want opinions about the 3 models I've named.

Sorry for answering without reading closely. I would prefer a Rockbass because Soundgear five string necks can feel tiny to me.

 

[TLBass]

Sorry for answering without reading closely. I would prefer a Rockbass because Soundgear five string necks can feel tiny to me.

Well, I think Ibanezes overall have pretty flat necks (if that's what you're referring to), and it's more down to personal preferences.
But regarding the RockBass: are you familiar with the two models? Any particular preference? The cheaper one will be an easier purchase for me, both because of the price and because the more expensive option is a 2-hour drive away, and I'll probably pass driving all the way just to check it out first, but the cheaper one comes with active pickups which I'm not really familiar with in the context of bass guitars.

 

[rujulian]

The Ibanez gsr 205 is a really nice bass. The body is well balanced, the neck is very comfortable and the pickups and preamp are sufficient to their price point. Best of luck.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Well, I think Ibanezes overall have pretty flat necks (if that's what you're referring to), and it's more down to personal preferences.
But regarding the RockBass: are you familiar with the two models? Any particular preference? The cheaper one will be an easier purchase for me, both because of the price and because the more expensive option is a 2-hour drive away, and I'll probably pass driving all the way just to check it out first, but the cheaper one comes with active pickups which I'm not really familiar with in the context of bass guitars.

I am more familiar with the Streamer. I would prefer it.

 

[TLBass]

The Ibanez gsr 205 is a really nice bass. The body is well balanced, the neck is very comfortable and the pickups and preamp are sufficient to their price point. Best of luck.

Thank you for your input. Demos I managed to find sounded pretty good, indeed. Do you have any info about its manufacturing years, though? Is it still being made? I couldn't find information about that, and none of the sellers included the age of their instrument.

 

[GManfromOz]

They are real thieves where I'm from. I didn't even find the 5-string version, but the 4-string one would cost the equivalent of $660. And that's if I were to pay in cash.

I'm from Israel, by the way. Take any price you're used to and add between 25% and 100% to it.

That's funny. The 25-100℅ number reflects the Australian market. I just picked up today a Squire vintage modified Jaguar five string. It was at half price in the shop because some dufus chipped the paint. Good for me though, I usually "Road wear" things pretty quickly. Anyway, it's surprisingly good, nice to play, nice tones. Worth a look if you can get one used.

 

[TLBass]

That's funny. The 25-100℅ number reflects the Australian market. I just picked up today a Squire vintage modified Jaguar five string. It was at half price in the shop because some dufus chipped the paint. Good for me though, I usually "Road wear" things pretty quickly. Anyway, it's surprisingly good, nice to play, nice tones. Worth a look if you can get one used.

Oh, I know. My sister lived in Australia for several years. But the per-capita GDP of Australia is about 50% higher than Israel's, so here they really are just thieves. I think it's been said it takes twice the amount of average salaries to buy an apartment in Israel, compared to the European average.

And it doesn't seem like the Squier 5ers are being sold here in the stores, but I've just found someone who's selling a used one (he wrote "Squier Jaguar 5", but I assume it's the same model as I haven't seen there are other ones under the Squier Jaguar name). Thing is, he's asking $260 for it, which is not as cheap compared to a new one (looking at prices abroad) as the previous guitars I've mentioned. It's still pretty cheap, of course, and he says it's "in great condition", but I obviously want the best deal when buying used.

 

[AndreasR]

Find a SUB 5. Best fiver you can get on a budget.

 

[TLBass]

Find a SUB 5. Best fiver you can get on a budget.

These are are actually sold here. For $538. Yup, about 166% their price in the US.

 

[GManfromOz]

Oh, I know. My sister lived in Australia for several years. But the per-capita GDP of Australia is about 50% higher than Israel's, so here they really are just thieves. I think it's been said it takes twice the amount of average salaries to buy an apartment in Israel, compared to the European average.

And it doesn't seem like the Squier 5ers are being sold here in the stores, but I've just found someone who's selling a used one (he wrote "Squier Jaguar 5", but I assume it's the same model as I haven't seen there are other ones under the Squier Jaguar name). Thing is, he's asking $260 for it, which is not as cheap compared to a new one (looking at prices abroad) as the previous guitars I've mentioned. It's still pretty cheap, of course, and he says it's "in great condition", but I obviously want the best deal when buying used.

You should try buying a home in Sydney and the average price hit US$750000 a little while ago. It's eyewatering. The other Squire 5s I tried were pretty floppy on the B strings and didn't feel so good. Any of the Stirling subs are good but I know you're looking for information on specific models do I'll close my trap. I'm hoping to get to Israel again soon. I really enjoyed my short time there (years ago admittedly).

 

[TLBass]

You should try buying a home in Sydney and the average price hit US$750000 a little while ago. It's eyewatering. The other Squire 5s I tried were pretty floppy on the B strings and didn't feel so good. Any of the Stirling subs are good but I know you're looking for information on specific models do I'll close my trap. I'm hoping to get to Israel again soon. I really enjoyed my short time there (years ago admittedly).

Well, I can see the average selling price for an apartment in Tel Aviv during the first half of 2016 was $666,000, and the price per square meter was $7,881. That also means the average size of the sold apartments was 84.5 square meters.

Regarding the Squier, well, that's the model you recommended (regarding floppiness, don't all their 5-stringers use a 34" scale length?), but I'm somewhat deterred by it only having 20 frets. It seems at least 21 would be useful for that high E.

But returning to the RockBass options, I now read on their website that only those manufactured until 2010 used the "RockBass" headstock logo, and they also had a 1-piece bridge instead of their current 2-piece one. So, I can tell the Vampyre is of the older type (as mentioned, none of the sellers bothered telling their instrument's age). Let's say the Vampyre is truly in "like new" condition and consider the ugly "RockBass" logo is cosmetic and nothing more, is a 1-piece bridge inferior to 2-piece ones in some way? Why did they change the bridge in the newer versions?

EDIT: Ugh, I've just called to check about the Ibanez and the dude said it's been sold already. I then called about the Vampyre... SOLD ALREADY. Tried the other two and currently there's no answer. Even if they're available, I'm not thrilled about having just 20 frets with the Fender, and the Streamer is quite far just to check it out.

 

[AndreasR]

These are are actually sold here. For $538. Yup, about 166% their price in the US.

Still worth the price. Plus you could try second hand.

 

[wpc1996]

Sterling by musicman SUB is amazing if its a choice here.

 

[TLBass]

Still worth the price. Plus you could try second hand.

Well, I didn't find a second hand offering.
But as I updated in my previous comments, the Ibanez and the Vampyre have been sold. I now talked to the guy with the Streamer, and he told me he ended up making a trade for an electric guitar with some store that now actually offers it about $25 cheaper. He said the deal wasn't exactly in his favor, but that he didn't get along with the 5 strings and was offered a guitar he wanted. He wrote in the ad that the Streamer was brand new, unused, but now he told me that he basically didn't use it for performances, but from time to time played it a bit at home. If it's in good condition I wouldn't really mind, but it's obviously false advertising on his part.

But now I have a couple other questions: the "HV" Streamer - that only refers to the color (Honey Violin)? It seems so when looking on Musician's Friend, you choose the color you want and they're all the same price. But looking at some Israeli shop, their listing for the HV model is almost $200 cheaper than the black one's - it's actually even cheaper than the Musician's Friend price. They don't list it as "used", but if it's new the pricing makes no sense.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed

And then there's the Warwick RB Streamer LX 5 BK HP, which is more expensive on Thomann at least, but here costs about $50 less than the black Standard.
Invalid Link Removed

What's the deal?