Looking to buy 5 string bass Need advice.

[Tigerclaw_x]

Hi. I am looking to get me a new 5 string bass. I have a budget of 550, so I will list the basses I am interested in and I just need help to decide. Ideally I would love to get my hands on an old Washburn or an old Aria, but there are nowhere to be seen.
1. Spector Performer 5. It has no brand name pickups (used to be EMG-SSD with sweeet growl), and it is made out of basswood, which is not bad, but nothing to write home about.
2. Schecter Omen Extreme 5. It has Schecter pickups (not EMGs), but is made out of Mahogany. Which is more impressive than basswood. I like Omen better than Stiletto, BTW.
3. Jackson CBXNTM 5 bass. It is neckthrough, but it is poplar (poor mans alder), and it also has non brand name pickups, however it does have a badass bridge.

I am not interested in Ibanez. So, please let me know what YOU think is going to be the best bass for the money. Unfortunately none of my local stores carry Spector or Jackson CBXNTM. I do like Schecter, but I wonder would Spector or Jackson be better?

 

[4stringfarley]

Just one warning regarding the Spector. It won't be enough and before you know it, you'll be buying Euros, US made, and just about anything with the Spector name.

On second thought, buy it so I can see more NBD Spector content posts.

On a serious note, of the three I would go Spector, they're a company that focuses on bass foremost and not treated as a second thought. Don't focus on the body woods as that makes no difference on an electronic bass, but rather how they feel.

 

[Maxdusty]

The Spector Performer is a little bit on the meh side, I owned two of them, one Chinese made, the other Indonesian and while okay, they weren't anything special. If you want a Spector, you probably want to go with a Legend and on up, those are so much better.

Schecter Omen isn't a bad choice.

The Jackson bass, I haven't had experience with.

Just want to recommend another brand and model that should be within that same price range, a Yamaha TRBX305. Solid five string bass. Mahogany body, five piece maple/mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard.

Is the kind of wood that important for any reason in particular? I'm just curious because in terms of electric basses, it has a little less importance, other factors such as pickups and electronics have more of an impact. I've had great basses made of basswood ( Fender JP90 for example). The lighter weight is a good thing for me and besides, they had painted finishes.

 

[MynameisMe]

You've done to the right place!
For opinions I mean...

 

[El_Charro]

Hi. I am looking to get me a new 5 string bass. I have a budget of 550, so I will list the basses I am interested in and I just need help to decide. Ideally I would love to get my hands on an old Washburn or an old Aria, but there are nowhere to be seen.
1. Spector Performer 5. It has no brand name pickups (used to be EMG-SSD with sweeet growl), and it is made out of basswood, which is not bad, but nothing to write home about.
2. Schecter Omen Extreme 5. It has Schecter pickups (not EMGs), but is made out of Mahogany. Which is more impressive than basswood. I like Omen better than Stiletto, BTW.
3. Jackson CBXNTM 5 bass. It is neckthrough, but it is poplar (poor mans alder), and it also has non brand name pickups, however it does have a badass bridge.

I am not interested in Ibanez. So, please let me know what YOU think is going to be the best bass for the money. Unfortunately none of my local stores carry Spector or Jackson CBXNTM. I do like Schecter, but I wonder would Spector or Jackson be better?

—————————————
Have you looked at ESP/LTD???

I don’t like 5 string basses, but the B205 is the closest I found to something I would actually consider buying and it’s in your price range:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I own an AP-4 and I freaking love it...

Would not hesitate to own another ESP/LTD for my next bass (in fact it’s sort of getting in the way of wanting a Jazz bass at the moment).

Schecter makes great stuff in my experience so I don’t think you can go wrong with the Omen...

I also have a Stiletto Custom-4 and it’s a great instrument...Of the two I like my ESP/LTD better, but wouldn’t hesitate to own another Schecter.

I (personally) would steer clear of Jackson-Not really a fan of the instruments I’ve tried by them...

Action never feels quite right and I’m not really a fan of the neck overall...I probably haven’t tried the right instrument by them, but the basses in the same price range and they always felt a bit on the cheap side by comparison...

Good luck on your search...I don’t think you can go “wrong” with any of those choices...

Thanks! \m/

 

[cmcbass]

If you're cool with a used bass this Spector Legend 5 is priced pretty low. Way better than a performer
Spector 5 String Bass ? Burgundy | Andre's gear depot | Reverb

 

[Reedt2000]

The sterling by musicman basses are very nice for the price. The G&L Tribute series is also great value for money. Check out the L2500, they are in your price range used. I've got one and it sounds fantastic, though it is an ash body and it is pretty heavy (11-12 lbs). I also just picked up a Ray35 (mahogany body) and have been very impressed with it (it's only 9.5lbs which is on the light side for those).

 

[Shindig73]

Yamaha BB435 for the win!

5 piece laminate neck, P/J configuration, and Yamaha QC ma quality.

 

[Williethump]

Buy my OLP (Original Licensed Products) exact [mas o menos] clone of the EBMM Stingray. Like new cause I can barely play a 4-string and only used the B string on this one for a thumb rest. I'll throw in 2 sets brand new Super bright D'Addario Chromes to sweeten

the deal. Cheap, for you my friend. NorCal.

 

[sotua]

Try Yamaha as well.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I second the G&L tribute recommendation! Blows the rest out of the water.

Of the ones you mentioned though, I'd go Schecter

 

[Dana R Gregory]

I would like to nominate the Dean Edge-1 five string. It weighed in at 7.3lbs, had a single humbucking pickup, was strung with chromes, and the church where I played it said it was the best sounding bass they ever heard. I had it for over a year and a half and never once had to adjust the truss rod or the bridge. Worth a look at $229.

 

[Lesfunk]

Of the three mentioned I’d recommend schecter

 

[Element Zero]

The Schecter.

 

[H2okie]

Tough to find and play used stuff. But for that price range I would find a minty usa made peavey foundation 5.

always be a good staple

 

[spatters]

@Tigerclaw_x

The pickup type and position will make the biggest difference to your tone.

Do you want P/J? Then you want the Jackson or Yamaha BB.
Do you want soapbars? Then you want the Schecter, the Yamaha TRBX, the Spector, or the ESP.
Do you want an MM style pickup? Then you want the Sterling 5 or the Dean.

I don't know if you have any preference for string spacing, but a lot of people do, so I'd check that too.

Ideally I would love to get my hands on an old Washburn or an old Aria, but there are nowhere to be seen.

Those old Matsumoku instruments were known for being neck through, and they usually had P or J pickups, not soapbars...in which case the Jackson is closest.

 

[21DaHoagie12]

Yamaha TRBX505 or a used TRBX605 should fall in that price range and are quality instruments. Play that and save up for a neck thru Spector

 

[JimHouchin]

Get a P bass!!! (Sorry there's always a smart ass!)

From your list I think the Spector!

 

[JW56789]

The Spector Performer is a little bit on the meh side, I owned two of them, one Chinese made, the other Indonesian and while okay, they weren't anything special. If you want a Spector, you probably want to go with a Legend and on up, those are so much better.

Schecter Omen isn't a bad choice.

The Jackson bass, I haven't had experience with.

Just want to recommend another brand and model that should be within that same price range, a Yamaha TRBX305. Solid five string bass. Mahogany body, five piece maple/mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard.

Is the kind of wood that important for any reason in particular? I'm just curious because in terms of electric basses, it has a little less importance, other factors such as pickups and electronics have more of an impact. I've had great basses made of basswood ( Fender JP90 for example). The lighter weight is a good thing for me and besides, they had painted finishes.

I've been playing fives since the mid-80's, and in my experience, harder rather than softer woods seem to conjure those deep low notes better. My current fave in a non-exotic wood build is ash body, maple neck, and if possible an ebony fingerboard, otherwise rosewood or pau ferro. We'll take as a given that it will have useable and quiet pickups and electronics.

YOUR results may vary.

 

[Ggaa]

Give Warwick a look......