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My First Cliché Poll: Which Budget 5-Banger?

Which bass would YOU want most? (State why in the thread.)

  • Epiphone Thunderbird Pro V

    Votes: 36 11.6%

  • G&L Tribute L-2500

    Votes: 223 71.9%

  • Schecter Stargazer 5-string

    Votes: 18 5.8%

  • Schecter Stiletto 5-string

    Votes: 33 10.6%
  • Total voters
    310
#21
jacojbass said:
one bass: lakland.....smokes all the others in the price range...imho
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Its hard consider a Lakland a budget instrument. Their import series costs more than I just paid for my new Carvin.

Some of the Skylines cost as much as a new Fender Am Std. They're fine instruments, but not something I'd put on a list for someone looking for a budget bass.

FWIW, the G&L Tributes are pretty good deals, especially used. They come out of the same Cort factory as the Skylines.
 
#22
I voted stiletto, my first 5 was a neck through (custom? Studio? - I dunno what they call em)... Wanted some bang for buck

Many 5's later - it ain't a bad bass, but doesn't get much play these days


The g&l is likely better - but I haven't had much exposure to them - I'm oddly repulsed by the headstock shapes?

If a Spector legend is an option, I'd check it out... Also MTD K's.

NBD is the best! Good luck!
 
#24
cassius987 said:
I am pretty aware of the upper end fivers and really have my eye on the EBMM Big Al as a five string (the SSS version), but it's just not in my budget to spend that much right now...
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GAS pains will torture you every minute, of every hour, of every day, of every week, of every month... until you posess the Big Al of your dreams. Then the process will start all over again. It's a "catch 22" from which there is no escape....

If you can stand the Big Al GAS... go for the Tribby.
 
#31
phillipkregg said:
You can buy a Lakland 55-01 for $800 brand new - same price as the G&L Tribute 2500.

The Lakland is a fantastic bass also, and it has 19 mm string spacing.

I really like them both - the OP should try both and see which one he prefers. They are both far better than any other bass on that list.
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If it would take me more than two paychecks to buy, I don't consider it a budget bass.
 
#32
cassius987 said:
What is with the Schecter stigma? EVERY Schecter I have played has been a great instrument.
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I had a Schedter C-5. It was beautiful and it was light. It had a marvelous neck. It had an awesome sound. BUT ... when I played it with a band it was lame. It did not cut through the mix. It was the worst bass in my collection. So I sold it.
 
#33
Schecter makes great stuff for a budget bass. I've played tons and they are finished really well, low action because the fretwork rocks, and the sound is phenomenal...

That said, get a Squier Deluxe Active Jazz V. Use the rest of the money to upgrade it and make a bass that kills all. That's what I did!
 
#37
cassius987 said:
I am in the market for a fiver after a decent tax return that has not (yet) been completely siphoned away from me by bills, things my wife wants, etc. I am pretty aware of the upper end fivers and really have my eye on the EBMM Big Al as a five string (the SSS version), but it's just not in my budget to spend that much right now (as great as those basses are).

I've narrowed it down to four choices I am highly interested in. In alphabetical order: the L-2500 Tribute (G&L), the Stargazer 5-String (Schecter), the Stiletto Studio-5 (Schecter), and the Thunderbird Pro V (Epiphone). I have not had a chance to play any of them except for the Stilletto Studio-5 which is a very solid bass and is why I'm willing to consider the other Schecter too. I have been very impressed with Schecter QC in the past. The Thunderbird and Stargazer, which borrows some inspiration from Rickenbacker, are my favorites aesthetically but I wonder if the L-2500 isn't the leader of the pack at the end of the day. Then again the YouTube research I have done on the L-2500 have not impressed me sound wise, but I may just be finding crummy stuff. I know a lot of people swear by the L-2500.

Please vote and also state the reason for your vote and any facts or details you know of that could influence my decision in an objective way... thanks for your help.
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None of these basses interest me in the slightest.
 
#38
rekesbass said:
You like EBMM and G&L,why is there no Sterling(by MM)Ray 35 or the SB 5 string in the poll with the Tribute..the Sterling's(by MM) I've played were pretty nice and seem on par with the Tribute's...
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I don't like the Sterling or Stingray models as much as the Big Al. The pickup placement and the neck on the Sterling are what I don't like.

trayner1 said:
I'd go with the Stiletto. IME, the Stiletto Fiver is the nicest bass I've ever played. Its EMG-HZ soapies just give it the sweetest tone, and it plays like butter.
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I've seen two played live that did really well, and I used one for a rehearsal once. I can maybe see how some might call the tone bordering on generic but it got the job done, anyways. The build quality is what I like so much, very impressive for an economy instrument.
 

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