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Quality VS Affordability - Shopping for a 5-string

#61
Mike Sorr said:
Might I suggest an MTD Kingston Z5, perhaps like the one I have available?
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IMO this is the best 5 string out there for the price. I've owned two so far. I recently made the decision that 5 string basses are just not for me so I sold mine, but they are amazing basses with the most incredible neck I've played. If I were to go with a 5 string I'd definitely go back to an MTD.
 
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#62
OP mentioned them so I know he's aware, but the Sire v7 5-string is a great bass at an affordable price.

$499 (alder/rosewood) to $599 (ash and maple) new. They can be found here on TB classifieds for less but tend to sell for a higher % of new price than some other basses (they retain value due to high quality and a "new" price that is really, really low for the quality).

It's a traditional jazz-style so it works for just about any style of music.

I had never had a five-string until I bought a Sire last fall. Digging it. Seems like a perfect bass for the OP's needs.

I have a Kingston MTD Z6 6-string that is nice, so I would imagine the 5's are too. But, new, they go for $1300+ so likely $800+ on the used market.
 
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#63
Remember, price does not always equal quality, particularly in something as subjective as feel, sound and overall aesthetics of a bass. I love the looks of Alembics, but hate the sound and feel. I have played Squiers that were better to me than Alembics. Lakland Skylines are my brand of choice. Just play as many as you can and then decide regardless of the brand.
 
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#64
I haven't read the whole thread, so forgive me if I am repeating the advice of others.

If you are not used to playing a five string, it is quite a different animal. Loads of people sell used 5 strings in the classifieds with the disclaimer of "great bass but I just can't get used to it." So, if you don't know whether or not you are a five string guy, I would go cheaper than you are contmeplating. That said, I highly recommend a different option. Find a used 5 string on the cheap. If you hate it, you won't be out much. If you like it, you can probably recoup some money in the classifieds and then get a nice 5. BTW - I did exactly this, and now I never play a 4 string. LOL...
 
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#66
The fact that you are comparing a fan-fret with a straight fret bass tells me you don't know exactly what you want.

I would not commit to an expensive fan fret bass without actually playing with a cheaper one over a year or so. First impressions in a music store can be very misleading.

You could also have a fanned fret neck built to your specs that will attach up to a 5 string Fender-spec body. That's what I did.
If you don't like it, you can flip the neck here on TB and get a traditional one. There is so much to be said for building parts basses.

You can even start cheap with a Squier platform and upgrade the parts one by one. You will quickly discover what your preferences are.

Once you have the ultimate prototype, you can then have a Luthier build you a custom or buy an expensive model very similar. Or keep what you have. You never know when your tastes may change again or some new interesting technology comes along that gives you GAS.

I'm debating on whether to have a custom exotic wood body built for my Jag or keep rocking the black and tort. Haven't made up my mind yet, but I have my playability and tone exactly where I want it now. Only thing left is aesthetics. I'm $1200 invested and haven't met a bass in the last 4 years that can turn my head with playability or tone versatility, not even the super expensive ones.
 
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#67
Nev375 said:
The fact that you are comparing a fan-fret with a straight fret bass tells me you don't know exactly what you want.
I would not commit to an expensive fan fret bass without actually playing with a cheaper one over a year or so. First impressions in a music store can be very misleading.
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I want a 5-string with a solid low B. Tight like a piano. I know a fanned-fret will deliver this, and most standard 5-strings that I've tried do not deliver, excluding the 35" scale Lakland I briefly owned.

You could also have a fanned fret neck built to your specs that will attach up to a 5 string Fender-spec body. That's what I did.
If you don't like it, you can flip the neck here on TB and get a traditional one. There is so much to be said for building parts basses.
Click to expand...

Hmmm never heard of that! I figured there'd be an issue at the bridge. Who built yours?

You can even start cheap with a Squier platform and upgrade the parts one by one. You will quickly discover what your preferences are.
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I might just end up going this route, if I can find a cheap mod platform with a B string worth playing.

I'm debating on whether to have a custom exotic wood body built for my Jag or keep rocking the black and tort. Haven't made up my mind yet, but I have my playability and tone exactly where I want it now. Only thing left is aesthetics. I'm $1200 invested and haven't met a bass in the last 4 years that can turn my head with playability or tone versatility, not even the super expensive ones.
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Stick with Black and Tort ;)
 
#68
giglawyer said:
I haven't read the whole thread, so forgive me if I am repeating the advice of others.

If you are not used to playing a five string, it is quite a different animal. Loads of people sell used 5 strings in the classifieds with the disclaimer of "great bass but I just can't get used to it." So, if you don't know whether or not you are a five string guy, I would go cheaper than you are contmeplating. That said, I highly recommend a different option. Find a used 5 string on the cheap. If you hate it, you won't be out much. If you like it, you can probably recoup some money in the classifieds and then get a nice 5. BTW - I did exactly this, and now I never play a 4 string. LOL...
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Thanks, this is the kind of advice I was looking for. I realize I might be over-reaching a bit.
 
#69
Plutonium244 said:
OP mentioned them so I know he's aware, but the Sire v7 5-string is a great bass at an affordable price.

$499 (alder/rosewood) to $599 (ash and maple) new. They can be found here on TB classifieds for less but tend to sell for a higher % of new price than some other basses (they retain value due to high quality and a "new" price that is really, really low for the quality).
Click to expand...

Yeah the Sires are really attractive to me.
Sadly, a new one at $499 + $60 shipping = $750 CAD.
 
#70
Get a Squire VM P 5. And then maybe a Sire 5 string jazz. You'll have 2 basses covered :-) Don't fail to take a look at Bass Mods as well. For the price a Lakland Skyline (new) you could get a tricked out Bass Mods.
 
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#72
NKBassman said:
I want a 5-string with a solid low B. Tight like a piano. I know a fanned-fret will deliver this, and most standard 5-strings that I've tried do not deliver, excluding the 35" scale Lakland I briefly owned.


Who built yours?
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If you study the tension charts from D'Addarrio or Kallium strings you will find that the gauge of the B in most 5 string sets is at a significantly lower tension. So fan-frets work by extending the scale length to compensate. Theres also some variances in tension between different brand strings. But you can also compensate by simply using a thicker gauge for the B on a standard scale. (Order from a place that offers single strings like bassstringsonline.com and get a standard 4 string set and a single .140-.145 for the B)

I got my neck from Moses graphite 3 or 4 years ago when they started offering them. It was in the neighborhood of $600 and is very basic. No fancy swirly pearl finishes and no inlays, just side dots and basic black. It's expensive, but if you are going to blow half your budget on one part, the neck is the most crucial thing. Spend your money there on the backbone of the instrument.

Originally, I intended this to be for BEAD tuning so I went fan-fret for the same reason you did. It's a subtle difference 35" on the bass side, 34" on the treble and the 12 fret is the center straight fret in the fan. I was not ready to commit to the extreme looking Dingwall fanning. As for the bridge, Moses recommended a Badass II because they have a much longer range of movement in the saddles. For a 5 string you would probaly have to go with individual saddle-bridges, but there might be other long travel bridges that may work.

Novax makes a wooden fan fret replacement neck for a similar price but I think they only do 4 stringers at the moment and don't offer many options. Their fanning is centered further up the neck allowing traditional bridges to work. But there are many luthiers who can do this to your specs. I'm sure you could find someone in the Luthier's forum here. Oh yeah, one other thing about Moses, they quoted me a 4 week lead time but it took them about double that. Be prepared for that, I hear it is a common phenomenon among many custom builders.

edit: Actually i'm not 100% certain Moses offers a 5 string fanned model, but given their huge range of custom options I'd be really surprised if they couldn't build one. You would just have to email them.
 
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#74
The comment about some B strings being too soft or sounding fluffy: no one says you gotta match the strings. I personally play a lot of different styles of music, but mostly these days in a praise band. For that I really like how flats sound on my 5-string. However, I do play Blues, and a low twangy B is what I need for that. Sooooooo - I have both. Low B string is a DR round stainless steel tapered long neck (phewwww that's a long name). The other four strings are DR flatwound silver long necks. When playing in the praise band I don't use the low B much but it does see some use at times. I can get most any sound using only the top four flats. When playing Blues, I slam all night on that low B. It rocks. Most of the downbeat is on that string so it gets punched a little harder. I tune the low B on the fifth fret, not the open. The other four I tune on the open. Just some suggestions about mixing strings, which will get me flamed but if it works - it works. Can't argue with that. Well, some will anyway, but it works for me! Might work for you too!
 
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#76
Here's a thought for either a 4- or a 5-string bass. Most bases ship with cheap strings from the factory. BUT the higher priced basses usually ship with higher priced strings recommended by the factory. Find out what THAT set is and try it on your bass, even if you purchased the low end priced bass. I did this last year with my Warwick. Found out that the strings it shipped from Germany with are no longer made (it's an old bass). But all the custom shop basses (priced $3,000 up to $15,000) ship with Warwick EMP strings. So I bought a set and tried them on my Warwick. Oh my! I have them saved with about 10 weeks of use during the week, as I put the DRs back on for the weekend. If I ever need a set of strings to rock the house and do it with majesty, with audacity, with - dare I say it - chutzpah, I got 'em. This will usually work for ANY make of bass. Just ask and find out what the high priced ones ship with and get the same for yours.
 
#79
You should definitely look at Carvin too. Used or new (not 100% sure if they ship to Canada, but there might be a way around it). They have long scale options, and I know they started doing fanned fret guitars, not sure if it's made it's way to basses yet (which is where it would make more sense to have them).

The used ones tend to go pretty cheap for what they are, and the new ones are pretty affordable to begin with if you don't go too crazy with options. High quality, well built, US made instruments that should last forever basically.
 
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#80
NKBassman said:
So, long story short, I'm in the mood to get a 5-string.

I've tried a few in the past but could never justify keeping them as my projects at the time didn't warrant it. My projects now are a little more diverse and a 5-string would make sense.

However, there's a tennis match going on in my head with the ball rallying back and forth between
1) Saving for a top of the line bass ($3000 Budget, Dingwall Super J). *Not Happening
2) Saving for a nicer high(er) end bass ($1500 Budget, Dingwall Combustion).
3) Buying something cheap(er) and more "disposable". (Budget $800, Sire, used Lakland Skyline)

The thing is, I don't absolutely need a 5-string bass. I'm getting on just fine with my P bass and a Hipshot detuner, but I know I would use that low B if it was there...

On the one hand I don't want to "waste" money on unrealized value, or on "too nice" of a bass that I'll be afraid to bring to the dank bars we sometimes play. (Point Sire)

On the other hand I don't want to waste money on something that I'm ultimately going to be unsatisfied with (not that I have reason to think that of Sire or Skyline). (Point Dingwall)

Number three, I've been picky of low B strings on 5-strings that I have tried. I do not like rubber band flub. (Point Dingwall, Lakland)

Another consideration, I like Dingwall being a Canadian company. While the $CAD has improved somewhat relative to the $USD over the last few weeks, there is still a significant discrepancy that makes even shopping used online relatively expensive. $800 USD = $1050 CAD as of today. (Point Dingwall)

Just curious to hear peoples thoughts.
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Dingwalls are cool. Since patriotism means something to you, support Sheldon Dingwall!
 
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