right, this is it! ;)

My advice would be to save some more money, so you can shop in the price range of a MM Stingray 5 for example.

Cheaper 5 or 6s are a waste of money.

 

I really have to agree with JMX on this one, I really do not like cheaper 5 and 6 strings. If I had to go for one though it would probably be an MTD Kingston. But I would suggest saving up more, cause I find that on cheaper 5 and 6 strings the Bs tend to sound quite bad, IMO.

Geoff

 

Ditto what JMX said.

If you really need one right now, I would go with an Ibanez Sound Gear series. At $600, that would get you a SR405, maybe a SR415. Go ask your local guitar shop.

You should go to the guitar shop and try everything out anyway, cause ultimatly the decision on what bass to get is yours. If you like the sound of a Danelectro, fine. (Bad decision, IMO)

Rock on
Eric

 

Of course saving more money's going to be the best way to go. However, being in Europe, you'll be spending a lot EXTRA for American made basses. The Spector NS5CR is made in the Czech Republic(thus the CR) and has one of the best sounding B-strings out there in the price range.

I've seen someone here post that they got a new one for $900US in Germany. I wonder how prices for these are across the rest of the continent.

 

ditto, save your money!

 

Don't save your money buy one of these schecter 5 strings or at least try one you will love it it's the best 5er i ever heard for under a grand. btw this will be around 550

 

If you just have to get something now, I'd recommend the BTB series from Ibanez, other the that, save up.

 

Saving up is a good option I suppose, but those Czech Spectors aren't any cheaper in Europe. In fact, they're still more expensive than for those Yanks. They're about £1400 new($2000), and I can't see you geting much off that. The Musicmen are around £1200 for a five string. I don't like five string Stingrays, all the B's were floppy(bad setup?) and it didn't have the Stingray tone(due to it having the Sterling's electronics), but many people love them.

Now, if I were you, I'd use your £400 to look into either an Ibanez BTB405QM, or an Ibanez ATK305. Both have nice B's, the ATK is a Musicman substitute if I ever saw one, and they're both right in your range. The BTB is £450(haggle), and the ATK is £400. Different beasts to the Soundgear range, which I do not like and many others do not like. You could also look into the Ibanez Ergodyne ranges, which are a little sterile sounding, but you may like them.

 

Save more money buy a BTB-5 string.

 

These ones come up the most
"Ibanez BTB-405"
"MTD Kingston 5"

 

Since you already have a Yamaha, you might look at the BB1500A series that was just reviewed in Bass Player. With a good discount, you might be close in your range for a 5, if they make one in that line. I also have to agree with the MTD Kingston suggestion...probably the BEST 5 out there for the money...exceptional value, great reviews, and trickle-down performance/construction from some of the finest crafted basses in the world. Another suggestion would be to find a luthier and build one out of Warmoth (or similar company, StewMac, Allparts, etc.) parts. This way, you could get a great bass as a great value without going over your budget. Untimately, though, I think that if you are interested in an extended-range bass, you would be better off saving your cash. Good 4-strings are becoming increasingly easy to find in this price range, but an extended range bass is completely different. It CAN be done, as I have listed some viable choices above, but you might be better off waiting until you can jump into a different price category where you have more options to choose from. Good luck!

 

It sounds like you've already resolved the fact that you will hold off on getting a 5/6. While I can't add anything about your amp, I wanted to make one more point about budget extended-range basses. It seems as if you're on a pretty tight budget and don't have any previous experience with a 5 (lets not worry about 6s right now). I've been playing for quite a while, over 10 years, and I still don't own a 5. However, if I ever bought one, I would probably buy a budget bass in the same price category that you'r currently looking in. The reason is that a 5 is fundementally different than a traditional 4, and I might not find the extra string useful. Worse yet, I might just find out that I can't play the damn thing and don't have any interest in a 5 beyond a novelty standpoint. If you're just exploring an interest in a 5, it might be good to find a quality bass with good playability and tone at an affordable price...knowing that there are better instruments out there for more money...just so you can learn/experiment and decide if a 5 is for you. I've seen SOOO many posts from guys in H.S. and early college who have only been playing a few years who are wasting rediculous amount of money on "custom" basses with more freakin' strings than I've got fingers on my hands! It is good to experiment and challenge yourself musically, but you MUST know the basic fundamentals first. Just wanted to throw that out there for your consideration.

 

It seems to go this way:

4 stringer: A good one is easy to find.
5 stringer: Good ones are becoming easier to find for a decent price, but many people still need to find 'the one'
6 stringer: Absolutely essential that you love the one you buy.

For these reasons, I'd put off getting a six for now, as most often "love=££££" when you're buying basses.

 

Save money-get Pedulla 5, i love those things, too bad i dont have one.