Sell me on a 5 string.

[dBChad]

Schecter Stiletto and Peavey make great affordable, stable, and comfortable 5 strings. If I had that budget though, I wouldn't think twice about getting a Lakland. Would be cool to commission a Kiesel as well.

 

[4sight]

Custom Maruszczyk:

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~$1600 for something like this, have a play with the options

 

[Wisebass]

Any recommendations?

Hi Alowishus Mudd spent a few $$ more and get a Sandberg!

Sandberg Configurator

have fun!

Wise(b)ass

 

[bobdabilder]

I've been looking for a spector with 19mm spacing but all i've seen have been really expensive.

Spector euro 5lx, used, ridiculously great for metal

Spector euro 5lx, used, ridiculously great for metal

 

[micguy]

Avoid basses with an uneven number of strings, or you will always play unevenly. .

The entire universe from asteroids to comets to planets, stars, and black holes is able to make do with the 4 dimensions of space-time. You can’t make music with that many strings??

 

[bobdabilder]

I walk with a limp from playing a 5 string

The entire universe from asteroids to comets to planets, stars, and black holes is able to make do with the 4 dimensions of space-time. You can’t make music with that many strings??

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

you could buy seven of these Ibanez GSRM25BK miKro - Black

 

[micguy]

I would look for 35"scale basses they usually have a much better B string as far as clarity and sustain . Yes you can get a decent B string on a 34 scale but IMHO it is hit or miss.

I’d suggest that the fault of floppy B strings is a tension issue, and that the string manufacturers are where the fix should have been made. A 35 inch scale wouldn’t have been necessary if the string makers had started with big enough B strings, where the tension was in line with the rest of the set.

 

[FunWithBass]

Try a Sire M7 for half of what you are looking to spend. It has lots of tone options.

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The second generation is also available and has different features:

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[Jason42]

If you want a B string that sounds tight, focused, and makes gods weep, get a Dingwall Combustion. Couple hundred more than 1500, but the best B string ever.

 

[mellowgerman]

G&L L2500. One of the finest solid body basses I've ever played. Tonally very versatile too!

 

[Sam Dingle]

Lakland passave jazz bass. If you like the feel of them maybe a used spector Euro 5 string which had a 35 inch scale and an INCREDIBLE SOUND. I didn't like the small body when sitting which is how I play electric 90% of the time.

 

[Wfrance3]

Schecter is a great 5. I have 2. They (most) have a slim but flat neck profile and are a good value for the money. The scale is 35”, but honestly my Elite 5 is shorter than my Jag 5 that is a 34” Scale. I have no affiliation with this bass or the seller, am posting this link as an example:
Schecter Raiden Special 5 Bass | Evolution Music

If you come across one of these in a pawn shop or music store, would be a great intro to what Schecter 5s are about for minimal cash. - oh and they are very light. My elite is 8.5 lbs.

 

[rohi]

G&L Kiloton 5 is a great option, speaking from experience.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

Maruszczyk

 

[chris_b]

I'd find a bass you can play with ease, one that feels just right, then make it sound how you want.

A Sire upgraded with a Geezer EMG system might work, and at less than half your budget.

 

[G On Bass]

If this is your first 5, then research is needed before brand suggestions are valid. 5's come in a variety of scales with different string spacing, nut widths and neck profiles. Finding the one that fits you is a large part of the process and a huge factor in a successful transition. As a long time 5-string-only player, I went through all of it, from 34"-35" scale and 16.5mm-19mm spacings and eventually found what worked for me: a Wilkins 34" PJ5 with 18mm spacing. I had a closet full of 35"/19mm at one point and they worked for a while until I picked up the bass I have now, and instantly knew that was 'the one' for me and it has been for years.

If you can, go to a bass store and play every 5 string you can get your hands, regardless of brand, just to get a feel for what feels 'right'. You will know. Then look for basses with those specs. Lots of great options listed in this thread. 35" is not required for a good B string IME, as the B on my Wilkins is as good as it was on my 35's, but the only bad B's I've encountered were on 34's, so it varies. Don't get distracted with the pros and cons of string-through bridges, fancy tops and things like that. No one can tell the difference, IME...

Good Luck!

 

[MordBass]

A myriad of soundgears can be had for that money, as well as the BTB if you like the feel of a large neck. If you're willing to go used.... Id be lookin at HH Stingrays and Euro Spectors.

 

[HamOnTheCob]

For me, string spacing is everything. I've owned nearly 60 basses, including a couple dozen 5s, and the only one I had that I couldn't get into was a Fender Jazz 5, and it was an amazing bass. Looked and sounded awesome, had a great setup, etc. But the string spacing is too wide for me to enjoy on a 5. Typically a jazz style 5 has 19mm/20mm string spacing. I prefer a 5er like a Warwick, or even a Fender MB-5, with string spacing around 16.5mm.

I'm not saying you will love or hate a specific string spacing, but I would recommend trying some before spending $1500 on a bass and then finding out you're not comfortable playing it. And before you say "I'm comfortable on a 4-string, so a 5-string with the same spacing should be fine" I would've thought the same thing, but that's not always the reality.

Sometimes we don't think it be like that, but it do.

 

[jthisdell]

I also am considering a fiver. My concern is string spacing and neck width as my hands are smallish. I play a 71 Fender P and an NXT4 EUB. Any suggestions on narrower width fivers?