Sell me on a 5 string.

[el murdoque]

That money lets you pick from the upper shelf of what Ibanez offers. I've spent less than that on a BTB and are happy with it. It is in rotation with a luthier made custom that's nearly three times as expensive and a Carvin that was close to 2000 new - I still don't have any issues with the build quality.

I'd also look hard at the Dingwall combustion as suggested.

 

[bassbully]

Lakland...Lakland..and Lakland. There is or was a B stock DJ5 for 900.00 and change on the last email they sent me.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Are you explicitly going to buy a brend new guitar or are you open for used market also? For that price range you have literally a TON of options. Stingrays, some Jazz Basses, Spector, Warwick, Sandberg, G&L, Lakland, bla bla... I could name
viable brands till tomorrow.

For hard rock and metal I would probably personally reccomend you something with humbucker pups. OTOH a Jazz Bass will cover everything you need. It is mostly your personal preference and the way the guitar speaks to you.

I’m with you. Buy lightly used. You get a much better instrument.

The other piece of advice is play as many as you can to make sure it has the right voice for the musical projects you are working with. Secondly, take your time. There are tons of basses for sale, so don’t rush.

 

[nilorius]

Ibanez

 

[Gizmot]

I have a G&L L-2500 Tribute that I'm selling.

Looks like new and comes with a G&L case - $449.00 plus shipping.

 

[nostatic]

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.

35" can also be hit or miss, and the G-string tends to sound thinner. A well made 34" scale works just fine.

Every design is some sort of compromise.

As some others have noted, variables include:

nut width
string spacing at bridge
scale length
weight
balance
pickups/electronics

Some people can play anything. Others only want a specific spec. Without knowing what the OP prefers, all suggestions usually end up as people listing what they own. And that's...ok

 

[Ric5]

Sell me on a 5 string.

I was a 4 string only guy from 1968 to 2001 … it got to the point where I needed to play lower notes for certain songs, I tried drop tunings, I tried BEAD, I didn't like those options, I was with a band where I had 3 basses, a Rickenbacker 4001 tuned EADG, a p-bass tuned E flat, and a jazz bass tuned DGCF, then I needed notes lower than D so I got a 5 string, then suddenly I could play all the songs I needed to play with no alternate tunings, and no swapping of basses.

So I was dragged kicking and screaming into extended range bass playing, but now it is what I prefer.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

I have a friend who tried a 5-string once. Now every time he hears or sees the number 5, he falls to his knees and screams "Jaco forgive me!!!"

Don't try it.

 

[de@n]

 

[alembicbones]

The two basses that come to mind are a Lakland 55-02 and this:

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I have experience with both and they are very versatile basses with killer B strings (35" on the Lakland, 37" on the Dingwall).

You have many other good choices for your price range too but these are serious contenders.

Bones

 

[Rapisme]

So many right here in the classifieds where you can ask about them specifically.

 

[mmbongo]

Makes you wonder why you even bother to reply sometimes doesn’t it?

So very true!

 

[Anders Barfod]

Ibanez multi scale smrs805. 34" on the G string and 35.5" on the low B. This gives you a tighter low B than the 34" standard 5s..

 

[Sean Parsons]

Scale length has already been mentioned, but what other considerations do you take into account with 5 strings basses. Amps, speaker sizes etc?

 

[Billybassbeater]

In the not too distant future, I'll be looking to purchase a new 5 string for around the $1500 range. I have no bias towards country of origin and no preference on wood or pick-ups (though I'm leaning toward active.) I'll be playing mostly hard rock/metal with it. Also, not a fan of the look of single-cuts.

Any recommendations?

Don't know what your requirements are other than 5 strings and active preamp. You might want to consider weight. They do make some HEAVY basses. If you're young, weight won't matter for a few years. But if you're not... NS Design, Schecter, Ibanez, they make some lighter basses. I think Sweetwater lists the weight on some of their descriptions. I wish I was buying a new bass. I don't need one. I just like buying them. Have fun!

 

[Stranger Danger]

The B makes a great thumb rest?

 

[zon6c-f]

In the not too distant future, I'll be looking to purchase a new 5 string for around the $1500 range. I have no bias towards country of origin and no preference on wood or pick-ups (though I'm leaning toward active.) I'll be playing mostly hard rock/metal with it. Also, not a fan of the look of single-cuts.

Any recommendations?

Squier Jazz 5 Active

You’ll Save over $1000 and be glad you did

 

[HamOnTheCob]

You would be correct. The BTB basses are closer to a broad-neck warwick.. or many ken smiths. The soundgears are some of the thinnest necks and tightest spacing around, which is great for smaller hands. Dont get me wrong lol... i love me some 19mm spacing on a jazz or P, but once you add 2 more strings... its just too much

Agreed. Even Warwick 4s have 19mm spacing, which feels fine. But yeah when you add strings it starts to feel like a 2x4 LoL

 

[Chad Michael]

I will most certainly have to admit, the Spector is WAY more 'metal' looking and sounding than the Lakland DJ that I have the hots for....

See post #20

 

[InnerBass]

I know the price would be $1k higher than you’d like to spend - but my recommendation for a 5’er is a used Fbass VF5.

George has the 5 thing completely dialed.