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Thinkin bout a cheapo 5er

Wademeister63

Wademeister63

Aug 30, 2004
1,541
193
62
Denton Tx
#1
I've been out of playing for a few years and now I'm thinking about picking it back up. I love my 4 bangers but am thinking about getting a 5 also. Had a few nice ones years ago but they're all gone now and I don't have the budget to pick up another $1200 bass anytime soon. I'm thinking maybe 3-400 tops. Looking at Squier, Dean Edge, SX, Kona? Seems like some other unfamiliar names out now. And there's always used stuff but at this price I expect used junk will mostly be junk that guys want to unload, rather than real bargains.

What are some of the current favorites among the current crop of super budget 5'rs? Something around $300 that sounds good and doesn't weigh a ton would be really nice. Or maybe I should just stick to my 4's, with some tuned standard and some BEAD. Save my money.

Bah, I dunno. Talk to me Talkbass...
 
#3
I actually had one of those once and thought it was decent. I liked the fretboard and thought the bass felt really nice and solid. Maybe a bit on the heavy side, which isn't a total deal breaker but all else being equal, lighter is better. Great thing about the Squier is I can pop over to guitar center and probably pick one of those up any time I feel like it. Mmm, maybe I ought to drop in that place, it's been years...
 
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#6
I am just getting back in to playing myself. A few years back I picked up a cheap Ibanez SR305 off of CL on a whim for $200. Man, it was gunky. Strings had never been changed on it. It was in terrible shape and needed a setup bad. I took some steel wool to the fret-board, polished the body and tuners up, changed the strings, put a good setup on it, and somehow had a gem for my first and only 5er. It was really nice, but I traded it shortly after. So go for it. You go might get a good one.
 
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#7
hondo4life said:
Buy one of each, and return the ones you don't like. :roflmao:
I love my SX 5, but it took another $100 in parts before I started to love it.
Click to expand...

Yeah several years ago I did pretty much just that. I turned over a bunch of em. Dingwall, Stingray, G&L Tribute, Squier VM and probably another 8 or 10 I don't even remember. I still have a fretless SX J bass and it's really a decent bass right out of the box. Still kicking myself for letting go of the Dingy and Roscoe Beck V, dangit!
 
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#8
Wademeister63 said:
And there's always used stuff but at this price I expect used junk will mostly be junk that guys want to unload, rather than real bargains.
Click to expand...
You might be surprised at the quantity of unjunky pre-owned stuff available right now. Consider adding Yamaha to your list. A few years ago, I picked up a gently-used Yamaha 5-string P/J bass for half of the new retail price. The Yamaha is now in regular rotation with my other fivers that cost me much, much more to acquire.
 
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#9
for a Limit of 3-400, you might find A good deal on something used… But most likely, you have to wait for it and search it out. To get something right away, your best bet might be the Squire vintage modified jazz V that feels and sounds great right out of the box.
I got one in January 2015, which is actually a 2014 left over, and it's flawless. However I've seen a few in stores now, that have a lot of finishing and manufacturing defects. You'll probably have to look at a bunch of them and pick out the best one.
 
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#12
Well that was over quick!

I popped in to Guitar Center at lunch today and tried out their cheapest 5 stringer. A black Squier Affinity Jazz with white pickguard and dot inlays. I was very impressed by that $229 no-frills bass! The B string is very nice IMO. Balanced and not flabby at all. Played some walking stuff on all strings, up and down the neck and it all fit together great. The bass feels nice and solid, but not too heavy and the tone is just as I would expect from any decent passive J bass.

I was pretty much sold on it right away but did also try out the VM Jazz. The VM looked a little more fancy with the honey finish and black block inlays but felt exactly the same. The cosmetic upgrade was not worth the added cost IMO. Couldn't tell about the sound because the bridge pickup had no output at all. But other than that defect, I doubt anyone would really be able to tell the difference blindfolded.

Seems to me the manufacturers have really been pushing quailty and have done a great job closing the gap between the USA and offshore junk. At least in this case it seems to not be so junky anymore. In fact, I ended up getting a new one in the box instead of the slightly scratched demo bass from the wall. I had to have it out of the box, tuned up and of course play it before paying for it, but as far as I can tell they are all exactly the same. Shoot, even the setup out of the box is decent. Did I say I am very impressed?
 
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#14
Wademeister63 said:
Well that was over quick!

I popped in to Guitar Center at lunch today and tried out their cheapest 5 stringer. A black Squier Affinity Jazz with white pickguard and dot inlays. I was very impressed by that $229 no-frills bass! The B string is very nice IMO. Balanced and not flabby at all. Played some walking stuff on all strings, up and down the neck and it all fit together great. The bass feels nice and solid, but not too heavy and the tone is just as I would expect from any decent passive J bass.

I was pretty much sold on it right away but did also try out the VM Jazz. The VM looked a little more fancy with the honey finish and black block inlays but felt exactly the same. The cosmetic upgrade was not worth the added cost IMO. Couldn't tell about the sound because the bridge pickup had no output at all. But other than that defect, I doubt anyone would really be able to tell the difference blindfolded.

Seems to me the manufacturers have really been pushing quailty and have done a great job closing the gap between the USA and offshore junk. At least in this case it seems to not be so junky anymore. In fact, I ended up getting a new one in the box instead of the slightly scratched demo bass from the wall. I had to have it out of the box, tuned up and of course play it before paying for it, but as far as I can tell they are all exactly the same. Shoot, even the setup out of the box is decent. Did I say I am very impressed?
Click to expand...

Fantastic! I'm with you - I think the quality of the lower end stuff these days is very good.

Now comes my favorite part. You've posted that you purchased a new bass, but how many people will continue to just read the title of the thread and come in here just to post their favorite 5-string that you should buy?
 
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#15
I also have an Affinity V, but didn't mention it because in my opinion, it could definitely benefit from better pickups. The factory ones sound ok, but they are worth about $5.00. the bass for $229 plus a set of good pickups, you're up to the cost of a VM.
Also, I have owned three of them in the past, and two of them developed neck issues.
Needless to say, I bought a VM neck and installed it onto the Affinity body (and went bananas and installed a Music Man bridge pickup...)
 
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#16
eastcoasteddie said:
I also have an Affinity V, but didn't mention it because in my opinion, it could definitely benefit from better pickups. The factory ones sound ok, but they are worth about $5.00. the bass for $229 plus a set of good pickups, you're up to the cost of a VM.
Also, I have owned three of them in the past, and two of them developed neck issues.
Needless to say, I bought a VM neck and installed it onto the Affinity body (and went bananas and installed a Music Man bridge pickup...)
Click to expand...

REALLY! I had no complaints about the pickups from playing in the store, but developing neck issues on two out of three basses is definitely cause for some concern. Tell me more, like what issues developed and how severe? I may actually consider returning the bass on the way home from work today based on your info :(
 
#18
If you can find a Squier VM Jaguar Bass Special V that would be something worth owning.
I've got, and actually like my SX Ursa 2 5 stringer. It is only my 2nd 5 stringer, but I honestly HATED my first one, a 90s Ibanez SR505... That thing left me just feeling meh about 5 strings...
 
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#19
Grab a Schecter. The Raiden 5 is light-years beyond anything else in the price range as far as playability and tone. It comes in three pu combinations, and the 35" B is more solid than any other cheap bass I've heard. You can also find used Stillettos in that price range, but I'd say to try one before buying, they hang oddly for some people.

wintremute said:
Now comes my favorite part. You've posted that you purchased a new bass, but how many people will continue to just read the title of the thread and come in here just to post their favorite 5-string that you should buy?
Click to expand...

Got that done for you :)
 
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