Thinkin bout a cheapo 5er

[Maxdusty]

For my money, the words, "You Get What You Pay For" were never more appropriate than with a five-string bass.

I bought a budget model to see if I liked it, re-sold it and recovered my total investment, and then spent serious coin on a serious fiver. Sooo glad I did.

I agree with this to a point, perhaps with budget basses purchased new, don't expect it to have expensive features without paying to upgrade it or buying another bass altogether. Some options are bad altogether and understandable why they're so inexpensive.

Now buying used really depends where you live and this is where you can often find the best finds for your money.
Where I live, there's a sweet Ibanez SR505 for $250 right now- I can mention that because my wife will kill me if I buy another bass right now. Not a bad bass for the money. I also bought my MIM Fender Jazz V for $200 in fantastic condition 2011 model, burgundy which if I remember correctly I traded it for a 4 string MIM Jazz in the same color and condition. Recently my son found a Yamaha TRBX305 for $100 (pic above) which included a practice amp.

 

[Bassamatic]

Picked up a Squier 5-string P from Sweetwater a few months ago and it is totally amazing - sound, construction and feel. Strung it with T.I. Flats and will put it up against anything. A fantastic bargain.

 

[Maxdusty]

I had a Peavey (BXP?) grind 6 at one time and it seems like it was a decent bass. Maybe the neck heel was kind of clumsily made, which was aesthetically displeasing but the function was fine. 6 strings was just too much work for me though. I think that's the one more than any other that pushed me back toward preferring 4's.

I really wanted to like my Peavey Grind V (as I do like their 4 string basses) but had a few niggling issues about it, first off mine was particularly heavy (from what I read, not all were like this) and the pickups seemed very weak in volume compared to my other basses, the bass was well made otherwise - loved the look, the tight B string due to being a 35" scale -ultimately the neck seemed a tad too wide for me, I ended up trading it and reverting back to a 4.

 

[Wademeister63]

Take one of your 4 string basses and string it up BEAD.

Play it for 6 months and if you miss the G string, get a 5er.

If you don't then you've solved your 5 string GAS at no cost.

Actually I've had my favorite pair of 4's set up like this for years. Last night I was playing around relearning some old tunes and kept switching back and forth... which got me thinking of buying a 5. But just a cheap one since I don't think anything will really compete with the basses that cured my GAS.

My forever basses. Designed and built by me...

Guess I better do something with this photobucket thing. Most annoying...
Try hitting the link, see if that opens a pic for you... Invalid Link Removed

 

[Maxdusty]

Actually I've had my favorite pair of 4's set up like this for years. Last night I was playing around relearning some old tunes and kept switching back and forth... which got me thinking of buying a 5. But just a cheap one since I don't think anything will really compete with the basses that cured my GAS.

My forever basses. Designed and built by me...
View attachment 2747766

Guess I better do something with this photobucket thing. Most annoying...
Try hitting the link, see if that opens a pic for you... Invalid Link Removed

The right bass makes a world of difference. In previous attempts to play a 5, I felt like I was fighting the bass more than playing it - it's not the extra string either, but issues like the neck was too wide, bass too heavy or it just didn't feel right so I resigned myself to being a 4 string bass player (30 years of playing). Now in the past week or so, ever since picking up my Schecter, I can't help but play the thing as it's so ideally suited for me- again, other basses may work better for you, but playing on it is, well....a joy. I picked up my 4 string earlier and found it strangely lacking. I can see why people opt for 5 or even 6 string basses, because of the options it gives you as long as you're comfortable and take the time to really sit down and learn to use it.

 

[Rayjay]

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?

Awesome! That's exactly what I came to recommend, that or their P5 is also very good. And, you can upgrade the hardware and the electronics and even the frets if you want to invest $100 at a time. The quality of Squiers these days seems to be very good.

 

[noeinstein]

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.

This is the ticket!

 

[Spidey2112]

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?

If I was the OP, I would consider a black Squier Affinity Jazz with white pickguard and dot inlays... if he's lucky, should be able to find one under $250...

 

[Slevage]

I picked up 2 used Squier VM5's. One for $200 and one for $150, flipped one of them.
Shop used.

 

[Charlzm]

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...

Go up to $600 and pick up one of these used:

Schecter Hellraiser 5 String Electric Bass Guitar Crimson Red Burst Finish

 

[Dark Horse]

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?

Those are a great bargain. I really dig the necks. Plus they're a great platform for modding .

Here's one of mine after some mods ....

 

[packhowitzer]

just get 5 of these. should be pretty economical...

 

[LUCE]

No. Just no.

 

[wintremute]

Had an even shorter honeymoon!! Bought the Squier at lunchtime and returned it after work. Never even took it out of the box while I owned it, sheeeeze.... Stopped at 3 different places on my way home and found nothing interesting. But you guys have given me lots of ideas, thanks. I'm thinking I'll keep looking for something around town. Maybe eventually I'll run across something nice at a good price if I keep at it. I especially like the Peavy or Yamaha suggestions, but you just never know what might turn up. Or if nothing else, I could always grab the Squier from GC...

LOL!

I suggest you look into the Peavey Millenium BXP used on GC. I had one of those, and sold it on Craiglist for more than I purchased it. The guy who bought it did so because someone stole his Fender 5-string, and he upcoming gigs that made him need one ASAP. A couple of weeks after he bought it, he sent me this text: "Just wanted to thank you for the bass. It plays and sounds great. I am extremely happy with it. Thanks again."

 

[Sam Dingle]

i highly HIGHLY suggest you save $600 for a sire. read the big thread, its basically the quality of an american fender for the price of a mexican fender

 

[wishforbass]

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...

Look at
Yamaha , Ibanez s ,or Ibanez brb .
They are better choice that squier..
Down time system work well but sometimes that mean ij long run more pressure on string ,more step up ,adjusting and more time .
Sometimes changes gauges for better results ,but well in the end it's not price of new bass .

 

[Wademeister63]

I can't do $600 for sure. I'll stick to my 4's instead of spending that much. I can do a couple hundred, but not much more than that. I just bought a house this Summer and I have projects galore that take priority over new toys.

Probably what's going to happen is I'll stick with my 4 bangers and just pop into the pawn shops from time to time and keep an eye on the TB classifieds. If a juicy deal looking pops up then I'll snag it. And the conversation here will definitely help me decide what's juicy and what's not. Thanks much for all the replies.

 

[Wademeister63]

LOL!

I suggest you look into the Peavey Millenium BXP used on GC. I had one of those, and sold it on Craiglist for more than I purchased it. The guy who bought it did so because someone stole his Fender 5-string, and he upcoming gigs that made him need one ASAP. A couple of weeks after he bought it, he sent me this text: "Just wanted to thank you for the bass. It plays and sounds great. I am extremely happy with it. Thanks again."

I saw a couple of them on there and almost pulled the trigger on the one listed in great condition for $219. Going to hold off for the moment.

 

[twinjet]

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...)

If it's the Seymour-Duncan single coils you speak of, I agree. Those pickups are not bad, but are worth swapping. I did not like how much more they catered to high frequencies on my VM. I understand a Jazz Bass should cut through, but this thing was so tonally sharp I couldn't get a satisfying low frequency response without significant tweaking of the bass amp, and you can't always afford that mid-song. For what it's worth, it was (presumably) alder, clear finish, with a maple board. Most trebly bass I've ever owned.

After a bad gig and the aforementioned issues, I sold it posthaste and stuck with my trusty G&L ever since.

 

[chris_b]

If you want to add some "meat" and a whole new level of excellent sound options to your BEAD bass get an outboard Aguilar Tonehammer preamp.