Id suggest one of the upper end ESP Ltd F series fivers. Ibanez's SR basses are very nice. But I dont think they do the low B as well.
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Thinking of going to a 5 string
- Thread starter CGrant
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Actually, to some people it's not important at all.
I can play 16.5mm spacing just as easily as 19mm.
I'm going to disagree here.
Get a preamp that sounds good, don't worry about how many bands it has.
I dislike onboard EQ controls in general, but if I were to have any I'd rather have ones that sounded very musical. The EBMM 2-band preamp is a good example of a nice musical sounding pre, IMO.
Then your preference is no preference, but at least you know. For those fortunate enough to be able to play them all, good on them. For those that can't, finding the right spacing is, IMHO, a massive part of getting comfortable with 5 or more. So many people wash out of fivers because the spacing is too wide or too narrow and they don't realize there are options.
Great deal in the classified's!
USA made
Hipshot hardware
Graphite neck!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-ft-feeler-peavey-gv-ohsc-847678/
USA made
Hipshot hardware
Graphite neck!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-ft-feeler-peavey-gv-ohsc-847678/
Great points G! If the guy's not used to a 5er he's gonna have to find out what his preference is.
I actually prefer a 2 band or a 4 band typically.
I'd modify this advice to: try the five string version of what you have first and see what you think. A lot of us are much more particular about the string spacing and neck dimensions of a five string than we are about the details of a four string. I feel right at home on just about any four string but I struggle with finding a five string that fits just right. In my case the Ibanez SR basses are as close to a perfect fit as I have found but just because you love your SR four string you cannot assume that you will love the narrow string spacing of the SR five strings. You might feel more at home on the wider spacing of the BTB series or other brands entirely.
You may even be one of the unlucky few, like me, who have a right hand that likes 19 and a left that likes 17 or so. I suspect that we are the ones here on TB who often report having tried a fiver for a while and then returned to a four, perhaps tuned BEAD. I'll find out soon enough, I'm hoping to make a choice in the next few weeks and then give five strings a good long trial. But I would advise everyone who is thinking about switching to try as many brands and models as you can before picking one. You might be surprised at how different your five string tastes are from your four string tastes.
Ken
I'm honestly quite surprised to hear that.
For me the neck profile is extremely important. Front to back thickness and width at the nut matter a great deal to me. I find 4-string Stingrays unplayable do to the neck profile, but love the necks on Sterlings.
Feeling the way I do about necks and string spacing it's hard for me to imagine string spacing being such a major factor. I believe what you're saying, I just can't relate.
Kwesi said:
I'd disagree there are tons of basses that are 4+1 and not really designed to be a fiver
+1 on that. I've bought basses here in the classifieds that
I've wanted but never tried. On a couple of them, I unboxed them, picked it up, got into a playing position with my left hand on the neck, then boxed it back up and re-listed it. Never even pluggd it in.
I can really only do 19's (maybe 18's) these days. If I get too narrow, I end up grabbing the wrong strings, changing my technique or having to think more, which I can hardly do now as it is.
I'd agree with the comment to play various bases (I only play 5-string basses these days) as there is a wide variety of feel with them. As KingRazor states, neck profile IS very important since no one style is best. Things to consider are not just width and thickness, but also fingerboard radius and how the neck contours from the nut to the body.
I've found some basses with thin necks to be comfortable, and yet the most comfortable one for me right now is a nice thick Steinberger neck with a flat fingerboard.
I've had an Ibanez Axestar (found spacing too narrow), a Lightwave (my current fretted bass), I just picked up a OLP 5-string (nice sound/feel for a cheap backup bass), I've even tried a Carvin 6-string (very thin neck). I started with a Steinberger Spirit 5-string (it was ok but didn't like the painted neck), but sold it when I got a Steinberger Synapse 5-string fretless (LOVE the feel).
I've found some basses with thin necks to be comfortable, and yet the most comfortable one for me right now is a nice thick Steinberger neck with a flat fingerboard.
I've had an Ibanez Axestar (found spacing too narrow), a Lightwave (my current fretted bass), I just picked up a OLP 5-string (nice sound/feel for a cheap backup bass), I've even tried a Carvin 6-string (very thin neck). I started with a Steinberger Spirit 5-string (it was ok but didn't like the painted neck), but sold it when I got a Steinberger Synapse 5-string fretless (LOVE the feel).
Ric5
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You have to feel comfortable with it, that's IMHO the best advice. Feel it and hear it, then decide.
I think it helps that my first bass had narrow spacing, so I had to get used to that from the get-go. Then I had a P bass after that, and got used to wider spacing. Now I can go back and forth without much trouble.
And in my personal opinion, most cheaper basses with 3 band preamps suck, also.
For example, I don't think highly at all of Ibanez preamps, at least not until you get up to the prestige line.
I haven't tried the lower end active ESPs, Shecters, Deans or MIM Fender deluxe basses, so I can't comment on them.
All I'm saying is, ignore the number of bands it has and get the best sounding EQ.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
The OP said a 5 string bass under $800. That puts you in the category of the ESP, Schecter, Dean etc basses. Those cheaper basses quite often have cheap 2 band preamps that can only boost treble and bass. You have no mid control at all. If you play a 5 string bass having a good 3 or 4 band preamp allows you to dial in growl and definition on the low B. Otherwise you have low end muddy rumble and a dinky G string.
I like the 4 band Audere preamps a lot. The high mid and low mid really allows a good control of the tone.
I like the 4 band Audere preamps a lot. The high mid and low mid really allows a good control of the tone.
When I went from 4 to 5, I got a Schecter Stiletto Custom 5. It was a good bass and it only cost me around 560-580. I can't remember exactly. Not bad looking either.
Here's the link to it on Guitar Center's website.
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Here's the link to it on Guitar Center's website.
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I'd try a few out first before DEFINATELY getting one - I personally got one simply to have it around, well I've STILL got it around but its been sat in a cupboard unplayed for the last 6-7 years (at least) simply because it's not my thing!
While this may work in some cases, it isn't always a good thing. In my case, I play a Fender Precision with 4 strings. I don't like the 5 string version at all. The fingerboard is very wide and uncomfortable for me. Instead, I have a Spector Euro5LX for the 5 stringer.
My advice is to try as many different 5 string basses as you can. The string spacing makes a big difference in the feel and playability. You have to determine what is good for you.
My advice is to try as many different 5 string basses as you can. The string spacing makes a big difference in the feel and playability. You have to determine what is good for you.
