Why are there no 5 String Explorer style basses?>

[MYLOWFREQ]

Probably because there's not enough people who care about them.

 

[Ric5]

Maybe @Ric5 made one?

It is on my list of things to do ...

I am currently building several basses ... 50s style p-bass with 5 or 10 strings, a Fenderbird with 5 strings, and an SG bass with 10 strings.

Pitbull makes a 5 string explorer kit

 

[Ric5]

 

[Ric5]

 

[Rib 13]

If you’re talking “explorers” that are more like T-birds then I agree with you. A true explorer shape tends to have a much larger body “fin” which adds weight and shifts the center of gravity drastically from my experience (I used to own and aria pro zzb). My bass actually had a little neck rise (liked to sit at about a 30-45 degree neck up angle). YMMV.

I own two Explorers. The top pic is my '80s Fernandes BXB-55. It does have neck rise, but its a medium scale, so its neck rise characteristics are minimal and not an issue for me. The medium scale itself is what takes a little warming up if coming directly off a long scale, but there isnt a reach issue with it............the bottom pic is my 2013 Ibanez Destroyer. It has a little neck dive (as opposed to neck rise), and its body is 'big'...However, this big bass is probably my lightest instrument that I own. Ive never weighed it but its probably about 8 lbs/3.6 kg which probably explains the dive instead of rise. There is a little reach issue here but not crazy or uncomfortable at all

The middle pic is my 2020 EB Stingray Special HH and Im not sure why I included it in this picture montage when I edited it

 

[bolophonic]

Apparently there are some 5 stringer's of that general variety. I will add that a 4 string Explorer is a poor ergonomic design for a bass - inherent neck dive and excessive reach. A 5 string adds mass to the neck, an extra tuner, and a B string (that weighs more than any other string). So, it adds even more neck dive to an already neck heavy design. Not a recipe for success.

My Explorer copy has ZERO neck dive. I can’t imagine a single scenario where it would do that.

 

[6-3-2]

Explorer-esque from the Japanese brand Killer, but it's $7k

I've got one of their basses, which was a much more doable $2k when I bought it, but as we all know, price inflation is wild. Nevertheless, incredible sounding instrument.

 

[B-Mac]

Spector Rex 5

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[darwin-bass]

Neck dive.

An explorer is like a bassist's version of a corset. They are seriously uncomfortable but people put up with them because they improve your looks.

 

[B-Mac]

Zoov?
Google Image Result for https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/lookaside/crawler/media/?media_id=1298251843543770

 

[B-Mac]

Warmoth Iceman

sorta kinda

Warmoth Iceman 5 Body 2021 Vintage | LKustoms NJ | Reverb

 

[Myzee]

What about a Dingwall D-Roc

 

[BarfanyShart]

Explorer-ish
View attachment 4606581
ESP LTD Stream-205 in Black Satin

I like those ESP's. Something about that shape makes sense to me.

 

[Vinny_G]

An explorer is like a bassist's version of a corset. They are seriously uncomfortable but people put up with them because they improve your looks.

I'm not sure a corset would improve my looks

 

[Aceman]

I did not know Kelly Bird came in a 5...pretty close.

And I looked at Pit Bull, and did not see a 5 String...but maybe they are back!

 

[WillyW]

Somebunny had a 5 string fretless on my local CL for the longest time…

the price kept getting lower and lower and the listing either expired or it got sold.

I liked the fretless part of it but not the 5 string part.

 

[Mudder]

Warmoth Iceman

sorta kinda

View attachment 4607496
Warmoth Iceman 5 Body 2021 Vintage | LKustoms NJ | Reverb

That is sexy as hell.

 

[Flamingo21]

An explorer is like a bassist's version of a corset. They are seriously uncomfortable but people put up with them because they improve your looks.

My Explorer Bass has very little neck dive, and is very comfortable to hold and play.