Selling 5 strings

[SteveXFR]

I'm just about ready to buy a nice Spector 5 string and was reminded that previously with 5 strings, I've had a nightmare trying to sell them when ready for a change. 

Are 5 string basses typically difficult to sell or have I just had the wrong ones? 

Previous 5's include Ibanez SRMS805 Ibanez SR505 and Sterling Ray35 (very nice budget stingray)

[Hellzero]

No, they are not, it all depends on the price tag.

[simonlittle]

18 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

No, they are not, it all depends on the price tag.

Exactly this. I’ve sold many five string basses over the years. The cheaper basses flew out the door and the more premium instruments took a while longer to find the right home. Certainly haven’t noticed any difference in selling fives than fours…

[Terry M.]

11 hours ago, Hellzero said:

No, they are not, it all depends on the price tag.

This.

 

Advertise a 4 string at the "wrong" price and see.

[Mrbigstuff]

Funnily enough when I see a bass I often think, ahh that’s great if only it was a 5!

[Owen]

You cannot spell Bass without a B. 

 

Come at me 4 string zealots. 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I had a five string once. The B string came in handy as a thumbrest.

[Terry M.]

As a die-hard 5 string player I admit to enjoying seeing 5ers in classified ads that 4 stringers failed to get the hang of only because they sometimes can't get rid of fast enough and will sell below market value. I've nabbed a few along the way like that. One man's poison...

[Norris]

I so like 5 strings now that I tend not to look at the ads for 4 stringers. In fact I'm toying with the idea of trying to replace some of the herd with 5 string versions. First on the list for that would be the Ric 4003. My browsing history has a few 4003s/5 in it, especially in walnut... 🤪

[40hz]

Slightly off topic, but, I sometimes feel like an outlier, as I'm just as happy on a 4 or 5. It seems to invoke some bizarre tribalism in people, but really, it's not that big of a difference, or a difficulty to swap between the two, IMO. 

 

Whatever gets the job done.

 

Back on topic, never had an issue selling a 5er - price is everything!

[jwood662]

I needed a 5 string for an audition once and picked up a nearly new sterling ray5 from fb. Managed to sell it later that month (fb again), went within days and with a £50 profit to boot!

 

So from my (albeit limited) experience I’d say not a problem at all!

[Woodinblack]

I am so unlikely to buy (and retain) a 4 string bass, I often get annoyed that the sales area doesn't have a filter to filter only 5 strings, then I remember it would have to be me that did that and I let me off

 

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

On 21/05/2025 at 08:56, SteveXFR said:

I'm just about ready to buy a nice Spector 5 string and was reminded that previously with 5 strings, I've had a nightmare trying to sell them when ready for a change. 

Are 5 string basses typically difficult to sell or have I just had the wrong ones? 

Previous 5's include Ibanez SRMS805 Ibanez SR505 and Sterling Ray35 (very nice budget stingray)

Ooh nice. what you getting?

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

There’s a Spector at a certain UK dealers that I’m hoping someone will buy so I can’t/don’t.

I would say only harder to sell in so much as you have to exclude 4 string only players as potential customers.

Edited May 22 by hiram.k.hackenbacker

[lemmywinks]

Never had an issue selling 5 strings, I always price them to sell but not too cheap.

 

Hope I've not just jinxed myself as I'll most likely be putting my EHB 5er up for sale soon!

[SteveXFR]

8 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

Ooh nice. what you getting?

 

Not sure yet but probably a Euro 5 LX

[lozkerr]

14 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

I am so unlikely to buy (and retain) a 4 string bass, I often get annoyed that the sales area doesn't have a filter to filter only 5 strings, then I remember it would have to be me that did that and I let me off

 

I'd find that a handy feature too. I'm impressed with folks like @40hz who can easily switch between the two. I have to stop and think for a moment whenever I have to do that.

[Woodinblack]

7 minutes ago, lozkerr said:

I'd find that a handy feature too. I'm impressed with folks like @40hz who can easily switch between the two. I have to stop and think for a moment whenever I have to do that.

 

I can switch to 4 as well without too much trouble, but I can't do a set with any of my bands with a 4 string bass, so if I took a 4 string bass to a gig I would also need to take a 5 string, and then what is the point. So I buy 4 strings, end up not playing them and then sell them. Repeat cycle!

[tauzero]

I don't think I need a 5-string for our set but that's what I've learnt the songs on, and it would be a bit of a struggle to play on a 4-string. I do take a 4-string out to an open mic night every now and again but that's generally doing songs I'll only do once rather than songs I'm really familiar with.

[Terry M.]

On 21/05/2025 at 23:15, Terry M. said:

As a die-hard 5 string player I admit to enjoying seeing 5ers in classified ads that 4 stringers failed to get the hang of only because they sometimes can't get rid of fast enough and will sell below market value. I've nabbed a few along the way like that. One man's poison...

Saw a Sire Vintage V7 five string on Ebay newly listed this morning.This evening it's now in my living room.I've done it yet again-he was a guitarist who bought it two weeks ago and when he does play bass just wants a passive 4 string P bass,he REALLY priced it to sell quickly.So in short he had zero problems selling his 5 string bass.

[Count Bassy]

Deleted. Attempt at a joke that didn't work.

Edited May 26 by Count Bassy

[Rich]

On 23/05/2025 at 13:11, lozkerr said:

I'm impressed with folks like @40hz who can easily switch between the two. I have to stop and think for a moment whenever I have to do that.

I certainly count myself very fortunate in that I've never had any difficulty swapping between 4 and 5.

[Cornwall Steve]

Well, if you're like me, trying very hard to pin down a half decent reasonably priced 5 string with 18+ mm string spacing believe me it's pretty tough going. Every time I see something that looks the part - I'm beaten to it.

I'd say fairly priced, most '5's would sell just as well as a '4'.