My New Year Challenge - What 5 String Bass, Harley Benton or Squier?

[Linus27]

When I started playing bass, 38 years ago, my goal was always to be a fretless bassist, and for the last 16 years, that's what I've been doing thanks to my wife coming home with a Squier Fretless Jazz bass after I played one for a bit of fun in a music shop. She basically said I'd never buy it for myself so did it for me. Last year, I took on a new challenge and decided to get an EUB but it sort of back fired as after a week of buying it, I was out gigging it and have since done about 25 gigs on it. So for next year, I'm going for a new challenge and I'm going to get a cheap 5 string bass and if that works out ok, then I'll give 5 string fretless a shot. 

 

I've got two on my list so I'm basically after opinions on them if anyone has owned or tried one. I'm looking at the Harley Benton MV-5PJ or the Squier Affinity Active Jazz. Both are just over £200 and should be a good starting bass to try 5 string on. Any thoughts on either?

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Linus27

[Geek99]

I’d look to spend a bit more on a sire v7/5

the string spacing makes a bass work for you or not IME

[Marvin]

I have my eye on the Squier, as a 5 string would be useful in my band.

I've not really played a 5 string however,  my local music shop has a Squier in stock. 

The only 5 string I've had a quick play of was an Ibanez SR305. I found the 16.5mm string spacing too narrow. I'm not sure but I think the Squier is 19mm spacing?

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Marvin

[TheLowDown]

I like the HB B550 progressive series. I rather like the tone of it, and it has both active/passive(on mine there isn't much difference), although I rarely use it. I'm not entirely sure but I think string spacing is about 16.5 or 17mm and it's very lightweight.

Edited 2 hours ago by TheLowDown

[tauzero]

I have a related Squier, a MVM Jazz 5 which has been defretted, and I do rather like it. I had a play on a Harley Benton 5-string Jazz at a bass bash in Derby a few years ago (can't remember who brought it) and was also impressed by that, though it was a tad heavy. So I'm not being in the slightest bit helpful. Still, everyone will tell you you need a Precision, and a PJ means you can have one without the horrible Precision neck, and with the possibility of making a bit of difference to the P sound, so the HB might be the one to go for. Unless, of course, it's got the horrible Precision neck.

Edited 1 hour ago by tauzero