Choose a 5 string bass for £500 (ish)

[Cornwall Steve]

Christmas out of the way, bank account seriously depleted, winter energy bills just arrived, tax man to settle up with by the 31st, but hey we all need to treat ourselves from time to time and sod the GAS issue. Winter's dreary and something to cheer us up wouldn't go amiss.

However, the piggy bank isn't what you'd call overflowing - you can just about rustle up 500 quid or so.

The brief is 5 string, a minimum 18mm spacing, new or used.

What would you go for ?

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

Mmmm…Headed or Headless ? ‘All right now ‘ or ‘Reign in  blood ?’ Slap , pick , fingers or all ?🤔🙂

[Jakester]

Ahem. 

*Coughs in Yamaha*

 

 

[SumOne]

I have found that 4 string basses can sound decent at almost any price point, 5 string less so. I guess it needs good stability, pickups etc for a decent B string and that tends to cost.

 

The Cort Space 5 is decent if you are okay with a headless bass.  I assume their things like the GB range are good too. 

 

 

 

 

[Dan Dare]

10 minutes ago, SumOne said:

I have found that 4 string basses can sound decent at almost any price point, 5 string less so. I guess it needs good stability, pickups etc for a decent B string and that tends to cost.

 

This. I reckon a 5 needs a longer scale length for the B to work well, too. The best sounding 5 for not too much money I've come across was a Lakland Skyline. Lakland 5s have a 35" scale, which does seem to make a difference. They can be had used for less than a grand. I'd save up a bit more, rather than going for something at the moment when you don't have a lot of spare cash.

Edited 1 hour ago by Dan Dare

[Gizmo]

13 hours ago, Cornwall Steve said:

Christmas out of the way, bank account seriously depleted, winter energy bills just arrived, tax man to settle up with by the 31st, but hey we all need to treat ourselves from time to time and sod the GAS issue. Winter's dreary and something to cheer us up wouldn't go amiss.

However, the piggy bank isn't what you'd call overflowing - you can just about rustle up 500 quid or so.

The brief is 5 string, a minimum 18mm spacing, new or used.

What would you go for ?

 

I had much the same question earlier this month... n my case after a lot of YT review watching i grabbed a Sire Z7 5 string at just under £400 (b-stock) from Thomann....Lovely neck, a very versatile and great sounding Pup/Preamp set up, Quality hardware and finish that felt way above it's price tag...setup was dog doo but might have been due to changes made by the first buyer...

 

all that said it's boxed up waiting to be collected by DHL for return because it's boat anchor heavy, not that i was expecting a Light bass due to the alder body, but the shortness of the lower horn makes it impossible to play while sitting because it either slips off you leg or neck dives.

 

Id say Jakester's Yamaha above is a total bargain, id have taken it myself but 17mm is my max tolerance for spacing these days I've found.

 

GL