Choose a 5 string bass for £500 (ish)

[Cornwall Steve]

2 hours ago, BaggyMan said:

I am in a selling frenzy atm due to some weighty purchases. I have a cort space 5 for sale on here as well as an cort elrick.  That aside there are some seriously nice ibanez Srs out there in the sub 500 bracket..new. love this one the sr305. 

Many thanks for replying. The 305 looks very nice in that colour otherwise its a bit of a budget bass IMO and the thin neck and string spacing I'm not sure would be right for me. There are so many SR's out there 😳

[Cornwall Steve]

4 hours ago, TheLowDown said:

Sire M5 is decent. very lightweight, lots of tonal options, active/passive, 35 inch scale(I don't think it matters but some people do), and 2 attractive finishes.

Thanks. I like the M5 ( I already have an M2). It's on the short list.

[kwmlondon]

I had an Ibanez SR505 which was my first 5 string, never looked back. I loved the both-on tone but it felt less impressive when the blend went towards the neck or bridge pickup. Lovely rich, burpy, almost R&B tone, I think I’d categorise as 90s bartolini. Very slim neck with tight spacing so fast but I could not slap or pick. Good bass. Light. Fast. But not for me. 

[TheLowDown]

31 minutes ago, Cornwall Steve said:

I have an M2. It was my first 5. Others I've bought have come and gone but I've kept my M2. I especially love the neck and maple fretboard (I have the Teal colour). I've pondered on the M5/M7 but often wondered how much better they are than the M2 given they have so many parts common to all models.

If you already have the M2, I would suggest an entirely different 5 string to give some variation tbh. 

[Cornwall Steve]

7 minutes ago, TheLowDown said:

If you already have the M2, I would suggest an entirely different 5 string to give some variation tbh. 

Yep, I think so too. Either that or grab an M5/M7 then sell the M2. I'm also a sucker for a maple fretboard.

[Cornwall Steve]

15 minutes ago, kwmlondon said:

I had an Ibanez SR505 which was my first 5 string, never looked back. I loved the both-on tone but it felt less impressive when the blend went towards the neck or bridge pickup. Lovely rich, burpy, almost R&B tone, I think I’d categorise as 90s bartolini. Very slim neck with tight spacing so fast but I could not slap or pick. Good bass. Light. Fast. But not for me. 

Hi, many thanks for your thoughts and experiences with the SR505. TBH I've always liked the look and feel of the SR's right across the range but never been a fan of the tones from the stock bartolini but most of all the tight spacing on the 5's. Had the same problem with the spacing on a Sterling 5 Stingray so moved it on.

[Norris]

Sterling Ray-5 (£449 from Anderton's)

Retrovibe Stinger preamp (£95 from Retrovibe)

 

Darn it, broke your budget so you can't sound as good as me 😜

 

... unless you buy used...

 

Edit: ah - just noticed that's too tight string spacing for you. Ah well.

Edited 19 hours ago by Norris

[BaggyMan]

2 hours ago, Cornwall Steve said:

Many thanks for replying. The 305 looks very nice in that colour otherwise its a bit of a budget bass IMO and the thin neck and string spacing I'm not sure would be right for me. There are so many SR's out there 😳

I get that.  For years i have shyed (shied?) away from SR's.  For 'a while'  i had a rare SR535 just didnt float the boat.  Recently taken a part time job in a music shop (remember those?) and been exposed to other basses again that i wouldnt normally go near...

Ok. so i am NOT  promoting the shop directly, but some things i have found (personally as well in the shop..) for note in your serach if that helps..

 

• SX do a range of warwick-a-likes that have set necks and are amazing vfm easily sub £500
• The new range of ibanez Sr's are a very good buy.  If i hadnt just bought a Cort A5 single cut i'd bee eyeing up one right now..
• I tried a M6 sire and sent it back..poor QC and kept snagging my index finger on the nut.  Sound great tho.. V7's are the standard, V3's have cheaper hardware and suffer from a bit of neck dive.  Still have the that cool pre amp thoiugh.
• Cort A5 series, well made and sound really good.  
• Cort space 5 series, great basses, light and well made (actually anything cort tbh).  I have owned two the green/purple and the narural one.  Excellent instruments if you like the modern sound.  I am a certified bass magpie so nothing stays forever! Full disclosure mine is for sale.
• Squier 5 string. Awesome VFM.  Something like £240 something from various places.  Play and sound great.  We had one second hand in the shop..Literally flew off the wall, gone within the week.
• For something more unconventional try an Ibanez BTB.  Some great 2nd handers out there especially the quilted maple versions.  I have owned 5 or 6.  Great instruments.

Hope that helps. 

 

GF

 

 

[Cornwall Steve]

5 hours ago, Norris said:

Sterling Ray-5 (£449 from Anderton's)

Retrovibe Stinger preamp (£95 from Retrovibe)

 

Darn it, broke your budget so you can't sound as good as me 😜

 

... unless you buy used...

 

Edit: ah - just noticed that's too tight string spacing for you. Ah well.

😂 Thanks anyway 👍

[crazycloud]

10 hours ago, BaggyMan said:

love this one the sr305.

Nearly as purdy as my SR375 in blue.

 

Pic is a random google photo as I don't have pics on this device. The burst in mine is so subtle as to not be there (which I like).

Edited 13 hours ago by crazycloud

[crazycloud]

4 hours ago, BaggyMan said:

Cort A5 series, well made and sound really good.

I have the A6 FMMH and it's great, but my A5 Ultra Ash is awesome. For the prices I paid new, these are the bargains of the century. I'd like a Space 5 in black too, but I don't need another 5 (or 6).

[Cornwall Steve]

3 hours ago, BaggyMan said:

I get that.  For years i have shyed (shied?) away from SR's.  For 'a while'  i had a rare SR535 just didnt float the boat.  Recently taken a part time job in a music shop (remember those?) and been exposed to other basses again that i wouldnt normally go near...

Ok. so i am NOT  promoting the shop directly, but some things i have found (personally as well in the shop..) for note in your serach if that helps..

 

• SX do a range of warwick-a-likes that have set necks and are amazing vfm easily sub £500
• The new range of ibanez Sr's are a very good buy.  If i hadnt just bought a Cort A5 single cut i'd bee eyeing up one right now..
• I tried a M6 sire and sent it back..poor QC and kept snagging my index finger on the nut.  Sound great tho.. V7's are the standard, V3's have cheaper hardware and suffer from a bit of neck dive.  Still have the that cool pre amp thoiugh.
• Cort A5 series, well made and sound really good.  
• Cort space 5 series, great basses, light and well made (actually anything cort tbh).  I have owned two the green/purple and the narural one.  Excellent instruments if you like the modern sound.  I am a certified bass magpie so nothing stays forever! Full disclosure mine is for sale.
• Squier 5 string. Awesome VFM.  Something like £240 something from various places.  Play and sound great.  We had one second hand in the shop..Literally flew off the wall, gone within the week.
• For something more unconventional try an Ibanez BTB.  Some great 2nd handers out there especially the quilted maple versions.  I have owned 5 or 6.  Great instruments.

Hope that helps. 

 

GF

 

 

Thank you very much 🙏 for writing such a comprehensive overview sharing your knowledge and experience. Folk working in music shops ought to be a go too when it comes to obtaining advice from pain in the backsides like me. Truth is where I live we have one small half decent guitar shop serving the whole County and even I own more basses than they stock. Nearest decent store is a 5-6 hour return trip to Bristol twice have journeyed and twice I've returned having seen nothing of any inspiration. The more higher end stores specialising in the more decent 'boutique' basses are a two day trip away with prices I can only dream of.

So, like 90% of members I rely on BC to share knowledge and experience from folk like you. And it's a tremendous help 👍

 

SX - a few years ago I bought a cheap Bass Collection copy. It was okay but I didn't hang on to it because it was very average. A typical beginners bass. Nothing wrong with that. I just outgrew it quickly so moved it on (for a hundred quid!)

 

IBANEZ - again, back in the day, I bought a SR300. Fine for a couple of months but underwhelming and it's put me off SR's ever since. I've tried re-considering the 'higher end' models 505/605/705 but put off by the tight string spacing on the 5's. Leaned more towards a BTB I do own an Ergodyne EDC which is a beast - just wish it's a 5 😢

SIRE - I have four (1 five string V7 fretless, 1 five string M2, and 2 four string V7 fretted, 1 ash, 1 alder). I like Sire very much. As everyone agrees they're good for the money - especially secondhand. I'm always looking at their constantly changing models and new colours however my main gripe is too many are retro fitted with generic hardware especially the preamps

 

M6 - I think you're the first person I know who has actually acquired one of these. I love the look of them but none available secondhand and expensive brand new. However I've noticed Andertons have cut their prices so perhaps the M6 isn't flying off the wall quite as expected 🤔

 

CORT - I have a B4 AS + fretless which is nice to play, very light, and very well finished. Again I wish it was a 5 too but not made as a five string. I keep looking at the various 5 string J style Cort basses but they're more 'also runs' and not sure whether they'd end up being keeper

 

SQUIER -sorry but they just don't do it for me. I don't see them as anything other than a budget brand beginners bass. I'd take Sire over Squier any day

 

BTB - the dark horse. Get the feeling this is a Marmite bass. Love it or hate it. Lots and lots of different models at various price points. I'm not a fan of the 'flat' brown wood effect finishes on many of the more recent models and the older ones look quite dated to me. As a player that plays only sitting down I like the extended lower horns for knee balance and with arthritic hands appreciate the wider string spacing but not the wide necks that accompany that. Not overly keen on Bart pick ups favoured by Ibanez and chosen for so many of their bass models ! Huge depreciation on them too.

Can I ask, having owned 5 or 6 you elected to sell these on? What did you like/dislike about the BTB ?

 

The Search continues .....

 

 

[Cornwall Steve]

7 hours ago, kwmlondon said:

I had an Ibanez SR505 which was my first 5 string, never looked back. I loved the both-on tone but it felt less impressive when the blend went towards the neck or bridge pickup. Lovely rich, burpy, almost R&B tone, I think I’d categorise as 90s bartolini. Very slim neck with tight spacing so fast but I could not slap or pick. Good bass. Light. Fast. But not for me. 

I think my experience with a five string SR would amount to the same, so I shy away from the SR range on string spacing and skinny necks.

[Cornwall Steve]

Warwick Rockbass Corvette anyone - or does the narrow string spacing rule these out 🤔

[Mrbigstuff]

6 minutes ago, Cornwall Steve said:

Warwick Rockbass Corvette anyone - or does the narrow string spacing rule these out 🤔

I had a fortress 5 many years ago. Well made but was heavy and difficult to get the action low. Also I believe all Warwick designs (broad neck aside) have 17.5mm spacing as standard.

[BassAgent]

Get yourself a Cort, Yamaha or a second hand Sadowsky Metroexpress.

[Cornwall Steve]

1 hour ago, Mrbigstuff said:

I had a fortress 5 many years ago. Well made but was heavy and difficult to get the action low. Also I believe all Warwick designs (broad neck aside) have 17.5mm spacing as standard.

Yep, I believe the Fortress has a reputation for being a tad heavy. 17.5 is slightly on the narrow side. 18-19 is my aiming point however I ask myself 0.5mm is that really a deal breaker ?🤔

I guess I'll have to try and find one and see for myself.

[Cornwall Steve]

1 hour ago, BassAgent said:

Get yourself a Cort, Yamaha or a second hand Sadowsky Metroexpress.

I have a Cort. I like its build quality but not its bartolini's 

I have several Yamaha 5's. Again, love the build quality but pick up's on some are muddy and lack lustre (RBX and BBN. The older BB's are a different ball game)

I have no experience of Sadowsky. How would you rate them compared with Lakland 55 or G + L Tribute 2500 ( but outside of my current budget 😕)

[BassAgent]

29 minutes ago, Cornwall Steve said:

I have a Cort. I like its build quality but not its bartolini's 

I have several Yamaha 5's. Again, love the build quality but pick up's on some are muddy and lack lustre (RBX and BBN. The older BB's are a different ball game)

I have no experience of Sadowsky. How would you rate them compared with Lakland 55 or G + L Tribute 2500 ( but outside of my current budget 😕)

I've owned both a Lakland Skyline 55-60 and a Sadowsky Metroexpress (the first generation) and would generally describe the Sadowsky as "slimmer". The neck is slimmer, the body is a bit smaller and I think the string spacing is a bit tighter but I never really pay attention to that. I was really impressed with the sustain on the Sadowsky. The preamp is fine, not great but workable.

[Cornwall Steve]

5 hours ago, BassAgent said:

I've owned both a Lakland Skyline 55-60 and a Sadowsky Metroexpress (the first generation) and would generally describe the Sadowsky as "slimmer". The neck is slimmer, the body is a bit smaller and I think the string spacing is a bit tighter but I never really pay attention to that. I was really impressed with the sustain on the Sadowsky. The preamp is fine, not great but workable.

That's great 👍 Thank you for that

[Terry M.]

10 hours ago, Mrbigstuff said:

I had a fortress 5 many years ago. Well made but was heavy and difficult to get the action low. Also I believe all Warwick designs (broad neck aside) have 17.5mm spacing as standard.

16.5mm apart from the Broadneck 5s. I have really low action on both my Broadnecks.

[SimonPLights]

I have an M6 5 string sitting next to me waiting to be shipped back. I got a B stock model and appears the neck isn't in great shape. Sounds nice, loads of tones, but QC doesn't seem great.

Replaced it with a Spector Icon that just feels so much higher quality and sounds huge. If you can find something Spector used for that price I'd do that.

 

P.S. ignore me - string spacing would be too small for you.

Edited 2 hours ago by SimonPLights

[tauzero]

With your preference for somewhat fatter necks, you could have a look for a second-hand Cort GB5 Custom (or the GB95 Custom, same bass, made in different countries). J/MM pickups rather than straight J, great build quality. I sold mine only because my preference is for the slimmer neck. They're not baseball bat sized, but just a bit fatter than I like.

[Terry M.]

On 21/01/2026 at 22:16, 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 ?

https://www.theguitarstoreonline.co.uk/products/sire-marcus-miller-p5r-5-string-bass-in-tobacco-sunburst-pre-owned

 

I literally played this yesterday in the store when I was briefly in Southampton with work.

[tauzero]

Just noticed that my old Cort GB5 Custom is now for sale, and relatively close to you.