Choose a 5 string bass for £500 (ish)

[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 ?

 

[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://bassbros.co.uk/product/2010-ibanez-btb675/

 

That's your lot from me 🤣

[Cornwall Steve]

5 hours ago, tauzero said:

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

 

 

Yep, seen this already. Looks a very nice bass though I confess I know nothing about this particular model, but looks interesting after seeing on line reviews.

Thanks for the heads-up 👍

Edited 16 hours ago by Cornwall Steve
Spelling and grammar errors

[Cornwall Steve]

4 hours ago, Terry M. said:

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/2010-ibanez-btb675/

 

That's your lot from me 🤣

I saw this on the Bass Bros website. TBH the jury is still out on the natural flat finish and the lack lustre bartolini 's 😔 There was another 675 sold recently very close to where I live. But I bought another Yammie instead so cleaned out the piggy bank. Thanks for the heads up though 👍

[Cornwall Steve]

4 hours ago, Terry M. said:

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/2010-ibanez-btb675/

 

That's your lot from me 🤣

Come on Terry empty out your pockets. You always come up with something interesting for me 😂

[Cornwall Steve]

6 hours ago, SimonPLights said:

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.

Hi Simon. Many thanks for your reply and observations especially on the M6 and Spector. The M6 is a really great looking instrument however interesting what you say about the B string and the QC. The Cort Space 5 appears to me to be a better all round option ?

I have a 4 string Spector Legend Classic. I love it. I too would go for an Icon (or another Spector 5) but I'm concerned about the string spacing , as you point out. Guess I just need to try one out.

[Cornwall Steve]

My grateful thanks to everyone who has replied with your observations, suggestions, etc and for sign posting suitable bass candidates up for sale.

However, revisiting the wording of my original Post what I especially wanted to know is what 5 string for £500 ish you'd go for ?🤔

[tauzero]

1 hour ago, Cornwall Steve said:

Yep, seen this already. Looks a very nice bass though I confess I know nothing about this particular model, but looks interesting after seeing on line reviews.

Thanks for the heads-up 👍

 

For reference on the sound, Pete Trewavas has used the 4 string version with Marillion as well as his Warwick Thumb - for example

 

 

[HeadlessBassist]

Another solid vote here for the Cort Space Bass 5. This is my third one... and it only cost me £420 in as-new condition! They sound fantastic too.

 

[tauzero]

1 hour ago, Cornwall Steve said:

My grateful thanks to everyone who has replied with your observations, suggestions, etc and for sign posting suitable bass candidates up for sale.

However, revisiting the wording of my original Post what I especially wanted to know is what 5 string for £500 ish you'd go for ?🤔

 

My preference is for neck-through basses, which is a bit limiting as it rules out FSOs and MMSOs (although I do have one of the former and two of the latter). That leaves me with hoping another Antoniotsai 5-string comes up, going for a Mazeti if one comes up, or looking at the Harley Benton BZ-5000 from Thomann or the Chicago 5-string through-neck from Gear4Music, neither of which I've played. Or maybe playing roulette and going for something from AliExpress. Or a second-hand Ibanez BTB (not the bolt-on ones).

[crazycloud]

21 hours ago, Cornwall Steve said:

I like its build quality but not its bartolini's

Change them. Most P2s fit and EMG ExW series sound good.

[Terry M.]

9 hours ago, Cornwall Steve said:

and the lack lustre bartolini 's 😔 

I can't disagree with this to be fair.

[Terry M.]

9 hours ago, Cornwall Steve said:

My grateful thanks to everyone who has replied with your observations, suggestions, etc and for sign posting suitable bass candidates up for sale.

However, revisiting the wording of my original Post what I especially wanted to know is what 5 string for £500 ish you'd go for ?🤔

The red Yamaha I posted and possibly the link I posted to the Sire. The Sire not your thing? You said you would take one over a Squier (I think Squiers are great)

Apologies for the double posting of the Yamaha suggested by @Jakester earlier.

Edited 6 hours ago by Terry M.

[Cornwall Steve]

11 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

Another solid vote here for the Cort Space Bass 5. This is my third one... and it only cost me £420 in as-new condition! They sound fantastic too.

 

It looks very nice. The 5 string Space is definitely a strong contender (I've never owned a headless before and always fancied one)

[Cornwall Steve]

2 hours ago, Terry M. said:

The red Yamaha I posted and possibly the link I posted to the Sire. The Sire not your thing? You said you would take one over a Squier (I think Squiers are great)

Apologies for the double posting of the Yamaha suggested by @Jakester earlier.

Can't see a link to a Sire Terry, just Cort GB Custom, Yamaha 735, and a Ibanez BTB

[Cornwall Steve]

1 minute ago, Cornwall Steve said:

Can't see a link to a Sire Terry, just Cort GB Custom, Yamaha 735, and a Ibanez BTB

Not that I'm complaining 😂

And 'Yes' I love Sires. I have 4.

[Terry M.]

18 hours ago, Terry M. said:

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.

This one @Cornwall Steve

Edited 3 hours ago by Terry M.

[Cornwall Steve]

1 hour ago, Terry M. said:

This one @Cornwall Steve

Thanks for re-sending the link Terry 👍

It looks very nice especially with the roasted neck. Very attractive colour combo. Does it play/sound as good as it looks?

[Mrbigstuff]

20 hours ago, Terry M. said:

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

Are they rockbass or German Warwick? I didn’t think broad necks were an option for RB? 

[tauzero]

String spacing again a bit narrow, but I'd forgotten Hohner - there's the B V (with body and head), Jack V (headless with body) and the B2AV (cricket bat headless) - the B2AV has a passive variant, the B2V, which IME doesn't sound as good.

[Terry M.]

1 hour ago, Cornwall Steve said:

Thanks for re-sending the link Terry 👍

It looks very nice especially with the roasted neck. Very attractive colour combo. Does it play/sound as good as it looks?

Hi Steve. It played effortlessly but I didn't plug it in as I was short for time and had a train to catch out of Southampton. It was light as well if that's an important factor. Nice thickish neck and wider string spacing (18mm at least) if that's what one likes.

Edited 1 hour ago by Terry M.

[Terry M.]

31 minutes ago, Mrbigstuff said:

Are they rockbass or German Warwick? I didn’t think broad necks were an option for RB? 

You're correct. All Broadnecks are German only.

[Cornwall Steve]

56 minutes ago, tauzero said:

String spacing again a bit narrow, but I'd forgotten Hohner - there's the B V (with body and head), Jack V (headless with body) and the B2AV (cricket bat headless) - the B2AV has a passive variant, the B2V, which IME doesn't sound as good.

I had a black Hohner Professional B bass (4 string - same as the Jack but with a headstock). Very nice sounding and easy neck to navigate. Active had stopped working so mine was Passive only (a common fault but it was 35 years old !) Sold it just before Christmas as I'm selling off nearly all of my 4 strings basses.

[Cornwall Steve]

47 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

Hi Steve. It played effortlessly but I didn't plug it in as I was short for time and had a train to catch out of Southampton. It was light as well if that's an important factor. Nice thickish neck and wider string spacing (18mm at least) if that's what one likes.

Sounds intriguing however I still have a 1972 Fender Precision (4 string in boring old traditional sunburst) my Grandfather bought for me in 1973 so not really after another Precision. That red P5 is a real looker though 😍

[Cornwall Steve]

3 hours ago, Cornwall Steve said:

It looks very nice. The 5 string Space is definitely a strong contender (I've never owned a headless before and always fancied one)

And I wish I could find a 5 string black one for £420. Cheapest I've ever seen in such a good condition as yours is £500

P.S. Such a shame Cort only make 'em in the two colours. I think they've missed a trick there