1976fenderhead Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 (edited) Hey, I'm thinking of getting a cheap 5-string bass to play some songs that require it at home just for fun and to see if I like to play 5-strings in which case I'll later get a good one. For reference, I've been playing for 21 years so I'm experienced and Fender Jazz is my thing but I also have a fretless Warwick Corvette which I love, and probably the best-sounding bass I've ever tried was a very expensive US Spector... So, options I can think of are Squier and the cheap Warwick and Spector ranges... anything else? Squier is probably closest to what I like since I like Fender, but I'm not impressed with the quality of the backup Squier P-Bass Special I own... Warwick and Spector seem to have better pickups, maybe better construction for the price? Brands I'd like to avoid: Ibanez, Peavey, Yamaha. Limit: £300-something used, 200-something would be ideal. Thanks! Edited June 24, 2013 by 1976fenderhead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 (edited) The problem with cheap 5's is that the low B ends up sounding like a wet fart. It may be hard for you to 'come down' to the overall tone of a cheaper instrument as I presume you have a nice Jazz and love the Corvette. £200 budget is mostly a tough call after owning premium basses. I wasn't impressed with the cheap Squier, Spector and Warwick basses, may be worth uping the budget and getting a second hand Corvette as it'll be similar to the quality of the fretless you have. Within your budget I seem to remember the OLP Tony Levin Stingray 5 sounding alright for the money, though it's still a cheapy. Stingray 5's have great B strings so maybe also go for an original SUB 5 from years back, the ones with the dodgy paint jobs, for around £300 -400 quid that'd be a lot of bang for your buck. Good luck! Edited June 24, 2013 by Chiliwailer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Spector Legend s/h should fit your bill. The 35" scale sounds very authoritive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 [quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1372107116' post='2121795'] Spector Legend s/h should fit your bill. The 35" scale sounds very authoritive. [/quote] 'Authoritive', what a great way to describe a decent 5 string sound, nice one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifi2112 Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I might have a nice black ebmm sub5 FS soon ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976fenderhead Posted June 25, 2013 Author Share Posted June 25, 2013 The Spector Legend might be above my budget? I would love 35" neck as the only time I liked the sound of the 5th string it was a 35" neck (that Spector I mentioned) but I doubt I can get that length with my budget... The SUB range seems like a good option, I didn't know it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 [quote name='1976fenderhead' timestamp='1372122752' post='2121978'] The SUB range seems like a good option, I didn't know it... [/quote] Good call. Keep in mind that the newer Sub basses are not tof he same quality as the original mid 2000's USA made ones, which although uglier are much better. I've picked these up for friends before under £400, amazing value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clashcityrocker Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I had a vintage modified 5 jazz for 2 weeks (5 string wasn't for me back then) and thought the build quality was really good,better than my mex p Bass I had. Can't comment on the B though as had no experience. I really do think go secondhand for a good deal on a 'better' bass,especially now it's a buyers market. Funnily enough,have just got a German corvette 5 for a good price..hopefully it will last more then 2 weeks! Bloody good Bass though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976fenderhead Posted June 25, 2013 Author Share Posted June 25, 2013 [quote name='clashcityrocker' timestamp='1372142700' post='2122022'] I had a vintage modified 5 jazz for 2 weeks (5 string wasn't for me back then) and thought the build quality was really good,better than my mex p Bass I had. [/quote] That was actually the bass I had in mind when I started this post, there's a good one on eBay. I'm more inclined towards the MM now though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grayn Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I would highly recommend the ESP Ltd B-205SM Amazing for the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 What's your beef with the brands you wish to avoid? Not stirring - genuine question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976fenderhead Posted June 25, 2013 Author Share Posted June 25, 2013 (edited) [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1372148400' post='2122087'] What's your beef with the brands you wish to avoid? Not stirring - genuine question. [/quote] Totally fair question. I can't explain technically in terms of the characteristics of the sound, but I generally find playing those basses underwhelming, as in cold-sounding, too 'clinical' and lacking personality, though they're usually very well built. On the other hand, my backup Squier is built like a piece of cr*p, has a terrible bridge, a dodgy neck/fretboard with buzz in odd places and doesn't stay in tune for long, yet I find its tone awesome despite it being made with the cheapest wood Indonesian forests have to offer. Go figure... Edited June 25, 2013 by 1976fenderhead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 Are you absolutely sure you want to avoid Yamaha? This is a lot of bass for your money: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/209437-yamaha-trb-1005-pics-added/page__hl__trb1005__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/209437-yamaha-trb-1005-pics-added/page__hl__trb1005__fromsearch__1[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 IMO unless you get very lucky or find a bargain a cheap 5-string is always going to be disappointing. There's more to making a 5-string bass than a wider neck, an extra pole-piece on the pickup(s) and another saddle on the bridge. Getting a good sounding B string requires a whole new level of design and construction and unfortunately that doesn't come cheap yet. Also beware of cheap basses touting a 35" scale length as a solution. If you like the extra space between the frets, that's good, but making the B string 3% longer (that's all it is) does not magically make it better feeling and sounding, that's down to the construction of the neck and the neck joint if there is one. I see it all too often, people saying that they couldn't get on with a 5-string bass because the B-string felt sloppy and sounded undefined and nearly always it turns out that the bass was insufficiently well made to do justice to the string. My first 5-string, bought over 30 years ago cost £300 (when that was worth a lot more than it is now) and it failed to deliver a decent B. Luckily for me before I completely ran out of patience with the B-string I was able to try (and subsequently buy) an Overwater 5-string which was streets ahead in every respect, and I've not looked back. Don't waste your money on a cheap 5-string, but instead spend some time playing as many good instruments as you can get hold of until you have found what you actually like, and while you save up for something that can actually deliver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976fenderhead Posted June 25, 2013 Author Share Posted June 25, 2013 [quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1372159213' post='2122252'] Are you absolutely sure you want to avoid Yamaha? This is a lot of bass for your money: [/quote] I'd like to, but I won't be a fundamentalist if a great deal comes by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 (edited) I would recommend the Squier VM Jazz 5-string. Or a Yamaha BB415 / BB425 if you change your mind about Yams! My BB415 has a great low B, better than any other I've tried (which admittedly is limited to the aforementioned Squier, a Fender USA P5, Cort Elrick, and SBBM Ray35), so not all cheap fivers have a poor low B! Edited June 25, 2013 by dannybuoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I know you want to avoid Peavey ...but I've got a Peavey Cirrus BXP 5 at home and love it. Very playable, well built and offers a wide variety of tones (mine is strung with flats). They're around £450 new but I managed to pick one up second hand for £200. http://www.gak.co.uk/en/peavey-cirrus-bxp-5-string-quilt-top-tiger-eye/51256 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregBass Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 If you are really considering a cheap Warwick, I could be persuaded to part with my Rockbass Streamer 5. It would be well within your budget too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthevan Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I had and old Sammick which was pretty nice to play and didn't sound bad. Just couldn't get used to 5 strings so ebayed it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spellonyou Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I got a Cort GB35a and am quite pleased with it. B-string is quite decent and the 2 pups allow for a variety of tones. To be honest though; I never got the nice tones out of it that I get from my old fender jazz copy from the 70's. And since I detuned that 4-string to D standard with a set of heavy gauge flatwounds on it, I hardly ever really need that 5-stringer anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 [quote name='1976fenderhead' timestamp='1372105294' post='2121765'] probably the best-sounding bass I've ever tried was a very expensive US Spector... Limit: £300-something used, 200-something would be ideal.[/quote] Slightly above your stipulated budget, but a lot of bass for the money: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/191548-fs-spector-legend-5-l325/page__p__2113484__hl__spector__fromsearch__1#entry2113484"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/191548-fs-spector-legend-5-l325/page__p__2113484__hl__spector__fromsearch__1#entry2113484[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iiipopes Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 (edited) Ibanez SRA305. Wired V-V-T and then with the Ibanez "Phat II" version of the EMG EXB. The most versatile 5-string bass out there that is still intuitive to use on stage without having to hunt for a knob. Used should be right in the budget, if not even less expensive. It has all the proper design elements: longer upper horn for balance, 3-piece neck, light body, small tuners set up 2+3 so the B string doesn't bind, good pickups with the EMG HZ's, the "neck" pickup in the proper place (proportionally in the D-G position of a P-bass) in order to get the right balance of B string fundamental and overtones to speak properly, the right nut and bridge spacing: not too narrow, not too wide, etc. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued, but it is still the best 5-string out there value-for-money. Edited June 25, 2013 by iiipopes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 [quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1372159213' post='2122252'] Are you absolutely sure you want to avoid Yamaha? This is a lot of bass for your money: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/209437-yamaha-trb-1005-pics-added/page__hl__trb1005__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/209437-yamaha-trb-1005-pics-added/page__hl__trb1005__fromsearch__1[/url] [/quote] I bought this last Saturday. Alan, the previous owner (Keary5664) was off on an overseas trip almost straight away after my visit, so he hasn't had time to update the for sale thread. I thought I'd let you know to avoid you wasting any time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreapenna Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 (edited) I totally agree on above comments on SRA series. I'm going to sell my SRA505 as I'm buying a SR1205. You may get in touch with me if interested. Cheers, Andrea Edited June 25, 2013 by andreapenna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 Yup, two out of the three bass manufacturers on your "don't go there" list would be top of my list of recommendations....Ibanez and Yamaha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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