Recommendations for a light, slim neck 5 string please?

[lastanthem88]

Ok I'm making the change, the wedding band I'm in are doing more and more transposing for the vocalist and could do with some lower register!

Looking to spend anywhere from £300 to £800, as I love my current collection of 4s so much I don't want to lose any, and have just bought another house so not as cash rich as I was...

I like a light bass as gigging two or three times a week and being a slender chap I don't like them too heavy. Also I like a nice slim neck, jaZ style...

Any experienced players want to help?

Thanks!

[Cameronj279]

An incredibly similar thread popped up here last week if I recall correctly.

Ibanez SR basses have really slim necks and considering the price of them the punch way above their weight IMO.

[HowieBass]

If you get chance have a look at something like a Cort A5 (Cort have a very good reputation for build quality and you'll find many big name brands coming out of their Indonesian factory).

[Luulox]

I had an ibanez sr1205 and that was a great bass. Ticks all your boxes.

[lastanthem88]

Thanks all. Coincidentally I bought a Cort cheapo last week, for £180.00 - just as an experiment. For the money it plays incredibly well but wouldn't hold up to to the gigging and the pick ups aren't great (but good for the cash!)

I may look at a more expensive Cort, and lots of people talk about the ibanez stuff!

[Count Bassy]

Another Ibanez SR fan here. I only have a 505 & a 605, so fairly modest instruments, but still brilliant. Would fit your spec and price range perfectly, but aware that the string spacing (on my two at least) is around 16.5mm (this is an extra plus for me, but not everybody's cup of tea).

[lastanthem88]

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1454162167' post='2967079']
Another Ibanez SR fan here. I only have a 505 & a 605, so fairly modest instruments, but still brilliant. Would fit your spec and price range perfectly, but aware that the string spacing (on my two at least) is around 16.5mm (this is an extra plus for me, but not everybody's cup of tea).
[/quote]

Which is the better of the two count bassy? Both string spacing the same? Are you saying for some people it might be a bit tight?

Edited January 30, 2016 by lastanthem88

[tobiewharton]

The Ibanez 505 and 605 are nice, but I'd plump for a Cort A5 if it was me. I would imagine the Ibanez to be lighter though.

All the best with the decision - it's always a nice one to make!

Tobie

[Geek99]

Squier vm 5 jazz ? Punch far above their weight

[bubinga5]

Lakland Skyline 55-01, or 55-02. Some say the perfect all rounder.

[chaypup]

Trace Elliot T-Bass 5 has a nice slim neck, amazing pick ups and is the shizz. I ha e one and there's another on sale here I think for about £700

[dmccombe7]

I bought a Dingwall NG2 few mths back.
You might pick up a 2nd hand one for your budget (new at £1200)
Very light and neck is a dream to play. I'm used to playing my Jazz mostly and this feels similar altho a 5er.

The fan-fret doesn't make a huge diff and you get used to it very quickly. I swap between basses and its still not an issue for me.

Dave

[tauzero]

Peavey Grind BXP or Cirrus BXP.

[AlpherMako4]

You won't go wrong with an Ibanez SR, they are very good for the money.

[M@23]

Ibanez would be my choice. Great basses. Light, versatile, nice to play and sound great.

[M@23]

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1454349843' post='2968866']
Just in time....

http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Dingwall_NG2.html
[/quote]

There's no way I'd play a bass that colour in my wedding band!

[SICbass]

I had a Yamaha BB5000A that was very lightweight and had a thin neck. When you say thin, do you mean shallow (depth) or narrow (width)? The Yammy was both and sound-personel loved the sound. Always check which neck-width they have before purchase. The earlier ones, like mine, were in fact a relatively broad 4-string neck but strung 5-string (making them really quite narrow). Later ones were a good deal broader.

[SICbass]

Here's one like mine
http://basschat.co.uk/topic/255773-yamaha-bb5000a/page__fromsearch__1

I sold mine for a bit 😳 ....... Less 😉

Edited February 3, 2016 by SICbass

[DavidMcKay]

I'd second Yamaha. They are as slim and light as the Ibanez and I feel they have the edge in build quality.

[dmccombe7]

[quote name='SICbass' timestamp='1454507322' post='2970323'] Here's one like mine http://basschat.co.uk/topic/255773-yamaha-bb5000a/page__fromsearch__1 I sold mine for a bit ....... Less [/quote]

That's a stunning Yamaha. Very nice indeed.
Dave

[Sausages]

I just got hold of an Ibanez SR505. It's a nice bass and is certainly light.

[Count Bassy]

[quote name='lastanthem88' timestamp='1454162951' post='2967095']
Which is the better of the two count bassy? Both string spacing the same? Are you saying for some people it might be a bit tight?
[/quote]

Yes, same string spacing. The main difference between the colour of the body. The 505 being a mahogany sort of colour and the 605 being a lighter Ash sort od colour. I only bought the 605 because A: I liked the body colour and, B: It was cheap!. (Bought both second hand). The 605 was also a slightly later version so included slightly different electronics, with a Mid Band switch (200Hz or 600Hz I think).

Sound wise, to me the 605 is a little less bright, which suits me just fine. Whether this is the wood or the electronics I don't know, but both have the same strings.
Re the brightness, they both had round wounds when I bought them, and I ended up playing with the treble backed right off. Fitted Status half rounds to both, and love it/them.

Also, on the string spacing it's really just a matter of taste. I like the narrow spacing, and on a five string it stops the neck looking like an ironing board, but I know that other here prefer the more conventional (these days) 18 - 19mm.

Edited February 8, 2016 by Count Bassy

[White Cloud]

[quote name='Luulox' timestamp='1454157670' post='2967022']
I had an ibanez sr1205 and that was a great bass. Ticks all your boxes.
[/quote]
I have gigged my Ibanez Sr 1205 religiously for 4 years now, weddings, pubs, clubs and parties. I can confirm that it fully meets your criteria.

Superb, lightweight, slim necked 5 string. Oh, and it sounds amazing also!

[No lust in Jazz]

The Jeff Berlin 5 string Cort Bass looks like a contender

[AustinArto]

Ibanez definitely have super-skinny necks. I've never got on with them but definitely go try them out, they tend to be in stock all over the place.