Which 5 string to get?

[PlungerModerno]

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1458826026' post='3011273']
An Ibanez SR505 will cost around £525 new and even less used. This one at GG is a Japanese model, so expect better spec. Distance selling, 7 day try out period. [url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=PX151224291842001"]http://www.guitargui...151224291842001[/url]
[/quote]

Wow - If I hadn't already got an Ibanez 5er with what I want in it I'd be forced to grab that. A serious bass for £395 / €500 odd.
Freddie75 - consider the above! EDIT: consider ezbass's post, mine is more of an agreement with his.

Edited March 29, 2016 by PlungerModerno

[Kev]

[quote name='DiMarco' timestamp='1458826339' post='3011279']
Having small hands is of no consequence whatsoever so have no fear for big necks.
There's people playing broadneck 6, 7 or even up to 11 strings or whatever.

The trick is in the thumb sitting at the back of the neck at the right position (somewhere in between your index and middle finger)
Wrong hand positioning means a painful experience on any five stringer imho.
[/quote]

This post needs more attention here. Providing your technique is good with your thumb on the back of the neck, most 5 stringers should be absolutely fine for people with small hands. I have small hands and up until recently I had a Warwick Broadneck 5 string, which is like navigating an airport runway. I sold the bass because I preferred narrower spacing, not because I couldn't cope with the wider spacing. Its all about preference, but if your technique involves wrapping your thumb around the edge of the fingerboard then you are restricted more.

Personally, I find 5 strings with 18mm spacing much easier and more comfortable to play than some 4 strings with 20mm spacing. If you think about it, on a 5 string you generally have to stretch your fingers a much shorter distance to reach the E string than on a 4, with a slightly bigger reach needed to reach the B. Both of my 5 strings are 45mm at the nut. I would find a 4 string with anything like a 42mm nut and above (P Bass, Wal e.t.c.) difficult to play by comparison.

[6feet7]

I've just gone over to 5 strings and play a Godin SD5 - absolutely love it. Neck doesn't feel much different to a 4 string but string spacing appears good as well (don't ask me how they do that). Bass Gear in Twyford have the latest version of this - http://www.bassgear.co.uk/product/godin-classic-shifter-5-trans-black-ma/
knocked down from £999 to £550 brand new.

[ambient]

I would advise to just go to as many shops as possible, and try as many as you can.

With regard to the string spacing, it's essentially down to technique. I know guys who play 7 and 9 string basses, they don't have 8 inch long fingers.

[therealting]

Well technically people have been playing 41" scale double basses for centuries, so people could probably cope with 41" scale double basses, but it is a question of comfort as well as technique. I use and play a 3/4 size double bass (the standard size) using Simandl fingering, so I can play longer scales.

Having said that, I owned a Dingwall Combustion (34-37" scale) for a few years, and part-traded it with colgraff on this very forum for his Dingwall Super J (32-35" scale) which was much more comfortable for me, even though the string spacing was wider (19" vs 18"). I do have some wrist and tendon issues which force proper technique etc even on guitar with barre chords, but shorter scales definitely help.

Neck preferences are really funny things and depend on the length of your fingers, size of hand and length of your span among other things. I've just found that for ME, I don't get on with 35" scale basses. Anthony Jackson likes his 36" scale Fodera. And that's fine!

[lemmywinks]

There's some cheap clearance Cort B5 basses on eBay at the moment.

£238 for the open pore mahogany:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Bass-5-strings-Cort-B5-OPM-Open-Pore-Mahogany-/391419316633?hash=item5b2268c999:g:hgwAAOSwvgdW6IyM

£228 for the Sunburst:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Bass-5-strings-Cort-B5-Tobacco-Burst-/391407674559?hash=item5b21b724bf:g:jK8AAOSwyjBW6JyD

Nice spec basses - licensed Hipshot ultralite tuners with Cort factory Bartolini pickups and preamp. I've ordered the mahogany one as I need a new 5 string and I love the C5P I have, the B5 is the same bass as the C5 but with better wood, electronics and hardware. The company is actually Proel, the bass usually goes for around £400 and is basically a different version of the Ibanez SR505 (also from the Indonesian Cort factory).

[Kev]

[quote name='lemmywinks' timestamp='1459290717' post='3015274']
There's some cheap clearance Cort B5 basses on eBay at the moment.

£238 for the open pore mahogany:
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Bass-5-strings-Cort-B5-OPM-Open-Pore-Mahogany-/391419316633?hash=item5b2268c999:g:hgwAAOSwvgdW6IyM"]http://www.ebay.co.u...gwAAOSwvgdW6IyM[/url]

£228 for the Sunburst:
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Bass-5-strings-Cort-B5-Tobacco-Burst-/391407674559?hash=item5b21b724bf:g:jK8AAOSwyjBW6JyD"]http://www.ebay.co.u...K8AAOSwyjBW6JyD[/url]

Nice spec basses - licensed Hipshot ultralite tuners with Cort factory Bartolini pickups and preamp. I've ordered the mahogany one as I need a new 5 string and I love the C5P I have, the B5 is the same bass as the C5 but with better wood, electronics and hardware. The company is actually Proel, the bass usually goes for around £400 and is basically a different version of the Ibanez SR505 (also from the Indonesian Cort factory).
[/quote]

They look nice, interested to see what the tuners are like. Sadly the licensed barts get poor write-ups, but I haven't really heard of license Hipshot hardware?

[lemmywinks]

I've heard mixed reviews on them, a local pro player I know who gigged a Cort A5 for years loved his and sounded fantastic. Tbh a lot of the negative reviews I've read seem to be from junior players on harmony central etc who sound like they are expecting a specific sound.

The Hipshot lic are meant to be very good, tbh the budget tuners on my C5 are rock solid so I expect them to be decent.

[Kiwi]

Status Groove 5 basses are well worth a look - squarish neck profile and slightly offset body but the built quality is outstanding and there's plenty of growl on offer.

[tauzero]

Peavey are another worth looking at - Grind or Cirrus BXP.

[Freddie75]

Thanks so much for the input and recommendations guys, its greatly appreciated.

I've gone and pulled the trigger on a Sire V7 5'er which seems to have raving reviews at my kinda price point!

[Bass-Thing]

[quote name='Freddie75' timestamp='1459439228' post='3016608']
Thanks so much for the input and recommendations guys, its greatly appreciated.

I've gone and pulled the trigger on a Sire V7 5'er which seems to have raving reviews at my kinda price point!
[/quote]

That's the way I was going to go for a backup V. My main V is a USA Fender Marcus Miller V so it was a no-brainer really.... until I sat down and tried a Squier Deluxe Dimension V in GAK in Brighton (always best to just walk past really! ). Great feel, lovely build quality and superb sound! At £300 though, I was still leaning towards a Sire Marcus V for only a few quid more. Then however I saw a 'b-stock' Dimension V for sale at Bax Shop for £169 so that's what I ended up getting. I will probably still invest in a Sire V7 at some point though...

Edited May 26, 2016 by Bass-Thing