Advice on a 5string

[Joebethell]

So I planned on sticking with 4strings and had got to a point of no GAS I'm still in love with my Guild but i have found a band to play with and the bass just doesn't fit. (I do have another 4string but that has other issues that will take some time to work out and Mod)

A fair bit of the music is tuned down and can be as low as C# so looks like I'm going to be looking for a 5string again or at least a 34/35inch scale four that can be strung with heavy gauge/dropped string set .

Just wondering on what people would recommend New/secondhand no more than 1000 ideally a lot less.

Thanks

[Graham]

Up to a grand second hand gives you a lot of options, like these from here

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/286003-lakland-darryl-jones-skyline-5-white-pearl-with-john-east-deluxe-preamp/page__pid__3066143#entry3066143

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/227821-mayones-jabba-5-custom-price-drop-l950/

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/283363-sandberg-california-tt5/page__pid__3068797#entry3068797

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/286896-mtd-kingston-5-string-l550/page__pid__3073328#entry3073328

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/285247-yamaha-trb-1005-cort-c4-ltd-price-drop/page__pid__3076617#entry3076617

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/285287-warwick-double-buck-5-string-made-in-2006-germany-l700/page__pid__3060674#entry3060674

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/284875-music-man-stingray-5-l890/page__pid__3071032#entry3071032


Personally, I think the Yamaha TRB1005 for £350 is an absolute steal

[Joebethell]

love the green Sanberg. Think its going to be hard to narrow it down to a couple basses that will do what i need then pick which i like the most.

[MoonBassAlpha]

This may seem an odd query, but just because a band uses low tunings generally, why does the bass need to tune down? I must admit I don't really know the styles of music that use low tunings. At all.

[Pinball]

I would say to start with go 2nd hand and get a bass with a similar feel to your 4 stringers. There are loads to choose from. For £1000 you can get yourself a really nice MM or G&L which are my favorites or anything really.

[Grahambythesea]

Your choice is vast so why not set yourself some parameters. Do you want a 5 string version of what you have now? You say your playing a Guild, apart from the Pilot most of them are short scale and Ibanez now make a short scale 5 string which people on here say is good.
Do you want a variation on the classic P & Js, as well as Fender lots of others make them such as Lakland, Spector Coda, Schecter, ESP, to name but a few then there are some slight variations on the theme like the Gibson EB5 new for under£900, the Musicmans and G & Ls etc
Then perhaps you should ask yourself active of passive?
There are a lot of great active basses out there not least Ibanez, Spector Euros, Yamaha, Warwick, MTD , ACG and loads of smaller manufacturers.
Perhaps an afternoon in a specialist bass shop like Bass Direct of the Bass Lounge might be helpful in deciding what you like and more importantly what you don't like.
Good luck and happy hunting!

[Joebethell]

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1466683722' post='3077850']
This may seem an odd query, but just because a band uses low tunings generally, why does the bass need to tune down? I must admit I don't really know the styles of music that use low tunings. At all.
[/quote]

Hi the music style has a heavy edge to it and although i can play the notes in a higher register it sits in the mix much better with the lower tunings.

[quote name='Grahambythesea' timestamp='1466687908' post='3077899']
Your choice is vast so why not set yourself some parameters. Do you want a 5 string version of what you have now? You say your playing a Guild, apart from the Pilot most of them are short scale and Ibanez now make a short scale 5 string which people on here say is good.
Do you want a variation on the classic P & Js, as well as Fender lots of others make them such as Lakland, Spector Coda, Schecter, ESP, to name but a few then there are some slight variations on the theme like the Gibson EB5 new for under£900, the Musicmans and G & Ls etc
Then perhaps you should ask yourself active of passive?
There are a lot of great active basses out there not least Ibanez, Spector Euros, Yamaha, Warwick, MTD , ACG and loads of smaller manufacturers.
Perhaps an afternoon in a specialist bass shop like Bass Direct of the Bass Lounge might be helpful in deciding what you like and more importantly what you don't like.
Good luck and happy hunting!

So far i know i prefer passive.I have spotted the Ibanez artcore i would be conceded about string tension on the low b at 30" scale but would be keen to try one as my guild is a 30" scale starfire.
I also understand i have a fair few choices and have owned a couple of 5s in the past (dingwall and Lull to name drop) so I am open to many different options really was kinda hoping some one would point out something that blew them away etc, But like you say can always head to a shop or fall back on the usual suspects like the big F, G and L ,MM
[/quote]

[naxos10]

If interested I have a Spector Legend 5 string that I am looking to move on.

[Joebethell]

Think I may have found something just sorting out the funds

[anzoid]

Something to keep in mind is  the string spacing that you want at the bridge. I went through a number of different 5-strings, never getting on with them and couldn't quite work out exactly why. It was only when my MTD Kingston Artist 5 landed that I realised that it was because of string spacing - I now know that I like 18 or 19mm but a lot of stuff is tighter than that.
Bass Direct is the UK dealer for MTD and well worth a look. I now have a (beautiful) KZ5 to go with my Artist and I'm loving the pair of them.

Edited June 24, 2016 by anzoid

[blank20]

I recommended theese basses few minutes ago for other user. Check this
https://gb.muzyczny.pl/143270_LTD-B-415SM-NS-bass-guitar.html
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/STST5SBS

[Joebethell]

Thanks im all sorted with a beast of a Zoot now and loving it.