velvetkevorkian Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 Idly window shopping to fill the hole in my collection: - fretted 5 string - ideally with a 35" or longer low B - under ~£800 new or used What's out there? I know some Spector models are 35", MTD Kingston, Ibanez BTB (or any of the long-scale fanned fret Ibanezes), Jackson JS, Lakland Skyline (maybe pushing the budget slightly)... any obvious ones I've missed in there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 (edited) You will also need to think about Yamaha, I prefer the TRBs but the BB range has serious following and if you go down the BB route you will have plenty of change in your budget. Also don't discount G&L or Spector, you'll be pleasantly surprised what's available in your price range. TBH there aren't many (if any) badly built basses today so you could find something from left field that you hadn't considered. Edited March 19, 2023 by TheGreek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLowDown Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 (edited) Sire do some nice ones with the M5 and M7. https://www.andertons.co.uk/sire-version-2-marcus-miller-m5-swamp-ash-5-string-bass-natural-ver2m5sa5nt Edited March 19, 2023 by TheLowDown 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 Have a browse through Bass Direct's used basses. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 3 hours ago, TheLowDown said: Sire do some nice ones with the M5 and M7. https://www.andertons.co.uk/sire-version-2-marcus-miller-m5-swamp-ash-5-string-bass-natural-ver2m5sa5nt Nice, I didn't realise those ones were 35". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 Great advice if you have the cash, dangerous advice if you don't. If Mrs BCer finds out what you are planning, you're in serious trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 4 hours ago, TheGreek said: You will also need to think about Yamaha, I prefer the TRBs but the BB range has serious following and if you go down the BB route you will have plenty of change in your budget. Also don't discount G&L or Spector, you'll be pleasantly surprised what's available in your price range. TBH there aren't many (if any) badly built basses today so you could find something from left field that you hadn't considered. G&L are all 34", I think? I do have a Spector 6 (which is very nice, and what kicked off my 35" scale quest) although I'm not 100% sold on the body shape. Yamaha is a good shout, the BBs leave me cold aesthetically but a TRB would be a good option (although not the TRBx range which are all 34", oddly). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 7 minutes ago, TheGreek said: Great advice if you have the cash, dangerous advice if you don't. If Mrs BCer finds out what you are planning, you're in serious trouble. Strictly window shopping for now... 😇 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 Peavey Cirrus 5 - the 4 is 34" but the 5 is 35". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 Lakland Skyline. . . a lot of bass for the money. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted March 20, 2023 Author Share Posted March 20, 2023 Yeah a used Skyline is pretty near the top of my list... quite taken with the 55-OS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Yeah, 55-02, make sure you try one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Don't forget to take the other factors that matter to you into account. 🙂 In my case, that would include low weight, wide string spacing, and simple controls. YMMV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted March 20, 2023 Author Share Posted March 20, 2023 6 hours ago, Doctor J said: Yeah, 55-02, make sure you try one. 55-01 or 55-OS are more to my taste, the 55-02 pickup arrangement just looks wonky to me? 5 hours ago, Happy Jack said: Don't forget to take the other factors that matter to you into account. 🙂 In my case, that would include low weight, wide string spacing, and simple controls. YMMV A fair point, although I'm pretty unfussy in general. "Looks cool" and "won't lose too much value when reselling" are probably the other key factors... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted March 23, 2023 Author Share Posted March 23, 2023 Some others I've come across: - Some Corts (Elrick NJS5, GB Modern 5) - LTD F-series (the spiky looking one) - Schecter - Solar minor tangent, but whatever product manager named the Sterling Ray 35 needs their donkey kicked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 It's also worth trying out 34" 5 stringers as there's nothing stopping them having good B strings. Barring one MS and one 36", all my 5+ stringers are 34" scale. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 MTD Kingstons will be about £800 depending on model and spec. Excellent instruments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted March 24, 2023 Share Posted March 24, 2023 Yamaha TRB would be my first look. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted March 24, 2023 Author Share Posted March 24, 2023 7 hours ago, BassApprentice said: MTD Kingstons will be about £800 depending on model and spec. Excellent instruments Yep, love my KZ6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted March 24, 2023 Share Posted March 24, 2023 12 hours ago, uncle psychosis said: Yamaha TRB would be my first look. There's one in Scotland on Gumtree and one on the Reverb site. They could be the same bass though - same as mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebenezer Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 I have a trb 5 ii and it is outstanding!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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