Mid-range 35"+ scale 5 strings — what's out there?

[velvetkevorkian]

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?

[TheGreek]

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

[TheLowDown]

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

[chris_b]

Have a browse through Bass Direct's used basses.

[velvetkevorkian]

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".

[TheGreek]

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. 

[velvetkevorkian]

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).

[velvetkevorkian]

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... 😇

[tauzero]

Peavey Cirrus 5 - the 4 is 34" but the 5 is 35". 

[chris_b]

Lakland Skyline. . . a lot of bass for the money.

[velvetkevorkian]

Yeah a used Skyline is pretty near the top of my list... quite taken with the 55-OS

[Doctor J]

Yeah, 55-02, make sure you try one.

[Happy Jack]

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

 

[velvetkevorkian]

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...

[velvetkevorkian]

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

[tauzero]

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.

[BassApprentice]

MTD Kingstons will be about £800 depending on model and spec. Excellent instruments 

[uncle psychosis]

Yamaha TRB would be my first look.

[velvetkevorkian]

7 hours ago, BassApprentice said:

MTD Kingstons will be about £800 depending on model and spec. Excellent instruments 

Yep, love my KZ6

[TheGreek]

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.

[ebenezer]

I have a trb 5 ii and it is outstanding!!