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Decent 5-string for under £500?


Bassmurf
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Second-hand.

The world is your oyster, then!

Opens up low/midrange Warwicks, Musicman (just about), really good Yamaha and Ibanez models (TRB 5s and just about every 5er that Ibanez has ever made!)
The (American) Fender items may still be beyond your budget, but it's worth a look!

Consider also G&L (Tributes) Lakland Skylines, Sandbergs...

You name it!

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second the yamaha trb5 - pick them up for around £500 - make sure that it is a mkI though! check my avatar pic.

I would also recomend you try some of the schecter 5's particularly the custom/studio/elite ranges well made instruments using emg pups and elixer strings....when you see the quality of build and price range, it will make you wonder how they can do this!?

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How about an Ibanez BTB405QM, top specs for the money, 19mm string spacing makes the transition easier, I just happen to have a barely used one up for sale at the moment :)

Check it out!
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=6710"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=6710[/url]

Horsham lad myself, although dont live there now, but could do with an excuse to look up some of me old mates!

Cheers
Andy

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Can't go wrong with Ibanez IMO. What sort of thing are you looking for? The already mentioned ATK is a great bass, I've got a RD605, which is a MM/J config (they can be had for £420ish). BTB's and the SR505 are fantastic modern style basses.

Used is also a great way to go, Though if your into fenders, they aren't that common, MM sub (used) if you can find one, and has been mentioned Ibanez presstige models.

My other recommendation would be Cort (yeah really!) they make all of Ibanez's higher end basses (among others) The GB75 and Artisian range are top notch.

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+1 for all the Ibanez suggestions, but do try the string spacing. The SR505 is great, but the string spacing is very tight. If you can find one, have a look at either the Ibanez RD605 or 905.


Second hand you could probably find either a MM Sub or Warwick Corvette - both well worth looking at.

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[quote name='simon1964' post='73079' date='Oct 11 2007, 10:17 PM']+1 for all the Ibanez suggestions, but do try the string spacing. The SR505 is great, but the string spacing is very tight. If you can find one, have a look at either the Ibanez RD605 or 905.
Second hand you could probably find either a MM Sub or Warwick Corvette - both well worth looking at.[/quote]

The BTB is 19mm, which is the same as a Jazz or Precision 4, plenty of room for a slap if you're that way inclined!

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guys please give me some of your live performance experience of the ibanez basses please?

I have had a few and had real issues live with them

BTB did not cut at all - real thin and weedy sound
Blazer was fantastic in all respects - wish I'd never let it go!
atk - loved the body and neck but again no cut nor presence
rg/sr/fieldy - didn't work in any respect for me

no amp cab issues and I dont use any effects...

Edited by andy67
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[quote name='andy67' post='73357' date='Oct 12 2007, 02:25 PM']guys please give me some of your live performance experience of the ibanez basses please?

I have had a few and had real issues live with them

BTB did not cut at all - real thin and weedy sound
Blazer was fantastic in all respects - wish I'd never let it go!
atk - loved the body and neck but again no cut nor presence
rg/sr/fieldy - didn't work in any respect for me

no amp cab issues and I dont use any effects...[/quote]

I have an SRX700 and a (luthite) EDB600. The SRX is very good live. Just blasts through everything. It doesn't sound particularly "grown-up". In fact, it's a bit of a party animal!
I haven't had occasion to use the Ergodyne yet, but it's got loads of clout and a naturally cutting tone that is readily adjustable with the powerful 3-band EQ. I wouldn't envsage any issues with it.

I've seen a few people using SR500s, and they seemed fine from where I was standing. I think they share the EDB's Hardware and electrics...

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I've never found the BTB to be a thin and weedy sounding instrument, unless you EQ it to be that way, theres a lot of tone shaping adjustment at your disposal. Check out the reviews

[url="http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Ibanez/BTB405QM/10/1"]http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews...z/BTB405QM/10/1[/url]

[url="http://www.bgra.net/2004/review.php?id=1460&type=bass"]http://www.bgra.net/2004/review.php?id=1460&type=bass[/url]

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[quote name='lowhand_mike' post='72088' date='Oct 10 2007, 11:59 AM']ibanez SR 505 is very good indeed, GAK have it for £389, seems the price has dropped since i bought my SR500[/quote]


[quote name='simon1964' post='73079' date='Oct 11 2007, 10:17 PM']+1 for all the Ibanez suggestions, but do try the string spacing. The SR505 is great, but the string spacing is very tight. If you can find one, have a look at either the Ibanez RD605 or 905.
Second hand you could probably find either a MM Sub or Warwick Corvette - both well worth looking at.[/quote]

+1, i play a sr500 and its a great bass, definatly worth getting one if you can. what simon1964 said about the string spacing is true though, its very tight on the four string, never mind the five string.

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[quote name='andyonbass' post='73500' date='Oct 12 2007, 06:06 PM']I've never found the BTB to be a thin and weedy sounding instrument, unless you EQ it to be that way, theres a lot of tone shaping adjustment at your disposal. Check out the reviews

[url="http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Ibanez/BTB405QM/10/1"]http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews...z/BTB405QM/10/1[/url]

[url="http://www.bgra.net/2004/review.php?id=1460&type=bass"]http://www.bgra.net/2004/review.php?id=1460&type=bass[/url][/quote]


I'm not an eq player 'plug and play' if it fails the most basic test then no good to me I'm afraid!

I cant be arsed with eq'ing the amp or the bass - yamaha attitude straight into my v4 all valve head into 8x10 instant in your face bass!

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