Looking for a good, budget 5-string.

[SneKisser]

Some time ago i posted a thread on here about beginner bass gear.
Sadly, i still haven't got a bass since due to the delicate financial situation that me and my family have been, i couldn't buy the bass nor the gear. Right now we are back on track though, and with Christmas just around the corner i want to (finally!) get my first bass and amp. I'm a beginner with next-to-no musical experience aside from a few notions of basic theory and technique from when i played electric guitar (played it for about a month). These being said, i am interested in getting a 5-string bass. I LOVE having that extra low B, and since my music taste goes towards bands such as Breaking Benjamin, Flyleaf or even heavier stuff such as In This Moment, a 5-string would be ideal. Is it good to start on a 5-string as my first bass? And also, can you recommend me a nice and budget 5-string, keeping in mind the fact that my music taste varies between alt. rock, hard rock and metalcore? I am also a punk-pop, punkrock guy but not as much.

I have eyed the Ibanez SR305 but i haven't heard any good reviews about it. What about an ESP LTD B-55?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Yakamoga]

Ibanez RoadGear RD505, +- $300

 

[LowEndOperative]

If you start on a five string, it may be more to your advantage in the long run, instead of mastering a four then learning on a five, which is by no means a cakewalk.

 

[pcake]

i quite like the SR305 - a nice, attractive bass with good tone and active preamp with a body that feels good when you play it. and you can see good reviews of it here
Ibanez SR305 5-String Electric Bass
and here
Amazon.com: Ibanez SR305 5-string Bass - Root Beer Metallic: Musical Instruments

btw, ibanez basses i see in stores sometimes need a little more neck relief. if you get one that has minor buzz, if that's what's causing it, it's an easy fix.

 

[TrustRod]

I agree if you want to play 5 start on a 5.

All the basses mentioned so far will be the correct choice for some people. Whatever you choose will become your first bass and that will guide your tastes in what you learn to like.

If you want new, very cheap, and probably good enough try.
Rondo Music 5 String Basses

This one for $109 for example
SX Ursa 2 MN 5 CAR 5 String Bass w/Bag - RondoMusic.com

 

[two fingers]

Exciting times! Glad things are coming together for your family.

Starting on 5 will be no different from starting on 4. Start on 5 if that's where you musical tastes are.

As much as a love something shiny and new, the used market is FULL of gear right now.

I own some good gear. Almost all of it came from the classified section here. We police ourselves. Honesty abounds here. The guys I have done deals with have been nothing short of gentlemen. Even talked to a couple on the phone over the years. Great guys.

Roughly where are you? Advice would be different if you are in Hackensack or China.

Good luck with your quest!

 

[SneKisser]

Exciting times! Glad things are coming together for your family.

Starting on 5 will be no different from starting on 4. Start on 5 if that's where you musical tastes are.

As much as a love something shiny and new, the used market is FULL of gear right now.

I own some good gear. Almost all of it came from the classified section here. We police ourselves. Honesty abounds here. The guys I have done deals with have been nothing short of gentlemen. Even talked to a couple on the phone over the years. Great guys.

Roughly where are you? Advice would be different if you are in Hackensack or China.

Good luck with your quest!

One think i forgot to mention: I live in Romania. The used market here is pretty much non-existant. I have to settle for online shopping as the nearest music store with decent options is ~400 KM away (That means roughly 200 miles i think?)

 

[Bobivan52]

Some time ago i posted a thread on here about beginner bass gear.
Sadly, i still haven't got a bass since due to the delicate financial situation that me and my family have been, i couldn't buy the bass nor the gear. Right now we are back on track though, and with Christmas just around the corner i want to (finally!) get my first bass and amp. I'm a beginner with next-to-no musical experience aside from a few notions of basic theory and technique from when i played electric guitar (played it for about a month). These being said, i am interested in getting a 5-string bass. I LOVE having that extra low B, and since my music taste goes towards bands such as Breaking Benjamin, Flyleaf or even heavier stuff such as In This Moment, a 5-string would be ideal. Is it good to start on a 5-string as my first bass? And also, can you recommend me a nice and budget 5-string, keeping in mind the fact that my music taste varies between alt. rock, hard rock and metalcore? I am also a punk-pop, punkrock guy but not as much.

I have eyed the Ibanez SR305 but i haven't heard any good reviews about it. What about an ESP LTD B-55?
Thanks in advance.

I have the Ibanez 405EQ 5 string and I love it. Good tone and plays well sounds awesome through my Fender Rumble 200.

 

[jallenbass]

The Squier Affinity Jazz V is a great bass. I very much enjoy mine. For the record, I also own expensive basses and wouldn't keep it around if I didn't like it as much as the others.

 

[audreycashin]

208 Miscellaneous 5-String Basses – Thomann Mobile

 

[skygzr]

Another vote for the Squier Affinity 5. I got mine on sale for less than $200. I made some changes but I do that to all my basses. It's a real bargain.

 

[Steve88]

I had a Squier vintage modified jazz v that I thought was pretty awesome for the cost. A little bit of shielding was all it really needed to be a solid usable bass.

 

[Zooberwerx]

One think i forgot to mention: I live in Romania. The used market here is pretty much non-existant. I have to settle for online shopping as the nearest music store with decent options is ~400 KM away (That means roughly 200 miles i think?)

I feel your pain. My parents lived in Oradea. My first choice would be the Ibanez.

Google Maps

Riis

 

[Wandering Bass]

Doesn't seem a popular choice around here, but you can get a Schecter (Raiden or Omen) 5 string used for $250-300. Tighter build quality and more tonal variety than any of the Squiers, and a nice modern appearance.

 

[TrustRod]

I see a lot of love for the Schecters. They have a "rock" look and I don't think they often get considered for other uses because of that.

 

[Lesfunk]

Sterling by musicman Ray 5 is worth a look .
Good rock bass.

 

[tubatodd]

Cort Artisan C5 plus
NBD! Feel like I stole it.

Super nice and super value!

 

[Solarmist]

I have eyed the Ibanez SR305 but i haven't heard any good reviews about it. What about an ESP LTD B-55?
Thanks in advance.

I've owned an LTD B155, and if you like the super nice and thin Ibanez SR5 neck - you won't like the LTD neck. I sold it because of the terribly uncomfortable thick "D" style neck (and several other issues), and stuck with Ibanez SR5. They both have active 3-band EQs, but 2010 and newer SRs also come with a mid freq switch which is really nice to have, and they just sound better. The build quality of B155 wasn't very good either as they used a blank for the neck that was too thin for the machining, and there was an bare indent on the side of the neck with raw wood exposed, and there was also a short in the electronics. I originally purchased the B155 because it looked a lot like an SR, and thought I'd try something different. Big mistake.

Look for a used SR505. They're all over the place on ebay, and they come with the nice, slim SR5 neck, active 3-band Bart system, and much better QC than the LTD.

I'm also an In This Moment / Flyleaf fan. Love Maria!
They're 3rd CD "Starcrossed Wasteland" is the best with they're 1st "Beautiful Tragedy a close second IMO.

 

[Ellery]

Schecter Stiletto

 

[Malak the Mad]

The Squier Affinity Jazz V is a great bass. I very much enjoy mine. For the record, I also own expensive basses and wouldn't keep it around if I didn't like it as much as the others.

I'll second that recommendation!

Maybe I was just lucky, but I got a great deal on both an Affinity Jazz V and a Squier Vintage Modified '70s Jazz V. Then, I swapped the necks, removed the pickguard and blacked-out the screw holes with a black Sharpie marker. (Surprise, surprise…there was no "bathtub" routing underneath, just a clean slot for the neck pickup!) So, what I ended up with looked like this, only no pickguard or screws on top. Plus, it's a surprisingly nice player!

Until it's warm enough outside to take proper photos, here's a lil' Photoshopperific visualization.