Low cost 5 string for experimentation - Affinity vs. SUB5?

spaceman

spaceman

Nov 26, 2002
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#1
I'm thinking of getting a low price, but hopefully not totally crap, 5er to see if I want to move to that world. From a little searching, the things that people seem to talk about are Squier Affinity Jazz V, and SBMM Sterling SUB5.

For the SUB5 though, I'm concerned that the the output is too hot.
For the Affinity, my worry is that the jazz pickups will pick up the strong AM radio station almost right next to my house!

I already have an "original" MIA SUB Sterling, which I like a lot. But maybe only the name is the same between that and the current version.

I'd appreciate other people's thoughts on these two, and whether I should be considering other basses.
[edited to change Ray5 to SUB5!]
 
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#2
I think you mean the S.U.B. 5, which a little over $300, I think. Ray35 are not exactly cheap at $849. Depending on whether you like wider string spacing (Affinity or narrow (S.U.B.,) they are both great low price options. I own an Affinity J-bass.
 
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#4
I love my SUB, but yeah, those things are hot enough to burn your fingers on. It has a really hard time playing nice with delicate effects like envelopes and synths, but the EQ makes it crazy versatile as far as clean or driven/distorted tones go. Responds very well to flats if you want to tame it, but the range of voices you can get out of rounds is somewhere between indulgent and crazy.

Never used an Affinity to comment, but I'm sure it's a drastically different beast.

--^@
 
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#6
At that price range, Squier also has the VM Precision V, which is passive, and the Jaguar Bass V Special, which is active. Both these basses have the humbucker in the neck, so interference is less of an issue. Or you can just put some noiseless pickups in the Affinity V and use the savings that way, or just use both pickups on all the time, it's really not that big a deal. Ibanez also has a few bass guitars in that price range, and most of them have humbuckers. I'm actually rather fond of the GSR105 with the single passive pickup which is ready to go out of the box. I like my SUB a lot, but I think it took some work and money to get it to sound perfect. I think the stock preamp is crap, basically. But you often will find SUBs at Guitar Center used or whatever for very little money, too, so it's not too hard to fit it all in your budget.
 
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#8
Bill Whitehurst said:
When I got curios about 5s I got an Affinity.
I expected to either mod it or trade up to something else.
Still have it.
New strings and setup and it did all I asked of it.
I your case, sheilding might be a good idea.
Click to expand...

I had a similar experience. My first fiver was a Squier Deluxe Jazz Active V, but that didn't work out well. Over time, I started wondering if it was it's super-flat fretboard that was detracting from it feeling "right" in my hands. When I saw some great prices on a used Affinity Jazz V and a VM '70s Jazz V, I decided to put my theory to the test and pounced on both.

Ultimately, the extra curve to the fretboard turned out to be a big plus. Also, to give my eyes something of a "crutch", I got a single DR Black Beauty B-string to help me adapt to the additional string.

Funny thing…the Affinity felt and sounded surprisingly good…like really, really good…easily as nice as the VM. If I didn't want the bound & blocked, 4+1 configured, maple neck paired up with the Affinity's black finished body, I would've kept it as-is and returned the VM Jazz…but the urge to mod and tinker was just too strong! :facepalm: :rolleyes:

So, while I don't play it very much, it's nice to have a low-cost/guilt-free fiver around should the urge to experiment with it comes a-callin'. :thumbsup:
 
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#9
@300.00 ?

Peavey Foundation 5 and Peavey Grind 5 are worth consideration.

A local shop has a Grind 5 I'm considering. A lot of bass for peanuts...

ae00-4870_1_.jpg
 
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#10
The only SUB Ray5 (that's what they're called) I tried had a low B not even high end Fenders have (Fenders are particularly bad at low Bs). I know as I use SLO EBMM SR5s (also a Sterling5) as my main basses. The SUB Ray5 doesn't have quite an EBMM low B, but it's still light years away from any Fender. Neck profile is also pretty thin, much like the expensive brothers, another aspect that sets them apart from any Fender, thinner than any Jazz 5er. Only thing I didn't like in the SUB Ray5 I tried was that you cannot do any coil tapping, still I'm sure you can add the necessary wires and a switch to do the singles/series/parallel thing (and it won't hurt the resale value in such a cheap instrument).
 
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#12
I have experience with the affinity and can only say good things about it. It has survived falling off a wall, cold shocks and is extremely easy to set up. It's what is causing me to consider adding another j style bass to the arsenal. But to be honest it really does sound good, esp with both vol cranked.
 
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#16
spaceman said:
Guess I have to then consider 34 vs 35 inch scale length!
Click to expand...
I think they'll (the Lakland Skyline) retain allot of their value when sold, they are just too good, so it might be difficult to get below $500 used. I never played one that didn't sound amazing, and usually played great, equal to any 2 piece 5 st. Budget 5st are often a letdown, and the 35 scale is a only an issue if you over think about it but it makes that B massive and rich and worth it.
 
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#18
I bought a Grind 6 to see if I like 6 strings (turns out they aren't really my thing but I keep it around just in case.). I got it used for $250 canadian. There's a 5 string Grind for sale on a local buy/sell right now for $300 C.A.D.. They are cheap and sturdy. They sound ok stock but the hardware and electronics are easily some of the cheapest I've ever seen. Can't go wrong for the price point I.M.O. and I feel the bass itself is built well enough that if you really like the way it plays upgrading the pots/pu's/hardware wouldn't be a waste. Every other bass I own is 34" and I personally felt no substantial difference with it being 35".

Edit: Just to add the B string on mine is super tight and responsive. Not flubby at all.
 
#19
IME, both the SBMM and Affinity can be quite nice, but without slighting the Affinity at all, the SBMM SUB4/SUB5 are probably the best low-cost basses I've ever tried. They have really got things figured out with these, you are getting a fantastic instrument. Yes, they run hot, but everything else about the instrument is fantastic...you could change the guts if you really wanted to.
 
#20
honeyiscool said:
At that price range, Squier also has the VM Precision V, which is passive, and the Jaguar Bass V Special, which is active. Both these basses have the humbucker in the neck, so interference is less of an issue. Or you can just put some noiseless pickups in the Affinity V and use the savings that way, or just use both pickups on all the time, it's really not that big a deal. Ibanez also has a few bass guitars in that price range, and most of them have humbuckers. I'm actually rather fond of the GSR105 with the single passive pickup which is ready to go out of the box. I like my SUB a lot, but I think it took some work and money to get it to sound perfect. I think the stock preamp is crap, basically. But you often will find SUBs at Guitar Center used or whatever for very little money, too, so it's not too hard to fit it all in your budget.
Click to expand...
Just bought the Ibanez GSR105 (Mahogany body), for $192 and absolutely love the feel, tone, looks, simplicity, the whole thing. Could’t be happier. ✌️
 
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