Recommend me a 5'er - best bang for the buck

SickAura

SickAura

Let There Be Rock
Dec 8, 2013
871
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4,861
Toronto-ish
#1
Hi All - I am a 4 string player for 30+ years. Never really had a need for 5.

However, I am starting a new project where a 5'er will be more important so I need to consider picking one up.

As my Avatar kind of implies - I play Rock, Hard Rock and Metal

My go to basses at the moment are a Dingwall Super PJ and an Fender AVRI J loaded with Dimarzio Model J's.

I'd like to try to keep it around $500 - $750. New or used doesn't matter.

I'm leaning towards a J - but not opposed to an Ibanez or something else

What's the best bang for the buck out there?
 
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#2
SickAura said:
Hi All - I am a 4 string player for 30+ years. Never really had a need for 5.

However, I am starting a new project where a 5'er will be more important so I need to consider picking one up.

As my Avatar kind of implies - I play Rock, Hard Rock and Metal

My go to basses at the moment are a Dingwall Super PJ and an Fender AVRI J loaded with Dimarzio Model J's.

I'd like to try to keep it around $500 - $750. New or used doesn't matter.

I'm leaning towards a J - but not opposed to an Ibanez or something else

What's the best bang for the buck out there?
Click to expand...

Ibanez SR805...

1253486837-20171122-221159144.jpeg


... active option only, on this model. Right in your price range, though... plays more like a six string electric, IMO.
 
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#3
SickAura said:
Hi All - I am a 4 string player for 30+ years. Never really had a need for 5.

However, I am starting a new project where a 5'er will be more important so I need to consider picking one up.

As my Avatar kind of implies - I play Rock, Hard Rock and Metal

My go to basses at the moment are a Dingwall Super PJ and an Fender AVRI J loaded with Dimarzio Model J's.

I'd like to try to keep it around $500 - $750. New or used doesn't matter.

I'm leaning towards a J - but not opposed to an Ibanez or something else

What's the best bang for the buck out there?
Click to expand...

As far as J's go I"m totally happy with my Fender V although I had to change the pickups to get there. For Rock, Hard Rock and Metal, I would probably lean more toward some Ibanez model in the appropriate price range. Hard to go wrong there. I would do it for the fatter soapbar kind of tone over the clarity of a J. However for me personally, my #1 choice is G&L L2500. really does it all and does it for me. I got mine (used USA L2500) right in your price range.
 
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#4
One of my basses is a Sq Dimension V.... It came with the Fender high mass bridge.... I like the hell out of it...
Cheap in price but killer quality... MF Stupid Deal for a couple hundred... Sq Dims are discontinued but can be found cheap...

Cool body style, comfortable to play, and punchy as hell...
 
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#5
SickAura said:
Hi All - I am a 4 string player for 30+ years. Never really had a need for 5.

However, I am starting a new project where a 5'er will be more important so I need to consider picking one up.

As my Avatar kind of implies - I play Rock, Hard Rock and Metal

My go to basses at the moment are a Dingwall Super PJ and an Fender AVRI J loaded with Dimarzio Model J's.

I'd like to try to keep it around $500 - $750. New or used doesn't matter.

I'm leaning towards a J - but not opposed to an Ibanez or something else

What's the best bang for the buck out there?
Click to expand...

Tmb605 $600 new. Sounds, looks, and plays amazing.
20180426_074038.jpg
20180426_073946.jpg
 
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#6
I would agree that the Ibanez Tmb605 is one possible option. Another 5 string bass that I think is a "best buy" is the Yamaha TRBX605FM. They are listed at $650 but can be had for less. Sound is personal so let's put that aside for a moment. For the money you aren't going to find a better built, more comfortable bass. In terms of quality of build, on a scale of 1-10 this is an 11. Putting sound back into the equation, to really experience this bass's potential you have to change out the stock D'Addario strings. The stock strings are not representative of how this bass could or should sound like. The few video reviews I heard were "weak". With stock strings, sadly it sounds like the videos. Pay no attention to them. It is a totally different animal with "hotter" strings (I've got DR Pure Blues on now and sounds marvelous). It can run in active or passive mode so there are a lot of tone opportunities once you figure this thing out.

Yamaha TRBX605FM_composite_sm.jpg
 
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#9
SickAura said:
Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

Someone else mentioned the Squier Dimension V active bass... Here's a deal for ya if you want to go cheap... Squier Deluxe Dimension V Bass 2015 Black | Adam Thompson

Also, if you can find an Ibanez SR5 (not 505) for a decent price in good shape you should check it out. MUCH better quality of body wood than the 505 and sounds killer. Our local GC had one two weeks ago for $650 (NOS) but it's gone now.
 
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#11
I'll second the Ibby TMB series, and nominate anything by Sire - both have lots of bang for the buck. Check out the Sire M2 and V3 if the budget is tight.
 
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