5 String Basses

[Randyisgod15]

Recommend one to me. My little brother just turned 15 and has been playing bass for just a little over a year. He wants to buy a 5 String with all of his birthday money (and a little help from my Parents and I). He has a maximum limit of $600 and plays mostly Rush, Yes, Iron Maiden etc. He's been getting into heavier metal more as of recently, so his desire for a 5-String has been justified.

I was thinking along the lines of a Dean, ESP, or Ibanez. I could make the choice but as, a Guitarist, I step aside and let the Bassists take the floor.

 

[egan.]

Given the bands you've listed I think fender is the logical choice.
For the record, this is the wrong section for this and we just had a thread like this 2 days ago.

 

[Ataraxia2320]

Stear clear from dean.....that is all. Id get him an ibanez personally, youl get the most bang for your buck with one than a dean or ltd. If you can find yourself a second hand fender jazz 5 for the price though id recommend that.

 

[NoDestiny]

I can't get enough of Schecter basses for an AWESOME rubbly low end tone. My Omen-5 was the best $285 I have spent on a bass (got one with a nick in headstock, got it at a killer price). My 6 string Ibanez was $500, but doesn't have quite the tone the schecter does. My 4 string mockingbird has awesome tone... but I have not seen one offered in 5 string like it.

But this is my preference. For Maiden and Rush, probably want something a bit "twangier".

Well, if interestd, here is the seller I bought mine from. I can vouch, seller lays it out well and tells you what IS wrong with it! Only 1 little nick.
http://cgi.ebay.com/SCHECTER-STILET...itar?hash=item19b666ce28&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

 

[Metaltastic]

You know my vote!

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Fender.

 

[Metaltastic]

And to add, the thing with basses like that Schecter that don't appeal to me are a) the active eq which gives you more potential to absolutely ruin your tone if you don't know how to use it (and I'm guessing Ryan does not ) and probably isn't the best quality anyway, and b) the fact that it's mahogany, which I tend to think is too thick and full-sounding a wood for bass (in other words, overkill). I'm sure there are mahogany basses that sound great, and admittedly I haven't played one, but to put it another way, my alder Jazz Bass has PLENTY of lows/low mids, so I can't say I'd want any more, and more importantly, it has the clarity and attack (and that ever elusive but delightful grind ) that I can't imagine you'd get as easily with mahogany. And, back to the first point, because it's all passive, I find it sounds best with all 3 knobs maxed, nice and simple Great construction too! (though mine came with an upgraded bridge, apparently the stock ones are a bit dodgy, at least on the MIM models)

 

[Metaltastic]

Here's that straight-DI clip again that I made with mine, btw (and mine had stainless steel strings on it, which really make the tone IMO - thanks again to Egan for the rec., it wouldn't have occurred to me otherwise to deviate from ol' faithful Nickel-wound steel!)

 

[Ataraxia2320]

Sounds lovely, what brand of stainless steel strings are on there?

 

[Metaltastic]

Thanks dude, D'addario ProSteels EPS230! (.055-.110) Tuned to C-standard

EDIT: Also, I should mention mine has Bartolinis in it (Classic Bass series I'm pretty sure, don't know which specific model), but it's still all passive!

 

[Ataraxia2320]

Your sound clips make me wanna try a set of stainless steals on the musicman, i think il go with ernie balls though or dean marklys if they do em. I dunno why i just detest daddario strings with a passion.

 

[Metaltastic]

Hey, I detest Ernie Balls with a passion, so it's nice and symmetrical at least! FWIW, I've always found D'addario to keep it's brightness much longer than Ernie Balls

 

[Josh Burgess]

For just a little more you could get a used Spector Euro 5 string.... excellent bass that needs no upgrading. I've seen them sell in the $800-$900 range used.... or if that's too much, you could get one of the Spector Rebops... those usually sell for a few hundred less

 

[JBroll]

Check out Brice 5-strings at Rondo Music.

Jeff

 

[Metal Overload]

Fendah!!!!
And yeah check the brice at rondo, but if he like Rush and Iron Maiden, he needs a Jazz bass, i reaaly like the Squier Vintage Modified jazz bass (i know must of you would think Squier???, but i heard those are pretty well constructed, just switch to some better pickups and you get and awesome bass for little money, and it looks awesome, kinda Geddy lee`s bass.

Edit: But i didn´t remember that the vintage modified is only four strings :S

 

[Ataraxia2320]

Normally i would go for a spector over a fender jazz but the type o music he likes screams fender. I wouldnt get a squier 5 string though. Second hand usa or jap fender 5 for the win!

 

[xFkx]

Fender or.. Fender, no other options

 

[Metaltastic]

Normally i would go for a spector over a fender jazz but the type o music he likes screams fender. I wouldnt get a squier 5 string though. Second hand usa or jap fender 5 for the win!

Mexican works just fine for me thanks

 

[Rex Rocker]

Well... I like my mahogany F-205.

but yeah, I really wish I would've gotten a Warwick RockBass rather.

 

[Metal Overload]

Second hand usa or jap fender 5 for the win!

Mexican smokes Japs anyday, and im not saying because im Mexican! hahha.