Best string bass on Reddit

268 reviews from r/Bass, r/BassGuitar, r/Djent and 5 more subreddits

268 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Ibanez

4.3

(39)

"I would go with an Ibanez, in my country it is the safest option and it is a "it will never let you down" bass."

"I have an old Ibanez sr605 I bought for about 800$ new a long time ago and I love it."

"Ibanez and Sire makes great 5 strings in that range."

"With that budget get an sr605, its worth the stretch."

"Ibanez 375."

"Ibanez BTB cause of the wide spacing and neck also are generally really good basses."

"I have an Ibanez SR505. Beautiful instrument."

"$200 Ibanez beats most things in quality and sound."

"Ibanez and Cort do some reasonable prices ones."

"I got my hands on a 3 or 4 series Ibanez 5 and I just want to say it is a spectacular bass."

Schecter

4.4

(16)

"I love my Schecter Stiletto Studio 5."

"A schecter will do you good for that much."

"Also, don’t sleep on Schecters."

"A 35"-scale: Schecter, Spector, MTD-kingston, Ibanez BTB, Ltd F."

"I just bought a Schecter J-5 five-string bass, and I think you should try it out."

"I ended up going with another seller and getting a Schecter Omen Extreme 5 instead."

"I'm playing one of their five strings at the mo, and it's lovely."

"Schecters are in that range and solidly built."

"I recommend schecter basses because the 35” scale necks will hold the string tension better."

"Schecter is great, the omen extreme 5 is awesome and is only like 600 bucks."

Stingray

4.8

(14)

"It has killer tone, and plays like a beast."

"Stingray 5."

"For aggressive tones you can never go wrong with a Stingray."

"I’d say go with a 5 string, even if you don’t like the low B, you can string it with a high C instead."

"5-string is the modern standard."

"The 'B' string is useful NOT in that it gives you an extra 5 low notes, but in that it gives you extended range ACROSS the neck."

"I've started on a 5 string and I've never regretted it."

"A 5 string bass isn't particularly harder to play and doesn't has more nuance than a 4 string."

"I would go with the 5 string."

"Nothing wrong with starting on a 5, just make sure it feels right."

Dingwall

4.7

(14)

"I spent about 6 hours in the sweetwater store trying 5 and 6 string basses and I felt that the Dingwalls had noticeably better ergonomics."

"If you have the budget i highly recommend a dingwall."

"If you can afford it, definitely get a 5 string dingwall."

"Get a Dingwall if you can afford it."

"Dingwal is you best bet for anything below F."

"I had to custom order my string sets."

"Dingwall, definitely."

"I would definitely recommend a Dingwall or Kiesel, both for the scale and the tone."

"I have the dingwall and it's the nicest-playing instrument I've ever owned."

"Most metal is tuned down quite a bit."

Sire

4.4

(9)

"Fantastic basses for the money and you can grab a new, 5-string Sire for about $750."

"I have a sire P7 5 str (1st gen 2017) and its my current daily."

"Look at sire. Awesome Instruments very well made."

"Look at Sire basses."

"Sire or Ray 5."

"Have you looked at Sire basses? They have a couple new Stingray-inspired models this year."

"I would recommend the Sire, honestly. I had one for a good while... I really enjoyed the tones it got as well as the build quality."

"A Sire shipped to your doorstep should fall into that range."

"I had a Sire Marcus Miller for about a year--a good instrument at a great price, but I didn’t like the short scale."

Spector

4.9

(8)

"The one 5-string I own is a Spector NS2000 and I got it for around 500 at the time."

"Spector always"

"My Spector has treated me extremely well for over 20 years."

"I've been playing 5 string spectors since the late 90s and slap them like crazy."

"I recommend Spector or Warwick, both have an amazing sound for metal."

"I'd absolutely lean towards the Spector."

"Out of your list, the Spector is the clear winner in my mind."

"I'd recommend a multiscale bass."

Fender

4.1

(9)

"I love mine, absolute workhorse!"

"If I had a time machine I would buy fender or squier jazz/p bass 4s."

"Something like EBS session 60 or fender rumble 100."

"I’ve got a 5 string fender jazz bass."

"Something like EBS session 60 or fender rumble 100."

"If you really like your Fender, maybe just get the same thing with 5 strings."

"While I love the sound of my jazz bass, I find humbuckers blend a bit better."

"P basses are also a classic in low tunings."

"Didn't like it at all."

Harley Benton

4.4

(7)

"They're fantastic for the price."

"I have a Harley Benton 5 string and LOVE it."

"Harley Benton from what I've seen is making a good name for themselves."

"Get one of these. They don't have 6 string, but it's a way more reputable brand."

"I got 3 Harley bentons including this exact one. I love them all."

"A Harley Benton 5 string."

"Harley Benton have some decent bass for cheap price."

5 String Bass

4.8

(6)

"5 strings can be very useful in deathcore. I primarily use a 5 string, and I haven't looked back since."

"I’m finding the 5 string to be incredibly useful over my 4’s recently."

"Played a 5 string for years and loved it because I felt like the low B gave me more 'umph' in the band."

"I’d say go with a 5 string, even if you don’t like the low B."

"Ended up going for the 5 string. absolutely in love with mine!"

"I would go with the 5 string. I like to play along to songs with fun basslines."

#10

Spector Legend 5

5.0

(5)

"Great bass for the price, absolutely stellar instruments."

"Had very good experiences with Schecter and a Spector Legend 5."

"Spector ergonomics are very comfortable, and I’m a fan of the passive pickups/active tone circuits."

"If you happen to find a spector legend 5 I can definitely recommend!"

"I really love it."

#11

Yamaha TRBX 305

4.4

(5)

"Couldnt be happier with mine."

"I got a Yamaha TRBX 305. No regrets."

"Yamaha TRBX. The 305 would do, but the 505 would be better."

"I believe it is really a good choice for a beginner."

"Yamaha makes really good value instruments."

#12

Ibanez SR505

4.2

(5)

"I picked up a used Ibanez sr505 in that range and love it."

"So I got an SR505e because I wanted a 5 string and it weighs 7.8lbs and is get ergonomic."

"Ibanez sr505."

"I would suggest finding a used Ibanez SR505."

"I play an Ibanez SR505 in my church and really like it."

#13

Ibanez SR

4.2

(5)

"Ibanez SR necks are so fast that i think it would be great for high note shredding."

"Probaby any Ibanez SR around this price range would be my bet."

"Ibanez SR that thing spanks."

"Might be worth trying to find an Ibanez SR, Yamaha TRBX/ BB, or LTD bass second-hand."

"<$500: Ibanez SR, Yamaha TRBX300/305."

#14

Warwick

3.8

(5)

"You might be able to find a used German-made Warwick."

"I'd go with the Warwick or the Schecter personally."

"Warwicks/Rockbasses are great."

"If you want a thinner neck look for an older warwick, I think pre-2002."

"You will have trouble finding a German model of any of those in the price range you listed."

#15

Ibanez 5 String Bass

4.8

(4)

"Straight up with a 5 string if that is the only bass you can own."

"I started out with a 5 string and I’m glad i did. I would probably recommend to start with that and maybe get a 4 string later on."

"If you're interested in genre such as gospel music?, definitely pick up a 5, i started from a 4, converted my 4 to the lower strings of a 5, and i finally got a 5."

"I ended up getting a 5 string because a lot of songs I wanted to learn required it."

#16

4 String Bass

4.8

(4)

"Definetely go 4 strings to start."

"Four string is the way to go."

"If your main intention is to play stoner rock, get a four string and tune it down for the typical sludgy sound."

"Going to be honest, you should always start 4 strings."

#17

LTD

4.5

(4)

"Find an LTD-AP5. Might need to be used because the prices have raised so high but such a good bass."

"You playing metal? LTD basses are gnarly."

"LTD makes a good one for around $650."

"It sounds and feels great."

#18

Yamaha

4.3

(4)

"I have a yamaha and I absolutely love it."

"Yamaha's basses and Sterlings by MM are pretty good."

"Ibanez, Yamaha and Sterling by Music Man have some reasonable basses."

"I have a Yamaha 5 string and it’s great."

#19

Cort

4.3

(4)

"Because if so more and more are coming on the market."

"You can get a nice Cort within that budget."

"Cort 5 string basses are nice."

"Also check out Cort - Schecter etc. Actually anything with soapbars would be better."

#20

Jackson

4.3

(4)

"Jackson JS3VQ, new is 500, plays wonderful and super comfortable."

"Get a used Jackson. They look more metal."

"Jackson has a 5 string for nearly every price point."

"Check the Jackson concert bass (JS3?), it’s got a 35” scale and IMO classic looks."

#21

Sire M5

5.0

(3)

"I really love my Sire M5."

"I would recommend anything from Sire."

"Would highly recommend the Sire M5."

#22

Lakland 55-02

4.7

(3)

"Lakland 55-02 go for around 1500 new but you can find them on Reverb or the talkbass classified section for under 1k."

"Lakland 55-02"

"Used Lakeland 55-02."

#23

Schecter Stiletto Studio 5

4.7

(3)

"Plays and sounds like a dream!"

"My Schecter Stiletto Studio 5 is great."

"Schecter stiletto studio 5 fretless especially as a jazz bassist."

#24

4.5

(2)

"Active passive switch with P/J pickups."

"Be sure to consider the Yamaha BB735."

#42

4.0

(1)

"Great bass for the money just loosen the strings and check the tuners."

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