5+ string bass guitars

The Ibanez Soundgear Series SR305 Iron Pewter is an inexpensive 5 string bass guitar. The bass wasn't made in the USA and was actually made in Indonesia. It's got two EXF passive pick ups and the neck is super thin. I don't know much about the materials this bass is made up of beyond that... UTILIZATION The playability of the Ibanez Soundgear Series SR305 Iron Pewter is actually way better than I thought it would be. The thin neck goes a long way with helping to navigate up and down the neck and controlling your tone is even easier. Each pick up has separate tone and volume control and getting a good sound is fairly simple if you can play a bit. You're not going to get the best bass sound in the world, but it's certainly far from the worst. SOUNDS The overall sound of the Ibanez Soundgear Series SR305 Iron Pewter isn't going to be anything to write home about, but it does sound pretty decent for the price. The pick ups are pretty decent and between the two of them and the tone knobs, you should be able to get a nice collection of different sounds. Again, don't expect this to be the punchiest or deepest sounding bass out there, but it will give you a nice collection of sounds in between. OVERALL OPINION The Ibanez Soundgear Series SR305 Iron Pewter is great bang for your buck if you're looking for a decent 5 string bass. It's pretty easy to play and has a decent enough sound to get by for playing shows for sure. It's not an ideal bass for recording because it doesn't have the fullest sound, but if it was your only choice you could get away with it in a project studio. If you'd like a 5 string bass to have around but don't want to spend too much money on it, the Ibanez Soundgear Series SR305 Iron Pewter is a great in between instrument for a more than reasonable price.

Handmade in the USA Bolt-on maple neck Heel-less neck joint 3-piece asymmetrical maple neck with dual truss rods Swamp ash body 24-fret, double-octave range Wenge fingerboard Custom quad-coil Bartolini pickup 18-volt, dual-channel stereo preamp Black hardware Massive ABM brass bridge Hand-rubbed oil finish UTILIZATION This. Bass. Is. Perfect. In every sense of the word, this is an immaculate instrument - the balance is incredible, the playing action is fantastic, and the tones one can coax from this beauty are otherworldly. Did I mention how nice this bass looks? Also, the low B is very tight, with no "floppiness" that can plague other 5 string basses. This is without doubt the most easy to play bass I have ever touched. The tonal balance from string to string is also the most dead-on I've yet seen. SOUNDS I've tried this bass on a variety of setups, from a big tube Ampeg SVT with an 810 cab, to little solid-state combos, and other rig sizes in between, and the Growler delivered a solid, memorable tone every single time. The first time I saw it, I was a bit concerned that the lack of an additional pickup near the neck would hinder the versatility of the sound, but I was sorely mistaken after plugging it in. Slapping, popping, tapping, fingerstyle, pick...no matter what my hands do, the pickup translates it exactly as desired. There is no song this bass would be inappropriate for. OVERALL OPINION I'll state this simply - this is without a doubt the best bass I've ever played. Period. I honestly got a bit depressed when I had to give this bass back to my friend - he let me borrow it for awhile just to see how I liked it. What cruelty! They can be a bit hard to find nowadays, as they aren't made anymore. If you find one and can afford it, check it out - it'll deliver every single time! Extremely highly recommended!

Brilliantly made bass, bought it as i was moving up in the music world and my BTB405QM wouldnt cut it with tone, playability or comfort. The through neck is the easiest i have ever used, howver if you have small hands it may be difficult or uncomfortable as the neck is very wide. the controls are simple, volume, pickup selctor, bass, mids, treble, there is also a switch to switch between mid boosts of low and high mids. The bridge is an ibanez made one as far as i know ot has individual saddles for each string, which partnered with the through neck construction gives the bass incredible sustain. UTILIZATION The large body of the bass means that it allows easy access to the higher frets, this makes for easy transition between playing a bass line low on the neck and then adding in a higher fill the octave up. The only draw back to the instrument is the weight, if you own one you will know it weighs a lot, however with a decent strap the wieght is distributed evenly and is actually very comfortable to play. SOUNDS I use a Gallien Krueger amp with it which i feel makes this bass sound perfect. Soundwise this bass is amazing. with a few tweaks to the controls you can go from playing harcore death metal, to heartfelt soul music. I really have never found another bass other than a musicman stingray $$ that can match its versatility. I have recorded a heavy metal album with it, i have also recorded soul tracks, funk, blues, this bass can do it all amazingly. I used to play in a heavy metal band and I currently play for a function band performing all sorts of styles, by just quickly moving a couple of dials on the bass itself i can switch between styles of music. It suits my style perfectly. The set up i use most of the time is set to the middle pickup with the mid booster set to the high mid setting, i also dial in the lows, mids and highs on the bass, i never have to go near my amp. I use no effects and never have needed to with this bass, to get a more heavy sound all i needed to do was boost the highs, this gave it a much more aggressive tone. OVERALL OPINION This bass is perfect in my opinion, i have never found anything better. I tried many instruments of the same price range and nothing came close. As for value i like to think of it as the useage i get from it, i paid £799.99 in the UK two years ago, this is below the list price, however i have got well more than £800 worth of use out of it, it has recorded 3 albums, done 4 tours and played over 300 gigs, been used practically every day and i have never had a single problem with it. The only thing i had slight reservations about was the weight due to my intense gigging schedual, however with a thick strap this was not a problem at all. I would recomend this bass to everyone, unless you have tiny hands, in that case go for an ibanez SR, the neck is much thinner!

(Originally written by deadbird666/translated from Audiofanzine FR) Made in Germany. 24 frets neck, frets made of a golden metal alloy. 2 Musicman-type MEC humbucker pickups. Warwick Just-a-nut III bridge Knobs: - 3-band EQ (high, mid and low) - Volume knob with push/pull function (active/passive operating mode) - One coil selector per pickup. Very pleasant D-profile neck. Thicker than an Ibanez or Fender neck. Made out of 7 pieces (maple/ebony). Ash body, Spalted Maple top and head veneer. Abalone inlays (fingerboard edge and W-logo of the head). Very responsive black sealed lubricated Warwick machine heads. Following this objective description, my personal opinion: it's very simple, I fell in love as soon as I saw it. I wanted to buy a FNA Jazzman and I came back with this beauty. I give it a 10 only because there is no higher mark! UTILIZATION Very easy handling. I was a bit afraid of the big Warwick neck but I immediately felt comfortable. I forgot an important detail: It's covered with a satin mat varnish making it very smooth to play. The neck is a real pleasure. The instrument is well-balanced and the design is so good that you have the impression that it was made for the human body! When I play standing I carry it quite high (like Tim Commerford), it doesn't move and my hand finds the right position on the neck immediately. It's relatively light compared to my previous BTB555 which almost disrupted blood circulation in my leg when I played sitting. Access to the upper frets is good, no problems whatsoever. The knobs and switches are very effective. Just play and you'll find your own sound in no time! Only critique: the space between strings is narrower than on my BTB555 and I had to get used to it! SOUNDS I play every music style from Slipknot to Red Hot Chili Peppers and RATM and this bass guitar does the job without a problem.. The mid knob is the ultimate weapon for slap playing, it's stunning! From very fat to crystal-clear sounds, it can do everything! And you always get a massive output level! It's a majestic weapon! I can even get the typical Musicman sound with some EQ! With a hard attack on the strings the sound becomes wild! It combines the best of the world's best bass guitars! OVERALL OPINION I've owned it for two weeks and I'm in ecstasy. I have tested lots of bass guitars, including several Fender, but as soon as I put my hands on this wonder I just couldn't separate myself from it. It's THE bass guitar! And this unique model is the most beautiful I've ever held in my hands, it's perfect in every respect. Critiques? I don't think so! It's perfect! I know it's expensive but it's worth the money without a doubt! If I had to choose again, I would probably buy another bass guitar but it would be a Warwick for sure! A bassist friend of mine and another friend who works as a luthier for Vigier were amazed at this bass. There is absolutely no comparison to anything I've previously played. It's vivid, powerful and versatile! PS: I have lots of pictures available so don't hesitate to contact me if you want more ;)

Made in the USA. You choose all the elements online and receive the kit. I got a Lindy Fralin pickup separately. Mine is standard, with alder body, birdseye maple neck, rosewood fretboard, precision pickup. It sounds awesome, it's powerful and has an exemplary finish. I chose slimmer frets and it's very pleasant. USE The neck is perfect. It's a precision standard in terms of weight, shape, design Ditto regarding access to the upper frets. Good sounds!! Excellent, one pickup and one passive tone, and with that you can go from twangy to muffled sounds without a sweat! SOUND It's perfect for the music I play. Coupled with a good amp I don't see any music genre it couldn't take on. I use a GallienKrueger neo112 RB2. Open tone, crystalline, closed tone, dub! It's child's play. The sound is denser than with my Jazzbass, it's less mid-scooped, but also less deep. I don't use a compressor anymore, only an octaver and/or a bassball to amuse myself. Personally, I never turn the tone all the way up, not even to slap, but neither do I have a use for its muffled sound when the tone control is set to the minimum. OVERALL OPINION I've been using it since 2011. I have always played jazzbasses, but it was love at first sight when I tried out a precision. I chose it with this in mind, passive, 4 strings. It rocks! The only mod I would do to it is maybe add a Jazzbass pickup for the mids/bridge. I can't wait to see what I can get out of this beauty! Great value for money, it sounds much better than the Fender US I tested at the store.

I bought this from Guitar Center after the RBX775 I ordered from MusiciansFriend got dammaged during transit. I paid $360.00 it was a replacement for a Conklin GT5 which had been stolen. It is light and well balanced the action is easy to adjust and holds intonation. It comes with passive ceramic humbuckers and a 2 band active eq which give a wide range of tone selection. The pickup selector is a rotary pot so you can select as much of or all of one pickup to dial in the perfect tone. The over value is Great I paid over $700 for the Conklin GT5 which was/is a great bass but for the money the Yamaha RBX375 is the way to go even for more experienced players. Batteries---but an ac adapter would not be an option. This bass is well made. The fit and finish is excellent. The hardware is quality stuff. If you are looking for a 5 string this is the one to get, the price is right and the sound is booming. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This B-206 from LTD is a 6 string bass with a solid ash body, spalted maple top, bolt on maple and walnut neck with a rosewood fretboard. It has 24 XJ frets. It is 35 inch scale, and features some high quality black hardware. It has an active 3 band EQ and 2 pickups from ESP. Volume and balance (besides the 3 way EQ controls). UTILIZATION ESP has done a lot to get their LTD line of affordable guitars and basses well established in the market. This particular bass is a fantastic move, as there aren't a lot of six string basses out there for the budget crowd. This thing looks amazing, is well made, sounds great, and plays very easily. The ergonomics are friendly for sitting or standing. SOUNDS Wow! This has a huge variety of tones, from low and muddy Motown, to funky spanky slap and pop, to clear chordal, to chugging grind. The low B string was tight, and the tonal balance between all the strings was evenly matched. I really felt like playing some old Dream Theater and Primus tunes on this, and they sounded great - go figure. The pickups have excellent clarity, aided by my favorite wood combination of a maple top and ash body. The 3 band EQ lets the tone be colored just as one desires. OVERALL OPINION This is quite the looker, and will do a whole lot for under $450. It is a very inspiring axe to jam on, and its appearance will allow it to be played in any setting. Any technique one desires to use, any genre - it will come out clear and easy on this bass. I do recommend this for the more adventurous bassists out there who want to expand their range.

SPECS Neck Material: 5pc Jatoba/ Bubinga Neck Type: SR5 Body: Light Ash body Frets: Medium frets Fingerboard: Rosewood Inlay: Abalone oval inlay Bridge: Accu-Cast B25 bridge NeckPU: Bartolini® MK1-5-F BridgePU: Bartolini® MK1-5-R EQ: EQB-IIIS HW Color: Black Flat Finishes: NTF, WNF Scale/Length 864mm/34" a: Width at Nut 45mm b: Width Last Fret 67mm c: Thickness 1st Fret 19.5mm d: Thickness 12th Fret 21.5mm Radius 305mm PICKUPS Bridge Pickup Name: BARTOLINI® MK1 Model No: MK1-5-R Construction: Humbucking/Passive Magnet: Ceramic Description: Five string version of MK1-4-R. High output with well balanced tone. Neck Pickup Name: BARTOLINI® MK1 Model No: MK1-5-F Construction: Humbucking/Passive Magnet: Ceramic Description: Five string version of MK1-4-F. High output with well balanced tone. UTILIZATION I really cannot rave enough about Ibanez Soundgear series basses. This model in particular is a great example of a 5 string that won't break the bank, yet offers a lot of high pro-grade features. The playability, balance, and feel of the bass is top-notch. I can do whatever slap, pick, finger, or tapping techniques I need to do. The workmanship is also excellent for this price range. SOUNDS The Bartolinis, mixed with the electronics, offer a huge variety of tones to choose from. I cannot imagine needing any kind of raw bass tone that this particular bass could not provide - it'll do anything, from metal to country, jazz to hip-hop, and everything in between. The 3 band EQ plus mid-frequency switch allows me to make this bass sound like whatever I hear in my head. OVERALL OPINION I'm giving this perfect tens for the price point. No matter what style one plays, this bass could be a perfect addition to the bass rig. The low B is very tight and doesn't sound flabby, and the SR605 overall looks fantastic, feels fantastic, plays fantastic, and sounds fantastic. It IS fantastic! Enough said!

(Originally written by Kennet/translated from Audiofanzine FR) Body: ash Fretboard: rosewood Inlays: small dots Bridge, tailpiece/ nut: Accu-cats BV Hardware: cosmo black Pickups: LO-J5 + LO-J5 (or LO-Z J/J depending on the production year 1988-1990) One volume, one balance, two tone controls UTILIZATION Very slim and pleasant neck especially for a 5-string bass. Excellent access to the upper frets. The bass is quite heavy but it depends on the strap you use... Versatile sound ranging from very smooth to hard. SOUNDS High output power, it's an active bass. It matches every music style. Slapping isn't easy due to the slimness of the neck. OVERALL OPINION I've been playing it since 1990 and I will never sell it. I have played with very expensive bass guitar (Musicman, Fender, etc.) but the neck of this SR05 is something you won't find on every instrument. Excellent value for money. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again.

-The construction and scale Neck-Thru / 35” -The body is Mahogany w/ Figured Maple with a rosewood fretboard with 24 jumbo frets and Black Pearl gothic Cross fret markers. -The Pick-ups are EMG HZ's. -The electronics are active 18-Volt 2-band EQ (w/selectable treble frequencies) -Black Chrome hardware and Schecter tuners USA RETAIL PRICE: About a grand and worth every freakin penny!!! UTILIZATION Most guitarists and bass players spend the vast majority of their lives searching for "their" tone. The one sound, they feel is definitive of them as a musician. This was the end all in bass guitars for me. I will not own another bass. The string through body design allows you to feel a certain aspect of the guitar that a bolt-on design absolutely cannot compare to. You can almost feel it in your hands, when it's dead on in tune and where you want it. Mahogany, for anyone who doesn't know wood types, can take alot of abuse, and gives most guitars a darker warmer sound and tonal quality. I have dropped mine taking it off and hit the ceiling in studio with no real visible damage, and let me say for the record, I am hell on my gear. The black cherry color hides most of the abuses highlighted by other colors, (ie: pick scratches, sweat streaks from live performances, and the occasional nick and ding). The Gothic cross inlays and Mother of Pearl binding really set it off and apart from any other bass out there. I have never gotten the compliments on any other bass I own, like I have with this one. It has not let me down in all the 25 live performances I've put it through, and it's a joy to record with. The active 18 volt electronics on the EMG HZ's gives it a distinctive and controllable growl that no other bass, I've ever played, could touch. The only downside to the intense power and sensitivity with the active pick ups is that it can be a little troublesome to tune on stage with all the other electrical periphals being wide open, like lights, monitors, mics, etc. It will pick up the excess energy field and translate it to your tuner. To solve the problem, I have to make sure to tune it ahead of time, or face my amp/rack only and stand as close as possible to it. Plus, you need to keep 2 spare 9-volts on hand. It does take two. Hence the " 18 " volt. It doesn't drain them quickly, but once you realize they're low they're as good as dead. I would highly reccommend this bass guitar to anyone looking to upgrade to a pro level instrument. SOUNDS It fits with any punk, metal, nu-metal, Death or Black metal, and any and all rock applications. I use mine naked with an SWR 350x head on a Henry 8x8. I have used it before with a Hartke rig too, and it was just as awesome. The only thing I'm looking to add now is an Ampeg Overdrive pedal. OVERALL OPINION I would absolutely hands down, buy this bass again if something happened to mine. I've even considered buying a spare as a back up regardless of the $1000 price tag.

Figured I'd write a review for the used market since this bass is discontinued. This bass is bigger than the normal SDGR, so the neck feels more Fender than Ibanez, feels great and easy to play yet not as thin as the normal SDGR. The body has a nice feel to it, heavy enough without being super heavy and is a nice size. Keep in mind that when this bass came out the music scene was into bands like Korn and other bands of that such and heres where the problem lays with it's versatility or lack there of. The high output humbuckers along with the preamp make it harder to draw the sound back to play more mellow stuff without having to adjust amp setting and whatnot due to the harshness once at a volume to cut through the mix. Definitely not as versatile as say a PJ set up. I remedied this by ripping the EQ/preamp out and wiring it like a jazz bass but with a pickup selector 3 way toggle and the passive pickups are not as harsh. The mod added versatility and made the bass have more bottom end and the passive pickups are plenty loud enough to cut through and sound like a bass should. The electronics and hardware are really the only downfall to this bass. The hardware discolored rather quickly, but I think it gives it character now, but was bummed about it back in the day. The knobs would fall off and had to replace them with better. It sounds like I'm bashing this bass but this is all within 15 years. The bass gets its 4 stars due to its playability and feel. The neck is great and I've never had to adjust it, the tuners are still original and stays in tune. The mod was like $50 for everything and made the bass my go to for everything. The SRX truly does play like a dream and looks awesome while doing it.

Made in Korea... Here's the specs... Specs 32" Scale Rosewood Fretboard 2 Passive Pick-Ups Single F-Hole 2 Tone, 2 Volume 3 Position Selector Switch UTILIZATION All notes easily accessed...Tone is out of this world!!!!! The small scale really helps you get every string without over extending...It will take you a bit to get used to it and it'll chew your fingers a bit in the process...But, in the end, you will have the most musical sounding bass out there... VERY easy to get a nice full tone...It's lightweight and well designed...The chambers help with the weight but it is a neck diver, so be wary of that...Tone controls are useful and do exactly what they should.. SOUNDS I use this bass both direct for recording or amp'd for live/recording...It sounds terrific through any full-sized amp...Small amps may be a bit tinny with the upper register strings... I like the rich tone and easy playability...It sounds HUGE and the pickups suit it perfectly...They are quiet but deliver a full signal...Make sure you use a good cable with this bass so you get the full benefit of it's beauty...I like my Elixer cable most with this... This bass can fit well in any style music and in any circumstance...Although, if you play in a 3 piece band, this bass will do wonders for your band's sound...It will fill it in so thick you won't believe your ears! OVERALL OPINION I love this bass...Waterstone also makes an amazing 8 string bass in this style too...Waterstone basses are very hard to beat in terms of tone, value, and easy playability... The quality of the build and tone are next to perfect...The price tag is high, but for what you get, it's ideal for any professional bassist... I tried several other models before buying this one but stopped as soon as I held the piece of heaven... I would buy another in a heartbeat...