What 5 string bass?

[plan-x]

Looking for a sweet, easy to play 5 string. My hand is not very big so something that is a breeze to play would be nice. Slim neck, low action. I have an Ibanez 4 string 300ish model and the neck is pretty nice but the frets are not smooth on the edges. I could spend up to $1000. But if I could do a decent bass at 300-500 then great! I hear the frets still cut you in the $600 price range on the Ibanez otherwise I'd go for one because I know their necks are slim. Any suggestions?

 

[Matticus]

Check out Schechter.

 

[NashSG]

You know you could get those frets fixed. As long as you are just talking the fret ends and not a total fret level, that's not that big a job.

 

[Jarrett]

You are not going to find a better bang for your buck on American made basses than Carvin:
http://www.carvinguitars.com/guitars-in-stock/single.php?Serial=112639
http://www.carvinguitars.com/guitars-in-stock/single.php?Serial=112613

Or if you want to wait the 6 weeks, you can have one built to your spec:
http://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/index.php?model=b50
http://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/index.php?model=sb5000

Or if you are handy with tools and really want some bang for the buck, assemble your own:
http://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/index.php?model=bk50a

I just bought this one yesterday:

$1250 new and American made. Tough to find deals like that anymore.

 

[sixstringslut]

There is a good chance to have fret-sprout on a $2500 bass in a few years.
Little masking tape, 8" fine/med flat file, and a steady hand can fix that in 5-10 minutes.

Best results...chill your bass first so the wood contracts and the fret ends will be more prominent ( not going nuts here, just leave in the garage or the van over-nite).

 

[s2y]

Hard to beat the value of a used Peavey Cirrus.

 

[therhodeo]

Peavey Cirrus, Ibanez BTB, MTD Kingston

Thos would be my first choices.