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12 Cheap 5-String Basses EVERYONE Ignores (But They're Actual Goldmines)

Bass Gems

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There's a strange assumption baked into how most players shop for a five-string bass: that cheap and five-string simply can't coexist. It's completely wrong. Twelve cheap five-string basses that almost everyone ignores, and every single one is a real goldmine — plus the actual 60-second physics of why cheap B strings used to fail, and exactly what to check on any five-string before you buy.

The twelve: Ibanez GSR205, Yamaha TRBX305, Sterling by Music Man SUB Ray5 (the licensed, genuine Stingray design — independent reviewers keep calling it the king of budget five-strings), Sire Marcus Miller V3-5, Harley Benton JB-5/PJ-5, Cort Action V Plus, ESP LTD B-205, Ibanez SR305E, Schecter Stiletto Stealth-5, Squier Affinity Jazz Bass V, a used Peavey Milestone, and the single most ignored goldmine in the whole hobby — the '90s Japanese and Korean-built five-string sleepers nobody remembers to want.

Plus the three signs of an ignored goldmine you can check in any shop, and the three honest objections (floppy B strings, tone, resale value) answered fast.

📕 THE HONEST BASS BUYER'S GUIDE — every goldmine, every money trap, one honest map.
24 gear goldmines under $300 · 16 wasted-money upgrades · the used-market playbook · printable checklists.
Zero filler, zero affiliate games: → https://bass-gems.com

🎸 EVERYTHING MENTIONED (compare prices yourself — neutral links):
1️⃣ Ibanez GSR205 → https://www.thomann.de/intl/search_di...
2️⃣ Sterling by Music Man SUB Ray5 → https://www.thomann.de/intl/search_di...
3️⃣ Harley Benton 5-string basses → https://www.thomann.de/intl/harley_be...
4️⃣ Sire Marcus Miller V3-5 → https://www.thomann.de/intl/search_di...

─── KAPITEL ───
0:00 The cheap-five-string myth
1:27 Honest note & the buyer's guide
1:56 The 60-second B-string physics
2:58 #1 Ibanez GSR205
3:39 #2 Yamaha TRBX305
4:17 #3 Sterling SUB Ray5 (worth the wait)
5:35 #4 Sire Marcus Miller V3-5
6:17 #5 Harley Benton, 5-string
7:05 #6 Cort Action V Plus
7:42 #7 ESP LTD B-205
8:21 #8 Ibanez SR305E
8:59 #9 Schecter Stiletto Stealth-5
9:35 #10 Squier Affinity Jazz Bass V
10:19 #11 Used Peavey Milestone
10:57 #12 The used-market sleeper
12:06 Which one should you actually buy
12:07 Three signs of a goldmine
14:02 Three honest objections
15:20 The honest verdict
15:49 Outro

Which of these have you played, or which cheap five-string changed your mind about the low B? Drop it below. Subscribe for honest, no-hype truth about bass gear. 🎸

Footage note: clips from BreakingtheRelapse, LowEndLobster, BassTheWorld.com and OneTakeReviews used muted, for commentary, with channel credited on screen.

#BassGuitar #5StringBass #BudgetBass #GearGuide #HonestReview #BassGear #BuyingGuide #Bassist

10 Comments

@madness8556 2 months ago (edited)

The Yamaha TBRX305 is active only. The active passive switching is in the pricier TBRX505 or 605.

@AdamBassMan1 2 months ago

I got a Harley Benton b550 progressive 5 string as a friend of mine has been gigging a fretless version for a while and recommended one, this thing seriously punches above its price tag looks great and sounds great for the price point it's a bit heavy but it is a brilliant bass for the price been gigging mine now for a year and its brilliant

@madness8556 1 month ago

I love my Yamaha BB735A PJ bass with active passive switching. I also had a Squire Affinity 5 string jazz bass which was great for a budget instrument. I sold it because I got the Yamaha which is a superior instrument.

@DiamondTShewan 2 months ago

I play a sr300e and an sr 505e. Love them both amazing to play sounds incredible and a super fast neck for a guy with small hands and plays the right hand 5string inside down and backwards.

@GaryTisdaleFungkSta1 2 months ago

Got Lefty 5 string Sterling last year, wanted a 5 with Maple fret board, something different than my Carvin B5 that has a Rose Wood

@ChristianFoster-c6d 2 months ago

I recently picked up a Glarry 5 string jazz bass. It was next to a Squier and had far better action. I'm guessing they got a bad rep from advanced players that got one on a whim and found the inevitable flaws you will find on a budget mail order instrument. Without brick and mortar stores to QC and set up new instruments, the manufacturers, even the big ones like Squier, have little incentive to fix every high or loose fret and ship brand new guitars that require a complete level and crown of the frets. Most buyers either newbs who won't be aware of the problems and just play a shitty guitar, or they're players like me who immediately take the strings off a new acquisition and do a complete fret job job, and put out preferred strings before we even plug it in. The brick and mortar store had an incentive to have their merchandise displayed with a pro set up.

@thomasoconnor9836 2 months ago

I've played the sterling music man stingray, as well as the American version compared them within seconds of each other there's absolutely no comparison sound wise I own an Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray HH it's worth every penny. Same can be said for the Yamaha bbne2 I own there's no comparison to the cheaper models. I understand that's all some people can afford, but these videos that say they're as good as the top of the line production models are smoking some real good stuff 😆

@michaelgmcauliffe 3 weeks ago

Your prices are out to lunch. Up here in Ontario you can double those prices

@monkmchorning 1 month ago

You can't play music with a goldmine. You need a bass.

@carlmontney7916 23 hours ago

I agree with most of the choices on here. What I don't agree with is that POS AI. If you can't find an AI voice program that learns and knows how to properly pronounce words especially vowel sounds. One that doesn't know the difference between a long vowel and a short vowel or a hard vowel or a soft vowel of sound. Then you should just narrate the video yourself. If English is not your primary language find someone who can do it properly.

I can only listen to the word BASS pronounced as if it were a fish for so long before I just have to bail.