Top 5 Best 5 String Bass Under 500 Dollars [Updated]

With so many different models available online, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. Which bass model you select depends on your playing style, what features you like, and how much money you want to spend.

After reading so many consumer reports and recommendations, I’ve come up with this list of best 5 string bass under 500 dollars based on their versatility, build quality and overall playing experience.

So, What are the best 5 String Bass Under 500 Dollars?

When it comes to the bass guitars, along with the quality of sound and building quality control, I also considered the factors like the ease in playability, its electronics, hardware, and overall performance. Let’s dig into all of this one by one:

Top 5 Best 5 String Bass Guitars Under $500 Reviews

Let’s start with the most popular brand:

1. Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 70’s Jazz Bass V

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ScoreGuitar Rating:

Main Features:

  • Weight: 11 Pounds
  • Scale Length: 34 Inches
  • Stylish Solid Maple Body
  • C-Shaped Maple Neck Profile
  • Vintage Style Bridge Configuration
  • Loaded with Nickel Plated Hardware
  • Fender’s Single-Coil Alnico Pickups
  • Classic Looking Tuning Machines
  • Excellent Control Knob Configuration

Why I Love this Bass:

Fender Squire guitars are wildly popular and used by so many bass players all across the world. Primarily they are known for their excellent quality control and amazing features and this model is not an exception to this.

This Jazz Bass comes with a Stylish-looking solid body made from the combination of Maple and Poplar Tonewood. This unique combination not only makes this bass durable but also lightweight. Along with that, we’re getting a sexy gloss finishing on the body that enhances the looks as well as makes it comfortable for you while playing.

Electronics and Hardware:

Coming towards the Electronics part of the Bass, This model comes with a Fender Designed two Single-Coil Alnico Pickups with appropriate spacing between them for punchy and articulate tone. In the Control Panel, you’re getting two volume control knobs (one for each pickup) and one master tone controlling knob.

In the hardware part, this bass features a vintage-style bridge that comes with 5 slotted barrel saddle. This bridge configuration gives rock-solid stability to the strings and thus a better-sounding tone. Also, the classic tuning machine heads are given here that keep this bad boy in tune for a longer session.

Ease in Playability:

Walking into my favorite part, This model offers a slim C-shaped maple neck profile with a gloss finish on it. It gives a comfortable holding and fast playing experience. With that, you’re getting a Maple fingerboard of 9.5 Inches that enables you to access every note easily.

Also, In terms of Intonation, this fender’s team really done their job pretty well. Overall, this bass guitar with all these features definitely going to the worth your money.

Check the Demo Sound:

Pros

  • Solid yet Light-weight Maple Body
  • Stable Bridge Configuration
  • Comfortable Maple Neck Profile
  • Two Fender’s Versatile Pickups
  • Flexible Controlling Knobs

Cons

  • Standard Strings are not that Great!

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2. Ibanez 5-String Bass Guitar (GSR205BWNF)

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ScoreGuitar Rating:

Main Features:

  • Weight: 9.7 Pounds
  • Scale Length: 34 Inches
  • Maple-Mahogany Solid Body
  • GRS-5 Maple Neck Profile
  • Well-Finished Rosewood Fretboard
  • Two Dynamic H Passive Pickups
  • Tune-O-Matic B15 Guitar Bridge System
  • Comes with Phat 2 Equalizer

Why I Choose this Bass:

Here we’re looking at the sexy-looking, light-weight bass guitar model from the Ibanez GIO series. If you’re looking for a bass guitar that comes with extra features but doesn’t hurt your pocket much, this bass could be the perfect fit for you.

This bass comes with a Stylish looking solid body made from Mahogany tonewood with a top of Maple on it. The selection of such a combination of top-notch tonewood not only makes this bass light-weight but also feels so supportive while playing.

Electronics and Hardware:

Coming towards the Electronics part, Here you’re getting two Dynamic H Pickups. Both of them are Passive, which is obvious by looking at the price range of this model. Also, it has a Phat-2 onboard Equalizer that helps to enhance your bass tone even more.

Although this model falls into the budget-friendly bass category, Ibanez manages to provide you quality into the hardware section. This model comes with a Tune-O-Matic B15 Bridge configuration which provides pretty well stability and nice intonation.

Also, the quality tuning machine heads are installed here which keeps the bass in tune for quite a longer session. Controlling knobs are standard and provide flexibility and increases the overall versatility of the bass.

Ease in Playability:

As I already mentioned, this bass guitar comes with an extra string but a lightweight and durable body. GRS-5 neck profile made of Maple wood is provided here which is known for its comfortable holding and stability. In extension to this, it has a nicely dressed rosewood fretboard with 22 frets and a white dot inlays.

Overall, by looking at the Affordable price range and amount of value this bass is provided, it checks all the boxes for me and definitely worth your at least one shot.

Check the Demo Sound:

Pros

  • High-Quality Tonewood Body
  • Dynamic H Versatile Pickups
  • Solid String Stability with B15 Bridge
  • Faster & Comfortable Neck Profile
  • Sexy Looking Body Design
  • Flexible Control Knobs
  • Affordable Price Range 🙂

Cons

  • May required little Adjustments here n there!

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3. Sterling by Music Man StingRay Bass Guitar

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ScoreGuitar Rating:

Main Features:

  • Weight: 9 Pounds
  • Scale Length: 34 Inches
  • Light-Weight Basswood Body
  • D-Shaped Maple Neck Profile
  • Low Noise Humbucking Ceramic Pickup
  • Loaded with 2-Band Active Preamp
  • Standard Fixed Bridge & Tuners
  • Well-Finished Jatoba Fretboard

Why I Pick this Bass:

Bass guitars by Sterling Music man are known for their finer details available at an affordable price range. If you’re on a budget, this could be the perfect 5 string bass guitar for you.

Just like the Music man’s other instruments, this bass shows characteristics of a robust, sturdy, and well-constructed instrument. It comes with a lightweight basswood body with glossy finishing on it. A stylish cut-away body design is there which enhances the overall looks as well as playability.

Electronics and Hardware:

Looking from the Electronics point-of-view, the 2-Band Active Preamp system is given by Sterling here. This model is equipped with a Music man’s Ceramic Humbucking Pickup which is known for its low noise and richer and fuller sounding tone.

Coming towards the Hardware part, It has a standard fixed bridge configuration that keeps the intonation in place and nice tuning heads that help to keep this guitar in tune. In the control section, Three knobs are given namely Volume, Treble, and Bass.

Ease in Playability:

I personally love the quality control of the Music Man and thus I am a big fan of the feel that their guitars give me. This model offers a D-shaped Maple neck profile that is not only comfortable but also slim and faster. Along with that, you’re getting a Jatoba fretboard with nicely dressed, no sharp frets, and proper spacing between strings.

All I can say is, With the excellent quality of tonewood, great-sounding tone by the humbucker, and superb playability, you can’t go wrong with the amazing model of bass guitar.

Check the Demo Sound:

Pros

  • Light-Weight Comfortable Body
  • Low-Noise Humbucking Pickup
  • Faster D-Shaped Maple Neck
  • Versatile Active Preamp System
  • Offers Excellent Quality Control

Cons

  • Nothing Found!

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4. Yamaha BB235 BB-Series 5 String Bass Guitar

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ScoreGuitar Rating:

Main Features:

  • Weight: 13 Pounds
  • Scale Length: 34 Inches
  • Stylish Looking Alder wood Body
  • 6-Bolt Miter Neck Joint
  • Custom V3 Ceramic Pickups
  • Light-Weight Open-Gear Tuners
  • Convertible Bridge & Saddle

Why I Like this Bass:

From their original release, Bass guitars from the Yamaha BB series offer traditional tones and unique characters into the music. This BB235 Bass guitar model puts all the legendary characters into one place and provides so much value at a fairly reasonable price.

This bass guitar comes with a Stylish looking solid body made up of Alder tonewood that features a multi-laminated construction. The team introduces a hard Maple center in the body that increases body stiffness and accentuates midrange, allow you to cut through the mix of a band.

Electronics and Hardware:

Custom wound V3 ceramic pickup given with this model fits into standard pickup cavities and allows you to achieve higher output gain while keeping the natural voice of the BB series bass. These pickups will provide distinct character to the tone and deliver unique and versatile sound.

This model is equipped with a convertible bridge configuration with 5-saddles that can be adjusted to two different angles which gives you more precise tonal shaping and enhances the overall feel. Also, you’re getting 2 volume control knobs and one master tone control knob to tweak things here and there and to play with your music.

Ease in Playability:

This model features a Maple neck profile with a 6-bolt miter neck joint which improves the overall stability of the bass and allows you to play with more clarity and sustain. It is relatively a thinner neck profile which makes it faster and also gives a somewhat modern feel while playing.

At last, All I can say, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro into the 5 string bass guitars, this model is going to please you with its amazing performance, punchy and clean tone, and excellent sound quality.

Check the Demo Sound:

Pros

  • Better Balance with Light Tuners
  • Clear Tone with Plenty of Punch
  • Versatile and Intuitive Pickup Setup
  • Maple Neck Profile offers Sustain
  • Simple n Effective Control Layout
  • Equipped with Quality Hardware

Cons

  • May required little Setup in Beginning

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5. Squier by Fender Affinity Series Jazz Bass

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ScoreGuitar Rating:

Main Features:

  • Weight: 10.8 Pounds
  • Scale Length: 34 Inches
  • Nice Poplar-Alder wood Body
  • Adjustable 5-Saddle Bridge
  • Slim C-shaped Maple Neck Profile
  • Indian Laurel Premium Fingerboard
  • Single-Coil Jazz Bass Pickups
  • Sealed Die-Cast Tuning Machines

Why I Pick this Bass:

This is another 5-string bass from the Fender Squire series that is providing a great amount of value and nice features including expressive and rich sounding and excellent quality control in a decent price range.

This bass guitar offers a sexy-looking stylish body made from the combination of solid Alder and Poplar tonewood. It has a double-cutaway body shape with glossy finishing on it. Just like other models from the Squire series, this bass gives an amazing feeling when you hold it on your lap.

Electronics and Hardware:

This bass comes with two single-coil Squire J Bass Pickups with SS configuration in parallel order. These pickups deliver a classic-sounding tone with crisp high-ends, articulate mid-range, and punchy low-end. To make this part even more flexible and to provide you more control, they included two volume knobs and one master tone knob.

Chrome finished hardware is loaded with this bass model. Here you’re getting a standard vintage-style 5-saddle bridge configuration that able to provide solid string stability and maintain the intonation at its place. Along with this, here we have die-cast mini tuning machine heads for smooth and accurate tuning.

Ease in Playability:

Coming towards the playability part of the review, This model has a C-shaped Maple neck profile with a standard truss rod in it. It is joined with a Bolt-on neck joint with the main body that gives stable and comfortable holding.

Indian Laurel fretboard of 20 frets is given with this bass, which comes with a glossy finishing from the back. This makes the sliding of your hand easy and enhances your overall playing experience.

Although this is a made-in-china model, definitely provides you with so much value and a superb playing experience through its amazing features at very affordable pricing.

Check the Demo Sound:

Pros

  • Solid Tonewood Durable Body
  • Action is right out of the Box
  • Squire’s Two Versatile Ceramic Pickups
  • 5-Saddle Vintage-Style Bridge
  • Comfortable n Faster Maple Neck
  • Gives you Smooth n Accurate Tuning
  • Available at Affordable Price 🙂

Cons

  • Manufactures in China
  • Not the Best on this List

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What is the advantage of a 5 string bass?

The main advantage of 5 strings bass is it allows you to extend your range. It down ranges to the lower range without losing your upper range, and you know the lower range is a little bit important for certain types of music. You can easily access lower notes. Also, you can often play 2-octave scales in one position.

What is the 5th string on a 5 string bass?

The 4 strings bass guitar contains the following four strings: E A D G

In 5 strings bass guitar, one string is added at the lower range which adds a totally new dimension to your music. Due to this, one more note is under your fingers in a single-hand position.

So,

What is the Best 5 String Bass Under 500 Dollars?

As I already listed above, I think:

Squier Classic Vibe 70’s Jazz Bass V is the best 5 string bass guitar to buy for under 500 dollars in 2022. With all its stylish looks, quality tonewood, excellent electronics, and ease in playability, this bass definitely deserves the top spot.

But, I really want to know, which is your favorite bass guitar model around this price range? and what are the features you like about that guitar? Do let me know what do you think about my reviews. If you like the work I’m doing, don’t forget to share my articles with your friends and family on your social handles.

Thanks, P.S.

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