Best 5-String Basses Under $800 2026
Affordable 5-string basses under $800 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B Sting Ray5 HH Cobra Blue
Alternative Styles
Unique Designs
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Professional versatility
✓ PROS
- • Professional versatility
- • Modern extended range capabilities
✗ CONS
- • String spacing may feel cramped
- • May need specialized strings and setup
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B Sting Ray5 HH Cobra Blue5-String Electric BassBody: JabonBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.6/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 585176
$659
#2
⭐
4.5/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray 5 BK
Experimental Music
Extended Range
Professional Use
Key Feature:
• Versatile pickup configurations available
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for contemporary music styles
- • Professional versatility
✗ CONS
- • May need specialized strings and setup
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray 5 BK5-String Electric BassBody: BasswoodNeck: MapleFretboard: Maple21 FretsNut...
⭐
4.5/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 435208
$593
#3
⭐
4.9/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Steinberger Guitars Spirit XT-25 Standard Bass BK
Professional Use
Custom Features
Extended Range
Key Feature:
• Extended low-end range with low B string
✓ PROS
- • Professional versatility
- • Versatile pickup configurations available
✗ CONS
- • Higher learning curve vs 4-string
- • More complex muting techniques required
Steinberger Guitars Spirit XT-25 Standard Bass BKHeadless BassDesign: 5-StringBody: Maple3-Piece maple...
⭐
4.9/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 261855
$549
#4
⭐
4.6/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Marcus Miller Z7-5 Skyburst Sparkle
Extended Range
Custom Features
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Versatile pickup configurations available
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range with low B string
- • Perfect for contemporary music styles
✗ CONS
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
- • More complex muting techniques required
Marcus Miller Z7-5 Skyburst Sparkle5-String Electric BassBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleEdgeless fingerboard: MapleBlack...
⭐
4.6/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 610505
$769
#5
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray5 Chopper Blue
Custom Features
Alternative Styles
Professional Use
Key Feature:
• Professional versatility
✓ PROS
- • Professional versatility
- • Modern extended range capabilities
✗ CONS
- • May need specialized strings and setup
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray5 Chopper Blue5 String Electric BassBody: JabonNeck: Bolt-on mapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 585164
$604
#6
⭐
4.5/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Marcus Miller M5 5st NT
Custom Features
Experimental Music
Alternative Styles
Key Feature:
• Extended low-end range with low B string
✓ PROS
- • Professional versatility
- • Versatile pickup configurations available
✗ CONS
- • May need specialized strings and setup
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
Marcus Miller M5 5st NT5-String Electric BassBody: Swamp ashBolt-on neck: MapleFretboard: EbonyFretboard inlays:...
⭐
4.5/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 495972
$762
#7
⭐
4.6/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Harley Benton BZ-5000 II NT
Custom Features
Extended Range
Professional Use
Key Feature:
• Modern extended range capabilities
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range with low B string
- • Professional versatility
✗ CONS
- • Higher learning curve vs 4-string
- • String spacing may feel cramped
Harley Benton BZ-5000 II NT5-String Electric BassDeluxe SeriesBody: Mahogany / Ash / Mahogany / AshTop: AAA flamed...
⭐
4.6/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 521703
$549
#8
⭐
4.9/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Marcus Miller Z3-5 Rosegold
Experimental Music
Alternative Styles
Professional Use
Key Feature:
• Versatile pickup configurations available
✓ PROS
- • Versatile pickup configurations available
- • Professional versatility
✗ CONS
- • More complex muting techniques required
- • String spacing may feel cramped
Marcus Miller Z3-5 Rosegold5-String Electric BassZ SeriesBody: MahoganyBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleEdgeless...
⭐
4.9/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 589164
$512
#9
⭐
5.0/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Marcus Miller M7 5st BRS 2nd Gen
Custom Features
Alternative Styles
Extended Range
Key Feature:
• Perfect for contemporary music styles
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for contemporary music styles
- • Modern extended range capabilities
✗ CONS
- • String spacing may feel cramped
- • May need specialized strings and setup
Marcus Miller M7 5st BRS 2nd Gen.5-String electric bassBody: alderTop: flamed mapleNeck: mapleNeck attachment:...
⭐
5.0/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 446235
$769
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Marcus Miller Z3-5 Sparkle Black
Custom Features
Experimental Music
Professional Use
Key Feature:
• Versatile pickup configurations available
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for contemporary music styles
- • Professional versatility
✗ CONS
- • Higher learning curve vs 4-string
- • May need specialized strings and setup
Marcus Miller Z3-5 Sparkle Black5-String Electric BassZ SeriesBody: MahoganyBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleBlack...
⭐
4.5/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 584183
$549
#11
⭐
4.8/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Yamaha TRBX 305 BL
by
Yamaha
Extended Range
Alternative Styles
Unique Designs
Key Feature:
• Modern extended range capabilities
✓ PROS
- • Versatile pickup configurations available
- • Professional versatility
✗ CONS
- • String spacing may feel cramped
- • More complex muting techniques required
Yamaha TRBX 305 BL5-String Electric BassMahogany body5 Piece maple/mahogany bolt-on neckFretboard: Rosewood864 mm scale...
⭐
4.8/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 312997
$549
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Yamaha TRBX 505 BRB
by
Yamaha
Alternative Styles
Professional Use
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Extended low-end range with low B string
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range with low B string
- • Versatile pickup configurations available
✗ CONS
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
- • More complex muting techniques required
Yamaha TRBX 505 BRB5-String Electric BassBody: MahoganyBolt-on 5-piece neck: Maple / mahoganyFretboard: RosewoodScale:...
⭐
4.8/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 483785
$747
#13
⭐
4.7/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Jackson X Series Spectra SBXP V
by
Jackson
Alternative Styles
Custom Features
Unique Designs
Key Feature:
• Perfect for contemporary music styles
✓ PROS
- • Professional versatility
- • Perfect for contemporary music styles
✗ CONS
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
- • May need specialized strings and setup
Jackson X Series Spectra SBXP V5-String Electric BassBody: PoplarTop: Burl poplarBolt-on neck: MapleFretboard:...
⭐
4.7/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 511852
$769
#14
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Marcus Miller Z7-5 Burgundy
Alternative Styles
Custom Features
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Extended low-end range with low B string
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range with low B string
- • Modern extended range capabilities
✗ CONS
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
- • String spacing may feel cramped
Marcus Miller Z7-5 Burgundy5-String Electric BassBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: EbonyEdgeless fingerboard...
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 602786
$769
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray 5 WS
Professional Use
Experimental Music
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Perfect for contemporary music styles
✓ PROS
- • Versatile pickup configurations available
- • Extended low-end range with low B string
✗ CONS
- • Higher learning curve vs 4-string
- • More complex muting techniques required
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray 5 WS5-String Electric BassBody: BasswoodNeck: MapleFretboard: Jatoba21 FretsNut...
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 435219
$593
How to Choose the Best 5-String Basses
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced 5-string basses typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
