Best 5-String J-Basses Under $5,000 2026
Affordable 5-string j-basses under $5,000 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
GENRES & STYLES:
For Modern Rock
For Metal
For Progressive
For Fusion
For Contemporary Jazz
For Session Work
#1
⭐
4.7/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sandberg California II TM5 Grand Dark
by
Sandberg
Session Work
Metal
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Bright Jazz Bass character
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension
- • More expensive than 4-string
Sandberg California II TM5 Grand Dark5-String Electric BassBody: AshBolt-on neck: MapleFretboard: Pau ferro22...
⭐
4.7/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 441178
$2,496
#2
⭐
4.7/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Sandberg California II TM 5 PF BLB
by
Sandberg
Contemporary Jazz
Session Work
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Extended low-end range
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range
- • Great for modern playing styles
✗ CONS
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
- • Higher string tension
Sandberg California II TM 5 PF BLBElectric bass5-StringBody: AshNeck: MapleNeck attachment: BoltedFretboard: Pau...
⭐
4.7/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 439407
$2,309
#3
⭐
4.9/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Sadowsky MetroLine 22 Will Lee 5 NT MN
by
Sadowsky
Fusion
Metal
Session Work
Key Feature:
• Extended low-end range
✓ PROS
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
- • Professional studio sound
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than 4-string
- • More complex fingering patterns
Sadowsky MetroLine 22 Will Lee 5 NT MN5-String Electric Bass34" (864 mm) Scale lengthBolt-on neck (bolt-on...
⭐
4.9/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 510722
$3,628
#4
⭐
4.9/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-5 Vin MM Blue T
by
Sadowsky
Modern Rock
Progressive
Metal
Key Feature:
• Great for modern playing styles
✓ PROS
- • Great for modern playing styles
- • Versatile pickup combinations
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension
- • String spacing differences
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-5 Vin MM Blue T5-String Electric BassSlightly scaled-down J-style body made of American swamp...
⭐
4.9/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 526126
$3,519
#5
⭐
4.6/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Fender AM Pro II Jazz Bass V RST PINE
by
Fender
Contemporary Jazz
Modern Rock
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Versatile pickup combinations
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio sound
- • Extended low-end range
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension
- • More expensive than 4-string
Fender AM Pro II Jazz Bass V RST PINE5-String Electric BassBody: Roasted pineNeck: MapleFretboard: MapleNeck profile:...
⭐
4.6/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 501246
$2,485
#6
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Sadowsky MetroLine 24-5 Modern BK
by
Sadowsky
Metal
Contemporary Jazz
Session Work
Key Feature:
• Great for modern playing styles
✓ PROS
- • Versatile pickup combinations
- • Professional studio sound
✗ CONS
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
- • More complex fingering patterns
Sadowsky MetroLine 24-5 Modern BK5-String Electric BassBody: American swamp ashBolt-on neck: MapleFretboard:...
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 489379
$3,739
#7
⭐
4.5/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sandberg California II SL TM 5 BK MN
by
Sandberg
Modern Rock
Session Work
Contemporary Jazz
Key Feature:
• Great for modern playing styles
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range
- • Versatile pickup combinations
✗ CONS
- • More complex fingering patterns
- • Higher string tension
Sandberg California II SL TM 5 BK MN5-String Electric BassPaulownia bodyBolt-on neck: MapleMaple fretboardFretboard...
⭐
4.5/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 477450
$2,199
#8
⭐
4.8/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sadowsky MetroLine 24-5 Vintage BK
by
Sadowsky
Session Work
Metal
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Great for modern playing styles
✓ PROS
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
- • Extended low-end range
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than 4-string
- • Higher string tension
Sadowsky MetroLine 24-5 Vintage BK5-String Electric BassBody: American swamp ashNeck: MapleNeck attachment:...
⭐
4.8/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 489361
$3,849
#9
⭐
4.4/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Fender Am Ultra II J Bass V EB UBST
by
Fender
Metal
Contemporary Jazz
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Bright Jazz Bass character
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio sound
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
✗ CONS
- • More complex fingering patterns
- • String spacing differences
Fender Am Ultra II J Bass V EB UBST5-String Electric BassBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: EbonyWhite Pearloid...
⭐
4.4/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 596128
$2,914
#10
⭐
4.8/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Fender Am Ultra II J Bass V MN AVL
by
Fender
Progressive
Fusion
Session Work
Key Feature:
• Versatile pickup combinations
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range
- • Versatile pickup combinations
✗ CONS
- • More complex fingering patterns
- • String spacing differences
Fender Am Ultra II J Bass V MN AVL5-String Electric BassBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleFingerboard...
⭐
4.8/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 596129
$2,914
#11
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sandberg California II TM 5 EB NT 35"
by
Sandberg
Modern Rock
Contemporary Jazz
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Bright Jazz Bass character
✓ PROS
- • Great for modern playing styles
- • Versatile pickup combinations
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than 4-string
- • Higher string tension
Sandberg California II TM 5 EB NT 35"Electric bass5-StringBody: AlderNeck: MapleNeck attachment: BoltedFretboard:...
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 439464
$2,749
#12
⭐
4.9/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Sandberg California II TM 5 HCA Orange
by
Sandberg
Session Work
Metal
Contemporary Jazz
Key Feature:
• Bright Jazz Bass character
✓ PROS
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
- • Professional studio sound
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
Sandberg California II TM 5 HCA Orange5-String Electric BassBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.9/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 523791
$3,189
#13
⭐
4.7/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Sandberg California II TT5 CR HCAM
by
Sandberg
Modern Rock
Progressive
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Versatile pickup combinations
✓ PROS
- • Great for modern playing styles
- • Professional studio sound
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than 4-string
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
Sandberg California II TT5 CR HCAM5-String Electric BassBody: Thermo AlderNeck: MapleFretboard: MapleHeat-treated wood...
⭐
4.7/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 517077
$4,069
#14
⭐
4.5/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Lakland Skyline Darryl Jones 5 NAT
by
Lakland
Metal
Fusion
Session Work
Key Feature:
• Versatile pickup combinations
✓ PROS
- • Versatile pickup combinations
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
✗ CONS
- • String spacing differences
- • More complex fingering patterns
Lakland Skyline Darryl Jones 5 NAT5 String Electric BassBody: AshBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleBlack block...
⭐
4.5/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 575684
$2,199
#15
⭐
4.6/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sandberg California II TM5 MN NT
by
Sandberg
Fusion
Contemporary Jazz
Session Work
Key Feature:
• Versatile pickup combinations
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio sound
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension
- • More complex fingering patterns
Sandberg California II TM5 MN NT5-String Electric BassBody: AshNeck: MapleFretboard: MapleScale: 34" (long...
⭐
4.6/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 363368
$2,045
How to Choose the Best 5-String J-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 j-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.
