How does the added string affect the overall balance and weight of a 5-string bass?

The extra mass from the string and hardware generally makes 5-string basses noticeably heavier than their 4-string counterparts, impacting comfort and stage stability.

What are the common pickup configurations on 5-string basses, and how do they differ?

Common configurations include soapbar pickups for a punchy tone, or split-coil pickups for a more rounded sound; the placement and design significantly affect the overall sonic character.

Is it harder to find suitable strings for a 5-string bass compared to a 4-string?

Yes, the string selection is more limited, and string gauge choices are crucial for maintaining proper tension and intonation across the extended range. Finding a balanced set is key.

5-String Basses - Browse 275 Musical Instruments - Page 5

Music Man Bongo 5 HH Stealth Black

5-String Basses

$3,574

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Basswood, 5-Piece bolt-on neck: Maple, Fingerboard:...

4.7 Expert Rating

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Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY35 Spalted 3TSB

5-String Basses

$1,484

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Nyatoh, Top: spalted maple, Bolt-on...

4.9 Expert Rating

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Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY35HH Charc Frost

5-String Basses

$1,528

5 String Electric Bass, Body: Nyatoh, Bolt-on neck: roasted maple,...

4.4 Expert Rating

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Ibanez EHB1505-SWL

5-String Basses

$1,471

5-String Electric Bass, EHB-Series, Body: Lightweight African mahogany, Top: Burl poplar, 9-Piece...

4.5 Expert Rating

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Ibanez EHB1505S-DEL

5-String Basses

$1,613

5-String Electric Bass, EHB-Series, Body: Lightweight African mahogany, Top: Burl poplar, 9-Piece...

4.5 Expert Rating

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Lakland Skyline 55-02 Deluxe 5 NAT

5-String Basses

$2,199

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Ash, Top: spalted maple, Bolt-on neck: Maple,...

4.5 Expert Rating

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Lakland Skyline 55-01 5-String NAT

5-String Basses

$1,539

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Ash, Neck: Bolt-on maple, Fingerboard: Maple,...

4.7 Expert Rating

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Marleaux Consat 5 NT Antique Wood III

5-String Basses

$5,885

5-String Electric Bass, Multi-piece top: 600 years old oak wood aged in the...

4.5 Expert Rating

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Schecter Hellraiser Extreme 5 STBLS

5-String Basses

$1,759

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Mahogany, Top: quilted maple, Neck: Maple / walnut,...

4.3 Expert Rating

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Sandberg California Central 5 RW RB

5-String Basses

$2,639

5-String Electric Bass, Body: European ash, Neck: Maple, Fingerboard: Rosewood,...

4.4 Expert Rating

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Sandberg Panther Special 5 Thuya

5-String Basses

$3,189

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Mahogany, Top: Thuja, Bolt-on neck: Maple, Fingerboard:...

4.8 Expert Rating

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Ibanez EHB1505MS-BIF

5-String Basses

$1,759

5-String Multiscale Electric Bass, Body: Mahogany, Top: Burl poplar, Bolt-on neck: Panga Panga /...

4.5 Expert Rating

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Ibanez EHB1005F-AOM

5-String Basses

$1,258

5-String Electric Bass, Fretless / fretless, Body: Basswood, Bolt-on neck: roasted maple/walnut,...

4.8 Expert Rating

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Ibanez SR505E-BAB

5-String Basses

$879

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Okoume, 5-Piece bolt-on neck: Jatoba / walnut, Fingerboard: Rosewood,...

4.5 Expert Rating

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Solar Guitars AB2.5BOP

5-String Basses

$1,044

Solar Guitars Solar Guitars AB2.5BOP, 5-String Electric Bass, Body: Swamp ash, Bolt-on 5-piece neck: Maple, jatoba,...

4.7 Expert Rating

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ESP E-II BTL-5 Black Natural Burst

5-String Basses

$3,189

5-String Electric Bass, Alder body, Maple top, 3-Piece maple neck, Ebony fretboard,...

4.7 Expert Rating

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Marleaux Tiuz 5 Worn Spruce LTD

5-String Basses

$6,049

5-String Electric Bass, Thomann Limited Edition, Body: Alder, Top: Aged spruce, Back:...

4.9 Expert Rating

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Music Man Dark Ray 5 Starry Night

5-String Basses

$3,464

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Selected hardwood, Bolt-on neckl: Roasted maple,...

4.6 Expert Rating

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Music Man Stingray 5 Special Raspberry

5-String Basses

$3,959

5-String Electric Bass, Body: selected hardwood, Bolt-on neck: Roasted maple,...

4.3 Expert Rating

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Music Man Stingray 5 Special HH Burnt

5-String Basses

$4,069

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Ash, 5-bolt-on neck: roasted maple, Fingerboard:...

4.5 Expert Rating

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Music Man Stingray 5 Sp HH Frost Green

5-String Basses

$4,069

5-String Electric Bass, Selected hardwood body, 5-Piece bolt-on maple neck,...

4.6 Expert Rating

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Music Man Stingray 5 Sp H MN Frost Green

5-String Basses

$3,959

5-String Electric Bass, Body: selected hardwood, 5-Bolt neck: Roasted maple,...

4.7 Expert Rating

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Ibanez BTB625EX-BKF

5-String Basses

$1,033

5-String Electric Bass, Iron Label series, Body: Okume, Neck-through five-piece neck:...

4.9 Expert Rating

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Ibanez SR305E-PW

5-String Basses

$461

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Nyatoh, Bolt-on 5-piece neck: Maple/Walnut, Neck profile: SR4,...

4.4 Expert Rating

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Cort A5 Ultra Ash

5-String Basses

$1,429

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Mahogany, Top: Ash, Neck-through-body neck: Maple / panga panga,...

4.7 Expert Rating

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Sadowsky Single Cut 24-5 CS Walnut

5-String Basses

$6,159

*Note:* Register your product on www.w-distribution.de/Warranty and extend the warranty to 4 years.

4.4 Expert Rating

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Music Man Stingray 5 Sp HH Raspberry

5-String Basses

$4,069

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Selected hardwood, 5-bolt neck: roasted maple,...

4.6 Expert Rating

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Music Man Stingray 5 Special Burnt Ends

5-String Basses

$3,959

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Ash, 5-Bolt bolt-on neck: Roasted maple,...

4.7 Expert Rating

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Sandberg California Supreme 35th RDB 5

5-String Basses

$4,399

5-String Electric Bass, 35th Anniversary Model, Chambered body: Alder, Top:...

4.6 Expert Rating

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Jackson X Series Spectra SBXP V

5-String Basses

$769

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Poplar, Top: Burl poplar, Bolt-on neck: Maple,...

4.9 Expert Rating

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Ibanez SR605E-BKT

5-String Basses

$923

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Ash, 5-Piece neck: Jatoba/walnut, Fretboard: Rosewood, 24 Medium...

4.7 Expert Rating

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Ibanez BTB1835-NDL

5-String Basses

$1,704

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Ash, Top and back: Bubinga, Full-length 7-piece neck: Maple / bubinga...

4.6 Expert Rating

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Cort A5 Plus SC Amber Open Pore

5-String Basses

$952

5-String Bass, Body: Swamp ash, Top: Poplar burl, 5-Piece neck-thru-body: Maple /...

4.7 Expert Rating

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Ibanez TMB35-MGR Talman Short Scale

5-String Basses

$307

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Poplar, Neck: TMB5 maple, Fretboard: Jatoba, White...

4.5 Expert Rating

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Spector Euro LX 5 BSM

5-String Basses

$3,189

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Alder, Top: flamed maple, 3-Piece maple neck, Fingerboard:...

4.5 Expert Rating

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Schecter SLS Evil Twin-5 SBK

5-String Basses

$2,034

5-String Electric Bass, Body: Swamp ash, Multi-striped neck: Maple/Walnuts/Padouk, Neck...

4.5 Expert Rating

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Ibanez SR505E-BM

5-String Basses

$879

5-String Electric Bass, Five-part neck: Jatoba / walnut, Body: Okumé, Fingerboard: Jatoba, Oval...

4.6 Expert Rating

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Warwick RB Streamer LX 5 SW HP

5-String Basses

$1,044

*Note: * Register your product at www.w-distribution.com/Warranty and extend the warranty to 4 years.

4.7 Expert Rating

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Warwick RB Streamer NTI 5 SBHP

5-String Basses

$1,154

*Note: * Register your product at www.w-distribution.com/Warranty and extend the warranty to 4 years.

4.8 Expert Rating

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Warwick RockBass Streamer 5 NBT

5-String Basses

$912

*Note: * Register your product at www.w-distribution.com/Warranty and extend the warranty to 4 years.

4.3 Expert Rating

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Warwick RB Streamer NT 5 HV HP

5-String Basses

$1,154

*Note: * Register your product at www.w-distribution.com/Warranty and extend the warranty to 4 years.

4.9 Expert Rating

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Warwick RB Star Bass 5 SCWHP

5-String Basses

$1,154

5-String Electric Bass, Top, bottom and sides: Maple, Set-in, 4-striped neck: Maple with...

4.5 Expert Rating

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Warwick RB Star Bass 5 MGHP

5-String Basses

$1,154

5-String Electric Bass, Top, bottom and sides: Maple, Set-in, 4-striped neck: Maple with...

4.6 Expert Rating

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Warwick RB Star Bass 5 VSTHP

5-String Basses

$1,209

5-String Electric Bass, Top, back and sides: Flamed maple, Set-in, 4-piece neck: Maple...

4.8 Expert Rating

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Warwick RB Star Bass 5 SDBHP

5-String Basses

$1,154

*Note:* Register your product at www.w-distribution.com/Warranty and extend the warranty to 4 years.

4.6 Expert Rating

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Warwick RB Corvette Basic 5 SBHP

5-String Basses

$1,099

*Note:* Register your product at https://shop.warwick.de/en/warrantyregistration to extend the warranty to 4 years.

4.4 Expert Rating

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Warwick RB Corvette Basic 5 HVTS

5-String Basses

$1,099

*Note: * Register your product at www.w-distribution.com/Warranty to extend the warranty to 4 years.

4.3 Expert Rating

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Warwick RB Corvette Basic 5 NBTS

5-String Basses

$1,099

*Note:* Register your product at www.w-distribution.de/Warranty to extend the warranty to 4 years.

4.5 Expert Rating

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Shop 5-String Basses 2026

Music Man Bongo 5 HH Stealth Black

Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY35 Spalted 3TSB

Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY35HH Charc Frost

Ibanez EHB1505-SWL

Ibanez EHB1505S-DEL

Lakland Skyline 55-02 Deluxe 5 NAT

Lakland Skyline 55-01 5-String NAT

Marleaux Consat 5 NT Antique Wood III

Schecter Hellraiser Extreme 5 STBLS

Sandberg California Central 5 RW RB

Sandberg Panther Special 5 Thuya

Ibanez EHB1505MS-BIF

Ibanez EHB1005F-AOM

Ibanez SR505E-BAB

Solar Guitars AB2.5BOP

ESP E-II BTL-5 Black Natural Burst

Marleaux Tiuz 5 Worn Spruce LTD

Music Man Dark Ray 5 Starry Night

Music Man Stingray 5 Special Raspberry

Music Man Stingray 5 Special HH Burnt

Music Man Stingray 5 Sp HH Frost Green

Music Man Stingray 5 Sp H MN Frost Green

Ibanez BTB625EX-BKF

Ibanez SR305E-PW

Cort A5 Ultra Ash

Sadowsky Single Cut 24-5 CS Walnut

Music Man Stingray 5 Sp HH Raspberry

Music Man Stingray 5 Special Burnt Ends

Sandberg California Supreme 35th RDB 5

Jackson X Series Spectra SBXP V

Ibanez SR605E-BKT

Ibanez BTB1835-NDL

Cort A5 Plus SC Amber Open Pore

Ibanez TMB35-MGR Talman Short Scale

Spector Euro LX 5 BSM

Schecter SLS Evil Twin-5 SBK

Ibanez SR505E-BM

Warwick RB Streamer LX 5 SW HP

Warwick RB Streamer NTI 5 SBHP

Warwick RockBass Streamer 5 NBT

Warwick RB Streamer NT 5 HV HP

Warwick RB Star Bass 5 SCWHP

Warwick RB Star Bass 5 MGHP

Warwick RB Star Bass 5 VSTHP

Warwick RB Star Bass 5 SDBHP

Warwick RB Corvette Basic 5 SBHP

Warwick RB Corvette Basic 5 HVTS

Warwick RB Corvette Basic 5 NBTS

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