Five string P/J options?

Handyman · #1 11-08-2012, 03:06 PM

I'm currently mulling the idea of getting a 5-er in a p/j configuration. Unfortunately, such things seem fairly unusual.

I'd love suggestions, but here's what I've seen as options out there:

- Sadowsky and Lull both make very nice 5 string P/J basses. I'd love one of these, but its not in the budget.

- One of the old Fender P Deluxe V's with the P/Double J pickup. Not quite a P/J, but really cool instruments. Rare as hen's teeth, though.

- Godin Freeway 5 - Cheap enough, but I don't know much about these, and they look like they have narrow spacing at the bridge.

- Buy an Am Std Jazz 5, and stick a P pickup in the neck position. Anyone know how feasible this is? I don't know what the routes look like under the pickguard, so unsure if it would need extra routing. Not sure where I'd find the right pickguard.

- Carvin B50, get Carvin to skip the neck pickup route, then pay a local guy to do the route. Seems like a lot of work, and wouldn't be cheap with the custom routing.

So, any opinions or better ideas?

**Ric5** · #2 11-08-2012, 03:07 PM

Build a frankensteined parts bass.

Handyman · #3 11-08-2012, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

Build a frankensteined parts bass.

I'd still need to get a 5 string body routed for a P/J configuration. This would cost about $400 from Warmoth, which puts this cost pretty high among the various options.

francotedescoga · #4 11-08-2012, 03:20 PM

The Schecter Diamond P is a very cool bass for the price, I tried one once and really liked it!

iiipopes · #5 11-08-2012, 03:21 PM

I have a fundamental disagreement with a P for a 5. The pickup is unbalanced as to its coils, and all the ones I have played had too much mids for the B string to have sufficient definition.

I'm much more inclined to a J or a soapbar for a 5.

bassist4dalord · #6 11-08-2012, 03:23 PM

Buy a Squier Standard Precision V and modify it like this guy did. I own one, currently with the stock (weak) J/J pickups, but someday I'll be making it a P/J. Someday..

Squier Precision 5-String Club

Thundar · #7 11-08-2012, 03:26 PM

Yamaha BB

francotedescoga · #8 11-08-2012, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thundar

Yamaha BB

This one!

Catbuster · #9 11-08-2012, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thundar

Yamaha BB

Bingo

Handyman · #10 11-08-2012, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francotedescoga

The Schecter Diamond P is a very cool bass for the price, I tried one once and really liked it!

I didn't realize they had a 5 string version of those. I tried one, and was pretty impressed with what you got for the price. I'll have to keep my eye open.

Mola Ram · #11 11-08-2012, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thundar

Yamaha BB

+1

Handyman · #12 11-08-2012, 03:42 PM

Anyone know the string spacing at the bridge for the Yamaha BBs? I've grown to like my 19mm basses so much that I'm probably not going to be temped by a narrower one.

francotedescoga · #13 11-08-2012, 03:48 PM

Yamaha basses tend to be wide, I'm almost sure is 18mm at the bridge,

Jazzdogg · #14 11-08-2012, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iiipopes

I have a fundamental disagreement with a P for a 5. The pickup is unbalanced as to its coils, and all the ones I have played had too much mids for the B string to have sufficient definition.

I'm much more inclined to a J or a soapbar for a 5.

One more argument in favor of reverse-P p'ups; wish more makers offered a reverse-P P/J.

zortation · #15 11-08-2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mola Ram

+1

++1

StuartV · #16 11-08-2012, 04:15 PM

I had a Yamaha BB415 a while back. That was a NICE P/J. And it was only $299, brand new, from MusiciansFriend.

dedpool1052 · #17 11-08-2012, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handyman

I didn't realize they had a 5 string version of those. I tried one, and was pretty impressed with what you got for the price. I'll have to keep my eye open.

check out the used section on GC's site, there's a few up there now. i belive the string spacing on the 5'er is wider than most of their other 5'ers, something like 18mm. the only thing you might want to consider is that it's 35" scale with an inline headstock, so finding a proper fitting set of strings might be an issue.

MBIYF · #18 11-08-2012, 04:24 PM

Yamaha TRB5P

bikeplate · #19 11-08-2012, 04:34 PM

Hi

Btw, what's the budget?

Rob

**awilkie84** · #20 11-08-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dedpool1052

check out the used section on GC's site, there's a few up there now. i belive the string spacing on the 5'er is wider than most of their other 5'ers, something like 18mm. the only thing you might want to consider is that it's 35" scale with an inline headstock, so finding a proper fitting set of strings might be an issue.

Nah. 35" isn't considering extended length. A typical set of strings will reach the G tuner. Hell, I trimmed off 4" of extra string on my chromes when I installed them on my Active Deluxe Jazz (5 inline tuners). Regular strings will be OK.