Should I get an M5-24...again?

[SteveC]

OK, I know, no one can tell you what bass will work for you. Here's the deal for those who don't know my history. I have gone through lots of basses. The last year I tried Sadowsky stuff. I started with an M5-24. I really liked it. Used it in the pit for "Hair" and for other gigs as well. Got lots of compliments. I traded it for a Sadowsky RV4 because I thought the M5-24 was too modern sounding. Really liked the RV4. Missed the B string. Sold it. Tried an RV5 but the B string was not so good and overall wasn't thrilled with it. Went to a Lakland 55-02 but I just don't do well with 35" scale. Tried Modulus for a while, too.

There is a used M5-24 I am thinking about getting. I play in a jazz quartet which does a wide range of stuff, as does my cover band. I also play ing church and do pit work. Will I be sorry or with use of EQ and technique, will I be able to make this bass work in all settings?

I currently play a Yamaha BB605 that I really like, but have thought about having one "really nice" bass.

Thoughts?

[FunkMetalBass]

You play bass. Nobody except you cares about your tone. Get the bass that makes you happy.

[john nam]

Get the M5-24 because IMO, it's one of the most versatile basses out there. I've been searching for "the one" and went through many basses such as FBass, Ken Smith, Warrior, Fodera NYC and when I got my Sadowsky NYC 24-5, it was everything I was looking for and here's why: It's 34" and all the strings feel and sound tight, including the B, as opposed to my Mexican Jazz 5 where all of the strings are floppy, including the G string is floppy! It's 19mm, it's light, incredible neck profile, and it can do the Ken Smith sound (hi-fi modern, but with lots of low-mid growl, unlike MTD and Roscoe's mid-scooped modern sound, IMO), but it can also nail the P sounds when rolled to the neck pickups, which is the biggest surprise to me! And I'm not talking about the muddy, boomy P sound, but the burpy and aggressive P sound (when playing at gigging volumes), which IMO, no other bass that I can think of can do both of these sounds. These days, I only play the neck pickups when playing live and I get a thick burpy tone all the way across to the G string.

For a sample of it's modern sound, check out Ron Jenkins http://www.ronjenkins.org/default.htm#null

[Huge]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

You play bass. Nobody except you cares about your tone. Get the bass that makes you happy.

I tell myself this every day.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Get the bass that makes you happy.

Ummmmmm, not sure if that's gonna happen.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

You play bass. Nobody except you and other bass players care about your tone. Get the bass that makes you happy.

+1 and an addendum . Truer words were never spoken

[thisSNsucks]

Do it!

[SteveC]

It's the Sadowsky or an Azola EUB - which I probably NEED more between the two. The problem is whenever I get an expensive bass I have a hard time justifying/keeping it. There's so much stuff around the house we need...

[john nam]

I agree mostly with "no one else care's about your bass sound", but I have seen guitarists, especially when they are also the band leaders complain if the bass sounds too midrangey and not "bassy" enough. The same thing with sound guys at the mixing board too. A lot of bassists think oppositely though; they want their bass to sound well-defined with lots of midrange and treble with no boominess. This is where I think getting the right sounding bass is important; one that is "bassy" enough to please the band leader and the sound guy, and one that is defined enough to please your own ears, and that's why I like aggressive sounding P tones, which the Sadowsky moderns can do very well when rolled to the neck pickups.

[thisSNsucks]

Originally Posted by SteveC

It's the Sadowsky or an Azola EUB - which I probably NEED more between the two. The problem is whenever I get an expensive bass I have a hard time justifying/keeping it. There's so much stuff around the house we need...

It costs more money to keep buying and selling basses than it does to just buy what you love and keep it forever. At least thats my feeling these days.

[john nam]

Oh, and when checking out the Ron Jenkins link above, make sure to use headphones because that bass puts out some monster tones.

[Fuzzbass]

My thought is that, if possible, you should try both the M5-24 and RV5 in different wood options. Naturally the pickups will have the biggest effect on tone (standard J versus soaps close to the bridge), but IME ash/maple can sound dramatically different than alder/rosewood, so with luck and experimentation you might find a combination of woods and pickup style that makes you happy.

I don't know what you had before, but alder/rosewood might warm the M5-24 to your liking, and I'm a little surprised that you were disappointed in the B string on the RV... try others if possible.

[Dr. Cheese]

I am going to suggest you do something that I have a very hard time doing myself: buy the Sadowsky and keep it! The fact is that you are actually happy with your Yamaha, but having a high end bass keeps gnawing at you. Just get the Sadowsky and call it a day. There is no point in getting it and then feeling guilty about it. You want, you have the money, buy it and accept it. Even if you like your Yamaha better after the honeymoon, keep it and be done with it!

[ethompson2]

^^^ This is me I just want one high end bass that I can keep forever even if I get to a point where I want something else because I think the one hight end bass doesnt sound as good I can just keep it because I KNOW that it does sound good even if Im gassing for something else.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I am going to suggest you do something that I have a very hard time doing myself: buy the Sadowsky and keep it! The fact is that you are actually happy with your Yamaha, but having a high end bass keeps gnawing at you. Just get the Sadowsky and call it a day. There is no point in getting it and then feeling guilty about it. You want, you have the money, buy it and accept it. Even if you like your Yamaha better after the honeymoon, keep it and be done with it!

Originally Posted by ethompson2

^^^ This is me I just want one high end bass that I can keep forever even if I get to a point where I want something else because I think the one hight end bass doesnt sound as good I can just keep it because I KNOW that it does sound good even if Im gassing for something else.

Probably good advice. I'm pretty sure I'd like the M5-24 just fine. I did before when I had it and "talked myself" out of it. I still struggle with having a $2,000 bass when no one but me notices a difference from my $700 bass.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by SteveC

...The problem is whenever I get an expensive bass I have a hard time justifying/keeping it. There's so much stuff around the house we need...

You and I both have been doing this gear dance too long!
Unless you are literally going to go into foreclosure and the sale of the bass can save you, buy it, forget it, and get back to enjoying music!

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by thisSNsucks

It costs more money to keep buying and selling basses than it does to just buy what you love and keep it forever. At least thats my feeling these days.

Very true.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

You and I both have been doing this gear dance too long!
Unless you are literally going to go into foreclosure and the sale of the bass can save you, buy it, forget it, and get back to enjoying music!

I'm pretty sure I can afford it. Might have to put off the iPad purchase my wife wants...

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Who paid for the bass? Who plays it? That's the only person whose opinion matters.

As far as affordability, if you're working, your bills are current, and your kids (if you have any) are well clothed and fed, why the hell not? Not having the bass obviously eats at you as much, if not more, than having $2K tied up in it did.

Do what I do: save your money until something you like at a price you can live with comes along, then jump on it so fast no one else knows it was there.

[john nam]

Yes, no one but you will notice, but you are the most important person to you! Someone in this forum recently said "You don't really NEED anything besides food, water, and shelter", which I thought was a great quote.