they're damn hard to find new ones. old spectors are nice and have a sweet B but im in the market for something new, preferrably small string distance. any suggestions?
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34" scale 5-string
- Thread starter fnsweeeet
- Start date
fnsweeeet said:
Not entirely sure what you are trying to get at there, but if you are asking for the best 34" 5 string Sadowsky's are highly regarded, by many here. Any from clips and look at his work Sadowsky's seem like killer basses and the recorded B strings on them, sound really good. Keep in mind I have unfortunately never been able to play one before.
Music Man, Warwick, Zon, Ken Smith, etc.
An insufficiently stiff neck will still produce a floppy B whether the scale is 34" or 44". My FBB has the most potent B I've ever heard from any bass except perhaps a Modulus, and it's very much a 34" scale. The neck is also roughly as thick as a baseball bat.
An insufficiently stiff neck will still produce a floppy B whether the scale is 34" or 44". My FBB has the most potent B I've ever heard from any bass except perhaps a Modulus, and it's very much a 34" scale. The neck is also roughly as thick as a baseball bat.
There's actually quite a few builders making 34" scale fives. 35" scale basses don't have an exclusive lock on the market at all.
Most the custom builders make 34" scale instruments, either as a standard, or by request. Fodera, Zon, Alembic, Warrior, immedately come to mind. Ken Smith won't build anything over a 34" scale.
For production line basses, Fender and Music Man still do 34" scale.
On the more affordable side of things, Music Man makes some nice 5 strings, all 34" scale. I'm not a fan of 5 string Jazz basses, so MM is my choice for a 5. Aside from that, believe the hype regarding Sadowsky 5 strings. Incidentally, Sadowsky doesn't offer a 34" bass either.
Most the custom builders make 34" scale instruments, either as a standard, or by request. Fodera, Zon, Alembic, Warrior, immedately come to mind. Ken Smith won't build anything over a 34" scale.
For production line basses, Fender and Music Man still do 34" scale.
On the more affordable side of things, Music Man makes some nice 5 strings, all 34" scale. I'm not a fan of 5 string Jazz basses, so MM is my choice for a 5. Aside from that, believe the hype regarding Sadowsky 5 strings. Incidentally, Sadowsky doesn't offer a 34" bass either.
For around $1k, I'd say it's tough to beat the Musicman basses. For $2k, Sadowsky is an obvious choice.
Try a 'ray and a Bongo. They're pretty widely available, and might be just the thing for you.
My Bongo 5HH has supplanted my Lakland DJ5 as my main bass these days. It's comfy (to me) and the tone was exactly what I was looking for. I'm starting to really like the looks, too.
Try a 'ray and a Bongo. They're pretty widely available, and might be just the thing for you.
My Bongo 5HH has supplanted my Lakland DJ5 as my main bass these days. It's comfy (to me) and the tone was exactly what I was looking for. I'm starting to really like the looks, too.
Peter McFerrin said:
+1 , but I would also add any older or newer yamaha BB model. These things have fantastic B's all the way around. My BBN5A has an amazing B, and musicman are seriously one the best,,, period.
From what I've heard Sadowsky and Pedulla are both highly regarded for their 34" scale 5 strings.
Valenti
G&L
MusicMan / Ernie Ball
Fender
Sadowsky
LowEnd Jazz / Benavente 51
Carvin
Most Boutique builders will make their basses in any scale you want. I just ordered a Bee Bass in 34"... I don't like 35 & 36" scale basses personally. I've never had an issue with a floppy B on 34" scale basses. I find the higher strings get too twangy with the longer scale too.
G&L
MusicMan / Ernie Ball
Fender
Sadowsky
LowEnd Jazz / Benavente 51
Carvin
Most Boutique builders will make their basses in any scale you want. I just ordered a Bee Bass in 34"... I don't like 35 & 36" scale basses personally. I've never had an issue with a floppy B on 34" scale basses. I find the higher strings get too twangy with the longer scale too.
My favorite 34" scale 5 string basses are Sadowsky basses, but they have 19mm spacing at the bridge. But, since you said that you wanted narrow (17mm) string spacing, you should also check out Stingray 5s, Bongos, G&L L2500, Wal Mach II, Yamaha BB5000, and Kubicki KeyFactor 5.
