5-string fender J-basses, do they suck? If so why?

[Philbiker]

The Roscoe Beck 5 is thinner than a MIA Jazz Deluxe 5? I didn't know that. I thought they were both on the beefy side

Agreed. At the GTGs I've had, Iv'e played a RBV and my Jazz V back-to-back just to compare, and the necks feel very similar, though I'm told that the RBV has an asymmetrical profile. They felt almost the same to me. The Deluxe 5s that I've played seemed to be a little narrower than my standard and the RBV.

 

[laboitenoire]

I tried an MIM 5'er once, and the reason I didn't like it is because I have smaller hands. Fender necks feel great to play on in 4-string form, but for me, the 5-string necks are just too chunky. That's why I adore my Peavey. Great neck, great tone.

 

[Rob Eggers]

OK, Ive been considering a 5-string fender Jazz Bass for my next purchase. But now some of my know-it-all friends tell me they don't sound any good. Any opinions about that? Why wouldn't a 5-string sound as well as a 4-string?

I have 2 Fender 5 string Jazz basses, a Ultra that is great and has a nice stable neck and a regular MIM that had neck issues so I replaced neck and 2nd MIM neck isn't very stable. I put Bartilioni pickups in the MIM that sound great. Forget brand Fender doesn't make the best Jazz Basses.