Hey, so I'm just looking for a few opinions on what you guys would do in my situation. I currently own a 4 string stingray and a squier cv jazz. I have wanted a 5 string for a while and now have an opportunity to locally trade my stingray for an 08 Fender American Standard jazz 5 string. I'm wondering if you think this is a fair trade and if you would make the trade in my position? Thanks guys!
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5 string jazz or Stingray
- Thread starter Jroc07
- Start date
I would not do it, as a Fender guy, I do not like their 5 strings at all...
if you make the trade, you'll lose your better 4 string and have an iffy 5 string. Leaving you with the squier.. I wouldnt do it.
Keep the ray. Save $300 and get a squier vintage modified 5. Plays amazing for the money. Better than many fender 5s I've owned!
Well, I didn't quite go that route.
I ponied up for a good deal on a very nice AM STD Jazz V.
When I could, I ponied up for a good deal on a very nice Stingray V.
That's my answer.
But probably has nothing to do with the opinions you were seeking.
Well, that never stopped anyone around here before...
I ponied up for a good deal on a very nice AM STD Jazz V.
When I could, I ponied up for a good deal on a very nice Stingray V.
That's my answer.
But probably has nothing to do with the opinions you were seeking.
Well, that never stopped anyone around here before...
What's the specs on the Stingray? Me being somewhat of a snob about them, I'd say depending on the year, it's either a great idea or a total mistake.
That said, getting an MIM Jazz V used would be relatively cheap and basically get you the general idea of what a US 5 would do for you.
If you love it, sell that for what you paid and either trade or sell/buy with the Ray.
That said, getting an MIM Jazz V used would be relatively cheap and basically get you the general idea of what a US 5 would do for you.
If you love it, sell that for what you paid and either trade or sell/buy with the Ray.
I haven't heard a 5er from Fender that impressed me. Love their stuff, but... That's the truth. Stick with their fourbanger line.
@Jroc07
You can try a P this time, not an heresy. I have tested this one in a music store, wonderful! it's cheap and excellent value.
And keep the SR.
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If this would be your first five, and I would definitely go the squire. When I was shopping for my first five string, there wasn't much on the market and I actually did have this trade for string Stingray fretless (+$300) for one of the first L2500's out of Fullerton. I still have it 18 years later and it's not going anywhere (these days it doesn't even leave the house...)
I also have Squire VM JV, and I love that bass. The P-Bass video sounds fantastic too! I wish these were around 18 years ago so that I could still hold on to that fretless and just shell out the $300...but then I may have missed out on the L2500, but I do miss that SR4-F
I also have Squire VM JV, and I love that bass. The P-Bass video sounds fantastic too! I wish these were around 18 years ago so that I could still hold on to that fretless and just shell out the $300...but then I may have missed out on the L2500, but I do miss that SR4-F
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I find that the necks on most 5'ers are ridiculously fat; for this reason I wouldn't go a Jazz V, or nearly any V'er.
I'd wait and look around for a Dimension V or SR V - these have thinner necks.
I've owned several SR5s. I've owned one Fender Jazz Deluxe V from 1997 with the Suhr pickups. I'd put them on equal footing. I believe the JDV tends to be alder and the SR5 is swamp ash and I've founf the SR5s heavier. I like both for different reasons. The string spacing as said above, on the SR5 is going to be a bit narrower but my smallish hands don't know the difference too much.
The American Standard Jazz V is a great bass, and is a fair trade for a Stingray, but you will probably miss your Stingray. If you are cool with letting it go, do the trade.
The MIM active 5 string jazzes are a great value, in my opinion. You can pick one up used for around $400 if I remember correctly. If a passive 5 string jazz bass is what you want, go for it...but I'm not sure I would make that trade. 
I recently bought a five string American deluxe. I thought I would sell one of my musicmans to pay for it. Nope. Kept the musicmans and sold the jazz. It felt awesome, but was a little heavy and the b string wasn't for me.
D
Another vote for the Squier VM Jazz V. The stock pups in mine were wonderfully vintage sounding as is, so I threw in a three band Audere preamp for around a hundred bucks to make her a tone monster. The neck is plenty manageable width and depth wise, and the build quality was excellent.
At that price point it's hard to go wrong.
Mmmmm. Shiny.
At that price point it's hard to go wrong.
Mmmmm. Shiny.
Another thing to consider is how the Ray is active and the Jazz V Standard is not. IME, losing the balls provided by active pups always makes a passive bass sound wimpy (to me!). I know that there are a lot of guys on here who only play passive and I repeat: this is just my own opinion/ experience. The Squire Jazz V Deluxe is active and a nice little beast of a bass. I recently got rid of mine though and opted, instead, to mod one of my 4 strings to B-E-A-D. In short, keep your Ray.
