5 string P basses? Are they a good choice?

[Sicknick42069]

First time poster with legit dilemma. Are 5 string P basses good? Does that low B sound good with P pickups? All I ever see is 4 string P's and 5 string J's.

I want that P sound but can't part with my low B. Please help!

 

[Geri O]

Yes.

Several years ago, I had a Fender P5 that was actually a good bass. Didn't think to look at the pickguard fit. Or the neck pocket......

And recently, I owned a Mike Lull P5 that was a fantastic 5-string Precision.

On both basses, the B string sounded great.

I wound up selling both of them because I tend to gravitate towards Jazz bass tones and Stingray tones. Both P5s I owned were always the 3rd choice when I went to grab a bass(es) for a gig. Just my taste in tones, I guess.

 

[abarson]

MTD CRB5

 

[MtManiac]

I own two Fender P5’s, and a Charvel PJ5. I own several others too, but the two Fenders are pretty much all I play - I’m in a cover band and they cover all the ground I usually need. Sometimes I’ll bring out the Charvel or my Stingray Special HH V, but always the two P’s.

Yes, I use the B string beyond just a thumb rest. :-D

I’m not sure why there’s this persistent belief on the internet that split coil pickups suck with a low B, as I’ve not found it to be the case at all.

Pickup and string combination matters. On one of mine, the bass was shipped to me with Labella flats on it, and the VMod II pickup sounded mushy. Switched the strings to DR Nickel Lo Riders and it sounded great. On the other one, it had a VMod I pickup, and I couldn’t get what I was looking for from it, weak lows and too strong highs, but I switched it out for a Nordstrand NP5F, and now it’s incredible.

The Charvel is a reverse split coil, so it’s different altogether, but lots of versatile tone options!

I’ve lately been eyeballing the Yamaha BB735 and 435 too but haven’t had an opportunity to play them so no idea what they sound like.

 

[johnh89]

I have a Sire P5R . Its a fine sounding bass . B string is good and fat . I dont venture down low too much but the ability to drop a fat D bomb every now and again , or a run down to the low B is glorious .

 

[Yahboy]

For 34 scale, i prefer reverse P pickup , BE to bridge, ADG to neck .

I mod on PJ bass in B standard along with 5 string set Sadowsky Black Label Nickel ( tapered 125 B ), the B and E string sound has nice clarity with the A and D string.

 

[Yahboy]

I own two Fender P5’s, and a Charvel PJ5. I own several others too, but the two Fenders are pretty much all I play - I’m in a cover band and they cover all the ground I usually need. Sometimes I’ll bring out the Charvel or my Stingray Special HH V, but always the two P’s.

Yes, I use the B string beyond just a thumb rest. :-D

I’m not sure why there’s this persistent belief on the internet that split coil pickups suck with a low B, as I’ve not found it to be the case at all.

Pickup and string combination matters. On one of mine, the bass was shipped to me with Labella flats on it, and the VMod II pickup sounded mushy. Switched the strings to DR Nickel Lo Riders and it sounded great. On the other one, it had a VMod I pickup, and I couldn’t get what I was looking for from it, weak lows and too strong highs, but I switched it out for a Nordstrand NP5F, and now it’s incredible.

The Charvel is a reverse split coil, so it’s different altogether, but lots of versatile tone options!

I’ve lately been eyeballing the Yamaha BB735 and 435 too but haven’t had an opportunity to play them so no idea what they sound like.

Beside Chavel Pro mod V PJ , the affortable RGB 305 also has nice sounding B string.

If i able found one of RGB305, i will flip the pickup to BE / ADG.

 

[TomB]

I’ve had some good ones in 34” and even in short-scale. They’re out there. I’ve had solid B-strings from Moollon, Valenti, Squire, and Serek (30.5”, single-coil in the sweet spot). I haven’t had a Fender in a while. I do think that a bridge pickup helps with B-string articulation as a rule.

 

[chris_b]

. . . . Are 5 string P basses good? Does that low B sound good with P pickups?

Yes. . . . if you buy a good one.

My experience with PJ5's is a Mike Lull that I bought pre-loved. This has been my main bass for 12 years. A set of TI flats and a lump of foam and that's all I need for a great sound.

 

[Micha84]

Can I please take this opportunity to say that no, they are no good at all. A P pickup has to be split right in the middle, each half (!) picking up two strings. Otherwise, it just doesn't look right.

 

[JRMK]

Can I please take this opportunity to say that no, they are no good at all. A P pickup has to be split right in the middle, each half (!) picking up two strings. Otherwise, it just doesn't look right.

OP asked if the B sounds good, not if it looks good

Agreed with previous posters, P5 is absolutely viable, I think it's less popular because of how P bass has largely traditional appeal hence defaulting to 4 string even more often than usual!

 

[bwildt]

A P pickup has to be split right in the middle, each half (!) picking up two strings. Otherwise, it just doesn't look right.

I would say this might only be an issue only if one is a nerdy bass player (not throwing stones at you personally), a traditionalist and are inspecting the bass up close. From 20-30 ft away looking onto the stage, it would be hard to tell. I'm sure that 99.99% of audience members don't care. When playing, I don't even see the pickup.

I have a Fender P5. It's one of my main gigging basses. The B string sounds good with the TI flats I use. Mine has a pepperoni tort pickguard and a black pickup. It's hard to even see the pickup from any distance away.

 

[mapleglo]

Love mine!

 

[KenD]

Perish the thought! Leo would have apoplexy at the mere mention of a 5 string Precision

 

[Gervais Cote]

Huge fan of precision bass here but if I was to dip my toe into a fiver, this would be a Spector.

Their low B is like thunder, not flabby and cuts in the mix like nothing else in rock songs IMO.

Not exactly a p bass sound though.

 

[BGroovy]

If you don’t like the look then go 5 string with a soapbar and drop an EMG 40P5. That’s what I have in the neck of my Spector 5 string, it’s a reverse P but looks like a standard soapbar.

 

[Zooberwerx]

First time poster with legit dilemma. Are 5 string P basses good? Does that low B sound good with P pickups? All I ever see is 4 string P's and 5 string J's.

I want that P sound but can't part with my low B. Please help!

I'll assume you have a 5 string of some type? If so, is it sporting J or soapbar pickups? Some of the more well-known manufacturers can stuff a P / split-coil into just about any shell. In all fairness, existing placement may throw-off the resulting vibe but I'll assume your blend still works. I'd be hesitant to surrender the flexibility of a dual pickup configuration.

Riis

 

[Scotty4string]

I would say yes. I own 2 Sire P5’s and recently purchased a Fender pro II Five string p bass. I love all 3. I slightly prefer the Fender because it is a little lighter. I think the B strings sounds pretty good. Of course string choice will have a huge impact. Some B’s sound better than others.

 

[J Wilson]

I bought the Squier P5 several years ago (a very close clone to the Fender P5) not really knowing what to expect

In living with it, it's simply a good P Bass with the advantages of a five string. Playing along the B string is no problem, sounds balanced, pleased with it.

It's very handy for Motown and 'horn keys', easy transposing on any five.

Aside from the bigger neck and fingerboard, just like any good Precision.

 

[BOOG]

First time poster with legit dilemma. Are 5 string P basses good? Does that low B sound good with P pickups? All I ever see is 4 string P's and 5 string J's.

I want that P sound but can't part with my low B. Please help!

Yep, works as advertised and intended on my AP-5 and sounds great doing it as a P/J.

edit…almost forgot, welcome to TB