5 string P basses? Are they a good choice?

[B String]

You MUST spend time with an instrument. The 5 string becomes second nature after a while, but its like and new instrument. You have to see if it fits you. String spacing, neck shape etc. Some 5 strings have a wide spacing, other have a tight spacing. Go to a store if possible and play as many as you can. It's a tactile experience. Every brand is different. Are you a pro player or a hobbyist? Will this be your main player or one of others you own?

 

[B String]

Inspired. Now, who makes a P5 with 16.5mm spacing?

I believe Nordstrand is going to come out soon with a Cat bass 5, with a 16.5 spacing. I can't wait. Love the Cat 4 string.

 

[Basslie]

Finding a balanced string set is key I have found. My P5R 5 string has Labella 760 FL-B, and my V5 5 string Jazz bass has EXL220BT balanced tension set with a .130 B. I tried different sets on my fives and seems getting a string set where the B is balanced with other 4 strings is key, at least for me. For what it’s worth I love the P5R with the flats, a mute and a pick.

 

[arepa_funk]

Big time fan of fivers and love Precision tones. Currently have an AmPro II V in dark blue, like other folks in this thread have mentioned. It has Nordstrand NPF5 pickups, B string sounds great to my ears.

The Reverend Mercalli 5 has a reverse p at the neck and a MM at the bridge. Great precision tones here. Didn't like the pan control at all, but overall a great passive five string.

The G&L L-1000 is not a traditional or even reverse p, but that MFD pickup in the precision spot plus the parallel/split/series coil options AND passive bass and treble controls make it the ultimate five string p imo. Pic below shows it strung up with LaBella 760FLs E-G paired with a LaBella LTF B string.

 

[MrAB4003]

Big time fan of fivers and love Precision tones. Currently have an AmPro II V in dark blue, like other folks in this thread have mentioned. It has Nordstrand NPF5 pickups, B string sounds great to my ears.

The Reverend Mercalli 5 has a reverse p at the neck and a MM at the bridge. Great precision tones here. Didn't like the pan control at all, but overall a great passive five string.

The G&L L-1000 is not a traditional or even reverse p, but that MFD pickup in the precision spot plus the parallel/split/series coil options AND passive bass and treble controls make it the ultimate five string p imo. Pic below shows it strung up with LaBella 760FLs E-G paired with a LaBella LTF B string.

View attachment 5473910

I wish G&L would make a tribute series L-1000. 4 and 5 string models would be great.

 

[MtManiac]

I have a P-5 strung up with LTF and that makes for a very nice "B". I've had quite a few J-5s and none of them had a "B" that was impressive (to me). Now on the opposite end of the spectrum. All the EBMM 5's I've ever tried have a nice "B". Just sayin....

My Stingray has a good B string, about the same as my P5’s.

It doesn’t sound the same however.

 

[retslock]

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!

The one I had - American Deluxe sounded great but it didn’t suit me due to the string spacing. I found it too wide so I sold it. If wide spacing suits you then go for it.
I’ve since built two 5 string basses myself in the Precision style with narrower spacing, Nordstrand pickups and passive wiring set-up. The B strings sound fine. I use Chromes and La Bella DTFs and both go very well.

 

[Minus]

I have two Carvin/Kiesel PB5s and they are amazing basses. Their version of the P pickup is like king of the jungle.

 

[retslock]

Big time fan of fivers and love Precision tones. Currently have an AmPro II V in dark blue, like other folks in this thread have mentioned. It has Nordstrand NPF5 pickups, B string sounds great to my ears.

The Reverend Mercalli 5 has a reverse p at the neck and a MM at the bridge. Great precision tones here. Didn't like the pan control at all, but overall a great passive five string.

The G&L L-1000 is not a traditional or even reverse p, but that MFD pickup in the precision spot plus the parallel/split/series coil options AND passive bass and treble controls make it the ultimate five string p imo. Pic below shows it strung up with LaBella 760FLs E-G paired with a LaBella LTF B string.

View attachment 5473910

The pickup location is in my opinion, the biggest single factor of the P sound.

 

[younggun]

“Like” doesn’t begin to describe how awesome that bass is.

Thanks...built by the awesome luthier, and just oustandly awesome person, Brady Muckleroy.

 

[Blues Bass 2]

I play fives almost exclusively so I've a some great B strings . I had a Squier VM P5 for a while and didn't detect anything wrong with the B on it . Really great 5 string P bass . The P-bass sound isn't what I go for in a bass otherwise I'd still have it .

 

[Bobbylon]

Love my American Pro! Strung with very light strings (40-115). Feels and sounds fantastic! I also have a Modulus Q5 but this fender gets the gigs.

 

[foal30]

Did Fender ever make an unlined Fretless P5?

 

[pertyman]

My Sadowsky Metro Express PJ 5 has one of the best P sounds I’ve heard on a 5 strings.

 

[kevk]

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!

When I think of ‘that P sound’…it’s an all passive 4 string P…. My 34” Lull P5 has that same mojo…chambered alder body, rosewood fb, all passive—volume+vtc. The B string is one of the best I’ve heard/owned…7.85 lbs. So yes, it’s possible to get a P5 with a fantastic B string, and very integrated/even tone options across the fb…

 

[Doug Parent]

Over many years & basses, I've found the low B pretty much always works best with a bridge pickup blended in.
I can do without here & there, when the song calls for that "neck pickup" sound, and the response can seem adequate. I wouldn't want to commit to that all the time - at least not for low B.
Truth be told I'm a single coil J/J kind of guy at heart, but I seem to keep winding up with P/J for my workhorse 5-string.
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I would agree whole heartedly. It seems (from my experience only) that a bridge pickup brings valuable harmonic content that adds to the focus especially on a low B. But I acknowledge its not the only variable, neck stiffness and wood selection may factor in as well. Possibly. usually more so on Tuesdays.

 

[franklindayala]

I would agree whole heartedly. It seems (from my experience only) that a bridge pickup brings valuable harmonic content that adds to the focus especially on a low B. But I acknowledge its not the only variable, neck stiffness and wood selection may factor in as well. Possibly. usually more so on Tuesdays.

My P5 has a very defined low B. I think the roasted neck of my bass brings something to the table. To my ears roasted wood has very pointy highs, not the usual round sound of a non roasted wood and that helps with the Low B