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5 String Precision?

T

Thejamesjordan

Mar 2, 2006
138
3
www.spiderricorock.com
#1
Hi guys,

I am thinking about a new bass. I want something bright with great tone. Over the years I have heard some great sounding Fender Precisions.

What is the overall consensus on 5 string versions of these basses? I know the traditional 4 string is a well regarded bass. Any reason why the 5 string would not be the same scenario?

Thanks,
 
#2
Thejamesjordan said:
Hi guys,

I am thinking about a new bass. I want something bright with great tone. Over the years I have heard some great sounding Fender Precisions.

What is the overall consensus on 5 string versions of these basses? I know the traditional 4 string is a well regarded bass. Any reason why the 5 string would not be the same scenario?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

All of the quality five string P-basses I know of are well regarded like Fender, Lakland, Lull, Nordstrand, Sadowsky, etc. I would guess that Sandberg is good too, I just don't know much about them.

Yamaha makes the BB series with are not quite P-basses, but they certainly have Precision style pickups.
 
#5
I own an LowEnd PJ5. I love this bass. I went with the PJ to be more versatile. If I need that Raphael Saddiq sound I just turn knob and if I need more modern, hey I just dial it back to original spot. The older I get, the more I'm liking the P sound more.
 
#8
Thejamesjordan said:
Hi guys,

I am thinking about a new bass. I want something bright with great tone. Over the years I have heard some great sounding Fender Precisions.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

5string fender pbass with bright and great tone? maybe you should look out for American Deluxe pbass V like mine

1017331_634930616519691_1718717691_n_zps93801db3.jpg
 
#9
I just picked up an '08 MIA Fender P5, and it's great!

It came with some really dead Fender flats, and I replaced those with some Pro-Steels - really nice deep sound, and plenty of brightness. I do have a Delano pup in order, but the stock pickup sounds really nice.
 
#10
If you like the Fender sound then a Fender P5 might be a good place to start your search.

I've been playing a Lull PJ5 for 2 years now and for me it beats the few Fenders I've tried hands down. Most bass builders have their own take on tone, but Mike Lull has tried to build a P5 that sounds like an early 60's Pbass.

I don't use the J pickup and I do use Lakland flats. He's made the best playing and sounding P5 I've ever played.
 
#11
I just sold my Fender American Std Precision 5 string yesterday. It was a great bass, but not my own first option as 5 strings go. But it did what you want a Precision bass to do - funky, with some nice mids and lows. And the B string was definitely solid.

I didn't manage to find a set of roundwounds that I really liked for the Fender P5, but I did really like the way a set of D'Addario Chromes flatwounds sounded on that bass. I got the bass new, complete with Fender roundwounds. And then I tried some Dean Markley Blue Steels on it since I've been using those for years. But I think a different set of roundwounds might have yielded some better results.

So why did I sell my P5? It wasn't because the bass was inadequate. On the contrary, it did what you want a Precision bass to do. But I've also been in the process of building a 4 string P-Bass over the past month or so, and I foresee that bass doing what I need a P-Bass to do. And I'm also looking for another 5 string that will serve as a backup to my main 5 string which is a Fender Roscoe Beck 5 string. My feeling is that a 5 string Jazz would better suit my own needs.

If money weren't an object, I probably would have kept my Precision 5 string. It was a solid instrument that played well. The weight and balance were great.
 
#12
Thejamesjordan said:
Hi guys,

I am thinking about a new bass. I want something bright with great tone. Over the years I have heard some great sounding Fender Precisions.

What is the overall consensus on 5 string versions of these basses? I know the traditional 4 string is a well regarded bass. Any reason why the 5 string would not be the same scenario?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

I'm a P-guy, and have owned several P5s from several makers, including Fender. Unfortunately the Fender came out at the bottom of the list. Not that it's a 'bad' bass, but the others were all just 'better', from my personal playing and tonal expectations. The B was'OK', but not panty-dropping.

My best P5 is a Wilkins Roadtested. Those can be pricey, but IMHO are worth every penny and more.

In the Fender price range, I have a Carvin B50 that I modded into a P5 and it is tops. It costs new what a used Fender costs. I have heard great things about the new Carvin P5 series, though I have not played one since I have the B50.

My Lakland P's were great, but are 35", which I find less comfortable 34" for me. YMMV.
 
#17
I have the 5 string deluxe. Neck is relly thick IMHO. Body is good, electronics are good (I did have the body cavity shielded), I love the look of the maple neck and the finish is good. It is a typical bullet proof Fender. Nothing fancy, but a Fender P bass. The neck is just so thick. It makes it hard to play, for me.
IMG_0566.gif
IMG_0568.gif
 
#18
iriegnome said:
I have the 5 string deluxe. Neck is relly thick IMHO. Body is good, electronics are good (I did have the body cavity shielded), I love the look of the maple neck and the finish is good. It is a typical bullet proof Fender. Nothing fancy, but a Fender P bass. The neck is just so thick. It makes it hard to play, for me.
IMG_0566.gif
IMG_0568.gif
Click to expand...


The Roscoe Beck V often gets the thumbs up as the best fiver ever offered by Fender. My opinion is that the ADPV is the winner. I have owned two ADPVs as well as the Roscoe Beck, and while both were excellent, I found the P be far more usable in most all situations.

Most speculate that the ADPV became priced out of the Fender catalog. Maybe it's true that people don't want to play that much for a Fender, but they sure were amazing. I will they'd bring them back to be the sister to the ADJVs they build now.
 
#20
basspraiser said:
there are also butterscotch LOG bass versions out there.

here is sample pictures of mine (on your right):

DSC06361.jpg


DSC06357.jpg


I really love mine!

I know of one for sale (not mine)....if you are interested, PM me and I can get you the info for the seller.
Click to expand...

Basspraiser, do you have a closeup of your 55-64 with the sunburst finish and the P/j pups? That is one handsome bass!
 

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