Agreed with above Mercalli 5 recommendation. Used one in the classifieds right now I think. Reverse P/MM configuration, very versatile.
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5-string recommendation
- Thread starter Minimalist
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Everyone's hand an spec preferences is different. But additionally one can grow to like something that isn't in their current preferred spec range. Yes, the Yamaha has a narrow nut. Same as the TRBX605. Very easy to get around the neck. But there are days that I've played my BTB675 first with a 48mm nut and 35" scale and come back to the Yamaha and think it's too narrow. Adaptation plays a huge role. If we aren't cycling through basses with different specs then I presume we grow into something and anything different feels foreign until we adapt to that. Not any different with scale length. Anecdote...
The first 5er I bought was the BTB 675. It's a gorgeous instrument and I was smitten at the store. When I got it home, coming from a narrow Jazz 4 I thought it was far too big for me and thought I'd return it. So I ordered the Yammie TRBX605 which is the antithesis of the BTB. Same strings specs as the BB735. In the month that I had them both I grew into the BTB but grew to love the Yamaha as well. I kept them both. And there are days when I prefer one or the other. My point is that from a standpoint of feel we can adapt if given enough time.
Not to get too long winded, I can draw a parallel with trumpets. I played trumpet in orchestra for a number of years. We would have to use any number of different horns in a given performance. Mostly C trumpet, though during the week I played mostly Bb. Often I would have to switch between them, or Eb trumpet or piccolo trumpet, sometimes with only seconds between. The trick to being able to do this is, as I said, cycling through the instruments during practice. Doing that sort of tricks the brain into being able to make immediate adapations the moment I would pick up one horn or the other in rapid succession. It never ceased to amaze me how easy it was to go between radically different instruments without missing a beat. My experience extends to bass as well, but interestingly which bass I like on a given day depends on which one I played first. Ending sermonette.
I also own a Ray 35 and can get a pretty convincing P-bass if I cut the treble, boost the low mids, and pluck near the neck, especially with flats on it.
P Bass doesn't seem to be that hard to emulate. Unless you're doing a recording where the exact sound is needed, given the right EQ and strings that don't fight us with it one can make almost any bass sound similar to a P bass.
What's interesting about the ESP/LTD AP-5 is that it has active pickups (that need a battery) but a "passive" vol-blend-tone control layout. Basically, it's active power with passive simplicity.
A lot of folks here on TalkBass who have them really like them. (I'm something of an LTD enthusiast too; I have an F-205 and a D-5).
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I like this video of the bass, so you can get some sense of its tone:
A lot of folks here on TalkBass who have them really like them. (I'm something of an LTD enthusiast too; I have an F-205 and a D-5).
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I like this video of the bass, so you can get some sense of its tone:
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Of your list, the Yamaha or the G&L would be be good choices. I think you’ll find the Lakland to be too polite for what you are doing.
For what it’s worth, I found the Tribute L2500 to be head and shoulders above the Ray35 in terms of build quality. If you don’t want to spring for a US model yet, that might be a good solution.
Mine is so nice that I ordered a US one with some customizations last year!
I have owned or played the basses you are looking at. The 5502 (which I own) has a modern tone no matter how you set it and it is 35" scale which takes some getting use too. I also own a pb-5 which will do what you want if you can deal with the anemic B string. The bass I use the most these days is my Ultra Jazz V. It has a tone and feel that just fits. If you can't go the price of the Ultra, look at the Jazz Player plus V
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By the way... Lakland makes an amazing Skyline 5 string P bass that is 35" scale and its killer! They are very hard to find, but I think I saw one for sale here on TB recently. Its the 55-64 model
I owned a 55-02 for years and loved it but it definitely did not sound like a Pbass
the Yamaha PJ5's are excellent, and the LTD as others have mentioned is a great P5, and I just bought a Sire P10 and its superb! Flip the switch and its Passive!
I owned a 55-02 for years and loved it but it definitely did not sound like a Pbass
the Yamaha PJ5's are excellent, and the LTD as others have mentioned is a great P5, and I just bought a Sire P10 and its superb! Flip the switch and its Passive!
get the 425x if you can. Yamaha discontinued those BBs, the new series is also nice, but different.
the old ones (415/425) had a big comfy body and a bridge pickup that was more Hofner-like than J-like, now it doesn't happen and any of the new BBs don't feel and sound like this.
the old ones (415/425) had a big comfy body and a bridge pickup that was more Hofner-like than J-like, now it doesn't happen and any of the new BBs don't feel and sound like this.
I'm a fan on the Lakland 55-02. Lot's of bang for the buck here and a used one will easily fit in your budget.
Bones
Bones
I need to track one down. Atlanta doesn't really have a store with a great selection.[/QUOTE said:
Get a Sire V5, start from there. Passive bass, good quality, affordable price.
Throw a drop-in preamp like an Audere.
If you feel you must, swap the pickups for noiseless models.
Do that keeping the costs down and getting a great looking and tone machine.
Throw a drop-in preamp like an Audere.
If you feel you must, swap the pickups for noiseless models.
Do that keeping the costs down and getting a great looking and tone machine.
Spent several hours today at various Guitar Centers etc. Except for the LTD I was able to track down pretty much everything from my short list or similar (Sire P7 instead of P5). The clear front-runner is the Yamaha. Feel and sound are pretty much what I am looking for.
Unfortunately, the one I played was in pretty poor condition (nut broken at g-string, toggle switch and tone knob broken, back of neck pretty rough) and the store didn't want to come down low enough with the price to make it worth my time to fix it. The B-string was one of the best I have ever played. How consistent are those BB's with the low B? If I cannot get a deal on the 425x from today, I might just try to find a 1025x.
Unfortunately, the one I played was in pretty poor condition (nut broken at g-string, toggle switch and tone knob broken, back of neck pretty rough) and the store didn't want to come down low enough with the price to make it worth my time to fix it. The B-string was one of the best I have ever played. How consistent are those BB's with the low B? If I cannot get a deal on the 425x from today, I might just try to find a 1025x.
That's pretty spot on. The Lakland I tried was poorly set up, but I could still tell that it is a very refined and polite bass. The neck profile felt very nice though, and I can see one in my future.
please also note that 425 and 425x is the same bass, the only difference is pickguard. same for 1025 and 1025x.
415 is different: it has a slimmer one-piece maple neck (but also no string-thru option). I liked the neck stiffness on my 414 better than on my TRBX (a similar neck to 425, I believe), so if you'll encounter a 415, give it a try. skip the 615 tho
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