5-string shopping, where to go?

[joelns]

This is probably part 1 as I am several months away from the purchase. Got some bills to square away first. I’m also not a gearhead, so don’t really know much of what is out there and available. I've also not had much experience with a 5'er, but I am very much interested in the additional voicing options with the low B string. That said…

Here’s general specs for what I’m looking for as far:

BEADG tuning
j-bass style thin neck
Budget to around $3k, can go a little more for the right instrument
I played a Dingwall, and the 37” scale on the B-string is unworkable for me (small hands, I’m short, short arms, shoulder injuries, reach is limited, etc.). This also leaves me concerned about the Strandberg as the horn strap button is over the 15th fret, which will make the reach a bit longer than my shoulder can tolerate.
Music styles for a gig can range from jazz standards to country to metal and even punk, we play a very wide range of material and genre
Light is good, due to previous mentioned shoulder injuries
Would really like 24 frets. 20 isn’t quite enough for some of the stuff I like to play – mostly by myself for practice rather than in a band situation.
If active, easy access to battery (no screws is ideal) would be handy
Open to headless, open to multi-scale, open to fanned frets

I know, this is a big ask, as a “do it all” bass is not necessarily easy to find, a bit of a unicorn so to speak.

My current basses do cover most of my tonal needs, but neither is really a “do it all”, and I'd like a few more frets.

I currently have an old G&L El Toro with Seymour Duncan active PJ configuration which has that modern vibe.
I currently have a Fender MIM J-bass with tapewounds which has the vintage vibe.

Thoughts/suggestions? Anything in particular I should look at or where to start searching? Note that I will likely have to buy without trying, as there isn’t much in the area as shops go. Pretty much limited to GC and a couple of small shops that don’t have much in the way of basses other than Fender/Squire, low end Ernie Ball, etc.

Thanks in advance for any help or directions to pursue.

 

[Reedt2000]

Budget around $3k? Go anywhere you want!

If I were you my first stop would be the TB classifieds cause there's always a crap-ton of $2k and up basses, most of which were $3k-$5k when they were ordered. Plus most TBers are honest, and they can tell you about a bass from a bassist's perspective.

I'd also check GC's used stock. The 45 day return policy makes it really attractive cause returns are simple (there's a GC 15 min from me). I find with that level gear GC is either a killer deal (which you have to keep vigilant for cause they tend to move fast), or they WAY over price high end gear.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

Seriously, if you can drop 3k on a bass, the world is your oyster.

 

[g-dude]

Spector Euro 5LT with the Bartolinis, or maybe an NS Designs CR5 radius would be the first ones I would look at, and I’d just make life easy on myself and get it from Sweetwater.

 

[micguy]

Youy say you want a j bass style thin neck. I hope you unserstand that a 5 string won't be anywhere near as thin as a 4 string j bass.

 

[joelns]

Youy say you want a j bass style thin neck. I hope you unserstand that a 5 string won't be anywhere near as thin as a 4 string j bass.

Yup. Thin as in fretboard to the back where the thumb goes. I know it will be wider than a 4.

 

[joelns]

Seriously, if you can drop 3k on a bass, the world is your oyster.

With the shoulder injuries I have, I'm looking for something a bit more specific that will work with that, rather than such a general statement.

 

[Reedt2000]

For a do-it-all bass you should check out the G&L L2500. The empress body models are really light and the electronics are awesome, a seemingly strange control scheme, but actually pretty intuitive once you've got your hands on it. The USA made models have neck options. Pretty sure you could custom order one in your price range, though they are typically very affordable on the used market.

 

[g-dude]

Yup. Thin as in fretboard to the back where the thumb goes. I know it will be wider than a 4.

One thing to throw out there - the slimmer the neck profile, the less your fingers will be able to spread out.

It sounds counter intuitive, but make a duckbill with you thumb close to your fingers and then try to spread your fingers out without moving your thumb away from them. Next, widen the gap between your thumb and fingers, and watch how they are able to splay out more.

Depending on what fretting technique, and what size hand you have, thinner may not always be better ergonomically....even though I 100% understand why you’re including that request. It wasn’t until I saw one of Upton Bass’s videos on their necks that caused the lightbulb to go on.

 

[joelns]

One thing to throw out there - the slimmer the neck profile, the less your fingers will be able to spread out.

It sounds counter intuitive, but make a duckbill with you thumb close to your fingers and then try to spread your fingers out without moving your thumb away from them. Next, widen the gap between your thumb and fingers, and watch how they are able to splay out more.

Depending on what fretting technique, and what size hand you have, thinner may not always be better ergonomically....even though I 100% understand why you’re including that request. It wasn’t until I saw one of Upton Bass’s videos on their necks that caused the lightbulb to go on.

Interesting. I've never been comfortable with thicker necks. Possibly due to several broken bones in my hands and wrists. I'm pretty beat up (over 50 broken bones and a lot of soft tissue damage). I was an adrenaline junkie in my younger years with the injuries to prove it. Hence my long list of requirements, especially concerning weight and scale/reach.

To be honest, I'm leaning right now toward Ibanez. I've played a few over the years, and they've been comfortable. But nothing is set in stone.

I just don't know what other brands/models to be looking at.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

3 K?????
Buy a Squier and a car!!!!

 

[Slater]

I have never played one, so this just an idea and not really a recommendation, but maybe a Kiesel Vader short scale 5-string.

 

[krfoss]

For thin neck you'll want to check out Pedulla.

 

[Jazz4Me]

As someone who always felt more at home on a 4 string J-bass neck, the first 5 string I played that had the right combination of everything for me to feel at home was a Lakland 55-02.

 

[BigDrew]

Check out Music Man Bongo 5. Love ‘em.

 

[A9X]

To be honest, I'm leaning right now toward Ibanez. I've played a few over the years, and they've been comfortable.

For a start try everything they make that you can afford. You may find something you like for much less than your max budget.

 

[bobdabilder]

Schecter makes thin necks

 

[franklindayala]

This is probably part 1 as I am several months away from the purchase. Got some bills to square away first. I’m also not a gearhead, so don’t really know much of what is out there and available. I've also not had much experience with a 5'er, but I am very much interested in the additional voicing options with the low B string. That said…

Here’s general specs for what I’m looking for as far:

BEADG tuning
j-bass style thin neck
Budget to around $3k, can go a little more for the right instrument
I played a Dingwall, and the 37” scale on the B-string is unworkable for me (small hands, I’m short, short arms, shoulder injuries, reach is limited, etc.). This also leaves me concerned about the Strandberg as the horn strap button is over the 15th fret, which will make the reach a bit longer than my shoulder can tolerate.
Music styles for a gig can range from jazz standards to country to metal and even punk, we play a very wide range of material and genre
Light is good, due to previous mentioned shoulder injuries
Would really like 24 frets. 20 isn’t quite enough for some of the stuff I like to play – mostly by myself for practice rather than in a band situation.
If active, easy access to battery (no screws is ideal) would be handy
Open to headless, open to multi-scale, open to fanned frets

I know, this is a big ask, as a “do it all” bass is not necessarily easy to find, a bit of a unicorn so to speak.

My current basses do cover most of my tonal needs, but neither is really a “do it all”, and I'd like a few more frets.

I currently have an old G&L El Toro with Seymour Duncan active PJ configuration which has that modern vibe.
I currently have a Fender MIM J-bass with tapewounds which has the vintage vibe.

Thoughts/suggestions? Anything in particular I should look at or where to start searching? Note that I will likely have to buy without trying, as there isn’t much in the area as shops go. Pretty much limited to GC and a couple of small shops that don’t have much in the way of basses other than Fender/Squire, low end Ernie Ball, etc.

Thanks in advance for any help or directions to pursue.

Wilkins roasted jazz bass.

 

[joelns]

3 K?????
Buy a Squier and a car!!!!

My daughter is at the age where I need to get her one... She’s almost ready for college. And a drummer. An electronic kit for her is one of the expenses that has to come before the next bass purchase. The reality of parenthood.

 

[g-dude]

Interesting. I've never been comfortable with thicker necks. Possibly due to several broken bones in my hands and wrists. I'm pretty beat up (over 50 broken bones and a lot of soft tissue damage). I was an adrenaline junkie in my younger years with the injuries to prove it. Hence my long list of requirements, especially concerning weight and scale/reach.

To be honest, I'm leaning right now toward Ibanez. I've played a few over the years, and they've been comfortable. But nothing is set in stone.

I just don't know what other brands/models to be looking at.

Well, I haven’t tried the five string models, but I’m really enjoying my Spector Euro 4LT, and if I ever get another five string, another Spector is on the shortlist, as is the NS Designs Radius CR5 - both seem to be thought out well in terms of ergonomics compared to the Fender shaped stuff.