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5-string shopping, where to go?

#41
joelns said:
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.
Click to expand...

If your budget is $3k... I would be heading straight to a Modulus dealer and looking at a Q5. Nuff said.

Edit: If you want to save yourself a few bucks however, check out the Ibanez BTB lineup. I just bought a 1935... It is beautiful and sounds amazing.

Your call...
 
#43
ok budget is 3k! Go with a Sadowsky 5 string either used or new most likely new. I played one metro express and hated the quality. So go with a normal metro. this will get you a great 5 string bass (imo one of the best) under 9 pounds and a 34 inch scale with one of the best B strings in the market.
 
#44
with your budget you can check for a Dingwall super J or P or PJ (up to your taste):
- slim neck
- sounding "Fender", but better than Fender
- fit and finish is top notch
- scale on "super" models is 35" to 32" i.o 37" to 34" like on the other canadian basses, so the playing feeling is more or less the same you can have with a parallel fret instrument
- perfect sounding instruments for the music you are going to play (IMHO of course)

if you're parallel fret oriented you can check a Sandberg California II 5 strings which is a very good instrument for a reasonable price, or if you can find one pre-owned a Fender Elite 5 strings (tried the ultra and I've chosen to keep the elite, better in every way IMHO)
 
#45
joelns said:
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.
Click to expand...
FWIW, I spent over a year running the rack on 5-string basses. I’ve been partial to Fender but I still shopped G & L, EB Music Man, a few others. I did want an American made 5-string. I also knew I need a good amp/cab setup to run it as I was playing Country Music.

Just play as many models as you possibly can and use that experience as your guide. If the bass works for you, that’s what matters.

If you haven’t upgraded you amp/cab situation, you could conceivably accomplish both with your budget.
Good luck.
 
#46
P. Aaron said:
FWIW, I spent over a year running the rack on 5-string basses. I’ve been partial to Fender but I still shopped G & L, EB Music Man, a few others. I did want an American made 5-string. I also knew I need a good amp/cab setup to run it as I was playing Country Music.

Just play as many models as you possibly can and use that experience as your guide. If the bass works for you, that’s what matters.

If you haven’t upgraded you amp/cab situation, you could conceivably accomplish both with your budget.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

Amp and cab have been done. Amp is a Mesa Boogie TT-800. Cabs are their Subway 1x15 and 1x12.
 
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#48
Valvehead said:
Sadowsky Metro, made in Germany by Warwick.
Weight is low, necks are thin, electronics are awesome. What more do you want.

I just ordered myself a five string precision model with PJ pups.
Click to expand...

I thought these were made in Japan.

@joelns Do you care about string spacing? Ibanez SRs & the new EHBs (headless) have thin necks. The SRs have 16.5mm spacing & the EHBs have 18mm spacing. EHBs are available in multiscale or standard scale. Nut width is thinner on the SRs. The EHBs are chambered but I've seen SRs on Sweetwater that are just as light.
 
#50
Herrick said:
I thought these were made in Japan.

@joelns Do you care about string spacing? Ibanez SRs & the new EHBs (headless) have thin necks. The SRs have 16.5mm spacing & the EHBs have 18mm spacing. EHBs are available in multiscale or standard scale. Nut width is thinner on the SRs. The EHBs are chambered but I've seen SRs on Sweetwater that are just as light.
Click to expand...

Honestly, I don't really know. All I've owned are Fender and G&L 4 strings. Pretty sure they are 18 or 19mm. I imagine I could get used to a tighter string spacing with a little practice.
 
#51
Herrick said:
I thought these were made in Japan.
Click to expand...

Not anymore. From 2020 production of NYC moved to Germany customshop, Metroline to Germany too, Metro Express to China. Warwick are doing all the manufacturing, Roger still builds some top of the line models in the U.S. wanting to focus on building great basses rather then managing a large scale business operation. I totally get that.
 
#52
Island Thumper said:
I hate to do this because it might slow down my build(s), but have you researched Tom Clement? He makes unicorns.

You won't get to play it before it's built, but if you know your parts (pups, placement, strings, etc...) you pretty much end up with the sound you're going for as Tom can do pretty much anything. It's well within your price range (but you could go nuts on extras--chambered, tops, finishes) and he's incredibly FAST for a custom builder of ANYTHING handmade in today's world.

Also, maybe other Clement fans will chime in here, but a huge part of the enjoyment of a Clement bass is watching him build from scratch and keeping you in the loop with everything. It's like watching art come to life (from an idea).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. I sent him an initial inquiry.
 
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#54
Man Im in the same boat, I want a 5 in the collections. Been eyeing Lakland 55-02s lately. Also Sandberg makes some great stuff in 5 strings around 3k and less. I like the humbucker bridge and single coil neck combo. The new American Pro II Jazz 5 is another one Ive been eyeing. I would also consider an Enfield with Sims Quad pickups.
 
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#55
landrybass said:
Man Im in the same boat, I want a 5 in the collections. Been eyeing Lakland 55-02s lately. Also Sandberg makes some great stuff in 5 strings around 3k and less. I like the humbucker bridge and single coil neck combo. The new American Pro II Jazz 5 is another one Ive been eyeing. I would also consider an Enfield with Sims Quad pickups.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions. Sounds like we're on a similar quest. I've been considering a 5 for several years. Finally to the point where I can, at least once some medical bills get sorted.
 
#56
If you want a super comfortable bass with tonal flexibility, maybe check out the Ibanez EHB 1505MS.

It's headless, multiscale but caps out at 35", has two single coil Nordstrands and an active/passive pre.

Or, if you want a more classic look with similar specs, check out the Ibanez BTB or SR Premium series.

Or a Warwick Streamer - the PJ configuration is pretty flexible and the body and neck are both very comfortable.
 
Last edited:
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#57
I've got a Devon J5 classic looking to sell. It's very light, plays wonderfully, and is in mint condition. 34" scale, so it's very manageable.
Devon J5 1.jpg
 
#60
joelns said:
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.
Click to expand...

Go to a music store and try out a few Ibanez models
 

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