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5 String suggestions ($3-4k)

popinfresh

popinfresh

Dec 23, 2004
3,812
39
38
Melbourne, Aus
www.mp3.com.au
#1
Hey guys, just looking for some help and pointers if I choose to sell my Thumb NT 5 for a different 5 string.

I love the thumb sound on it's own, and it's probably got the best playability of any bass i've been on ('94 model, so pre chunky) but in a band situation, it's just not cutting it as much as i'd like (literally).

So, i've been looking around lately at the choices i've got, but not sure where to look exactly. I'm after something that's aggressive with good presence and growl/punch yet versatile. Needs a very good B as well.

I've looked at a 20th anniversary EB Stingray 5, which I dug the feel and versatility of, but it was a maple fretboard, which tends to turn me away with EB's (my sterling's rosewood). I REALLY like the sound of the 20th ann on Ed Friedland's youtube preview, but unfortunately I can't find a rosewood fretboard one over here, and I can't get a new EB shipped here anymore from a shop in the USA.

A bass that i've always liked the sound and playing of is the Modulus VJ, but unfortunately they're only in 4 string. Has anyone compared the sound of a VJ with a 5 string Flea bass in jazz bass pickup form? The Flea basses with humbucker are too thin for me. Also how do the Quantum basses compare?

I've also been looking at some Dingwall's and Sadowsky's, but they're never really basses i've looked into. Can't find many good sound clips of them.

Any other suggestions? I'll probably have around $4000au, which at the moment is pretty much dead even with the US dollar. Add around 500 for shipping and taxes to get it to me in Aus.

The bass will be played a little in a Hardcore punk band (bad brains etc though I mainly use the Sterling), as well as a kind of reggae/punk/funk sorta band i've got going as well (clips in another thread). Other than that, a lot of chordal/tapping solo work.

If anyone has suggestions or sound clips of above mentioned basses, please share.

Cheers
 
#2
popinfresh said:
The bass will be played a little in a Hardcore punk band (bad brains etc though I mainly use the Sterling), as well as a kind of reggae/punk/funk sorta band i've got going as well (clips in another thread). Other than that, a lot of chordal/tapping solo work.
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A Dingwall would absolutely sing for that chordal stuff, and for reggae/funk you can't find a fatter sound out there that's still tight.

Also, I'm big into hardcore/metalcore and have no problem with my Dingwall. Tone isn't as big of a deal in that setting, but having a fast, thin neck is extremely important - and for that, a Dingwall can't be beat.


If you head over to the Dingwall forums, you will find that many (possibly more than 50%) of the users bought Dingwalls without ever trying one and haven't looked back.
 
#6
nastyn8c said:
A Dingwall would absolutely sing for that chordal stuff, and for reggae/funk you can't find a fatter sound out there that's still tight.

Also, I'm big into hardcore/metalcore and have no problem with my Dingwall. Tone isn't as big of a deal in that setting, but having a fast, thin neck is extremely important - and for that, a Dingwall can't be beat.


If you head over to the Dingwall forums, you will find that many (possibly more than 50%) of the users bought Dingwalls without ever trying one and haven't looked back.
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Cheers mate, i'll definitely add them to the options list.

Headed over to the forums and had a look. Like the look of the SJ5's in particular that he's starting to make. They're a great looking bass, though i'd love to hear some more clips first. I've seen some video's on youtube, and the tone in all of them kind of seemed, well, dare I say, bland :hmm: They're only from two or three different people though and not great quality recordings.

So far the Modulus' (though not sure about Flea J5/Q5) and EB 20th ann are on top, though it's just a matter of GETTING a stingray that's the problem :(

I noticed in your profile thing you previously owned a SR 5. Would you be able to compare it to the Dingwall at all? Was it a standard 'ray (pickup wise etc)?
 
#7
I am playing a Sadowsky MS5 almost exclusively now and I have tried/owned (or own) high end Fenders, Music Man, Lakland, Warwick, Pensa, Ritter, Roscoe, Ken Smith, etc. This is the best 5er I have ever played. Period. I am GAS free for a few months now due to this bass.

I bought mine used (but like new) for just under $2000USD. I would highly recommend a Metro Standard or Vintage.
 
#8
capnsandwich said:
Look at some Lakland 55-94's. They've got some sound clips on their website. Check out the 55-02 since it's the same instrument electronics-wise, just the Korean version of the 55-94.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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Thanks for the link mate, didn't think of Laklands, always liked the sound though. What a great/informative site for a company, will sit down through some clips :)
 
#10
Baird6869 said:
I am playing a Sadowsky MS5 almost exclusively now and I have tried/owned (or own) high end Fenders, Music Man, Lakland, Warwick, Pensa, Ritter, Roscoe, Ken Smith, etc. This is the best 5er I have ever played. Period. I am GAS free for a few months now due to this bass.

I bought mine used (but like new) for just under $2000USD. I would highly recommend a Metro Standard or Vintage.
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Hmm, for that price I could afford a used Sadowsky and a Lakland :P
But really I've always seen those two as making a pretty similar targeted bass (the whole fender copy thing). Can I ask what Lakland you owned and how it compared at all? Feel free to PM.
 
#11
popinfresh said:
Hmm, for that price I could afford a used Sadowsky and a Lakland :P
But really I've always seen those two as making a pretty similar targeted bass (the whole fender copy thing). Can I ask what Lakland you owned and how it compared at all? Feel free to PM.
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I had a Lakland 55-02 that was a nice recording bass but just wasn't my favorite to gig with. Nice bass but my Sadowskys just cut in the mix better. You should be able to find a used 55-02 (in North America anyways) for $700-900.

If it helps, when I gig lately with 5ers I only take my Sadowsky MS5 and a Stingray 5. This combo covers me for punk, metal, reggae, blues, rock and funk. Both basses totalled under $4k (I bought the MS5 used and the SR5 new).
 
#12
Baird6869 said:
I had a Lakland 55-02 that was a nice recording bass but just wasn't my favorite to gig with. Nice bass but my Sadowskys just cut in the mix better. You should be able to find a used 55-02 (in North America anyways) for $700-900.

If it helps, when I gig lately with 5ers I only take my Sadowsky MS5 and a Stingray 5. This combo covers me for punk, metal, reggae, blues, rock and funk. Both basses totalled under $4k (I bought the MS5 used and the SR5 new).
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I'm actually considering this more and more (SR5 + cheaper sadowsky or lakland). I'm loving the Stingray 20th anniversary bass sound, i'm just worried I won't be able to get one. I might try calling EB and seeing if they'll allow to ship one out of the US, as for what I was told, I can't get them ordered over here anymore.

The Sadowsky cutting better in the mix is definitely a plus, I can try them locally as well so i'll give one a go later this week.
 
#15
The_Owl said:
A Thumb bass not cutting through a mix? Am I in Bizarro-world?:smug:

Well, you could always sell it to me I guess...:D

I'm The Swedish Owl at the Wick forums.
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The thumb cuts through a mix, just at the wrong range for my style of music. Doesn't suit the bands sound as well as a bass could.

It may well be on the market very soon, but i'll post on the warwick boards as i'm not a supporting member here (I think my username is the same over there).
 
#20
The_Owl said:
Cliff Bordwell, I believe?
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That's the one. Picked this one up last week. I don't remember the total cost, but definitely under $4k.

DSC00751.jpg
 

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