5 string suggestions

[LTDVIPER333]

If your an Ibanez man, I'd consider the possibility of another Japanese brand, this being ESP/Ltd.

I own a 4-string Ltd Viper 254, which has an active pre-amp and EMG pickups. LOVE my bass and would/am seriously considering purchasing an Ltd/ESP 5-stringer.

I would have a look and a play on an ESP LTD F-415FM 5-string bass which comes in at $RRP $1,041.00 Canadian dollars.

Specs as follows:

* Neck-thru-body
* 35" scale
* Mahogany body
* Flamed maple top
* 5-piece maple-walnut neck
* Rosewood fingerboard
* 47mm standard nut
* Extra-thin U-neck contour
* 24 XJ frets
* Black nickel hardware
* Grover tuners
* ESP BB-605 bridge
* EMG 40DC (bridge and neck) active pickup with EMG B64 3-Band Active EQ
* Finish: See-thru black

Could be an idea?

Cheers

 

[Philbiker]

Thanks for the advice...all will be considered.

Today, I went to a couple shops and played about 6 different 5'ers. I couldn't find a Fender P 5, but they did have a Jazz 5. And I hated the neck finish. Also, played a Peavey Cirrus 5 and a custom shop cirrus 5. The Custom Cirrus played like a dream, loved the neck (size, spacing,finish). The body finish looked a little...how should I say, 'painted' on, rather than true quilted finish. Also, I really didn't like the pup's. I know pup's are an easy swap, but I'd like to get what I want to start with. Ya know!

Probably going to go to Guitar Center next Monday or Tuesday and see what they have.

I really want to play a Sadowsky before I put $500 down, then wait 5 or 6 months to get something and it not be what I like. I won't do that either, but finding one to play first is going to be the hard part.

Cool! Keep the updates coming! I can assure you the Cirrus quilt certainly is VERY high quality! Peavey USA do not skimp! The pickup swap however may be difficult. Peavey has proprietary pickup shapes. IMO there's no reason to consider a pickup swap on a Cirrus, they sound so fantastic.

When you go check out the Laklands, don't feel like you're missing something if you don't like them. Lakland makes and imports really fine, fantastic instruments, but as many as I've played (lots, both imports and domestics - as Jong Lee sells them and I've been to his shop and to lots of international and local GTGs), they don't do anything for me. I know objectively how fine they are, but they just don't do it for me.

And see if there's a Dingwall dealer near you. You may be surprised at how natural they feel to play.

 

[FromTheBassMent]

i have owned a 5502 and loved playing it - but I personally struggled to get it to sit in the mix properly. I would recommend a good 5 string passive J such as a Fender or a Lakland JO5.

Not dissing 5502's just sharing my opinion.

if you go a a Sadosky Metro I would go for a PJ5. I have a fender PJ5 and love this bass - so many options tonally.

I had the same experience with the Lakland 55-02 I owned for about a year. Gorgeous instrument with a sick quilt top, impeccable quality, but could never get it to sound "right" in a country-rock/alt-country/whatever setting... it always sounded a bit nasal in that environment.

Having said that, I played a Lakland Skyline Joe Osborn 5 with the optional J-Retro preamp that was simply killer. If I were interested in a J-style bass that's the one I would buy.

Just played a couple of Sadowsky Metro 5's a few weeks ago at NJ Guitar & Bass Center. Flawless instruments with a nice traditional look, great sounding electronics (very hi-fi), but I found the neck width/string spacing a bit wide for my tastes. The neck is not thick front to back, but it did seem wide to me. Never played a NYC... those are WAY out of my price range!

I like the slightly chunky unfinished neck of my Stingray 5 (no sticky feel on the thumb, which is especially undesireable on a fretless... I can slide around like crazy). If you like a lighter instrument with a less chunky neck, the Sterling 5 might be the way to go. If you get the HH or HS pickup configuration in either the Stingray or the Sterling, you'll be able to dial in any tone you need.

 

[Rocksolid]

I agree with the suggestions about the Stingray as being a good choice coming from the tight spacing of an Ibanez. I love the tone of my Stingray and it fits most places you play it - but I love a Jazz Bass if there is an acoustic guitar involved.

Awesome feeling neck on the SR5's - I have 4 years of time into mine now and with lemon oil and a fine kitchen scourer out to work on the back of the neck it is silky smooth and lightening fast.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

I have a stingray 5 and a sterling 4. One with the other without the gunstock oil neck finish. I was always kind of tepid about those gunstock oil necks. Recently, after buying a sterling with that neck finish I went out and bought the reccomended birchwood-casey tru-oil and gunstock wax (at a real gun shop to boot). Spent a day sanding the neck with 1000 grit and then cleaning and seasoning it with dunlop fretboard cleaner, tru oil, and wax in that order. the neck is insanely smoooth now. I am sure after about a year of gigs and practice it will get more boring feeling and I will repeat the process. The oil looks nice too.
Also with the SR5 and the Sterlings you get the nice pickup switch. its subtle but definetly shifts the bark of the bass. Esp when you are really using that eq!

 

[basspraiser]

Cool....let us know what you think......it will be well worth the drive!!!

I personnally like the Lakland necks the best...and the tone is more "me" than Sadowskys....those are sweet basses though!

Well, after talking to a co-worker today, I found out there is a Lakland dealer about 70 miles from my home...and he highly recommended them, too, even though he's a Fender guy. So, to Daddy O's in Springfield I shall go next Monday or Tuesday...who knows, maybe I'll come home with a new toy.

Any comments on my Sadowsky Metro vs NYC question earlier?