A five string P that is not a five string P

[el murdoque]

I'd really like a bass that offers the general advantages of a P, meaning that it has that one P sound that sits perfectly in the mix.
I'd also like it to have a B string that has some oomph to it and that does not feel sloppy.
The Squiers and Fender American Standards I tried did not deliver in that department.
And, on top of things, (blasphemy) I don't really like the look of Fender basses.
If money was not an issue, this would be fairly easy, i'd get a Dingwall Super P 5.
But it is and i'm looking for something more affordable.
Maple fretboard would be a bonus. Any ideas?

 

[RED J]

String a 4 string P BEAD. I've done it twice with impressive results.

 

[el murdoque]

this could be a possibility. But what 4 string?

 

[RED J]

Any old P bass. The grooves in the nut will have to be widened for the bigger strings.A P bass in your price range that you like.

 

[Dbassmon]

As an owner of Fender P5, I can tell you that there is nothing wrong with low b string. I own many other 5s to compare it to. While I hear many say Fender B string is NG, Floppy, sloppy, that is not my experience. What is key is finding the right set of strings. D'Addario XLs 40,60,80,100,130 is what I use and the B is "solid", articulate and balanced with the rest of the instrument. Plenty of P bass goodness. Again, just my experience and if that helps, great.

 

[el murdoque]

To clarify:
I don't want a Fender P or a similar lookalike. They are butt-ugly in my blasphemic eyes. I want a bass with 5 strings and a single, splitcoil PU that SOUNDS like a Fender P, if such a thing exists.

 

[Nephilymbass]

To clarify:
I don't want a Fender P or a similar lookalike. They are butt-ugly in my blasphemic eyes. I want a bass with 5 strings and a single, splitcoil PU that SOUNDS like a Fender P, if such a thing exists.

ESP RB-1005? Doesn't look like a fender. The 2017 version has an ebony board but you can still find the maple ones. Aguilar pickups and pre.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Yeah, easy to see why you would prefer the looks of the Dingwall.

 

[Tonycarlson]

Then again, there's this...

 

[Dbassmon]

To clarify:
I don't want a Fender P or a similar lookalike. They are butt-ugly in my blasphemic eyes. I want a bass with 5 strings and a single, splitcoil PU that SOUNDS like a Fender P, if such a thing exists.

You clarified things for sure.

 

[monsterthompson]

EMG makes a five string pickup that is reportedly P-like. I had one but never installed it. It fit a 40DC size. Might be worth looking at as an upgrade to any 5 string. The closer the pickup location is to the actual P location, the more it would probably help. Try finding a 34" 5, too.

 

[selowitch]

The Schecter Omen V is very affordable and really nice to play, plus it looks like a more expensive instrument.

 

[Stevorebob]

this could be a possibility. But what 4 string?

It won't remedy your "sloppy B" issue. If you don't like the B in a 5-string, how would a BEAD be any improvement?

 

[Dave W]

Dingwall Combustion with a P Tone in the neck position?

 

[RED J]

It won't remedy your "sloppy B" issue. If you don't like the B in a 5-string, how would a BEAD be any improvement?

There have been discussions about how a BEAD four has greater clarity and less
"mushiness" in the tone over a five. That has been my experience.

 

[dgrizzly]

View attachment 1068713

Yes please drool

 

[pasmithy]

Well, I was looking for the same thing. No worry about any "flop" with the B string here. And it balances very nice with the others...

Happy purchaser from RocketMusic...

 

[chris_b]

I'd also suggest a great bass with it's own (great) sound which doesn't look anything like a P bass is the Lakland 55-94.

 

[Element Zero]

Love my 19 year old Ibanez ATK 305. Sounds nothing like a P but sits well in almost any mix.

 

[rogerbmiller]

If you can find a Modulus Sweet Spot or M92 5 string that would be pretty choice. Those were the P killers of the 90s.

Also the Pedulla Rapture single soapbar model would fit the bill. Similar placement as the Modulus and also 35" scale. And also active. And also not a P bass.

A J V might work either with both pickups or the neck pickup soloed. Neck PU soloed gives a woolier P type tone than a P. Both pickups dimed act like a P pickup in that both single coil pickups act in serial mode.