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Bass Suggestions to Add Variety

PrestoZoom

PrestoZoom

Nov 10, 2021
141
272
West Chester, PA
#1
I'm thinking about adding another 5-string bass to my arsenal but I would like to avoid basses which don't really add new tones to my collection. I currently have:
  • Yamaha BB735a
  • Spector Legend with upgraded EMG electronics
  • SBMM Ray35
  • Squier 70s Jazz Bass (4 string)
  • Squier 70s Precision Bass (4 string)
I currently play in two bands spanning a bunch of genres from rock to soul to country to jazz. I'm also regularly involved in local jam sessions and pop-up gigs so I'm not necessarily tied to a particular style. I play 5ers most of the time so I'm not looking to add another 4 string bass.

In terms of gaps in my collection, I might want:
  • Some kind of lighter-weight bass (mine are all over 9 lbs)
  • Something with modern humbucker sounds
  • Something that can give me a jazz(-ish) tone
Bonus points for:
  • Flat fretboard radius
  • Dedicated battery box (if active)
  • Colors available - ideally white or cream

I'm currently looking at Yamaha TRBX505/605 basses (since I love the neck and tones from my BB) or possible a G&L L-2500 (since I have a G&L guitar and like their products). I'm not a fan of Ibanez basses, purely for aesthetic reasons - I don't like their finishes and their headstocks just look weird to me.

I'd like to keep it under $900 (new or used). Any other brands or models I should consider?
 
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#3
Chris Chong said:
Jazz bass,

squire or used fender or sadowky metro express?
Click to expand...

That's a good suggestion but I haven't been in love with the Fender/Squier 5-strings I've played. I think it's due to the fretboard radius - I seem to prefer flatter boards.

I've never played a Sadowsky but they certainly look cool.

I forgot to mention that I own two 4-string Squiers - a 70s Jazz and a 70s Precision. I like both of them but I play 5ers 90% of the time.

ETA - I updated the post with this additional info.
 
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#5
I don't use 5-strings myself (crashed and burned there more than once... actually, more than twice :wideyed:), but I recently noodled on a Cort GB-Modern 5 at a local GC and I just about adored that bass. Lots of sounds on demand, nicely lightweight without feeling like balsa wood, and the feel of the build quality was confidence inspiring. These come with Nordstrand Big Singles and a preamp that can be bypassed.

I've never paid much attention to LTD - they seem to have a reputation for being geared toward musically heavier stuff and metal. I recently took a chance on a used B-1004 Deluxe (some of these are "SE" - which stands for Special Edition - instead of Deluxe) because I've been wanting a two-pickup bass with a more modern edge, along with a wider neck that fits me much better than many tradtional J-bass necks.

LTD also makes a B-1005 Deluxe, both standard and multi-scale (fanned fret) if you're up for that.

Shame on me for having a take-it-or-leave-it attitude toward Indonesian products in recent times. This might be the nicest bass (for me) that I've ever touched. The woods are superb, the electronics are rich-sounding and quite flexible, including when the preamp in switched off. I've gigged this bass three or four times and after almost two months with it, the honeymoon is still going strong.

The only decent review of the B-1004 Dlx that I could find on YouTube noted that bass as weighing in at an even 8 lbs., which was just what I wanted to find for myself to replace an old 10.5 lb. Jazz (with a wider P neck). Unfortunately the one that I found in the used inventory of GC weighs 9.2 lbs., but it's been so insanely good that I didn't return it. I'm going to get an ultra cushy strap and see how we do over the long haul - so far the gigs I've done with it have been fine. Other instruments in this line might be closer to the weight of the one in the review I saw.

Indonesia does it again!! Just found that 8 lb. Jazz I've been looking for in the form of a Cort Elrick NJS-4. These have a wider neck, but tighter string spacing like we get on a more traditionally narrow Jazz, so I brought mine to my luthier pals to install a new nut and also swap on a Hipshot bridge with adjustable saddles to get a spread that's more familiar for me. Very looking forward to getting that one back from the shop in a few days.

The odd thing about this Cort is that I actually tried the Elrick NJS-4 (:greedy::greedy::greedy:) maybe a year ago. I expected the Elrick to be my unicorn, but was surprised to find that it didn't much thrill me at all. The weight was a bit much, but I also thought that the electronics didn't make sound that really got my attention. I've personally never had much luck with Bartolini pickups, but I think that's on me and not them. That bass went back to the store...

And yes, Cort also makes an NJS-5.

As for budgets, I don't know yours, but I got these basses for about $900 each in just about mint condition.

Also went through a G&L thing recently - thought the M-2000 might do it for me. Got a Tribute for a GREAT price (Indonesian trifecta?) and then turned around a tried a US made M-2000 (I've kept my local GC busy!!). The US model wasn't at all bad, but the build and sounds of the Tribute were at least as good and it cost a boatload less than the US model. Some of the 5-string Tributes might be hefty, but you might find something nicely manageable if you look around.
 
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#6
groove pump said:
I don't use 5-strings myself (crashed and burned there more than once... actually, more than twice :wideyed:), but I recently noodled on a Cort GB-Modern 5 at a local GC and I just about adored that bass. Lots of sounds on demand, nicely lightweight without feeling like balsa wood, and the feel of the build quality was confidence inspiring. These come with Nordstrand Big Singles and a preamp that can be bypassed.

I've never paid much attention to LTD - they seem to have a reputation for being geared toward musically heavier stuff and metal. I recently took a chance on a used B-1004 Deluxe (some of these are "SE" - which stands for Special Edition - instead of Deluxe) because I've been wanting a two-pickup bass with a more modern edge, along with a wider neck that fits me much better than many tradtional J-bass necks.

LTD also makes a B-1005 Deluxe, both standard and multi-scale (fanned fret) if you're up for that.

Shame on me for having a take-it-or-leave-it attitude toward Indonesian products in recent times. This might be the nicest bass (for me) that I've ever touched. The woods are superb, the electronics are rich-sounding and quite flexible, including when the preamp in switched off. I've gigged this bass three or four times and after almost two months with it, the honeymoon is still going strong.

The only decent review of the B-1004 Dlx that I could find on YouTube noted that bass as weighing in at an even 8 lbs., which was just what I wanted to find for myself to replace an old 10.5 lb. Jazz (with a wider P neck). Unfortunately the one that I found in the used inventory of GC weighs 9.2 lbs., but it's been so insanely good that I didn't return it. I'm going to get an ultra cushy strap and see how we do over the long haul - so far the gigs I've done with it have been fine. Other instruments in this line might be closer to the weight of the one in the review I saw.

Indonesia does it again!! Just found that 8 lb. Jazz I've been looking for in the form of a Cort Elrick NJS-4. These have a wider neck, but tighter string spacing like we get on a more traditionally narrow Jazz, so I brought mine to my luthier pals to install a new nut and also swap on a Hipshot bridge with adjustable saddles to get a spread that's more familiar for me. Very looking forward to getting that one back from the shop in a few days.

The odd thing about this Cort is that I actually tried the Elrick NJS-4 :)greedy::greedy::greedy:) maybe a year ago. I expected the Elrick to be my unicorn, but was surprised to find that it didn't much thrill me at all. The weight was a bit much, but I also thought that the electronics didn't make sound that really got my attention. I've personally never had much luck with Bartolini pickups, but I think that's on me and not them. That bass went back to the store...

And yes, Cort also makes an NJS-5.

As for budgets, I don't know yours, but I got these basses for about $900 each in just about mint condition.

Also went through a G&L thing recently - thought the M-2000 might do it for me. Got a Tribute for a GREAT price (Indonesian trifecta?) and then turned around a tried a US made M-2000 (I've kept my local GC busy!!). The US model wasn't at all bad, but the build and sounds of the Tribute were at least as good and it cost a boatload less than the US model. Some of the 5-string Tributes might be hefty, but you might find something nicely manageable if you look around.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the insights. I agree about Cort - I like the basses that I've played and wouldn't mind getting one. They are difficult to find in-person, though, and I'm not crazy about the burl pattern on the GB-Modern. However, it ticks a lot of the other boxes for me.

I played an LTD-B205SM in a store the other day and was impressed by it. However, I feel like I don't really need a dual-soapbar EMG-style bass - my Spector handles that very well.

Sire is another manufacturer that I'm considering - I can't find any locally to play but the V5 looks good. I like the color schemes, roasted maple neck, and tones I've heard online. My only concerns are the fretboard radius and the potential for upgrading parts. I tend to tinker with electronics and hardware so I'm not sure if the Sire basses use standard Fender sizes.
 
#10
Here's one:

original.png

ESP/LTD AP5: Alder body, maple neck, real ebony fingerboard, Babicz bridge, Gotoh keys, EMG PJ. A real sleeper, and everybody needs an EMG axe, and I can't think of a better one. ESP's tend to get overlooked with their metal rep and sometimes strange shapes, but THIS one is a bomb. One bass where there simply isn't any 'upgrades' necessary, all OEM with all the good stuff.
 
#11
PrestoZoom said:
In terms of gaps in my collection, I might want:
  • Some kind of lighter-weight bass (mine are all over 9 lbs)
Click to expand...

If you aren't adverse to modding and can solder a little you could follow my path, or any part of it you like/find useful:

I recently (in the last 6 mos or so...) picked up an Ibanez GIO 205. I haven't weighed it, but I would be shocked if it weighed 9 lbs. I'm gonna guess it's just a smidge over 8.5 lbs...

So, I had these Delano HE/S 5s in a box of random bass do-dads. I had them in a Schecter that I owned for a while and sold. They came out before hand. They're EMG40 size btw...

While I was in there modding, I pulled the bass expander thing out, and made the bass completely VVT passive. 250K linear taper volumes and 500K audio taper tone. Not saying that choice was formulary or anything, they were the pots I had. Turned out to sound pretty good!
The Delanos are 4-wire, made to be series, single-coil, parallel, independently if you want...
I hard-wired the neck pickup parallel, and the bridge pickup series.
Because I'm way too OCD to leave a bass that 4 holes in it for knobs with just 3 knobs, I added an on-on-on switch with cap choices; .0045, .045, and .022. If you are a typically my tone is wide-open kinda player, your MMV more than most. I find that particular mod really shines when you have tone rolled off 25% or more...
It's really a versatile bass! Probably would have been before I jacked with it, but sometimes you just have to ignore Jeff Goldblum, "just because you can doesn't mean you should"...
I find that the volumes (well and the tone knob too for that matter) really interact with one another, there are "sweet spots".
I really like how it turned out, but can't help but wonder how all of the above would have turned out if my box of bass carp had had Bartolini pickups in it instead of the Delanos. You want something that is tonally different, Barts will get you there (and back)...
 
#13
PrestoZoom said:
I'm thinking about adding another 5-string bass to my arsenal but I would like to avoid basses which don't really add new tones to my collection. I currently have:
  • Yamaha BB735a
  • Spector Legend with upgraded EMG electronics
  • SBMM Ray35
  • Squier 70s Jazz Bass (4 string)
  • Squier 70s Precision Bass (4 string)
I currently play in two bands spanning a bunch of genres from rock to soul to country to jazz. I'm also regularly involved in local jam sessions and pop-up gigs so I'm not necessarily tied to a particular style. I play 5ers most of the time so I'm not looking to add another 4 string bass.

In terms of gaps in my collection, I might want:
  • Some kind of lighter-weight bass (mine are all over 9 lbs)
  • Something with modern humbucker sounds
  • Something that can give me a jazz(-ish) tone
Bonus points for:
  • Flat fretboard radius
  • Dedicated battery box (if active)
  • Colors available - ideally white or cream

I'm currently looking at Yamaha TRBX505/605 basses (since I love the neck and tones from my BB) or possible a G&L L-2500 (since I have a G&L guitar and like their products). I'm not a fan of Ibanez basses, purely for aesthetic reasons - I don't like their finishes and their headstocks just look weird to me.

I'd like to keep it under $900 (new or used). Any other brands or models I should consider?
Click to expand...
Ibanez SR605E might do it for you. The pickups are heavily-wound split singles with angled pole pieces. Active EQ gives a wide range of tones and there's a bypass switch for passive EQ.
 
#14
PrestoZoom said:
I'm thinking about adding another 5-string bass to my arsenal but I would like to avoid basses which don't really add new tones to my collection. I currently have:
  • Yamaha BB735a
  • Spector Legend with upgraded EMG electronics
  • SBMM Ray35
  • Squier 70s Jazz Bass (4 string)
  • Squier 70s Precision Bass (4 string)
I currently play in two bands spanning a bunch of genres from rock to soul to country to jazz. I'm also regularly involved in local jam sessions and pop-up gigs so I'm not necessarily tied to a particular style. I play 5ers most of the time so I'm not looking to add another 4 string bass.

In terms of gaps in my collection, I might want:
  • Some kind of lighter-weight bass (mine are all over 9 lbs)
  • Something with modern humbucker sounds
  • Something that can give me a jazz(-ish) tone
Bonus points for:
  • Flat fretboard radius
  • Dedicated battery box (if active)
  • Colors available - ideally white or cream

I'm currently looking at Yamaha TRBX505/605 basses (since I love the neck and tones from my BB) or possible a G&L L-2500 (since I have a G&L guitar and like their products). I'm not a fan of Ibanez basses, purely for aesthetic reasons - I don't like their finishes and their headstocks just look weird to me.

I'd like to keep it under $900 (new or used). Any other brands or models I should consider?
Click to expand...
Hmm… Hmm… Hmm… :bookworm:
Got it!!! :woot:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
:D
 
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#18
PrestoZoom said:
I'm thinking about adding another 5-string bass to my arsenal but I would like to avoid basses which don't really add new tones to my collection. I currently have:
  • Yamaha BB735a
  • Spector Legend with upgraded EMG electronics
  • SBMM Ray35
  • Squier 70s Jazz Bass (4 string)
  • Squier 70s Precision Bass (4 string)
I currently play in two bands spanning a bunch of genres from rock to soul to country to jazz. I'm also regularly involved in local jam sessions and pop-up gigs so I'm not necessarily tied to a particular style. I play 5ers most of the time so I'm not looking to add another 4 string bass.

In terms of gaps in my collection, I might want:
  • Some kind of lighter-weight bass (mine are all over 9 lbs)
  • Something with modern humbucker sounds
  • Something that can give me a jazz(-ish) tone
Bonus points for:
  • Flat fretboard radius
  • Dedicated battery box (if active)
  • Colors available - ideally white or cream

I'm currently looking at Yamaha TRBX505/605 basses (since I love the neck and tones from my BB) or possible a G&L L-2500 (since I have a G&L guitar and like their products). I'm not a fan of Ibanez basses, purely for aesthetic reasons - I don't like their finishes and their headstocks just look weird to me.

I'd like to keep it under $900 (new or used). Any other brands or models I should consider?
Click to expand...
If you want something different id suggest try a Warwick streamer. Itll be similar to your Spector but in no way will it be a rerun. Used you can get some nice deals on German built and even cheaper with the Chinese built. And don't worry about made in china on this one. They are very well made. My streamer is a rockbass Chinese version and its still awesome. Both Warwicks i have are very flat on the fretboard. Ive never seen one with a fender esque rounded fretboard. Aside from that youd probably like an mtd kingston or Saratoga. Really nice basses. Another one is a used peavey cirrus or millennium. Very underrated brand. It'll be close to what you're asking for but shouldn't copy anything you already have.
 
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