Best Jazz 5 you ever played

[ragetoca]

What’s the best and most complete 5-string jazz bass you’ve ever played?

By “best,” I mean the full package—tone, weight, comfort, neck, electronics, response, sustain, finish, and especially the B string!

I’m not worried about price or brand. This is a totally subjective question—I just want your honest, personal take.





I’ll be updating the poll list based on your answers.

 

[bass12]

Mike Lull M5V - but with a Sadowsky preamp.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

My Sandberg…. But some might not consider it to be a true Jazz .
This bass replaced a Carvin SB5000 which is the 2nd best I’ve ever played. Body was just a bit too big but the weight tone and looks were superb.

I’ve never played one, but the best I’ve heard is Stenback!!! After that, it would be a Performance YB-5.

 

[BassAgent]

Two basses compete for that title: a Stenback 5 and my Lakland:

 

[Dabndug]

Atelier Z Beta 5 Custom. Atelier Z M#265 a close second.

 

[Chrishi87]

Sadowsky - Even it´s my "cheap" Metro Express.

 

[Fleo]

DeGier Bebop 5

 

[Admiral Akbar]

Alleva-Coppolo.

 

[Geri O]

Lull M5V w/ Lindy Fralin singles and Trickfish J Core preamp.

I will admit, the Lulls, Sadowsky, and the Lakland are the only Jazz-style basses I’ve played

The Lakland was nice, didn’t strike a chord.

The Sadowsky Jazz 5 is very nice, of course. Fantastic bass

But the Lull M5V, the one I’ve had for almost 7 years now still rings bells with me every time. And when folks mention how much they like that bass (and its gorgeous looks!), I know I have my heart & soul forever bass.

 

[Mastiff_5]

Don’t forget the Maruszczyk Elwood

 

[Gervais Cote]

I voted for Lakland (USA) because it really sounds great and it’s probably the most versatile bass on the market for various types of music.

For hard rock and heavy rock exclusively, Spector would be my favorite pick though.

For playability and comfort, Yamaha is awesome but never impressed me with the sound.

 

[onda'bass]

Xotic Xj-1, lindy fralin, tri logic preamp. A giant killer.

 

[ahbass2500]

Fender Roscoe Beck V

I am not generally a Fender fan, but the pickup/switching setup on that bass was perfect. Yes I recognize this thread asks for full package... the package was general J Bass package with nothing offensive to get in the way. Pair that with how it sounded/the range of sounds and you get the full package.

 

[Just go for it]

Yamaha BB1500a

 

[andruca]

From the OP list I've only played Sadowsky NYC (2 of them, awesome, some sounded great, not that I'd ever be able to afford one), several Laklands (a little too wide a neck/nut, I like them skinny in all dimensions), several Sandbergs (all with DEADlanos, which I hate, can't say for newer pickups, also neck isn't as comfortable as a Stingray5's, which is my reference 5er, most comfortable ever to me).

I've owned a couple Jazz 5ers (Sire V3, MarkBass GV5), and my current Jazz 5er is a Schecter J5 (35" scale). It's the most comfortable Jazz 5er I've ever owned and I can't remember any other that played lilke it (narrow and skinny neck, plays so soft). Pickups are overwound, so it's not the most barking Jazz (moreso coming from the MarkBass Gloxy, which is some of the growliest Jazz Basses around).

As per playability the Schecter J5 is up there. As per tone, pffff, I couldn't say, from the ones I've owned/played recently I'd say the MarkBass GV5.

Still, the award for best Jazz tone out of any bass I've ever played/owned is definitely going to my Yamaha (4 string) "Jazzes", which are a SuperBass SB500 and an SBV-500. Best sounding "Jazz Basses" I've played by far. Absolutely AWESOME tone. I might like the SuperBass tone marginally better (as aggressive but fatter), but it's got a thick neck I'm not that much into. The SBV-500 neck OTOH is THIN, plays much better. I've yet to find 5 string Jazzes that sound like these.

 

[Thundar]

Did you subconsciously list Spector twice, or what? LOL

 

[Core Creek]

Kiesel J-5

 

[el murdoque]

It depends on how loosely you take the term Jazz bass. When a bass with single coils in the appropriate positions, 34" scale and passive VVT controls qualifies, I'd like to add Le Fay to the list.
My personal model is a Karlsson and therefore a six string, but these guys basically make only customs, so you can have every single one of their models in that configuration if you desire so.
The only bass I ever touched that is on eye level (or better) with the B string is a Canadian made Dingwall Prima Artist.
From my personal view, the neck profile is perfect. The ergonomics are all perfect. The way it sits on my lap. The way it balances on the strap. The way my hands find their places as if the bass was made for my arm length and finger size. It's all 100/100.

From an objective standpoint these also are 100/100. Every single detail is perfection. The ridiculous weight. The tone. The action. The stiffness of the neck (on mine, I had to adjust the truss rod for the first time ever four years after I got it).

 

[JC BASS 91]

I can't participate in the poll because I've never played any of those, but do really like my Fender Am Pro II Jazz V.

 

[badinage]

Fender Am Pro II Jazz V for me too. I have three. Two of them are bone stock roasted pine. They feel fine to me, but more importantly they sure sound like a Fender Jazz. My Sandberg California TT5 Passive sometimes "feels" better, and sounds great. Just doesn't sound quite as much like a traditional Fender Jazz, which is what I want out of a Jazz Bass: I want it to sound and respond as very "Fendery".