Budget PJ5 Options

[backin82]

I'm looking for a "good" trial bass to explore the PJ configuration on a 5-string, and would prefer an FSO (Fender-shaped object). I like the wider spacing of my Lakland DJ5, so I'd love to find something similarly setup. I can live with 34" scale for this trial, but will eventually seek one with 35".

Budget is $700 or less, and preferably in the $300-500 range. I don't mind buying used.

I've discovered Harley Benton and Sire make such options. Any others? Never tried Harley Benton, but they appear to maybe be similar to Squier in terms of quality. Can anyone confirm that?

 

[Moving Pictures]

Would something like the Yamaha BB235 or BB435 interest you? I am less familiar with ESP but I recall them having an FSO shaped PJ5.

 

[backin82]

Would something like the Yamaha BB235 or BB435 interest you? I am less familiar with ESP but I recall them having an FSO shaped PJ5.

Not interested in the Yamaha. I hate the shape of it. The ESP is better, but appears to be closer to $1,000.

 

[Moving Pictures]

Not interested in the Yamaha. I hate the shape of it. The ESP is better, but appears to be closer to $1,000.

Then I would look hard at the Sire. The reviews seem overwhelmingly positive. I’m also not a fan of BB series but their necks are great and they sound good which is why I suggested it. I find their bodies cumbersome so I don’t play them.

Good luck with the search. Post an update when you find what you need.

 

[backin82]

Then I would look hard at the Sire. The reviews seem overwhelmingly positive. I’m also not a fan of BB series but their necks are great and they sound good which is why I suggested it. I find their bodies cumbersome so I don’t play them.

Good luck with the search. Post an update when you find what you need.

I totally will! My only "complaint" with the Sire is that the PJ's all come with active electronics. I think they can be switched to passive mode, but I'll eventually look for a totally passive bass if I decide to pursue something nicer eventually.

 

[Moving Pictures]

I totally will! My only "complaint" with the Sire is that the PJ's all come with active electronics. I think they can be switched to passive mode, but I'll eventually look for a totally passive bass if I decide to pursue something nicer eventually.

If the Sire feels good and you are happy with everything but the active electronics, you could gut the preamp or just stick to passive mode.

I just realized the Charvel is another good option. They have a PJ5. Also has a passive mode.

 

[Reedt2000]

Lots of companies make P and J pickups under soapbar shells. My spector ns pulse 5-string has a p pickup at the neck and a humbucker at the bridge.

I just ordered a P and J for this spector rebop 5 (I like spector )

So if you find a 2 soapbar pickup bass you like (ESP LTD and Schecter both make good quality affordable basses with this setup, even more affordable used...), you can put a P/J setup in it, and take it out if you don't love it

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I saw a Sire 4 string at a local music store laying on the workbench, maybe a truss rod tweak. It looked really good and until I saw "Sire" on the headstock I would have guessed it was a $4-$5k boutique brand. I didn't try it because I wasn't really looking for a P bass. But I was impressed with the looks.

 

[micguy]

Lots of companies make P and J pickups under soapbar shells.

Those pickups have less offset between the halves than a traditional split P pickup - about half the offset in most cases, which I think its a good thing - they sound more like "one bass" than a traditional split P, where the halves sound rather different due to the large amount of offset (and everyone is arguing about which way the offset should go).

For the DIY'er, Nordstrand makes a good one - The Dingwall designed pickup that they make - it is a reverse offset in case that's an issue. With that and one of their inline hum cancellers in the bridge (A Jazzbar or a Big Split) you can explore PJ territory with a lot less hum.

 

[Eric Ryan]

G&L Tribute series. SB2, if I recall. You could buy 2 of them with your budget, if you shop carefully. Thank me later, G&L is awesome.

Edit; never mind, I missed the 5 part of your PJ5 description.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

A Harley Benton will outperform any Squier in the same price range. You can get a HB PJ-74 for less than a Squier Sonic and FAR less than a Squier Affinity. The quality of the HB PJ-74 is much closer to a Squier CV, which costs more than twice as much (and isn't even a PJ). The only thing I didn't like about the PJ-74 was the razor sharp fret ends. Possibly the sharpest I've seen on any bass, EVER. But that's easily fixed. Apart from the nasty fret ends it was a shockingly good bass for the money (although I don't expect the quality control to be great in this price range so I'm sure they can vary a bit).

It's a shame you don't like the shape of the BBs. In my opinion they are by far the best PJs in your price range.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Sire is good "bang for the buck". Good QC. Resale? Probably not so much...

I like my PJ Sire, but the J pickup is a bit weak compared with the P.

 

[Dincrest]

I would have suggested a Schecter Model T 5-string, but it's outside of your budget:
Model-T Session-5

I see someone suggested the ESP/LTD AP-5 and while many TBers love them, it is beyond your budget and has active pickups (albeit with "passive" controls): [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[timendous]

I had a Harley Benton PJ-75 for a while and absolutely loved it. It is on my short list of basses I've sold that I want to buy again.

I think Sire would probably be a step above in overall quality, craftsmanship, and options but the Harley Benton is a VERY fine bass, ESPECIALLY for the price.

 

[Altitude]

Yamaha really is the answer here, but I can understand not liking the BB body shape. It’s distinctive.

There’s a 5-string PJ in the Ibanez Talman line, very low price. I’ve never played one but nobody has mentioned it yet.

Ibanez TMB405TACBS Talman Bass Standard 5-String Electric Bass Cosmic Blue Starburst

 

[sokolasty]

I've discovered Harley Benton and Sire make such options. Any others? Never tried Harley Benton, but they appear to maybe be similar to Squier in terms of quality. Can anyone confirm that?

I came to same idea and HBPJ5 is on road to me.
HBs are playable instruments. Attention to detail is better than in my 1k$ LTD Surveyor
There's a Polish bass player Modest (his first name) on YT, you might want to check it.
I had HB shorty PB and it was everything OK but intonation. Hit or miss - like my experience with Fender Player Mustang

 

[beaglesandbass]

I totally will! My only "complaint" with the Sire is that the PJ's all come with active electronics. I think they can be switched to passive mode, but I'll eventually look for a totally passive bass if I decide to pursue something nicer eventually.

They do indeed have an active/passive toggle.

Not interested in the Yamaha. I hate the shape of it. The ESP is better, but appears to be closer to $1,000.

You hated some Yamahas, what about the BB425X? That's pretty Fender shaped.

This Ibanez is Jaguar shaped.

Not judging, but you want to stay under $500. You aren't going to have many options. Being picky about body shape when you admitted you are only giving a 5 string PJ a trial (assuming you're going to get a different bass eventually) seems a little much.

If you wanted to mod a little, buy this and swap out the MM pup for a Jazz pup, then sell the MM pup and active electronics and throw passive wiring harness in.

Or, alternatively, buy this and swap out the neck Jazz pup for a Precision pup.

Or just buy this and not worry about super high quality for less than $350 since it checks all your boxes.

 

[backin82]

They do indeed have an active/passive toggle.



You hated some Yamahas, what about the BB425X? That's pretty Fender shaped.

This Ibanez is Jaguar shaped.

Not judging, but you want to stay under $500. You aren't going to have many options. Being picky about body shape when you admitted you are only giving a 5 string PJ a trial (assuming you're going to get a different bass eventually) seems a little much.

If you wanted to mod a little, buy this and swap out the MM pup for a Jazz pup, then sell the MM pup and active electronics and throw passive wiring harness in.

Or, alternatively, buy this and swap out the neck Jazz pup for a Precision pup.

Or just buy this and not worry about super high quality for less than $350 since it checks all your boxes.

I appreciate the additional info. All options welcomed for consideration.

I realize I'll have not many options, but that's ok. That's why I asked the question. I wanted to see if other people knew of more options than I had already found. I'm in no rush to find something, and just looking at what's out there.

I'll be exactly as picky as I prefer since its, you know....my decision.

 

[backin82]

I would have suggested a Schecter Model T 5-string, but it's outside of your budget:
Model-T Session-5

I see someone suggested the ESP/LTD AP-5 and while many TBers love them, it is beyond your budget and has active pickups (albeit with "passive" controls): [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Man, that Schecter is a really sharp looking bass! But I'm not a huge fan of the natural wood finish look, but the hardware really pops on that bass. If I could find a used one, I might consider that.

G&L Tribute series. SB2, if I recall. You could buy 2 of them with your budget, if you shop carefully. Thank me later, G&L is awesome.

Edit; never mind, I missed the 5 part of your PJ5 description.

That G&L is a legit option. Thanks for sharing. Its close enough and has some different finish options that I can dig. Definitely in the running!

 

[backin82]

A Harley Benton will outperform any Squier in the same price range. You can get a HB PJ-74 for less than a Squier Sonic and FAR less than a Squier Affinity. The quality of the HB PJ-74 is much closer to a Squier CV, which costs more than twice as much (and isn't even a PJ). The only thing I didn't like about the PJ-74 was the razor sharp fret ends. Possibly the sharpest I've seen on any bass, EVER. But that's easily fixed. Apart from the nasty fret ends it was a shockingly good bass for the money (although I don't expect the quality control to be great in this price range so I'm sure they can vary a bit).

It's a shame you don't like the shape of the BBs. In my opinion they are by far the best PJs in your price range.

I had a Harley Benton PJ-75 for a while and absolutely loved it. It is on my short list of basses I've sold that I want to buy again.

I think Sire would probably be a step above in overall quality, craftsmanship, and options but the Harley Benton is a VERY fine bass, ESPECIALLY for the price.

I came to same idea and HBPJ5 is on road to me.
HBs are playable instruments. Attention to detail is better than in my 1k$ LTD Surveyor
There's a Polish bass player Modest (his first name) on YT, you might want to check it.
I had HB shorty PB and it was everything OK but intonation. Hit or miss - like my experience with Fender Player Mustang

Thanks for the feedback on HB! I've read pretty mixed reviews about them. I'd love to find something "solid" that I don't have to endlessly tweak or work super hard to make it playable. I had a Squier Affinity series bass that was so bad it seemed like a toy, and I just couldn't deal with it. Finally just got a MiM Fender to take its place. If the HB is better than the Affinity series, then I might consider it for a trial piece.