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Do Fender 5 strings suck? - Whats your opinion
- Thread starter PastorofMuppets
- Start date
This is exactly it. I've got a 2002 MIM V and this is a perfect description. I'm pretty picky about B strings and this Fender is by far the WORST B string I own. Even my SX basses are much better. And the noiseless pickups are crap too. I've been putting off changing them because of the cost of the Nordies I'd love to put in there. [Demarzios would be the perfect solution but they don't make them to drop into a Fender V. What were they thinking?]
But the bass is well built, looks like a million, and the neck plays like a dream. I did have to copper shield it to get rid of that last tiny bit of hum, but otherwise, it's a pretty nice bass. But of course it is 5 inline tuners/string tree.
The good news for everyone else is that post 2010 or so all these problems are apparently fixed and people rave about the late Fender 5ers. The bad news for me is now I have to fork out to deal with new pickups, string trees, and what have you. Hopefully as I work through the mods as Doug says it should come to life.
My 96 MIA is nice- I have sampled a few dogs, though. A friend had a MIM one that actually compared nicely to mine. I voted *sometimes* as that's been my experience. Again, though- mine's certainly a keeper.
I have two Jazz basses that I LOVE. But I just don't think they look right with five strings. I will be in the market for a fiver soon, and it won't be a Fender. It'll have a smaller, tilted headstock with machine heads on both sides. And it won't be lime green or orange and it won't have stickers on the front. YMMV
IME the B-strings in Fenders are sloppy in general. I happen to own an American Standard, which has a nice and tight low B.
But mine is the only Fender five-stringer I've ever come across that actually has a decent quality B-string.
But mine is the only Fender five-stringer I've ever come across that actually has a decent quality B-string.
I've got both a Roscoe Beck V and an American Standard Precision 5 string. I also used to own an American Deluxe Precision 5 string. Truth be told, all three have pretty awesome B-strings. I only sold the American Deluxe P5 because I didn't really like the maple fingerboard, but it was still a great bass.
All three basses had tight, focused B strings. Granted, they all had the string through body option which I think helps with B string tension & clarity. I've also tried out the current American Deluxe Jazz 5 which had a decent B string.
That being said, I've played some other Fender 5's that were less worthy of praise. The Deluxe Active Jazz Bass 5 string...not so great. That particular B string came across as a bit floppy, and I was thoroughly unimpressed with the onboard preamp. And when I tried out an American Standard Jazz 5 string I was a kind of underwhelmed. I was expecting this tonal monster, but it was just kind of there, and bland. The B string was just okay. Don't get me wrong: I love Jazz basses. But I didn't love THAT Jazz bass. I'd still like to try another Am Std Jazz 5, in large part because I've been thoroughly impressed with the Am Std Precision 5. But I won't force the issue.
All three basses had tight, focused B strings. Granted, they all had the string through body option which I think helps with B string tension & clarity. I've also tried out the current American Deluxe Jazz 5 which had a decent B string.
That being said, I've played some other Fender 5's that were less worthy of praise. The Deluxe Active Jazz Bass 5 string...not so great. That particular B string came across as a bit floppy, and I was thoroughly unimpressed with the onboard preamp. And when I tried out an American Standard Jazz 5 string I was a kind of underwhelmed. I was expecting this tonal monster, but it was just kind of there, and bland. The B string was just okay. Don't get me wrong: I love Jazz basses. But I didn't love THAT Jazz bass. I'd still like to try another Am Std Jazz 5, in large part because I've been thoroughly impressed with the Am Std Precision 5. But I won't force the issue.
I have a 2006 Fender P Deluxe V. The color, neck, look and vibe are awe some for this bass. However, then neck is a little on the fat and chunky side. A little wide at the heal and sometimes the damn thing buzzes. I had the whole inner cavity copper lined and the seams soldiered, but it still buzzes every once in a while. Crazy! really... I voted sometimes mostly because of the ghost buzz, but the bass looks great. Since it was built on my wife's birthday, I can't let it go.
I´ve been trying out basses a month ago: Sadowsky, Warwick, Admovic, Ken Smith, Fender, Squier, EBMM, G&L
The b on the MIA Deluxe and the Squier VM V were very very good. Maybe Adamovic and Smith had better B string, but we´re talking big time basses here.
The b on the MIA Deluxe and the Squier VM V were very very good. Maybe Adamovic and Smith had better B string, but we´re talking big time basses here.
I recently bought a 2012 Fender American Deluxe Jazz 5.
The B string quality really depends on the setup, especially string and pickup height.
From the factory even the E string sounded weak and unstable.
Sustain on fretted notes on the B string was terrible and a little of aggressive plucking created unacceptable thud.
So I lowered both pickups and raised the B string a little. Then every problem was solved.
The B string might feel a little sloppy but just raise it and let it vibrate freely without touching the finger board and pickup pole pieces. Then it will do its job.
The B string quality really depends on the setup, especially string and pickup height.
From the factory even the E string sounded weak and unstable.
Sustain on fretted notes on the B string was terrible and a little of aggressive plucking created unacceptable thud.
So I lowered both pickups and raised the B string a little. Then every problem was solved.
The B string might feel a little sloppy but just raise it and let it vibrate freely without touching the finger board and pickup pole pieces. Then it will do its job.
I voted no because more often than not my experiences have backed that up. But, of course, nobody makes perfect basses every time. So to get really literal, probably the most correct answer would be sometimes.
My main player is a Fender Roscoe Beck Signature 5 string. It is great in every way that I care about. I can get just about any tone I want with it and it plays like I want it too. It seems to be built very well after a couple hundred gigs with it. And I like the traditional-meets-something-a-little-different looks of it with an aftermarket pickguard that really compliments the Shoreline Gold.
My main player is a Fender Roscoe Beck Signature 5 string. It is great in every way that I care about. I can get just about any tone I want with it and it plays like I want it too. It seems to be built very well after a couple hundred gigs with it. And I like the traditional-meets-something-a-little-different looks of it with an aftermarket pickguard that really compliments the Shoreline Gold.
I really love my '02 deluxe p. I wouldn't call the B string great, but it's certainly not the worst I've ever played. It's still my go-to.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
I voted yes, only because their B string blows. The rest of the bass tends to be great but a sloppy B makes for a sloppy bass.
The Fender B string is loose or has really bad overtones.
As far as the people preferring Squier V's... I have yet to see those. If you want to make a Fender B seem way less sloppy play a Squier then play a Fender.
I would put Squier B at the bottom, down with Washburn, (import) Peavey, and Ibanez Gio... well maybe not Peavey bad, but definitely one of the worst in my experience.
The Fender B string is loose or has really bad overtones.
As far as the people preferring Squier V's... I have yet to see those. If you want to make a Fender B seem way less sloppy play a Squier then play a Fender.
I would put Squier B at the bottom, down with Washburn, (import) Peavey, and Ibanez Gio... well maybe not Peavey bad, but definitely one of the worst in my experience.
I have tried to convince myself multiple times that Fender 5-Strings are good basses.. However, to no avail. Every time I give a Fender 5-String a chance I am, without fail, disappointed. It may just be that I have been spoiled with Warrior and Lakland 5-string basses, but my point still remains, I have yet to truly be impressed with a Fender 5-string.
The ones I have found that have had additional time being set up and adjusted and play well tend to disappoint once plugged into an amp.. the B string just sounds muddy and gross.
The ones I have found that have had additional time being set up and adjusted and play well tend to disappoint once plugged into an amp.. the B string just sounds muddy and gross.
i played a MIM Jazz V Deluxe. The B string was pretty weak compared to the other 4 strings. In my head, i thought it would feel similar to my Stingray 5.... wrong.
my MIM jazz is a 2000 or 2001. people kept telling me I needed a heavier B-string. I quit listening to them, put a medium light DR highbeam on that bad boy, set it up. rolled the tone off just a bit, and get more compliments on my bass tone than I can count.
definitely better sound than the Cort or Ibby I owned or several other 5'ers I've played.
definitely better sound than the Cort or Ibby I owned or several other 5'ers I've played.
I put sometimes for a couple of reasons:
1. usually for me it is the attitude of the player of the 5 string that sours me. Like having the extra string elevates them to a higher level...and usually the elevation only brings out more problems in their playing
2. feel...the only 5 string I have ever played that didn't feel like a baseball bat hooked to a television set was an old - probably 80's era - Pedulla fretless...and I still really want that bass...it was dark blue stain over the wood with the rosewoon FB; black hardware...mmm tasty
3. don't like the sound that the lower string produces much of the time...or it also might just be the way it is being (mis)used in the context of the song? If I ever get a 5, which is a very slim chance, I would string it EADGB, adding a smaller string above the G string
now, all of the above considered, I have also seen MANY great 5 players who are also not arrogant etc...
1. usually for me it is the attitude of the player of the 5 string that sours me. Like having the extra string elevates them to a higher level...and usually the elevation only brings out more problems in their playing
2. feel...the only 5 string I have ever played that didn't feel like a baseball bat hooked to a television set was an old - probably 80's era - Pedulla fretless...and I still really want that bass...it was dark blue stain over the wood with the rosewoon FB; black hardware...mmm tasty
3. don't like the sound that the lower string produces much of the time...or it also might just be the way it is being (mis)used in the context of the song? If I ever get a 5, which is a very slim chance, I would string it EADGB, adding a smaller string above the G string
now, all of the above considered, I have also seen MANY great 5 players who are also not arrogant etc...
^^ Being arrogant has nothing to do with how many strings you´re playing. IMHO
They used to.
After they changed things in 2010 though, I was hooked.
I love Fender V's.
After they changed things in 2010 though, I was hooked.
I love Fender V's.
