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Favorite Five-String Passive Bass

jacoby75

jacoby75

Supporting Member
Mar 11, 2010
5,661
10,716
Coldwater, MI
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
#1
Hey guys,

I'm turning the big 4-0 in a couple of months, and I'm thinking about treating myself to a great new bass. I prefer passive basses, only five strings, and play mostly modern worship music in church and in the occasional country/classic rock cover band. I have a Lakland Skyline jazz and a Lull P-bass that I love, but I'm looking for other suggestions. Maybe something I haven't thought of, something other than a J or P perhaps, or a builder I haven't heard of. I would really love a Lull T5 or a JT5, but that's a bit out of my price range.

If you could have any passive five-string bass, jazz, P, or other, what would it be? Or maybe an active bass with a passive option.

Thanks
 
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#5
My favorite passive bass out of what I've had is a Valenti PJ5:



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#8
jacoby75 said:
...I'm thinking about treating myself to a great new bass. I prefer passive basses, only five strings, and play mostly modern worship music in church and in the occasional country/classic rock cover band.....a builder I haven't heard of.
Thanks
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I have a couple of amazing Martin Keith Elfin 5 basses (fretted and fretless) with really nice and versatile passive electronics and wonderful Harvey Citron pickups in them. Seriously something to consider, here. :)

This is the fretted one.

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#9
Ooh! I've always wanted one of those 50's tele basses, but never saw a five string. That's awesome!
Never heard of Martin Keith either. That's why I love coming to you guys. I know I'm guaranteed to learn a thing or two every time. Thanks.
 
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#12
Chef said:
Yeah; the Roscoe Beck 5 is way different than a Jazz bass; and; it wasn't something I liked, even a little bit. Lots of folks seem to though.
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I'm surprised you did not like the RBV, not that it matters.;) As for current production basses, I think Fender American Standard Jazzes are pretty hard to beat as are Lakland Skyline Jazzes. I would love to try a Reverend Mercalli 5!
 
#13
Yeah, I love the look/sound of the newer Reverend line of basses. That Mercalli 5 is intriguing indeed. I totally forgot about Reverend.
I did have a G&L 2500 recently and sold it to get a Cirrus 5. I totally regret it, but I wanted that Spector/Sadowsky modern sound on a budget, and that's definitely what I get from the Cirrus. If I had the money, I'd love to have kept the G&L just because they kick butt. But I never really liked the passive sound on them. Active, there's no comparison. Also, I wish there was a pickup blend knob instead of selector switch, as a matter of preference.
 
#19
I never owned one, but the old Yamaha BB5000s I played were great (PJ).

My only 5 string is a passive Yamaha BBN5 I bought used; upgraded with Dimarzio Area J 5 pickups, new 500k volume pots, and a .022 cap on tone pot.


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The tones and feel are great for the price, and I plan to keep it.

Based on my Warmoth JJ and PJ 4 strings, I bet a Warmoth 5 string passive JJ would be excellent.
 
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