• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Feel like I need a P/J fiver

#21
I made my own out of an American Standard Jazz V.
DD6B0A58-73BA-4999-A470-B7DBA85E257D.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: nnnnnn, SlimBaixo, ctbass and 5 others
#24
I've also been interested in a P/J fiver, and so far the Ibanez SR655 has been my favorite:

Invalid Link Removed

They're light, and IMO have excellent ergonomics. I like the relatively flat fretboard and narrow string spacing, which makes the neck feel like my G&L M-2500's, and the Nordstrand-designed pickups sound great. I even like the tone in active mode. The Ibanez Talmans are very good too, but I prefer the neck on the SR655. I just wish the SR came in at least one old-school solid finish like LPB or CAR. The natural finishes are nice, but I'd like a little more pop.

The Sire looks cool, but I don't like the vintage fretboard radius, especially on a five.

Yamaha BB P/J basses look great, and I've liked the earlier generation models I've tried. I'm very curious about the new ones, and might consider one. But I'm still hoping G&L will release a five-string LB or SB. Doesn't even need to have the bridge pickup; I'd want one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2cooltoolz and YamahaSteve
#25
MoeTown1986 said:
I made my own out of an American Standard Jazz V.
View attachment 3436345
Click to expand...
This is awesome!

I recently played a Fender Aerodyne for the first time 2 days ago and can’t get its tone out of my head.
I plan on building my own ultimate Jazz V with electronics I already have in a box...but now I’m beginning to reconsider the pickups...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Elkins and MoeTown1986
#26
Nedmundo said:
I've also been interested in a P/J fiver, and so far the Ibanez SR655 has been my favorite:

Invalid Link Removed

They're light, and IMO have excellent ergonomics. I like the relatively flat fretboard and narrow string spacing, which makes the neck feel like my G&L M-2500's, and the Nordstrand-designed pickups sound great. I even like the tone in active mode. The Ibanez Talmans are very good too, but I prefer the neck on the SR655. I just wish the SR came in at least one old-school solid finish like LPB or CAR. The natural finishes are nice, but I'd like a little more pop.

The Sire looks cool, but I don't like the vintage fretboard radius, especially on a five.

Yamaha BB P/J basses look great, and I've liked the earlier generation models I've tried. I'm very curious about the new ones, and might consider one. But I'm still hoping G&L will release a five-string LB or SB. Doesn't even need to have the bridge pickup; I'd want one.
Click to expand...

I am a big fan of PJ’s with a reversed P pickup because they sound more like Jazz Basses when slapped.
 
  • Like
Reactions: randini and Thundar
#29
eastcoasteddie said:
This is awesome!

I recently played a Fender Aerodyne for the first time 2 days ago and can’t get its tone out of my head.
I plan on building my own ultimate Jazz V with electronics I already have in a box...but now I’m beginning to reconsider the pickups...
Click to expand...
It was super easy to do. I had the pick guard made, mounted it to the body, marked the pickup cutout, then routed it out with a dremel.
 
#31
LBS-bass said:
But I already have two five strings. They are both Jazz basses, though. I have a P/J 4 string that's not getting too much love lately because I'm playing the five more. What I actually need (think I need?) is an inexpensive fiver that plays well and covers a lot of tonal ground. What do you have to share in a P/J that's under a grand, sets up nice, and feels wickedly easy to play?

If I were to just go do it today I'd probably get another Model T Session in a five string from Schecter. What else should I look at?
Click to expand...
SR655?
 
  • Like
Reactions: YamahaSteve
#35
LBS-bass said:
Thank you, everyone. Sounds like I have a few options to check out. A lot of love for the Sire here, I see!
Click to expand...
I looked for a very long time and played a couple of different basses. The one I almost went with was the ESP AP-5 but I ended up getting the Sire P7 and I’m glad I did, but also I’m a little frustrated... Here’s why. The Sire P7 has brought to my attention that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get a quality bass (after I’ve spent a small fortune on quality basses of course) It sounds great, it feels good and it looks great. The Sire P7 is the bass on the far left. If you look at that pic, you’ll see A Fender Elite Jazz, a Fodera Emperor, a Lakeland 55-02 a Duesenberg D Bass and a Fender Elite Precision (4 String). The Sire P7 is the least expensive (by far if you compare it to the price of the Fodera). While the PreAmp in the Fodera is hard to beat, I could gig the P7 and not miss a thing from any of the other basses pictured here.
AD9A2FE7-8A91-4A75-98DA-022B530E1886.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: tommyr01, srayb, LBS-bass and 1 other person
#36
J Wilson said:
I'd take one of these all day long: Fits the budget, Babicz bridge, sealed keys, ebony (!) fingerboard, 6-bolt neck, and gen-U-wine EMG's, yours in Pelham Blue or Black with a matching (OMG!OMG!) headstock.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I've owned all three versions of the BB5000, and had a custom Elan 5 with Alembic's PJ Activators. I find the P pickup is nice reinforcement on those B-string notes, just seem to get a bigger bite than a Jazz pickup in that spot for me, and yet you still have that aft Jazz pickup to add highs. My favorite layout. This ESP is a sleeper, and would be on my short list if I were after a Fender-ish axe.
Click to expand...
Agreed those basses kill...Love them
 
#37
PBassTX said:
I looked for a very long time and played a couple of different basses. The one I almost went with was the ESP AP-5 but I ended up getting the Sire P7 and I’m glad I did, but also I’m a little frustrated... Here’s why. The Sire P7 has brought to my attention that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get a quality bass (after I’ve spent a small fortune on quality basses of course) It sounds great, it feels good and it looks great. The Sire P7 is the bass on the far left. If you look at that pic, you’ll see A Fender Elite Jazz, a Fodera Emperor, a Lakeland 55-02 a Duesenberg D Bass and a Fender Elite Precision (4 String). The Sire P7 is the least expensive (by far if you compare it to the price of the Fodera). While the PreAmp in the Fodera is hard to beat, I could gig the P7 and not miss a thing from any of the other basses pictured here.
View attachment 3436547
Click to expand...
That's a very impressive lineup. I've never really wanted a lot of basses, but man - you can cover a lot of ground with what you have. Well done!
 
#39
LBS-bass said:
I have a question. Looking at them on Reverb.com it seems there are first and second generation Sire P7s. Why do I want the second generation and not the first?
Click to expand...
Good question. I have the 1st, and have never played the 2nd generation. They have different pups, and rounded fretboard edges, but I've never played one. I love my 1st generation, and for the money I would highly recommend it.
 
#40
I believe the biggest difference is the 2nd Gen uses different/newer pickups. If I use the passive mode and the precision pickup only, I get a good solid "traditional" P bass tone. I think they changed the battery cover as well. I have not played a 1st Gen P7 so i can't comment on how it sounds. I think the Sire web site goes into some detail about the 2nd Gen changes/differences.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back