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First 5 string bass

#21
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#22
mini-milli said:
I can't even find them on the Bartolini website - they may have discontinued them.
It's good to see they are adding active electronics on them now, maybe they sound better than before. Still, I'd go for the LX before the Std. It's not much more money and will be way easier to mod if you decide you don't like the pickups.

Warwick RockBass Streamer LX, 5-String
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Yeah but I dont want another bass with J pups. Soapbars or humbuckers for this one.

So people dont even know Streamer Stds are active now. Thats why I cant find anything on them.
 
#23
Growl93 said:
Yeah but I dont want another bass with J pups. Soapbars or humbuckers for this one.

So people dont even know Streamer Stds are active now. Thats why I cant find anything on them.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm just out of the loop but it seems like the change is pretty recent.

It might be worth your time to look at the Warwick Corvette $$ as another option. I've heard good things about them.

Warwick RockBass Corvette $$, 5-String
 
#24
Growl93 said:
Hey, so lately I'm having this wish to get myself a first 5 stringer.
So far I've exclusively played 4 strings basses.

I've been looking into Cort B5, Cort A5, Warwick RockBass Streamer 5 Std & Spector Legend 5 Standard.

Now I've taken favoritism between Warwick & Spector, and now before you attack me that there's plenty of threads about this before, I've went through all of them, and they arent up to date. Spent few weeks researching and it's really hard to find info on these newer models.

Meaning Warwick which now has 2 band preamp, and new Spector Standard which has locking bridge. I'd look into Classics but they are out of production.

Anyone has experience with either?

I've sent email to Spector with some question I had about Legend Standard, got no replies, so I wanna at least try to obtain more knowledge here before I pull the trigger.

Now if you tell me try before you buy, that is not possible in my case, I can only try Corts from my current list. Warwicks and Spectors are unavailable in my country.

To me Warwick seems to offer more and better hardware, but it's also more expensive, and those MEC vintage passive pickups are hardly replaceable/upgradeable, so far I've never seen pickups like that, while Spector uses soapbars which is easy to upgrade, and uses better body wood?

Also if you want you can try to have me consider some other basses in similar price range, but I don't want anything MusicMan or Fenderesque and it should use soapbars or humbuckers as pickups.

These are the questions I've sent to Spector, you can look into them to give me some answers.

And thank you in advance fellas.
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this was my first 5 string bass about 22 years ago ... I wish I still had this one.

PS0173.jpg
 
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#25
My first 5-string bass was/is a 2010 Ibby SRA305. Over the years I have upgraded it to EMG actives and most recently a 33-inch scale neck because my hands don't do 34-inch scale anymore. It has earned its keep multiple times over as my #1 gig bass since I got it in 2012, and looking forward to 2023.
 
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#26
Growl93 said:
Gotcha man, but Sandbergs are pretty much outta budget I prepared for fiver, have too thin of a neck profile for me, and are too Fenderesque, but thank you for recommendation.
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I was thinking that Sandberg would be outside the Fender box, yet it's pressed right up against it. Haha

Hmm. How do you feel about Ibanez? There are far too many HH 5 strings that feel and sound amazing to list. Ibanez is a real rabbit hole for the specs that you are into and some of them look just lovely.
 
#27
Growl93 said:
Hey, so lately I'm having this wish to get myself a first 5 stringer.
So far I've exclusively played 4 strings basses.

I've been looking into Cort B5, Cort A5, Warwick RockBass Streamer 5 Std & Spector Legend 5 Standard.

Now I've taken favoritism between Warwick & Spector, and now before you attack me that there's plenty of threads about this before, I've went through all of them, and they arent up to date. Spent few weeks researching and it's really hard to find info on these newer models.

Meaning Warwick which now has 2 band preamp, and new Spector Standard which has locking bridge. I'd look into Classics but they are out of production.

Anyone has experience with either?

I've sent email to Spector with some question I had about Legend Standard, got no replies, so I wanna at least try to obtain more knowledge here before I pull the trigger.

Now if you tell me try before you buy, that is not possible in my case, I can only try Corts from my current list. Warwicks and Spectors are unavailable in my country.

To me Warwick seems to offer more and better hardware, but it's also more expensive, and those MEC vintage passive pickups are hardly replaceable/upgradeable, so far I've never seen pickups like that, while Spector uses soapbars which is easy to upgrade, and uses better body wood?

Also if you want you can try to have me consider some other basses in similar price range, but I don't want anything MusicMan or Fenderesque and it should use soapbars or humbuckers as pickups.

These are the questions I've sent to Spector, you can look into them to give me some answers.

And thank you in advance fellas.
Click to expand...
 
#28
I can comment on the Warwick. If you can find a used MIG Warwick Corvette, it's a much better instrument than the Rockbass series, and used they are selling for about the same price.

As for changing the MEC pickups, I've seen it done before.

Best wishes on your journey.
 
#29
SixtyCycleHum said:
I was thinking that Sandberg would be outside the Fender box, yet it's pressed right up against it. Haha

Hmm. How do you feel about Ibanez? There are far too many HH 5 strings that feel and sound amazing to list. Ibanez is a real rabbit hole for the specs that you are into and some of them look just lovely.
Click to expand...

Oh no, when I look at Sandberg I see yet another Fender clone.

I've tried Ibanez basses, they are nice, light and fun, however my hand is having issues with thin necks.
Perfect necks I have are '97 Stingray and Fender Jazz.

dbsfgyd1 said:
I can comment on the Warwick. If you can find a used MIG Warwick Corvette, it's a much better instrument than the Rockbass series, and used they are selling for about the same price.

As for changing the MEC pickups, I've seen it done before.

Best wishes on your journey.
Click to expand...

There is one Corvette locally I've found from 2002 with Jazz pups but it's 4 strings, and it's over priced af. Fella is asking 1585 USDs. And not a big fan of Corvette body shape.

As for MEC pups, do you know any direct drop in replacements?
 
#30
If you like slightly chunkier necks, you'll probably like Warwicks. Mine is the same width as a Jazz but a bit meatier. It has a flatter back to it than any of my other basses, which is just fantastic for planting my thumb. By far my favorite neck of any that I've played.
 
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#31
Just one comment about Warwicks: My Warwick Corvette 5 STD has 16mm string spacing at the bridge and I find it uncomfortably tight. All my other basses are 19mm at the bridge and that is my personal preference. One approach might be to measure the spacing on your 4 string and aim to find a 5 with similar spacing...it makes a big difference in playability, especially when switching back and forth. My 2 cents.

Re scale length, 34 will feel the most familiar to your hand, especially in first position on the neck. 35 may have a better B string, but might feel off at first due to wider spacing of frets near the nut. I switch between 34" and 34.5" without issue, but 35" does feel different to me. Again, especially if switching back and forth.
 
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#33
@OP, I think you're putting the cart before the horse. I strongly suggest getting a hold of any old 5 string that you can 5. Or even consider the Ibanez AEB105E Acoustic-Electric Bass. Learn how to play it, get a feel for what you want, and then spend the big bucks on something you want (after you decide if 5 string is even for you...). I know guys who thought they wanted a 5, get one in the hands, and immediately knew they that they weren't into it.
Like others have mentioned, spacing on a 5 string is very unique to the individual preference. Buying an expesnive 5 first would be like buying a corvette before you know how to drive. That being said, go for it with a 5 string! When I first layed a 5 string I knew instantly that I wanted to keep going with it. Now I mostly play only 5s.

Good luck!
 
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#34
ComeHomeShane is on the money. If you're used to playing a 4 Str Bass the 5er might take a little adjustment. I now play a Washburn (in my sig) but still get confused playing the wrong string on occasion. I do like playing 4 str Basses but like the flexibility of having the extra low notes that the B string offers. That said, I have not played standard tuning Bass for decades. Always had them tuned BEAD so EADG can also confuse me. What are you hoping to achieve by going 5 STR? Is it possible that a 4 str tuned to BEAD would be nearer your purview at the moment?
 
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#36
I love the look of Spectors and the Warwick is similar.

The thing I have found with most basses is that if the upper horn does not align with the 12 fret and if the bridge does not sit far back at the butt of the body, it will not balance well on a strap, the reach will feel longer and you are likely to have significant neck dive.

I tried a Spector Euro 5-string and when I asked for a strap and put it on, as I predicted, it had all the problems I listed above. Many people play them and love them, but ergonomically, it would not work for me.

If you are able to play the Cort A5 and see if you like it, I would suggest getting that. Getting a Spector or Warwick without playing one will be a gamble.
 
#39
Growl93 said:
Oh no, when I look at Sandberg I see yet another Fender clone.

I've tried Ibanez basses, they are nice, light and fun, however my hand is having issues with thin necks.
Perfect necks I have are '97 Stingray and Fender Jazz.



There is one Corvette locally I've found from 2002 with Jazz pups but it's 4 strings, and it's over priced af. Fella is asking 1585 USDs. And not a big fan of Corvette body shape.

As for MEC pups, do you know any direct drop in replacements?
Click to expand...

Sorry I don’t.

If I ever got a $1500 offer for mine, I couldn’t get it out of the case fast enough, LOL!! And it’s in really good shape for a 17 year old bass.

Seriously, it’s not for sale. It’s a truly great instrument and fits into the projects I work with.

Hope you find your bass soon. Best wishes.
 
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#40
MrLenny1 said:
Sorry no experience with Cort or Warwick.
All of my fives are 34" scale and 17.5 mm string spacing at the bridge.
Sorry no experience with Cort or Warwick.
I doubt that the factory will answer you. TB is your best bet for info.
Happy shopping.
Click to expand...
If you played any Sound Gear Ibanez basses then you played a Cort basically.
 
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