Got the itch for a 5-er. What else should I consider?

[packhowitzer]

For me, a 35" scale B string is a highly desirable feature. Not having one isn't necessarily a deal breaker, but I vastly prefer it over a 34" scale. Just my .02.

 

[Doug Parent]

G&L all the way.

 

[Teemcp]

Another vote for the Lakland 55-02.
I was looking for a Pbass when I saw the 55-02 on the wall & it was on sale. We don’t see many around here, so I thought I should at least try it out & see what the fuss was about. Spoiler alert: the fuss is justified.

I started playing bass lines I forgot I knew, and 30 minutes later, I owned a new 5 string. It’s light, it barks, it growls, it goes thump….meets all the needs.

 

[Nuage420]

For me, a 35" scale B string is a highly desirable feature. Not having one isn't necessarily a deal breaker, but I vastly prefer it over a 34" scale. Just my .02.

I felt the same until I got my AP-5

 

[TTA]

Dingwall ng or combustion.

i returned to 5 and love love love my ng2 5er. The neck frets and neck size is no big deal to me. The neck is so good and the fretboard edges feel baby bottom smooth and rounded. Swapping back to a 4 just feels tiny. My ng2 5 just fees more like a big 4 string neck. Smaller and nicer neck than my old deluxe jazz 5 imho.

plus the current models all have two carbon fibre reinforcing rods. Bling bling.

it was so manageable i am thinking of a 6 string Ding! And i dont have freak of nature sized hands.

not sure the weight, but the mine is the best balanced bass i have ever owned. So because of that it feels light… and i am not a big dude.

and if you dont like it… they are pretty easy to flip. Maybe get a 6… and flip it to me. Ideally i would like it in ferarri yellow.


But at the end of the day… no b has ever come close to the b on my dingwall. Not even close. Non competition. I had been shopping for a 5 for some time… never found the right one. It was game over as soon as i played the ng2 the first time.

Plus the ng2 in series… imho it is the “perfect tone” for the dingwall pickup options…. Including the ng3. Three look cooler… but the bridge and middle in series is just killer!

My theory… the dude who has played the same bass for 30 years may not like a dingwall. Those types often resist change… and a dingwall is change… but imho the design is miles ahead.

just measured my ng2 5er neck… the width at the nut is maybe 2mm wider than my four string rickenbacker 4003. It fans out from there but it is likely part of why the neck does not feel like a 5.

 

[TTA]

I felt the same until I got my AP-5

37 or bust! Trust me.

 

[chadds]

Roscoe with AG Pre. Excellent B. AG OB Pres are copies of MMs. AG Pres have all kinds of other tonal range and versatility. Original Roscoe ad line was, “P bass that sounds like a Steinway.” Used/new, enjoy.

 

[MrLenny1]

Lakland MIK.

 

[bassliner50]

Get a piano instead of a 5. You will get much more music out of it. Plenty strings inside too. Learn to play it and you will be among the highest in demand.

 

[Dave W]

Start familiar and get an EBMM SR5. They are incredible basses.

There are lots of good options listed here. Ding wall makes top notch stuff, as does Lakland.

 

[4stringfarley]

I would recommend going with a used G&L tribute L-2500 to see if you like a 5 string first. They can be found fairly inexpensive.

 

[muggsy]

I just picked up a used Dingwall NG3 and I am in love. It is a beast. It or another in their line would meet all of your criteria I think, except for cost on a MIC Dinwall.

I recently got a Dingwall NG2 as my first fiver. Bought new well within your budget. It’s light, comfortable and totally cool. Still getting used to the extra string but the B sounds huge.

 

[Topkat13]

Depending on the location of your itch I would consider Cortizone Cream. You don’t need a prescription.

 

[P. Aaron]

I mean, for 2500 USD and liking the sterling as a main player, there's Dingwall, Spector and of course Musicman.

Since you’re liking the EBMM sound, you may want to start there. A ‘Ray? You won’t be speculating build quality.

Good luck. Hope you find a keeper.

 

[BassiklyAC]

I was just recently in your shoes, ended up with a Yamaha BBP35. Very pleased so far.

And with that being said this:



is a very bold statement.

(FWIW a StingRay 5 was my first 5er)

+1 on the Yamaha BB series recommendation! I have the BB425X and the TRBX305 and they’re a joy to play (and beautiful tone).

 

[GodsLove66]

Check out Serek Basses! They do lightweight, shortscale 5s people have been RAVING over! Welcome to Serek Basses

 

[retroXvertigo]

With that budget I'd have Brady Muckelroy build be a pro player model. The 5s start around 2k, I believe.

You'd be hard pressed to find a better instrument for that money.

 

[Robf]

Not even remotely a universal truth. I have 6s with multilam necks of heavier woods than maple that are smaller and lighter than P basses I've owned, and are better balanced. And the difference in weight between a 4 and 5 bent plate bridge would have to be under an oz.

I have a Yamaha five string lighter and better balanced than my three jazz basses. I believe this is due to five strings of modern shapes built up as five strings, not taking a four-string design and adding a 5th tuner.

 

[GreyBeard]

Given the fact that you love your Sterling, give the SR5 a look.

 

[Thumpin6string]

What else should you consider? What are you missing?

A 6er!