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Help choosing my 5 sting bass

N

novo

Feb 20, 2007
217
9
#1
Hi there.. well in short i m a bass player who plays almost anything and experiment with every type of music and currently i have an american jazz bass and now i really wish to go for a 5 stringer.

I just checked both these basses and don't know which one to choose ... or the musicman stingray 5 or the warwick streamer stage 1.. I know that they're completely different basses but i really wish to know how you will choose and why..

thanks for the help guys:)))

cheers and happy new year
 
#5
Hello,

I think the first thing you might want to consider is a 35" scale bass. My reasoning is that most B strings end up sounding pretty floppy/loose. A 35" scale seems to take care of that nicely.

If I hade my choice these days it would be a USA Peavey Cirrus . It is a great playing, sounding, and looking bass. Heck, I played an Indonesian Cirrus BXP, and it sounded and played really nice too, and performance for the buck is not beatable from what I have heard.

I throw these out as options you are not considering, but might want to. Whatever you choose, do so because you like it, and not what someone else says.

Have fun,

Mark
 
#9
Maybe a 5 string j bass? It wouldn't be that much of a stretch since already use to a J bass vibe. Bonus it could be easier on the wallet than the other two option although the stingray list around the same price as and MIA 08 J V. A stock streamer list around 5 grands, which is about the price of a luthier custom job. I mean i could get custom 9 string bee bass for cheaper than a stock warwick i guess. Unless i went for a treasure hunt in the used market. But the bottom line is which tones you like and how much your willing to pay?
 
#12
Take a good look at Schecter Elite or Studio 5s. 35" scale. Damn good basses for the buck -- if you're okay with narrow spacing. I have one (an Elite 5 with a Bart 3-band preamp, which effectively makes it like a Studio with a different finish) that I'm considering replacing because I'm interested in going to wide (.750) spacing.

HTH,

-jb
 
#14
the warwick's going to be most like your Jazz. It'll be more like what you're used to...

...but a deep growly stingray will give you a lot more range in your arsenal.

I've heard from MM players that the older stingrays are 'better'...

You MIGHT want to look into G&L - those 2500's are pretty awesome basses too.

Best of luck. I love my standard Jazz 5.
 
#15
I second the comment about the G&L L-2500 (unless you have already tried one and didn't like it, of course :)). I have a Warwick Corvette 5 and absolutley love it, but I find that my L-2000 is very, very versatile and has a sound that really cuts but can also be dialed back if needed. The electronics are awesome and give you a wide variety of options.

The bottom line, IMO, is that you will be very happy no matter which way you go. Enjoy the process!
 
#18
The Universe said:
I've never played a Stingray 5 that I've liked. I've played several 5 string Warwick's that I've liked.
Click to expand...

Thats funny. My experience is the exact opposite of yours. I have played a few nice Warwicks, but they never seem to sound & play like they should. The SR5s that I've played have all played great and, except for one, sounded great as well.

I would think a multi-p/u SR5, in whatever configuration you prefer, would be the best choice. I would go for a SR5 HS between the choices mentioned by the OP. However, as others have stated, neither would be my first choice. My top 3 choices for a 5er would be Dingwall, Spector, and Lakland.
 
#19
Joe Smithberger said:
Hold out for the new Dingwall Combustion. It should be out soon. There is a link in the Dingwall thread.
Click to expand...

Double Agent said:
Thats funny. My experience is the exact opposite of yours. I have played a few nice Warwicks, but they never seem to sound & play like they should. The SR5s that I've played have all played great and, except for one, sounded great as well.

I would think a multi-p/u SR5, in whatever configuration you prefer, would be the best choice. I would go for a SR5 HS between the choices mentioned by the OP. However, as others have stated, neither would be my first choice. My top 3 choices for a 5er would be Dingwall, Spector, and Lakland.
Click to expand...


I agree both with Joe Smithberger as well as with Double agent. My vote would go to Dingwall too. I've owned a SR5 for several years but it's more or less a "one trick pony". Once I got my first Dingwall Z2 I had the SR tone plus much much more in terms or playability, ergonomics and tone. Needless to say, my SR5 got sold after co-existing with the Z2 for two years and seeing no action.

I've tried many Warwicks (from entry level to boutique ones) but none made me long for them to get them to join the herd.
 
#20
I would wait on the MusicMan 5 string and consider another more versatile bass like the Warwick, or even the Fender Jazz Bass. I am not going to say that the MM is a
"one trick pony" I will say that those basses have a distinct tone and be aware of what that tone is, then you can figure out if it's the right bass for you. In the long run with a two pickup bass with a more transparent EQ you will be able to wear a lot more hats at the gig.
 

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