Help me find the right 5 string bass, long post..

Lakland Skyline?

 

Peavey Cirrus 5 or a Carvin 5 with wide 5-piece tung oiled neck would be among my first choices and it seems that you like 'em too...go for it!

Lakland Skyline is great, but the body shape isn't as comfy as the ones above. On the other hand, the 55-02's might have better sounding pickups than Carvin or Peavey.

 

i have the answer!!!! o what $1000? o i thought you said $10000 well mtd would be the best..but a little expensive...

how about a mtd saratoga or best...
the tone on those is awsome way better than the kingston or heir...

and look better

steve

 

The Peavey Cirruses that I've tried were excellent but pretty damn pricey for a Peavey (maybe check for something used on eBay?).

The Carvin with the wide Bunny B neck sounds like a great choice. You've had experience with Carvin so you know what you're getting. I think the new hardware and expanded EQ gives it quite an edge in this price range. I'd also opt for the humbucker in the bridge option if you go this route (oh, and like Schwinn suggested, a tung oil finish neck!!!).

Even more cost-effective is the Ibanez BTB. You'll have your wide string spacing and 35" scale neck. The bridge looks pretty cool and the black see-thru finish (IMHO) looks great. The neck is a bit of a stretch for some people but seeing as wide string spacing and 35" scale is your bag, you shouldn't have any problem.

And finally the most inexpensive route you could take, just pop a Bartolini pickup and/or preamp in your MTD (or Seymour is that's more your bag). I've heard good things about the structure and playability of the MTD Kingston (not to mention excellent low B string response). But the simple single passive pickup leaves more to be desired tonally. However, I also hear that the control cavity in the back is pretty roomy and would likely facilitate a preamp. I think what makes this bass marketable is the Tobias design, quality control, low cost AND that the axe is upgradeable. Hell, you may have your ideal bass already, bro.

Good luck. Let us know what you do!

r

 

Fender Roscoe Beck V

jd

 

Seems to me a Reverend Brad Houser bass fits your basic criteria -- wide neck and string spacing, variety of tones, excellent playability, great B string, defnintely well under a grand -- although it has a very different character than the other basses you seem interested in. Aesthetically, it might not be your thing.

Tonally, you mentioned liking J and P tones. A Houser would give you more of a passive old-school vibe than a Cirrus with an active preamp or a Carvin would give you. It's probably closest to the Roscoe Beck V that JD just suggested above...

Anyway, if you want to something a bit different, a Houser could be worth checking out. (Reverend only sells direct, but they have a good trial period and return policy.)

Good luck with it!

 

I hear the Roscoe Beck model has a bear of a neck (wide, chunky, almost painful). The electonics are passive despite the fact that it seems to have 101 whisles and bells on it. However if you dig Jazz Basses and need room to romp on the fingerboard, maybe the Beck is for you.

Just spotted these on eBay: Beck Bass

r

 

Yup, semihollow, and not near so bad for slap as everyone would have you believe. I only slap ocaisionally, and am still learning the technique myself, but the Houser does a pretty serviceable job to my inexperienced ear. It absolutely KILLS for fingerstyle playing, though ...

 

You know, I was never a big fan of the Roscoe Fender but the more I read up on it the more intrigued I am. I've check a few sites and all the reports has been glowing. Apparently the neck IS wider than the other Fender 5s. You will get your vintage Jazz tone even from the low B. Seems to have a truck load of tonal options and as its a passive bass; no batteries needed.

Harmonycentral Roscoe link

Check it out.

r

 

My current five of choice is an Ernie Ball MM StingRay 5, but I've been snooping around looking at the Fender American Deluxe Precision 5, which gets an awesome P- sound (which I'm jonesing for), as well as other usables. The one I played had an ash body with a maple fingerboard, and had a really good B string sound, better than my MM. Check out the August 2000 Bass Player Mag review. The neck isn't as wide as the Roscoe, and the spacing at the bridge is probably 11/16", but I'm not sure about that. The new ones have 18 VDC electronics and more string tree action going on. Pretty nicely put together. Some TB member got a 2000 or 2001 model off Ebay a few weeks ago for $650 or so and loves it.

Whacker

 

You know, I tried a P 5 Deluxe-whatever bass some years back just like the one Whacker described. Ash body, maple board. A real looker and damn what tone! It was an excellent bass but I think it was well over $1,000 (keep in mind, the model had just come out at the time and this was a dinky shop in Syracuse, NY). I would have suggested this bass but given the price and that I thought K-Frog wanted some super wide at the end of the neck action that this bass wouldn't fit the bill.

I personally dig the P 5 Deluxe far more than the Roscoe Beck. However given K-Frog’s list of demands, the Roscoe seems to fit the bill better (not to mention on the cheap if he scores one used).

R

 

Another vote for the BTB.

The BTB515E plays great, has a wide neck and can get a lot of different tones. http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=BTB515E

They're $969.00 at Musiciansfriend. You don't have to buy there, but, it's a good place to start when comparasing shopping.

Also, check out Spectors. I don't remember the model numbers, but, I played a few in each price range ($500 - $1,800) and you can't go wrong with one of these.

Good luck.

Mike

 

Oh yeah, you can definately do better than $969.00!!!!! What bastards over at Musicansfriend! But I agree, good bang for the buck these BTBs. And though I think the BTB515 is cooler (walnut body) the BTB405 is less expensive and looks beautiful (quilted maple top--the see-thru black is my fav).

r

 

Check out the G&L L-2500.

Ive played one for the past year and a half almost exclusively and I doubt I will ever stop playing thios bass.

Its a killer bass with tons of versatility, a comfortable neck and body and incredible tone.

Im not sure of the string spacing but maybe someone else can help out.

Peace
Thor