I love my Sadowsky's but I'd like to try a new 5!!!!!

I would go for a used Ken Smith, preferrably neckthrough with walnut core if you can find it. Neck-through because I find his bolt-on's lack something in the lows. I normally don't like neckthrough but Ken got it right. Also, they definitely don't have the Fender sound and have narrower spacing. Good luck!

 

Yo Rob!



Here's a thought: An Elrick Bolt-On 5 with humbuckers instead of the single coils. If you get that without at fancy top (the standard ash bodied ones look really classy! ), with either a wenge neck & fingerboard or maple & bubinga (my favorite combination), you'd be in the right price range. Great B string, they play like a dream, and sound huge.

Another really cool bass that is kinda non-Fender-y is a Roscoe. You'd have to go used, but I know where a REALLY nice one is right now...

 

Perhaps a Nordstrand or a Yancey?

 

What about (i) MusicMan, or (ii) G&L L-2500? These are the 2 fretted fives I play, and neither one is similar to a Sadowsky/Fender Jazz bass in tone. My main bass overall is a '71 Jazz with an Aguilar pre, FYI.

Both also have narrower string spacing. The G&L has some serious growl to it tone... I've compared it on a couple of occasions to an MTD and Roscoe and preferred the G&L, though th Roscoe also had a low-mid type growl which is superb in certain situations.

And the MusicMan... well, it's a Stingray. I'm going to replace the pickup with a Basslines alnico version soon, hoping that it gets closer to the Stingray 4 sound that I love (the Ray 5's have ceramic pups, the Ray 4's have alnico pups).

-Greg

 

A Modulus Q5! I know a guy that's trying to trade his for a jazz type 5!

 

I highly recommend checking out

Elrick...( I own 2) Best basses I have played!

Or

Nordstrand....Carey makes some amazing basses...My next bass is going to be one(just as soon as I have the money)

 

as an Elrick player who's since gone Sadowsky, why not give one a try? my neck thru's somewhat funky Fodera vibe is a great companion to my Sad PJ. and, yes, Rob E. does a mean bolt-on Fender stylie 5.

and speaking of which, why not a Fodera? cant get anymore far removed than that. a nice Emperor to stay near a Fender-ish vibe, or an Imperial 5 for a real Fodera experience.

 

These non-Fender 5 strings come to my mind, but some of these are over the $2K range:
Parker
Dingwall
Hanewinckel
Wal
Sei
Ritter
Basslab
Status Graphite
Lightwave
Warwick
Alembic

Have fun with your search.

 

Look around for some alembics. I still have mine, because it really fills the gap, where my jazz lacks. You can get a used piece for a reasonable price (Excel, Epic, Orion). Even the new ones are in your price range.

Jure

 

My MTD535 is pretty much the opposite of any of my Fenders and of course my beloved Sadowsky. But I seem to remember that you and I share an issue with 35" scale basses.

So another suggestion is a Zon Custom. I wasn't real impressed with the first one that I tried out but there was a 6 string at BassNW for quite a while that I though just killed. I should have snagged that bass (stupid me ). It was a very beautiful claro walnut. Even my girlfriend commented on great that bass sounded.

 

How about a Dingwall. That 37" scale on the B is pretty cool, and those fanned frets are so easy. The workmanship is top notch, the woods are beautiful, and the price is around $2100. Here is a pic of my Afterburner II.

 

Very nice bass, but well out of his target price range - and, BNW has that listed as an "E-volution" model, and it is most certainly a "Classic" single cut.

 

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=93807

 

I would say Smith. I've owned a couple and they are fantasic basses.

You can probably pick up a used NT in the 2k area.

You can get a jazz bass tone out of it but the bass in active mode sounds only like a Smith.

you know how nothing sounds like a Wal ? Smith basses are in that same unique category.

IMO...

 

Rob,

Elricks come standard with a 35" scale. Options are either 34" or 36".

Both of my Elricks (deluxe 4 bolt-on, Classic 4 bolt-on)have a 34" scale.
I picked up both at great prices.

Check some on-line retailers....(not to many stores seem to carry Elricks)

Or since you live in upstate N.Y...

Take a drive to visit Ken Smith.

 

Spalt

 

Why don't you go take a look at Kinal's basses some of them are fenderish but you can get whatever you want(string spacing, pickups...)through his different models.
I found in love with the SK5-B on the websiteKinal
Moreover the price is quite cheap for custom handmade basses

larry