I need a second "main player" bass.

[mikewalker]

I would lean towards advising the Frog...
but there is the old saying "If you go on a spree then go the whole hog including the postage."

In line with that, I would point you over here (still in your budget, but there might be a waiting list)

 

[dedpool1052]

The 35" scale and inline headstock make it hard to find a proper case, but Schecter put these out a number of years back
Invalid Link Removed

 

[LBS-bass]

I've wanted one of the Maruszczyk basses forever, so I'd vote for the Frog. But do what you gotta.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

@two fingers Maruszchyk Frog 5 Headless are great looking basses, this is the one I bought here on TB...

not the PU's that you're looking for but I'm just sayin...

 

[Smooth_bass88]

 

[VeryTallBassist]

If you like the Stingray 5 neck and want tonal versatility you really can't beat the Bongo 5 in an HSp configuration. I know it's not passive, but those things are tonal beasts and super versatile.

 

[two fingers]

View attachment 4899048

My instincts say get one of each.... and a new place to live cuz Mrs.Fingers will not see the humor/practicality in my choices.

Let's not follow my instincts here.

 

[TheSeagoats]

I got an LTD AP-5 last year in black and it can do everything I've ever needed. Can sound mellow with fingers in a church setting, aggressive with a pick in a rock setting, and anything else I'll ever need. It has active pickups but controls like a passive, no onboard EQ or anything, just volume, balance, and tone. And it just looks like a typical PJ bass so it can fit any genre in the looks department. Cannot recommend enough.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

For gigging purposes, it's Sandberg superlights for me and nothing else. Get a TM5.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

My main player is a Hammersmith 5 string. It has a P bass pickup at the neck, a dual coil at the bridge, and all passive electronics.

For a dozen reasons, I'll never get another Hammersmith like this one.

My other 5 simply doesn't fit any of the scenarios where I play. It just looks too "rock". I love it. But I'm not going to play it in church. And I'm not going to play it with my band that plays a country song one minute, "Can't Stop the Feeling" the next, and Journey the next.

So I need another "main player" 5 string.

I started a thread a while back about Dingwall basses in a dad band. That still has my attention. They look and sound pretty great to me.

For some reason I keep going to the Public Peace configurator and playing with headless Frog variations (with Extender pickups). See pic below for those who are not familiar.

The wide spaced G&L 2500 basses look like they would be fantastic.

And I have been fighting the urge to simply pull the trigger on a 5 string Stingray Special HARD. (Brace yourselves.) I would mod the crap out of the Ray. I might even put a P bass pickup literally touching the MM pickup and wire up some passive options.

This isn't scientific. And, ultimately, it's my choice. I get that. But let's toss around these options (or whatever pops into your head) and see what happens.

I lean toward passive. But I'm not opposed to active.

My budget would probably be up to about three grand ($3000 US Dollars). I could spend a little more if something amazing comes along.

Versatility. It's gotta be versatile. I usually "set it and forget it" on my amp. And I use hand techniques and on board electronics for variations through the gig.

Gotta be 5 strings.

Hit the poll and blurt out whatever comes to mind! No wrong answers. I'm just spitballing.

(I've got half a dozen 4 strings or more.... fretless, P bass with Chromes, P bass with rounds, etc. So all the other sonic basses/bases are covered.)
View attachment 4898875

The dingwall has far too many knobs.

Id hit a jazz bass. Slap a MM in the sweet spot, right between them. All Delano pickups.

 

[Matt Dean]

My instincts say get one of each.... and a new place to live cuz Mrs.Fingers will not see the humor/practicality in my choices.

Let's not follow my instincts here.

I feel you… Mrs. Dean shares Mrs. Fingers sentiments.

 

[Artman]

Sandberg
They already build a super nice bass that ticks the boxes on all of your Stingray mods.

 

[Andre678]

My vote changed once you said you would mod the Stingray. It is what I plan on doing to my own. I am not a huge Stingray fan but do think it is my favourite bridge pickup. It is easier to add a P pickup to a Stingray than get a proper Stingray pickup so that was my way to get a proper P/MM bass. I also prefer passive as well.

 

[Bassgeer]

Go Dingwall, I've sold everything else, except the bass I built myself. Great tone and super flexible. And the fanned frets are sooooo ergonomic. Using and NG3 5 string and an upgraded NG3 6 String (3Leaf Audio preamp and Dingwall FDV pickups). I'll never own another non-Dingwall bass unless its one I build myself.

 

[MattZilla]

You owe it to yourself to own a dingwall for at least a few months out of your life.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I've been yearning for a Dingwall for some time now. I like the Lee Sklar signature model but a regular NG-3 would be fine too. I'm very interested in have a fan fret fingerboard and with that 37" long B-sting, it reputedly has much better tension than a 34" or 35" standard neck provides. B strings can be kind of floppy on 34" necks. Plus I like the combination choices of three pickups. That bass is capable of a LOT of different sounds.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I wouldn't Maim a nice Stingray, G&L Headstock points to Hell, Frog doesn't seem[look like] to be a Church Bass but I haven't been to Church in awhile.

I have been thinking I 'need' a Dingwall recently; some are sort of 'Modern Gospel'

 

[Barticus]

My main player is a Hammersmith 5 string. It has a P bass pickup at the neck, a dual coil at the bridge, and all passive electronics.

For a dozen reasons, I'll never get another Hammersmith like this one.

My other 5 simply doesn't fit any of the scenarios where I play. It just looks too "rock". I love it. But I'm not going to play it in church. And I'm not going to play it with my band that plays a country song one minute, "Can't Stop the Feeling" the next, and Journey the next.

So I need another "main player" 5 string.

I started a thread a while back about Dingwall basses in a dad band. That still has my attention. They look and sound pretty great to me.

For some reason I keep going to the Public Peace configurator and playing with headless Frog variations (with Extender pickups). See pic below for those who are not familiar.

The wide spaced G&L 2500 basses look like they would be fantastic.

And I have been fighting the urge to simply pull the trigger on a 5 string Stingray Special HARD. (Brace yourselves.) I would mod the crap out of the Ray. I might even put a P bass pickup literally touching the MM pickup and wire up some passive options.

This isn't scientific. And, ultimately, it's my choice. I get that. But let's toss around these options (or whatever pops into your head) and see what happens.

I lean toward passive. But I'm not opposed to active.

My budget would probably be up to about three grand ($3000 US Dollars). I could spend a little more if something amazing comes along.

Versatility. It's gotta be versatile. I usually "set it and forget it" on my amp. And I use hand techniques and on board electronics for variations through the gig.

Gotta be 5 strings.

Hit the poll and blurt out whatever comes to mind! No wrong answers. I'm just spitballing.

(I've got half a dozen 4 strings or more.... fretless, P bass with Chromes, P bass with rounds, etc. So all the other sonic basses/bases are covered.)
View attachment 4898875

#1 choice without question, great build quality and not expensive. Checkout the Maruszczyk owners club. I put the Xtenders (+ Noll 4-band) in my last build, and love them. Super versatile, I cover similar music and they work great.

 

[waynobass]

The wide spaced G&L 2500 basses look like they would be fantastic. ...

Versatility. It's gotta be versatile.

The above made me vote for G&L. Plus it has a basic look that would fit into any setting.

 

[Barticus]

@two fingers Maruszchyk Frog 5 Headless are great looking basses, this is the one I bought here on TB...

not the PU's that you're looking for but I'm just sayin...

As previous owner, I can say “this Frog” is an awesome bass!!!