I need a second "main player" bass.

[220_Hz]

Tune a 4 string to B! You only lose about 5 notes anyways

 

[jfiver]

Cole Clark LLB5. Pups in the P & J positions, passive switch on the pre, $2500-3000 AUD street price so that conversion rate is working in your favour. The neck is one of the nicest I've played, too.

And the control cavity is large enough to accommodate whatever you might throw in there, too.

 

[Anemic_SluG]

I have 2 Sandbergs a pointy one (forty eight) and a vm4. Went to the configuration and mocked this guy up in 35” scale, but they can do 34” as well
Configuration code:
canv2-vm:S-N-5S-35-MF-BLB-ASH-NOT-EBF-F-WB-MHMF-CRH-CLT-2EQ-BP-BCP-RH

Good luck on your search. The fit and finish as well as the sound is awesome for me. Beefier than a pj, and I dig the reverse p pickup.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

Dingwall is deferent than what you have and slays all others in tone, feel, and quality.

 

[SkylineFiver]

This should work.
Great on board preamp with over drive.

https://www.alienaudio.com/gallery

 

[ELG60]

Devon can probably get you close to that price point. I bought three of them in like-new condition here on TB for around that amount. Here's a new one for sale:
Devon Bass Guitars

 

[Riff Ranger]

Of your choices, and considering what you specified in your post, I went with G&L. For all the same reasons, I will also suggest the Yamaha BB735A. I seem to remember you not thinking overly highly of Yamaha, but considering all your considerations, consider taking another look. For your budget, you could buy one for yourself and each of your kids!

 

[Ric5]

carrots

 

[fourstr00]

With what you’re talking about doing to the Ray (M/P, passive, 5) for versatile and simple, I would completely endorse a Maru. They basically built me the bass you’re describing and I’ve been very impressed.

This was about the same price as an Ernie Ball.

 

[Wood and Wire]

A used Music Man Big Al 5 (SSS version will have all your preferred configurations covered).

Alternatively, yeah you could go for a Yamaha BBP35 / BB735A, but it would totally kick ass playing a Rickenbacker 4003S/5 in church, or a mixed genre covers band.

 

[Erik Turkman]

Either a Sire P7 or a Charvel San Dimas Pro Mod PJ V could work. I’ve used both as versatile main players and the only mods I did were to change the bridge and tuners to drop some weight.

 

[LBS-bass]

Fender ultra jazz V

My Elite V is pretty sweet, and the string spacing is fairly wide, which makes it comfortable to play at the right hand for someone who's used to that.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Cole Clark LLB5. Pups in the P & J positions, passive switch on the pre, $2500-3000 AUD street price so that conversion rate is working in your favour. The neck is one of the nicest I've played, too.

View attachment 4899509

And the control cavity is large enough to accommodate whatever you might throw in there, too.

I’d love it if they made a headless 34” version of this.

 

[Micha84]

I voted Frog. Maru basses still come at a great price considering the options you get to choose from, and with your budget you can get something really sweet. It might not quite reach the build quality of your other options, but that is not saying that quality is bad. I have a Maruszczyk as well, it is a good bass, but obviously you can't expect top of the line for a "custom" bass at that prize. It might be a little gamble on tone, as well, although you can make educated guesses looking at the presentations Adrian gives on his youtube channel. If you are searching for a player, the big plus with Maruszscyk is that you can configure a lot of the things that influence playability. I think Adrian is even willing to do custom neck specifications for a decent prize, but you'll have to check with him.

 

[drumvsbass]

Check the necks on the new Charvels.

 

[two fingers]

Of your choices, and considering what you specified in your post, I went with G&L. For all the same reasons, I will also suggest the Yamaha BB735A. I seem to remember you not thinking overly highly of Yamaha, but considering all your considerations, consider taking another look. For your budget, you could buy one for yourself and each of your kids!

I have no issues with Yamaha at all. Their quality control is fantastic.

 

[J_Bass]

You have a main bass that has a MM pickup and a P pickup. You have a preference for passive basses.

I would say go with Dingwall, Maruszczyk, or Serek.


Maruszczyk made this for me:

Or a passive 2 or 3 pickup Serek, for example. They are excellent basses.

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

This is a good "post the bass you own"-thread, so I vote that you look into Marleaux. Two-time winner of Best of show at NAMM bass by Bassgear magazine. Also they look fantastic! Instruments - Marleaux Bassguitars

 

[chris_b]

Get a Sadowsky 5 string Jazz.

The Japanese Metro's are excellent basses and periodically pop up in the classifieds at good prices.

 

[MtManiac]

I vote used American Deluxe Dimension HH V. It does everything well.