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I need another bass

jbalou02

jbalou02

Mar 8, 2010
370
26
#1
I'm in a few different bands and I really enjoy having a low B string unless I am playing a oldschool blues gig. I only have 1 5 string right now, its a Gibson Tbird V. It sounds awesome and I love how it plays and feels, and it is perfect for my rock stuff, but I have a more pop style band that it's just not fitting into. At least that's my excuse for GAS'ing for another 5 string with more of a P/J vibe.

I play for drunks and tourists in the bars in northern Michigan. People don't know or care about what I'm playing, and I don't care about showing off but I like do like nice stuff that feels and sounds good when I play it. And of course like the rest of you, I also love to fret and agonize out loud about the right bass to spend my hard earned loot on. So hence my post, to bother you about your thoughts on the subject.

What to buy. How much to spend. Here's the current incarnation of possibilities: I have a chance on a MPG Level 5 or a G&L 1500, both sound amazing from the reviews I've read, but either will cost me about the same in cash and trade. Or I could spank my credit card for $200 and own a Squier VM Jaguar with a gig bag. People seem to rave about the VM's. I have a old Squier P that I absolutely love, its my blues rig. So what do you think?
 
#6
Devon PJ-5 by Devon guitar in Texas.
image.jpg
 
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#10
jbalou02 said:
I'm in a few different bands and I really enjoy having a low B string unless I am playing a oldschool blues gig. I only have 1 5 string right now, its a Gibson Tbird V. It sounds awesome and I love how it plays and feels, and it is perfect for my rock stuff, but I have a more pop style band that it's just not fitting into. At least that's my excuse for GAS'ing for another 5 string with more of a P/J vibe.

I play for drunks and tourists in the bars in northern Michigan. People don't know or care about what I'm playing, and I don't care about showing off but I like do like nice stuff that feels and sounds good when I play it. And of course like the rest of you, I also love to fret and agonize out loud about the right bass to spend my hard earned loot on. So hence my post, to bother you about your thoughts on the subject.

What to buy. How much to spend. Here's the current incarnation of possibilities: I have a chance on a MPG Level 5 or a G&L 1500, both sound amazing from the reviews I've read, but either will cost me about the same in cash and trade. Or I could spank my credit card for $200 and own a Squier VM Jaguar with a gig bag. People seem to rave about the VM's. I have a old Squier P that I absolutely love, its my blues rig. So what do you think?
Click to expand...
That's a lot of dough to spend. The Jaguar model isn't my cup of tea so I am biased against it.
It comes to favorite color availability between the mpg level 5 and g&l 1500 in my opinion
 
#14
I rolled the dice on a "buy no try" used Squier VM Jaguar V...LOVE IT! It doesn't have a maple neck, and it needed some tweaking when it arrived but now it is a really solid player. No rattle, great intonation, nice little preamp action, nice tight B string, the J pickup really bites, P side does a fine job. Entirely giggable, versatile work horse bass for pennies on the dollar.

jaguar.jpg
 
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#17
jbalou02 said:
I'm in a few different bands and I really enjoy having a low B string unless I am playing a oldschool blues gig. I only have 1 5 string right now, its a Gibson Tbird V. It sounds awesome and I love how it plays and feels, and it is perfect for my rock stuff, but I have a more pop style band that it's just not fitting into. At least that's my excuse for GAS'ing for another 5 string with more of a P/J vibe.

I play for drunks and tourists in the bars in northern Michigan. People don't know or care about what I'm playing, and I don't care about showing off but I like do like nice stuff that feels and sounds good when I play it. And of course like the rest of you, I also love to fret and agonize out loud about the right bass to spend my hard earned loot on. So hence my post, to bother you about your thoughts on the subject.

What to buy. How much to spend. Here's the current incarnation of possibilities: I have a chance on a MPG Level 5 or a G&L 1500, both sound amazing from the reviews I've read, but either will cost me about the same in cash and trade. Or I could spank my credit card for $200 and own a Squier VM Jaguar with a gig bag. People seem to rave about the VM's. I have a old Squier P that I absolutely love, its my blues rig. So what do you think?
Click to expand...
Obviously, I don't know the sound you're after, but I love my L1505 - that's the one you're looking at if it's a 5. I think that if you like the clank and grind of a TBird you whould get along with the G&L. Having said that it is anything but a PJ. If you actually are looking for the PJ sound, this isn't really it. It's more or a Stingray with a more "hifi" top end.
Because of its more "hifi" sound, I find it sounds best into more vintage voiced amps as the combination of it with something like a GK would chop peoples heads off. But if you keep that in mind you'll get a very good sound and very versatile bass for realtively cheap on the used market (relative to anything else of this quality made in the USA).
 
#18
jbalou02 said:
I rolled the dice on a "buy no try" used Squier VM Jaguar V...LOVE IT! It doesn't have a maple neck, and it needed some tweaking when it arrived but now it is a really solid player. No rattle, great intonation, nice little preamp action, nice tight B string, the J pickup really bites, P side does a fine job. Entirely giggable, versatile work horse bass for pennies on the dollar.

jaguar.jpg
Click to expand...
you mean "doesn't have a maple fretboard" not "neck", correct?
 
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