Is there a better 5 string than a Fender Pro II 5 ?

[Fonkamex]

I'm ready to jump into 5 string, and I see many pros using the Fender Jazz 5. What are real alternatives to it in that price range(under $2000)?
Thanks for suggestions and comments.

The Lakland Darryl Jones is awesome.

 

[nonohmic]

Can think of a more boring 5 than a Fender.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

My favorite in your price range is the Sadowsky Metroline P/J

 

[RSmith]

It has been much tougher to find the right 5. I have been through many.

American Fenders from the last decade, and newer Sires seem to have rolled edges on their necks and it drives me nuts. B string is okay at best.
Sandberg, Yamaha and Maruszczyk, have a flatter neck radius that doesn't feel like it fits my hand.
Lakland, the 35 scale is okay for a week or so.. then the shoulder fatigue starts! Some I've played had exceptional fit and finish, and some look like they skated right by any QC check.
Music Man StingRay 5, great QC, killer tone, great B, my favorite weight and finish options. Cons and I'm only speaking for myself, the 5 strings are solid tools indeed, but from a playability standpoint just okay to me. Maybe I'm crazy but I feel like the old higher mass pre-special bridge was better. Yes, the G string will slide of the fretboard if you are not careful.
ESP AP-5, great bass, a 35 scale that did not feel like it, came stock with Seymour Duncans, and was comfy like a Fender 5 to play. Light too.

Current 5 string- 2008 Fender American Standard. Super comfy to play, stock pick-ups are not great, might upgrade, the B is better than expected!
Still evaluating.

I have spent a lot of time, energy and money to find the right 5 string. This is only the sub 2K category, the 2K and above category is a whole other post, a painfully expensive one at that..

I have a 4 string Jazz that I love, so I guess this is a quality problem all things considered!

 

[Cleezmo]

Personally, I'd not be looking at Fender. I'd be looking at G&L, Yamaha, Ibanez, or Reverend. For under $2K, a Yamaha BBP35 or a Reverend Mercalli 5 would be tops on my list, albeit those are two very different basses.

Aside from brand/model, the two key things you'll need to figure out your preferences for are scale length (34" or 35") and string spacing (range from 16.5mm on Ibanez, 17.5mm on EBMMs, 18mm on Yamaha and Sandberg, 18.25mm on Fenders, and 19mm on Laklands, Reverends, G&L Series 750, and Sadowsky). Some people will say those make no difference to them, which is fine, but some people find that one of the scale lengths or string spacings are much, much more comfortable to play. You'll need to figure out for yourself what feels best, and that's by playing examples of each.

 

[BobDeRosa]

I’m a Fender endorsing artist.

I can’t speak to every brand on the market, but I can tell you from direct experience that a current Charvel will be a better bass than a current Fender at the same price point.

That's a hell of a Fender endorsement!

 

[MDBass]

That's a hell of a Fender endorsement!

Fender owns Charvel.

 

[BobDeRosa]

Fender owns Charvel.

Didn't know that. Thanks.

 

[meisi]

Personally, I'd not be looking at Fender. I'd be looking at G&L, Yamaha, Ibanez, or Reverend. For under $2K, a Yamaha BBP35 or a Reverend Mercalli 5 would be tops on my list, albeit those are two very different basses.

Aside from brand/model, the two key things you'll need to figure out your preferences for are scale length (34" or 35") and string spacing (range from 16.5mm on Ibanez, 17.5mm on EBMMs, 18mm on Yamaha and Sandberg, 18.25mm on Fenders, and 19mm on Laklands, Reverends, G&L Series 750, and Sadowsky). Some people will say those make no difference to them, which is fine, but some people find that one of the scale lengths or string spacings are much, much more comfortable to play. You'll need to figure out for yourself what feels best, and that's by playing examples of each.

For me, switching to the right 5 was unlocked my playing more than anything. It was so natural and 16th note scale runs became sooo much easier even in first position.

I cannot +1 enough the aspect of playing every 5 you can get your hands on and seeing what works for you.

Within the first 5 minutes you’ll know if it’s right or not, imo. It doesn’t take much time. You know when you know. I went from a fender jazz 4 to a USA peavey cirrus5. Didn’t realize how much the jazz neck wasn’t for me - I was on my second and thought they fit me like a glove.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Try some used Ernie Ball MusicMan StingRay5 Specials in both the H and HH options.

Sandberg is also a great option.

 

[SuperTheBass]

There are many. The Fender American Pro II series is not the best, despite the legions of cult-like Fender fans on TB who say otherwise. There are plenty of other quality options out there.

I would go to some local music stores and test out basses for yourself there. That’s the best way to really figure out what you want and like.

Unfortunately a lot of local music stores out there have exactly one new 5 string bass in the close-to-but-not-over $2k range and it's the American pro II jazz 5

In theory you're giving great advice, but in practice I think the reason the pro II is so popular is because of availability to try one in person compared to a Lakland 55-02 for example

 

[Kansas]

Op here. I played may friend's $7000 Fodera 5 and wasn't wowed, so that shows what I know.

 

[joeLowB]

Op here. I played may friend's $7000 Fodera 5 and wasn't wowed, so that shows what I know.

Thanks...and this illustrates what many in this thread have said....you have to get your hands on the bass to see how it feels to YOU! Good advice, especially to my own GAS tendencies....

 

[Mark Ambler]

34" Scale, Sadowsky 19mm Bridge spacing and 47mm Nut.
35" Scale, Lakland Skyline. Incredibly good and reasonably priced. 19mm Bridge spacing and 45mm Nut. Perfect!
Although, the Lakland Nut is only slightly smaller, it or something makes it feel more comfortable to me.

 

[MrAB4003]

Unfortunately a lot of local music stores out there have exactly one new 5 string bass in the close-to-but-not-over $2k range and it's the American pro II jazz 5

In theory you're giving great advice, but in practice I think the reason the pro II is so popular is because of availability to try one in person compared to a Lakland 55-02 for example

It really depends on the store with in person playing and testing.

I'm at my local GC once a week just to look around and enjoy myself on my day off. I've seen plenty of 5 string basses there, many of which are Ibanezes and EBMMs. The second closest GC had plenty of 5 strings too last I checked.

Conversely, I went to my local music store (where my bass tech is) to consign a bass today (ironically, it was a Fender Pro II Precision). There were only 4 other basses for sale in the whole store. None of them had 5 strings. I have seen and played 5 string basses there in the past, but not today.

Many people buy online and then test the bass that they purchase in their own homes on their own rigs. Most online stores and dealers have 30+ day return policies in case people don't like their bass or if there's something wrong. There are plenty of NBD threads here on TB with stories about how the NBD was spoiled for whatever reason and the person had to return their bass.

 

[oysterphish]

Just traded my Lakland DJ5 in toward a new EBMM 5HH. Kind of regret doing that in someways....there are pros to both. The EBMM has a 'beefier' B, but I think my DJ5 just needed a new neck pickup as their were issues with the exposed pole height on mine.
EBMM is lighter, I kind of like the 34" scale. Still getting used the narrower spacing. Very fun to play.
DJ5 hands down sounded better IMO. I miss that tone. I'm really not psyched with the tones I'm getting from the EBMM 5HH. Position 4 (Inner coils) get's me in Jazz Bass territory, but still sounds....muddy compared to the DJ5. Man, what a bass that was.

 

[davedamage]

There are a whole lot of people on TB that love to state opinion as fact.

I play five strings almost exclusively and have been through quite a few of them through the years. Currently, I have an American Elite Jazz V, an AmProII P5, a Lakland Skyline DJ5, and ATK305, MTD fretless and a Zon Mosaic Mojo PJ. They all have their place and they all do their own thing. I so miss the Yamaha BB735a I traded off, but if I get another one, it will be a BBP35. I've moved a few Warwicks along, but that was mostly because of changing tastes. I have a custom Dunable fiver on order, but I won't be able to comment on that until December.

The long and the short? Play everything you can, be it in a store or from a place with a generous return policy. Every brand everyone mentioned here makes great basses and they've all made some dogs. You won't know what you have until it's in your hands.