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Looking for a 5 stringer around 1500-2500$.

T

Twistad

Apr 4, 2004
669
2
38
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
www.myspace.com
#1
Hi everyone,

I haven't posted in a while, been playing on a cruise ship overseas for the last 6 months. For the last year or so, I really haven't looked at my gear because I just hadn't any money to spend on basses.

I've been playing a fender P-bass for the last year and a half and even though I really like it, I'm looking for something new. I've played and owned 5 strings and 6 strings before and I'd like the next bass to be a 5 strings, passive and have 24 frets. Those are really the three main things I'm looking for.

I like jazz basses and the sound of modern players such as Janek Gwizdala, Hadrien Feraud, Tony Grey, etc. This is the most money I've ever spent on a bass so I want something versatile too so whenever the pop/rock gig comes along, the bass will fit in the genre. I live in Montreal so I'm limited as far as brands that I can try locally.

Anyway, any ideas?
Thanks in advance
 
#5
My friend, we seem to have VERY similar tastes in bassists :). All the guys you mentioned, however, have distinctly active sounds. Though you could probably coax a similar tone from a passive bass (maybe a jazz?) an active preamp is probably what you want tonally. There's also the fact that you don't find the three factors your looking for on a single bass too often so you might want to nix one, IMO.

If you can forgo having 24 frets and a passive preamp I'd definitely recommend a Fender American Deluxe Jazz V. I have the FMT version which is a bit different but both are tonal beasts and can get you the tone you're looking for. These are two of the most versatile basses I've ever touched and deliver in every way.

If you don't mind a 35" scale and again, an active preamp, a Spector Euro 5LX could work out very nicely for you too. They're very modern sounding basses in the best ways possible. The EMG pickups and Tonepump preamp sing in these basses. I dig them a bunch but not everyone likes the tone. I actually have a 2 vids of my playing a Euro 4LX and Euro 6LX in my youtube profile. Link's in the sig if you want to check them out :).

Like Alexander suggested, the Sadowsky Metros are definitely worth a look as well. The M5-24 fits your preferences almost perfectly, 5 string, 24 frets, and although it's active the preamp can be bypassed. The M5-24 has 2 soapbars closer to the bridge (like a Ken Smith) which supposedly makes that bridge growl easier to get but I couldn't seem to get it out of the one I tried. The tone reminded me of my Spector Euro 6LX but warmer. The MV, RV, and UV70 basses are also have the active/passive Sadowsky pre but don't have 24 frets. Of the 3, I've only gotten to play a UV70 but I got to play two and they were both winners, they growl for days and sounded really crisp and defined altogether.

Hope you find a nice bass, man :)
 
#7
Thanks guys.

So far, I really like the idea of the sadowsky metro, especially the Modern series.

I don't really like Warwicks' necks so that's out of the question for me.

I know Janek plays his bass passive, and I think the other guys are use active basses. Actually I don't really mind an active preamp as long as I've got a switch to run the bass passive when I want to. I love the active sound in certain styles but I don't want to be limited by it.

I'll keep looking
 
#8
I love Sadowsky, but also in that price range would be Mike Lull. Mike's basses are some of the nicest playing, feeling, and sounding basses on the market. If you want to get outside the Fender box, you might try a Spector Euro. Its definitely going to feel different if youre used to Fender type basses, but the Spectors play so easily and sound so good.
 
#10
Sandberg is a good idea, there's a store in Mtl that carries them so I'll definitely go give it a try.

I really like the Mike Lull 24 fret M5 series so far, even better than the sadowsky modern. It seems to me that the jazz bass sound on the ML would fit better in different styles.

I haven't played any Spector before but I'll give it a try too. As far as looks go, I'm really more of a fender guy but whatever, if it feels and sounds like what I want, I'll get used to anything.
 
#12
Step1: Read title of thread
Step 2: Immediately post reply including your favorite bass disregarding any replies
Step 3: ??????
Step 4: Profit


Go out and try x amounts of basses and pick the one you like the most.
 
#13
Twistad said:
Sandberg is a good idea, there's a store in Mtl that carries them so I'll definitely go give it a try.

I really like the Mike Lull 24 fret M5 series so far, even better than the sadowsky modern. It seems to me that the jazz bass sound on the ML would fit better in different styles.

I haven't played any Spector before but I'll give it a try too. As far as looks go, I'm really more of a fender guy but whatever, if it feels and sounds like what I want, I'll get used to anything.
Click to expand...

Wait: there's a store in MTL that sells Sandberg? Which one?

I think the Sadowsky Moderns are also a lot zingier than the other Metros (though at least they're 24 frets). I've heard good stuff about Lulls as well, but I've never tried one. I also didn't know they made a 24-fret. Guess I'd better go read up...
 
#17
roadkill2309 said:
Wait: there's a store in MTL that sells Sandberg? Which one?

I think the Sadowsky Moderns are also a lot zingier than the other Metros (though at least they're 24 frets). I've heard good stuff about Lulls as well, but I've never tried one. I also didn't know they made a 24-fret. Guess I'd better go read up...
Click to expand...

I VERY much disagree and would actually say the opposite, that the Sadowsky Moderns are the least zingy of all the Sadowsky Metro models.

And a big +1 to whoever suggested a Sandberg. Considering that I own one I should've done so myself. I don't know how it slipped my mind, lol. I love mine and the the preamp offers so many tonal options between the 3 band EQ, active/passive modes, and the series/parallel/single switch for each pup. Mine is naturally quite dark but boosting the highs a bit balances the tone nicely. I'd say this is your best option for what you're looking for but they're really hard to find. Surf eBay and google often. Good luck :).
 

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