Looking for a good 5 string for studio work.

[chris_b]

It doesn't matter which instrument you choose, if you want a good studio bass you have to find one that sounds right in your studio. One that you can work with to get the best sound.

On the other hand, old fashioned and "dull" Fender Precisions were THE studio basses and used by many of the top players for much of the last 60 years. Those basses are probably on more hits and classic recordings than the next 10 basses put together.

If it was my choice, I'd get a Lull P5 and a block of foam and you're good to go.

 

[peledog]

Spector Euro 5 or a Yamaha BB1025x

 

[bluesdogblues]

Maybe THIS?

(Tom Keneddy's Fodera)

I love his sound

 

[bluesdogblues]

Yamaha BB Series.

I have no clue why anyone would bother with a Fender. They are toys.

5 string wise, I agree, I never like Fender.

But 4 string,..well,...it is "THE TOY".. some of it tho

 

[nicc]

Yamaha TRB1005II. Amazing bass

 

[Dave W]

Sadowsky

 

[ebannist]

Fender CS Reggie Hamilton V. You're welcome in advance!!!

 

[Temcat]

G&L M-2500. Watch Ed Friedland's review on Youtube. Excellent and versatile bass.

 

[Dan Knowlton]

For studio or live - Sadowsky!

I do prefer my Regenerate M5 but is does sound a bit different than the Sadowsky I had. The Sadowsky was the quintessential
studio sound.

Dan K.

 

[Stick_Player]

... On the other hand, old fashioned and "dull" Fender Precisions were THE studio basses and used by many of the top players for much of the last 60 years. Those basses are probably on more hits and classic recordings than the next 10 basses put together.

When I think of Fender Precision Bass, this comes to mind:

 

[guitarflinger]

PPPEEEDDDUUULLLLLLLAAA! MVP-5 (my preference) or Thunderbass

 

[basspraiser]

If you want a versatile bass...Lakland 5502 or 5594.
For classic p sound....lakland 5564.

Both great basses

 

[James Lugo]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions. Monday I'm gonna hit GC and Ash and play some basses. I have a question on a couple of videos for some basses the guy demoing them commented and showed that they made noise. Like a single coil hum. I have had issues in the past with some basses doing that in the studio. Especially active basses. That is one thing I do like about my Ibenez it's very clean like that. Are there issues with some of the basses mentioned in this thread? Are some known to be quieter?

 

[20db pad]

Part of the past and current R+D of Sadowsky electronics is noise reduction in less than ideal performance environments. When equipped with their humbucking pickups, they're the quietest active basses I've experienced.

 

[Stick_Player]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions. Monday I'm gonna hit GC and Ash and play some basses. I have a question on a couple of videos for some basses the guy demoing them commented and showed that they made noise. Like a single coil hum. I have had issues in the past with some basses doing that in the studio. Especially active basses. That is one thing I do like about my Ibenez it's very clean like that. Are there issues with some of the basses mentioned in this thread? Are some known to be quieter?

It's part of the "Sound". In a mix, it's never heard.

 

[Luckydog]

My sadowskys are dead quiet in terms of hum, are setup with perfect action, are perfect for recording, and kill live. I've recorded with sadowsky JJs and PJs. They lay down an amazing sound.

 

[felixxx]

If you want a versatile bass...Lakland 5502 or 5594.
For classic p sound....lakland 5564.

Both great basses

+1

I am so in love with my 55-02. Tone from heaven.

 

[James Lugo]

It's part of the "Sound". In a mix, it's never heard.

I do a lot of country and singer/songwriter stuff and noisy basses can be a problem when mixing, especially on a LFC console with a ton of outboard that you are already having to deal with. I definetly do not want a bass that buzzes.

 

[James Lugo]

+1

I am so in love with my 55-02. Tone from heaven.

Do you have a maple or rosewood fretboard?

 

[generation zero]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions. Monday I'm gonna hit GC and Ash and play some basses. I have a question on a couple of videos for some basses the guy demoing them commented and showed that they made noise. Like a single coil hum. I have had issues in the past with some basses doing that in the studio. Especially active basses. That is one thing I do like about my Ibenez it's very clean like that. Are there issues with some of the basses mentioned in this thread? Are some known to be quieter?

Between mine, the drummer's, the engineer's, and the 2 I borrowed, we probably had a dozen basses in the studio on our last record. Of them all, the PRS was the ONLY one with zero buzz/unwanted noise. It also had the best tone IMO, but in the end the record was tracked with this oddball basking shark looking custom bass of my drummer's, because he felt the 36" scale length and aluminum fretboard made it a better bass to track with. Later on in the vocal tracking stage we had to punch in a different chorus part in one song, and used the PRS because my drummer's bass wasn't there. The PRS sounded so much better that we had to spend a bit of time dialing it in to match the tone from the basking shark bass. The part still stands out a little, because we just couldn't get the PRS to sound bad enough to be an exact match.

Pricey, yes... But an awesome studio bass.