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Looking for a "keeper" 5 string...suggestions appreciated!

#81
MoeTown1986 said:
If you love our 4 string P bass, why not get a 5 string P bass?
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How would this work and what would Leo's ghost say if I had a loaded American Pro p bass body and a squier vm jazz neck? Can I just, for lack of better terms, slap those two together and start rockin'? Because you could do that with brand new components for around $800.
 
#83
Didn't read the whole thread so I don't know if this has been addressed. A couple of years ago , Gatorbait (my son) picked up a Sire 5 string w/ active P.U's. He loves the thing. Says he can get any sound out of it he wants. He does play professionally with it in both plays , a band and pit orchestras. If the battery craps out , it will still play in the passive mode which to me is a must. Can't have a bass die in the middle of a performance and have to stop to change a battery. I think he paid less than $600 for it. I have played the thing and if I played 5 strings , I would have stolen it from him. He was out of town when it arrived so I called him and told him MY new bass had arrived and that if he liked it when he got home , he could order another one. When he got home , I took the case , put some wood scraps and some misc. hardware I had laying around in it with a note :Ooops sorry , I dropped it. Sometimes my son doesn't like me very much. I wonder why? :rolleyes:
 
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#84
I'm real interested in the updated Yamaha BB's, but I've not yet tried one.

Used Warwick, G&L, and Musicman 5's will definitely do 90's music plus a whole lot more! I personally think if you're going to own one bass (in your case one 5-string) a G&L L-2000/L-2500 is where it's at. Super versatile tone (esp if you do the K-mod) and great playability!
 
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#85
eastcoasteddie said:
The way I look at it, if you mean to play a lot of, if not strictly, 90’s rock then look for what 5’s were ubiquitous in the 90’s. Stingray 5 comes to mind immediately. I had a ‘94 Stingray 4 and wanted to get a SR5 soooo badly. But back in ‘97, there was only the “classifieds” newspaper and I found a crazy deal on a brand new L2500...which I still own today. It was very different than my Stingray...too different to the point that I really didn’t like its tone at all. But fast forward 20 years, I have rediscovered its original tone and capabilities...it truly is an amazing instrument. One really needs to familiarize oneself to it...you either love it or hate it...no in-between.
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As mentioned before, in the $700 range, I’d go with a Sterling Ray35 or the Ray35CA (classic) even though they have been discontinued, some stores still have stock last time I checked.
But if I had the coin (about $2k), I’d definitely go with a USA Kiloton 5 with some nice options (trans-blue with natural body binding like my L2500, pearl block inlays, white pearl PG...)
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Still lusting after your bass...after all these years! you know how I feel
 
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#86
Eilif said:
A few suggestions.
1- A lakland 55-01 would be my first suggestion. It was my main for years before I went back to 4 strings.Some folks don't like the preamp, but even with a new pre, you'd probably still be under $900.

2- The USA made Peavey's suggested here are great ideas. Sometimes you can even score a used Cirrus 5 for under a grand if you look around. That would be a killer choice.

3- G&L L2000's can still be found used for 900 or less if you take your time. It's shocking how you can get a used USA G&L often for less than 30% more than a new import "Tribute" G&L. I love G&L basses.

Seems like your current rig leans towards more chunky classic designs, but while you're out playing basses, be sure to try out the Spectors, Warwicks and Ibanez Soundgears and such. Neither is my ergonomic or visual cup-o-tea, but they're well made basses and well regarded. You can get tricked out, fancy wood, high-end instruments for ridiculous prices.

If you've got 7-9 hundred bucks in the used market the world is your oyster. Above all if it's a keeper you are looking for, play everything you can before making your decision. At the same time if you buy used and it doesn't work out the way you want don't be afraid to sell and buy something else. If you buy used intelligently you can almost always get back what you paid for it.
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picnic01 said:
There is a lot in that price range.

Personally I love MTD Kingston 5 strings, also I have enjoyed g&l, ibanez btb and atk, Peavy Cirrus, and some Schecter.
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All thaty 100%.. I have no experience with the G&Ls butI hear good stuff.. but the Laklands, MTDs and Peaveys are what I have and they are great basses. Not too heavy great necks..
 
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#92
If you're looking for a certain sound, look up that band and figure out what kind of bass their bass player played. That's where I'd start. Or, yes, you can get something like a G&L L2500 (even a tribute), which is very versatile. I consider that the Musicman slayer. I used to have one and regret selling it to this day. It is a rock machine. But it was too hot for the country music I was playing at the time and I wanted to go a different direction. I couldn't get it to mellow out.

Also:
most popular bass of the 90's?
 
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#95
Bass Man Dan said:
How would this work and what would Leo's ghost say if I had a loaded American Pro p bass body and a squier vm jazz neck? Can I just, for lack of better terms, slap those two together and start rockin'? Because you could do that with brand new components for around $800.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure if they’d fit or not. For $800 you could probably find a used one.
 
#96
What you see in my avatar are my two babies that rock the night away in my band that we cover a lot of 90's rock, grunge, etc. Spectors are really versatile basses. For the music that used a p-bass, just roll to the p pup. The warwick thumb, is a band cutting beast. The mids out of that thing destroy the 2 guitarists, 2 singers, and loud drummer who's snare will blow out your ear drums. I have no need for anything else. So with your budget, a rebop (with a few modifications) would do you justice in that setting. :D
 
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#100
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