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Looking for an active Boutique Jazz 5er - Poll

Which of these boutique Jazz basses would you recommend?

  • Alleva Coppolo

    Votes: 15 6.1%

  • Sadowsky NYC

    Votes: 60 24.6%

  • Nordstrand

    Votes: 16 6.6%

  • Mike Lull

    Votes: 27 11.1%

  • Valenti

    Votes: 15 6.1%

  • M Bass

    Votes: 5 2.0%

  • Spector Coda

    Votes: 8 3.3%

  • Fodera NYC Series (Japan)

    Votes: 6 2.5%

  • Lakland USA

    Votes: 49 20.1%

  • Other!

    Votes: 43 17.6%
  • Total voters
    244
Baird6869

Baird6869

Feb 16, 2007
16,717
5,037
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
#1
Folks,

I am very interested in getting back into a Jazz 5er and I want to invest in a bass that won't have me looking at other Jazz 5ers a few months later.

I am sick of GAS-induced buying and selling and the plan is to have my Fodera 5er, MTD 535, 70's Jazz and Precision, an active Jazz-style 5er... and that's it (still a lot, but I have 10 basses currently and that is too much).

My specs are pretty simple....

Single coils
Under 10lbs (8-9 is better)
24 frets preferred, but not a deal breaker
HAS to have 19mm spacing
Maple board, but not a deal breaker
I like matching headstocks, but again, not a deal breaker
I prefer American made, but Canadian or European are ok.

So what would you recommend and why?

Please just don't recommend what you currently play without having some experience with a few of the manufacturers I mention. Also, no interest in Fenders. I have more than enough nice Fenders currently.

Thanks!
 
#2
Hmm, tough choice! I really don't think you could go wrong with any of them. Of those I'd be looking at Lakland, Sadowsky, and Lull. Nothing against the others, but a few of them do nothing for me visually.

Me personally, I love the Sadowsky sound. You've got a very well made US bass, a great sounding 2 band pre, active/passive options, VTC, and superb playability.

Lakland IMO builds one of the best basses on the market. I've only (:) only...) got a passive JO4, but it is everything I could ever want in a J bass. The neck is devine. It's the smoothest and fastest I've ever touched. Quarter sawn maple, graphite rods, Hipshot hardware, etc. I'm sure the DJ is just as great, or you could always add a preamp to a JO.

I have some kind of fascination with Lull, and would love to own one. I really like the MV's. The smaller J body and the contoured heel are big selling points to me.
 
#4
I don't think you can go wrong with any of these.
My top 2 choices would be Nordstrand-Valenti (both do real low numbers and are very personable)
 
#6
I would go with a Valenti 5 with Nordstrand pickups if was ordering something in this realm and wanted it light. My latest bass from Nino is just under 8.5 lbs and its a 35" scale 5...Impressive
 
#7
If ur a slapper a 24 fret is not usually prefered because u shrink the space between neck pup and the neck.
So 24 fret - Sadowsky, LEJ, Valenti,
20/21 fret - Nordy VJ5 Lakland DJ5, Xotic, LEJ.
These choices are great problems to have.
 
#8
Several of the listed basses provide excellent pricing, great features, and fantastic sound and playability. Among those listed, you would probably find Nino Valenti to be among the most accomodating in terms of building-in features to match your desired specifications, but a few of the others will possibly do that, too.

I would also suggest that you not overlook the Callowhill brand. Made in USA (Philadelphia, PA), and their J(unk) is a great Jazz-style bass! I have owned Jazz-style 5-strings from many of the companies that you have listed, and have had a few Valentis (all excellent basses), and the Callowhill J(unk)-5 that I currently own may just be the best of the bunch. It only has 22 frets, but the birdseye maple board, 19mm string spacing at the bridge, and 7.8 lbs. total weight all fit well within your stated specifications .... and it has a pair of to-die-for Nordstrand Big Singles with a Nordstrand preamp. I'll bet that you could get a 24-fret fingerboard from Tim Cloonan and the boys at Callowhill if you asked, but I happen to love the 22-fret board on mine.

Doug
 
#10
An excellent list you have, my friend. Any of them would be amazing for sure... I love the neck on my Lakland JO-5, and the Sadowsky and Lull basses feel great too. But I chose Nordy because these basses with fat singles and a preamp simply can't be beat.
 
#13
Are you looking for a modern J sound or a more vintagey sounding J....
For a More modern sounding J bass, the Sadowsky wins hands down... More vintagey and traditional the Alleva Coppolo.... The Alleva is about as close to vintage tone that you will come. Open and airy yet phat down low like a fender... Made all in house by one guy... The only thing he doesn't make in house is teh hardware. .But even that is staring to be made by him too...

Foderas are nice too but not a tru jazz bass tone.. but the other features are nice. Lull is a good alternative and priced reasonably. I dont care for the Nords or their pickups, they sound real grainy to me...

Ive owned everything on your list except the nord and M .. And have kept only my sadowskys and allevas and for a good reason.. Engineers love them and i great customer service.
Lulls are very nice,, great guy too... Im not a fan of 35" scale but i know he is now making 34 in scale 5s too.

The Sadowskys record well and always sound great in a mix.. .Even his Metro series...
But for an accurate real J tone the Alleva is in a class all its own... One of the guys on your list seams to be copying the Alleva set up and design almost has the same headstock too.. .
over 20 years ago i was on search for the perfect modern 5.. it stooped when i got my first sadowsky..but i accumulated about 27 5 strings at that time.. All are gone sadowsky still here. And again when i wanted a more traditional J sounding 5 i found the Alleva.... Im done.. Haven't had GAS for a new bass in many Years
Happy Hunting
 
#14
Baird6869 said:
Folks,

I am very interested in getting back into a Jazz 5er and I want to invest in a bass that won't have me looking at other Jazz 5ers a few months later.

I am sick of GAS-induced buying and selling and the plan is to have my Fodera 5er, MTD 535, 70's Jazz and Precision, an active Jazz-style 5er... and that's it (still a lot, but I have 10 basses currently and that is too much).

My specs are pretty simple....

Single coils
Under 10lbs (8-9 is better)
24 frets preferred, but not a deal breaker
HAS to have 19mm spacing
Maple board, but not a deal breaker
I like matching headstocks, but again, not a deal breaker
I prefer American made, but Canadian or European are ok.

So what would you recommend and why?

Please just don't recommend what you currently play without having some experience with a few of the manufacturers I mention. Also, no interest in Fenders. I have more than enough nice Fenders currently.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

seems like a you could get everything you want in a sad pretty easily. theyll do a 24 fret model with j/j spacing and keeping the weight low is usually something they do standard.
 
#18
At face value and since the requirements have no mention whatsoever of active electronics I'd go with something that has active / passive capability. The Sadowsky comes to mind immediately. Lakland would have a model like that. I played the the active / passive AJ series bass and it had outstanding tone active or passive. Vintage passive or active and articulated. I'm sure all those basses have an edge, but the 55-AJ is a very cool bass with the active / passive and beautiful bound neck with block inlays. Not sure if that is available with a maple neck stock, but they will work with you. Carries a hefty pricetag though but not out of line with a Sadowsky NYC either. Let us know what you decide and of course would love to see pics when it happens!
 

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