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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
#42
Brad Johnson said:
For well under $2k I'd take a look at a Glasstone 5 string jazz. A typical one in that price range will have a Pope Flex core or John East preamp... he even offers the East ACG filter preamp but if two bands confuses you I wouldn't recommend it;). He offers splittable dual coils so you have 70's jazz vibe and many more tonal options. LP, James Reed, Tesla and Duncan NY pickups. 22 frets. I've had one for around eight months and IMO it's a flat out steal. I've checked out everything mentioned in this thread.
Click to expand...

FYI, I just emailed him about a build and he said that he didn't have time for bass builds, all his spare time currently is in building the cabs. Bummer. He did have one in stock, but it wasn't what I was looking for.
 
#43
fuzzychaos said:
FYI, I just emailed him about a build and he said that he didn't have time for bass builds, all his spare time currently is in building the cabs. Bummer. He did have one in stock, but it wasn't what I was looking for.
Click to expand...

Yeah, his cabs have taken off nicely.

That's too bad though, the Ash with Myrtlewood top that he had was very light and sounded great. I thought about picking it up but I need another bass like I need a hole in the head.
:D
 
#48
The Nordys have the most comfortable necks of any jazz bass I have owned or played. I'm not sure how many of the builders you mentioned will do a compound radius neck, I know Nordstrand does. I've owned USA Laklands, Valenti, and Nordstrand and played Lulls, Allevas, and Sadowsky. I think all the builders mentioned build a fantastic instrument, it's definately a matter of preference. Good luck with your search.
 
#50
Green,

Are you talking about a compound fingerboard radius, or compound neck profile? Mike Lull definitely offers necks with compound or asymmetrical profiles on the back. I know this because I have such a neck on my 4-string Lull Jazz-style bass. I owned a Lull M5V, which is also a Jazz-style bass, and it was among the better 5-strings that I have owned. But then, so were my two Valenti 5- string J-style basses. I just happen to love my Callowhill J(unk) 5-string more than all of the others.
 
#51
funkyjudge said:
Green,

Are you talking about a compound fingerboard radius, or compound neck profile? Mike Lull definitely offers necks with compound or asymmetrical profiles on the back. I know this because I have such a neck on my 4-string Lull Jazz-style bass. I owned a Lull M5V, which is also a Jazz-style bass, and it was among the better 5-strings that I have owned. But then, so were my two Valenti 5- string J-style basses. I just happen to love my Callowhill J(unk) 5-string more than all of the others.
Click to expand...

I was referring to the fingerboard radius. I can't comment on the four string Lulls, but the fives I have played were nice.....I would definately like to try one of his 34 inch scale fives, I wasn't aware that he did 34 inch scale on his fivers. I too liked the neck on my Valenti, just not quite as much as my Nordstrand.......Nino definately makes a great bass for the money and is a super nice guy as well.
 
#53
The only basses on that list that I have experience with are Sadowskys and Lulls. Since you're looking for an active Jazz specifically I would suggest a Sadowsky. Or, if there's something you prefer about the build options (or looks) of the Lull you could always have a Sadowsky pre installed (as I did recently). Oh, and the neck profiles on the Lulls are slightly thinner than those of the Sadowskys, so it's quite possible you'll be at home more on one than the other in that regard. As for the 18mm string spacing aspect, I would have sworn that my Lull M5V was 19mm (that's what I'm used to playing on other basses) and I'm usually pretty sensitive about that kind of thing. Are there any Lulls in stock at Moog in Toronto?
 

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