Minimum Buck / Maximum Bang ?

[IotaNet]

To the Group -

This is less of a GAS attack and more of an interesting concept -- but I'd like your help.

I have a set of Lindy Fralin 5-string Jazz pickups in perfectly good condition. (They came out of my Lakland JO5) Trouble is, they're sitting around gathering dust and I'd like to do something about that.

What bass can/should I buy to drop these pickups into where they would have maximum impact?

Understand, I'm not looking for a boutique/expensive/TOTL bass here. Truthfully, I am thinking along the lines of a something just above a beater. (But not an SX, either.) Think something in the sub $500 range, used.


We all know of basses where we say, "With a new set of pups, that thing would be a player!" That's the bass I'm thinking of.

Any suggestions?

 

[BartmanPDX]

To be honest, are you going to play the bass you drop them into, now that you have some really outstanding Sadowskys and Laklands?

I'm thinking not. If it were me, I'd sell 'em, unless your main goal is to have fun playing around with upgrading a beater.

 

[IotaNet]

To be honest, are you going to play the bass you drop them into ... I'm thinking not. If it were me, I'd sell 'em, unless your main goal is to have fun playing around with upgrading a beater.

Bart -
You make some excellent points. I just hate to have these pups sitting around collecting dust.

 

[Brass Nut]

To be honest, I was thinking like BartmanPDX!
If you were not happy before, why do you think you would be now?
Letting a dead dog lay, can we say "Ebay"?

 

[jtlee]

I would suggest an older Yamaha BB 5-string w/J pups (like a BBN5, BB605, etc). I have owned many basses, but two of my favorites are my Yamaha BB1500A (4 string w/J pups) and BB415 (5 w/PJ). The stock pickups are great, but I'm sure the Fralins would sound amazing.

Given your penchant for Fender style instruments, I'd give them a go...the BB's are like a cross between a Fender and Musicman.

The other option is an older Fernandes Retrospect 5 (either the deluxe Korean version or the standard Japanese version). These are basically Fender Jazz V's with WAY better build quality. The only thing that sucked on them was the electronics. And they go for cheap...I know because I sold my Korean one for $175 on the bay...kicking myself for that one!!!

 

[markjazzbassist]

I would suggest an older Yamaha BB 5-string w/J pups (like a BBN5, BB605, etc). I have owned many basses, but two of my favorites are my Yamaha BB1500A (4 string w/J pups) and BB415 (5 w/PJ). The stock pickups are great, but I'm sure the Fralins would sound amazing.

+1

Yamaha.

or search eBay for Jazz copies like Tokai or Goya.

 

[Brass Nut]

+1

Yamaha.

or search eBay for Jazz copies like Tokai or Goya.

Shsssh!
I'm wanting to see them on Ebay for my Yammy!

 

[ehque]

why not SX?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

A Yamaha or a Squire P-bass Special Five would work out great IMO, but you aren't going to play it. Sell them.

 

[Marcus]

Depending on if the pickups would fit or not I would highly recommend a Carvin LB75. Here are the dimensions for the stock Carvin Jazz pickups: 3.72” long x .72” wide x .80” high

In fact, there is an older one on Ebay right now going for your price range, as seen here.

Carvin basses are a steal on the used market because of their not-so-hot resale value, which I believe is mostly because of the level of customization available during any particular order and the fact their pickups sound awfully dull. Their preamps are also relatively mediocre, but that could also be done away with for either a slick passive setup with an out-board pre, or an onboard (like a Sadowsky pre maybe?)
They make all of their basses in California and maintain higher Q.C. than Fender's American line.

I just sold my 6 year old Carvin a little while back. It was a fretless that had the board epoxy treated and the pickups switched for Nordstrands. It sounded astounding, but I could not justify having it collect dust while I studied AND had to pay for a Sadowsky NYC.

 

[XtraLongScale]

My vote would go to the Squier P Bass Special 5 or (speculatively) the new Squier Jazz 5 coming this spring. Better yet, if you're lucky enough to stumble across a used MTD Grendel (usually under $500), your Fralins would have a real sweet home.

 

[IotaNet]

... if you're lucky enough to stumble across a used MTD Grendel ... your Fralins would have a real sweet home.

Bang!

EXCELLENT idea!

 

[XtraLongScale]

Been looking for one myself since I got a Kingston. Just a matter of time before one pops up around here

 

[IotaNet]

I had an MTD Zephyr and while I didn't care for the tone, I absolutely LOVED the feel. (Mike T got it right with that asymmetrical neck.)

That was one of those basses that I desperately wanted to like but end the end, the tone didn't do it for me.