Most reliable 5 string?

[Matt Dead]

Warwick or Musicman. :]

 

[Kwesi]

Should read my second post and idols. We both say passive because passives are less likely to die in the middle of a song,and as everybody knows,when your battery dies at an important moment those batteries you bought magically disappear out of your bag.

I've only experienced a battery dying on cheaper basses. Every active bass I've owned over $500 decayed in such a way that it was obvious that it was occurring but wouldn't be so drastic as to ruin a set. Of course, I've never owned a Musicman but I think at that price they'd be far less likely to completely go out in an instant.

 

[Rick Moors]

I've played maybe 3,000 gigs on my '88 Stingray 5. Total maintenence? 2 input jacks, and two tuning pegs.

It's a combination of a Timex watch and a Plymouth Valiant with a slant 6.

 

[Kwesi]

Warwick or Musicman. :]

What kind of tone are you looking for? I'm seriously oversimplifying things but Musicman bass are on the bright side of things while Warwicks are typically darker. They both have serious growl and can get a really aggressive tone if that's what you're after.

 

[BlackEdition]

i am by no means an expert as i am a novice bassist at best, but, i do have some electronics experience, and it seems as though your ibanez is merely suffering some growing pains.

it could be the input jack, or possibly a solder joint that is beginning to go bad.

take it to your local music shop to the luthier and describe the problem, and demonstrate it if you can using one of the demo amps. it should be a very simple fix.

now, forgive me for asking this question, but, did you try a different cable? i have had some issues with solder joints in cables going bad... it can be very frustrating trying to find what is wrong with your bass when it is really the cable!

then, with the money you will have saved from these busy gig months, you can buy a musicman 5'er and have two working basses!

 

[chuck3]

in the studio all day tomorrow after an epic gig last weekend - same stuff both times:

- EBMM SR HH 5 plus extra batteries for rock
- Upton Standard Gamba upright (with a pickup) for old school
- passive '51 reissue P Bass with chrome flats as backup to both the other basses

Never had a "fail" with that approach.

 

[felixxx]

G&L L2500.
IMO better that MM. You can play active or passive.
The only thing some people dislike is narrow string spacing (17mm).

 

[roccobladr]

I actually just replaced the batteries before the show with brand new ones. I use monster cables and tried different ones. I have a fender p bass I can use as a back up but I picked a bad night to forget it I gues lol. My inane is used and i paid goodmoney to get the active stuff fixed before but I guess eithr they did a bad job fixing it or it just needs the preamp totally replaced.

I kinda wanna just get the music man because it seems more like a standard and both my guitarists have nice gibsons and good quality stuff and I'm still with a used inanez lol. Nothing against cheap basses cuz I realize every bass is differnet and it's more about the sound and playability but I also think you pay the high pric tag for the peice of mind.

 

[chuck3]

my passive '51 P is the cheapest bass I own but the most reliable if I had to live or die with one bass. That said, I have nice strings on it and I swapped the pickup. But the EBMM Stingray is my lead bass guitar and no problems with it to date, it's built like a rock (and weighs accordingly).

 

[Dan Knowlton]

those batteries you bought magically disappear out of your bag.

Usually taken by the guitarist! Who denies he did it!

Dan K.

 

[felixxx]

I use monster cables and tried different ones.

I wanted to aks if you use Monster cable. They can damage the jacks on some basses because they are slightly larger. The symptoms are pretty much what you are experiencing now.

 

[chuck3]

I wanted to aks if you use Monster cable. They can damage the jacks on some basses because they are slightly larger. The symptoms are pretty much what you are experiencing now.

I have been told that too about Monster cables, by a pro who sets up up guitars for arena acts. I thought about starting a TalkBass thread about it. Is this actually the case?

 

[Rano Bass]

To OP:
It seems to me that you just want an excuse to buy a Stingray 5
Buy one and fix your Ibanez, maybe its not that damaged.
Oh... and learn to give maintenance to your basses periodically, its really important.

 

[musicman724]

im with the passive comment. reliable is not having your battery start fading or crapping out mid set..and heaven forbid you dont have batteries with you

change the battery once a month and you shouldnt have problems....