Gotcha. In that case I'd buy either a Yammy BB435 or BB735, or maybe hunt for a 2nd hand BBP35 if you have ~1k (it's the MIJ flagship model, absolutely bonkers). Good quality at every price point and the in-house alnico pickups are pretty sweet.
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New bass advice
- Thread starter gordonfreemanjr
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- five string bass new bass
Gotcha. In that case I'd buy either a Yammy BB435 or BB735, or maybe hunt for a 2nd hand BBP35 if you have ~1k (it's the MIJ flagship model, absolutely bonkers). Good quality at every price point and the in-house alnico pickups are pretty sweet.
I would consider a G&L L-2500, US made or Tribute, both would fit the bill as either Evil or Good.
This may have been noted already but could you try a brighter string which could make that bass more usable across a wider spectrum of styles?
Most of my recordings in the later years were done on a p elite and I only use the p pickups but the jazz in there might cover more bases for ya…
Most of my recordings in the later years were done on a p elite and I only use the p pickups but the jazz in there might cover more bases for ya…
Never owned a US-made L-2500, but had a maple fb L-2500 Tribute, great rock tone oob. I'd have no hesitation putting the bass firmly in the Evil category, those MFD pickups roar. Kinda chunky neck, though, and mine had less than perfect fretwork (easy fix, though).
I love this Good vs Evil thing, btw, can we make it a thing?
Isn't it? I'm in love with the concept!
Also, BBP35 is my fav so far. It seems hard to find one below 1,7-1,9K$ though.
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There's currently one in the classifieds for a grand if you live in CONUS and don't mind 2nd hand. They pop up on reverb for about 1k every now and then too, which is a steal considering the US street price is 1.6k. Probably comparatively more expensive elsewhere due to taxes and whatnot (paid between EUR 1.1k and 1.2k for both of mine).
Yup, here in the EU it seems a bit more on the expensive side. BBP35's street price is around 2.067 USD. I've also found a used one for 1.725. So far that's it.
Havig said that, a new BB735 is 1.115k USD here. There's a also a used one, though apparently in perfect condition floating around for 796 USD.
While I agree with the G&L (my favorite 4 string basses), Yamaha (I have a 5 string), and MM 5's all great basses.....I just picked this up a couple of weeks ago and, for the money, can't say enough good things about it. Haven't seen it mentioned above so here ya go.
https://www.michaelkellyguitars.com/en/products/view/pinnacle-5
https://www.michaelkellyguitars.com/en/products/view/pinnacle-5
Thanks for this. I can see it's active though. I'd rather have the Good Bass passive.
It can be used passive and looks like a nice axe. Versatile too.
Quote from the description:
"The push-pull Master Volume knob engages the active preamp. In the active mode, the MK Custom 3-band EQ offers simple control shaping of the instrument's sound. Selecting the passive mode calls up an authentic "old-school" tone. It is this inclusive combination of pickups, coil-splitting, pickup blending, and the active MK 3-band EQ that assure an endless range of signature sounds for each player." Plus there's a coil split for each pickup.
I was impressed. There are some really nice pieces that are affordable these days.
So, not to derail this, but it may be worth addressing what you mean by "good" and "evil". Different basses will have different tones. Some fit better in certain situations than other. But I will say that I can't say any of my instruments are better or worse for heavy or light music (well, except that one 8-string 
).
The MM you have now has a very distinctive tone to it. Yes, it has active electronics to tweak it, but that humbucking pickup in that position has a unique signature. Getting into a PJ-style or dual-humbucker style will be inherently different, and will likely be a nice, new tone to have in your arsenal.
But, thinking of one as being for heavy music and one being for not-as-heavy music may be limiting. As an example, my two main 5-strings are a G.Gould (35" scale, graphite neck, with Nordstrand Big Blade pickups) and a Warwick Thumb BO (34" scale, wenge neck, MEC pickups/electronics with piezo bridge). These are two wildly different sounding basses. The G.Gould is defined and tight and can really sizzle when dug into; the Warwick is warm and burpy but can also fry a tweeter with the piezo engaged. I have used both of these basses in severe, heavy music, and they've both spend time in jazz open mics. They sound completely different, but can be at home anywhere.
What I'm saying is that don't worry about which one will be "good" and which one will be "evil". Looking at them that way may be limiting. I'd recommend finding something you like that sounds completely different from the one you already have. After you get to know the differences better you'll be able to figure out which one has a home in which bands.
).The MM you have now has a very distinctive tone to it. Yes, it has active electronics to tweak it, but that humbucking pickup in that position has a unique signature. Getting into a PJ-style or dual-humbucker style will be inherently different, and will likely be a nice, new tone to have in your arsenal.
But, thinking of one as being for heavy music and one being for not-as-heavy music may be limiting. As an example, my two main 5-strings are a G.Gould (35" scale, graphite neck, with Nordstrand Big Blade pickups) and a Warwick Thumb BO (34" scale, wenge neck, MEC pickups/electronics with piezo bridge). These are two wildly different sounding basses. The G.Gould is defined and tight and can really sizzle when dug into; the Warwick is warm and burpy but can also fry a tweeter with the piezo engaged. I have used both of these basses in severe, heavy music, and they've both spend time in jazz open mics. They sound completely different, but can be at home anywhere.
What I'm saying is that don't worry about which one will be "good" and which one will be "evil". Looking at them that way may be limiting. I'd recommend finding something you like that sounds completely different from the one you already have. After you get to know the differences better you'll be able to figure out which one has a home in which bands.
This may not be in your wheelhouse, but your Sterling could easily carry the heavy stuff. But as I mentioned Yamaha. For something on the other end of the spectrum you might want to check out the Yamaha TRBX505 and 605. It's a whole nother sound palette and while it is not my #1 for live performance necessarily My 605 is my #1 for recording. It eq's differently than any other bass I've ever played, but once I got the hang of it between it and the amp I can do pretty much anything I want with it... though I use Ernie Ball Cobalt FLATS with it to give it even more different flavor than my others. It is extremely nuanced and sensitive to strings, pickup heights, setup which make it incredibly versatile once you get a handle on it. Not as straight forward as other basses, but well worth the effort to figure it out. Under $700 depending on the model. Extraordinarily well made- at any price.
check out the Harley Benton HBZ 2005fl deluxe. I own one, and i love it
So, not to derail this, but it may be worth addressing what you mean by "good" and "evil". Different basses will have different tones. Some fit better in certain situations than other. But I will say that I can't say any of my instruments are better or worse for heavy or light music (well, except that one 8-string
The MM you have now has a very distinctive tone to it. Yes, it has active electronics to tweak it, but that humbucking pickup in that position has a unique signature. Getting into a PJ-style or dual-humbucker style will be inherently different, and will likely be a nice, new tone to have in your arsenal.
But, thinking of one as being for heavy music and one being for not-as-heavy music may be limiting. As an example, my two main 5-strings are a G.Gould (35" scale, graphite neck, with Nordstrand Big Blade pickups) and a Warwick Thumb BO (34" scale, wenge neck, MEC pickups/electronics with piezo bridge). These are two wildly different sounding basses. The G.Gould is defined and tight and can really sizzle when dug into; the Warwick is warm and burpy but can also fry a tweeter with the piezo engaged. I have used both of these basses in severe, heavy music, and they've both spend time in jazz open mics. They sound completely different, but can be at home anywhere.
What I'm saying is that don't worry about which one will be "good" and which one will be "evil". Looking at them that way may be limiting. I'd recommend finding something you like that sounds completely different from the one you already have. After you get to know the differences better you'll be able to figure out which one has a home in which bands.
You're obviously right. I think of the Good vs Evil thing as a merely nickname gimmick. The main goal is to have two similar end basses with completely different characteristics: lower tuning, thicker strings, active, high gain vs regilar tuning, regular/thinner gauge, passive.
Yet you are absolutely right that these descriptions don't do the guitars justice. I aim to vary them around between the projects, especially while recording. That's the whole point of having different instuments after all, isn't it? Widening your arsenal of expression?
In general Yamaha seem to have a lot of decent mid-end options these days. I'm surprised.
I've got a few Yamahas ranging between 13 and 36 years old. I would never hesitate to recommend them to someone. The "youngest" is a TRBX-1005 that recently got a pickup and electronics upgrade; It. Is. Rad.
You beat me to it! I recently bought a 55-02 Deluxe and love the hell out of it! Not to mention the versatility!
Yamaha doesn't get a lot of love in the (electric) guitar world but has started to build some traction with players like Matteo Mancuso. I don't see a lot of Yammie basses out there either. In my case I almost returned my TRBX605 but just because I am ever-curious I decided before packing it up to try different strings... OMG... what a difference! I ended up keeping it and it is in my gig rotation, though I think my suped-up 2010 MIM J5 is my overall #1, but how do you beat Aguilar pickups coupled to an Audere preamp??? I also love my Ibanez BTB675 with NYXL strings, but it's screaming for a new set after a year of mostly hanging on the wall. That's another bass that you should keep your eye out for. I got mine used for $500. Last one on the left in photo. Mine has maple, though I think I prefer rosewood FB's. Oh yeah... Budget backup... buy used. I don't even buy new cars any more.
