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Nice passive 5 string bass?

#4
I think the MIA Fender Jazz V is a great bass. At a lower price point, I have heard nothing but good things about Yamaha BB415s. Finally, if are not biased against Peaveys, the old Foundation five is a great bass that can often be had for $200 or less.
 
#9
You could get a Reverend 5L or BH5:

IMG_0058.jpg


35" scale, passive, tons of old-school booty and mojo. Something worth considering, I'd say . . .

Probably cost you $700-800, though. I got my 5L for $650 shipped, but that was a pretty decent deal.
 
#10
^^^ Good suggestion. Nice B on the ones I played, worth the extra dough IMHO. I prolly would have bought one myself but I didnt find the body comfortable ( ...and they are gawd aweful ugly :D IMO of course. )


Choices are kind of limited by wanting passive and extended scale for under $500.

If you would allow active basses your choices would widen considerably.
 
#12
For a seriously inexpensive Jazzer (with a P bass body & J pickups), how about a Squier Precision Deluxe 5? It's 34 incher, but it's got one of the most impressive Bs for that scale length that I've ever tried and it has a nice wide (19mm?) string spacing. They're pretty good off the rack and go used for around $150 these days. The only real improvements to be made would be the pickups, tuners & maybe the nut. It would come in way under 500 bills and be a solid 5er. For under $300, you could get the new Squier Jazz Deluxe 5 (similar bass with a Jazz body) and remove the active electronics & still come in under $500 with mods. Both of these models I'd take before any MIM 5ers under 500 bills. No 35 inch Jazzers in that price range, so I've seen :(
 
#14
Juniorkimbrough said:
Bartman, what is up with the paint job on the bottom one? I've been meaning to ask you this for a while...
Click to expand...

It's called Lava Swirl, and was one of the options on Reverend basses. The tops on Reverends are actually made of a material like formica, which sounds like it would be horrible but really works out well. The hollow interior holds a mahogany block that runs the length of the body. The design is part of that top laminate material -- it's not a "paint job" per se, but is ingrained in the material. Some Reverends have metallic tops, too, like this one, owned by craigb:

Link Removed

The Lava Swirl finish on mine looks killer from a distance, IMHO. :D
 
#15
Juniorkimbrough said:
Looking for an inexpensive one, $500 at the most. That's why I sold my JO5 is because I couldn't justify keeping it with as little as I player 5'ers.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Then go for the G&L Tribute 2500!
You won't regret it.
I had one the same time I had a Fender Roscoe Beck 5. (I had to sell both of them to finance my Sadowsky.)

I liked the Tribute a lot better than the more expensive Fender in terms of sound and playability.
I would get a "Premium" (natural finishes) as it is made of ash, whereas the others are made of basswood.

In fact, I will definetly get a new one!
The one thing to consider is the spacing that is a bit tighter on the G&L.
 

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