P/J Fivers?

[wdinc01]

Hey guys, I'm currently looking around for a bass to keep at school. So I don't want anything too expensive (below $500, preferably), but I also want it to sound good because I'll probably take it to college.

Anyway, I'm thinking that I'd like a P/J configuration. But I can't really find any P/J five string basses that aren't custom made, aside from Yamaha. Are there any other?

 

[DanielleMuscato]

What don't you like about the Yamahas?

Schecter has the T5, although I believe they are discontinued now... You can find them used for around $250-300:

 

[PilbaraBass]

What don't you like about the Yamahas?

Schecter has the T5, although I believe they are discontinued now... You can find them used for around $250-300:

ohhh my! I like that...

and at a price that just begs for me to pick one up...
NEXT time I'm in America, that is

 

[jomahu]

ohhh my! I like that...

and at a price that just begs for me to pick one up...
NEXT time I'm in America, that is

yes, that is nice! i wish it came in a jazz, tho'. P necks on a 5 = for me (small hands).

still hoping there may be one at rondo sooooooon.......

 

[PilbaraBass]

yes, that is nice! i wish it came in a jazz, tho'. P necks on a 5 = for me (small hands).

still hoping there may be one at rondo sooooooon.......

my hands aren't exactly large...I have me a Squier Deluxe Active V (wide city)...took me about 1 month to totally get used to it...now I LOVE IT!

 

[jomahu]

my hands aren't exactly large...I have me a Squier Deluxe Active V (wide city)...took me about 1 month to totally get used to it...now I LOVE IT!

yah, i have a frankenP/J made with a squier P body and neck. love the sound, but ack! that board! my hands just about fit on it.
i use it for shedding at home...my sx jazz board feels like a pencil after that!

 

[Nedmundo]

Fender used to make the Deluxe Zone as a fiver, and you might find some still on the rack. It's active and MIM. I bet they're very reasonable on the used market.

 

[winston]

You should be able to find a used Godin SD-5 (discontinued) or Freeway 5 (current) for under $500. I had an SD-4 (4 string model) that I bought used for $189. Strung through the body with TI Jazz Flats it was one of the best-sounding passive basses I've ever heard in 23+ years of playing, regardless of price.

I think the passive Yamaha BB414/415 are hard to beat for an inexpensive new P/J. I don't really like the sound of the active versions.

 

[Germanbassist87]

theres also a the ESP LTD B-55.. Haven't really sat down and played one, but i may be looking at one for my back up bass to my b-255

 

[wdinc01]

Hey, thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll have to look into some of them.

What don't you like about the Yamahas?

There's not really anything that I don't like about the Yamahas. I've actually never seen one. I just wanted to see what other kind of options there are that meet my criteria because, honestly, that was the only one I could think of.

 

[JazzyJames]

Yamaha's are pretty good basses. Look around to find a store that has one that you can play.

 

[Thump Jr.]

As the owner of a 4-string P/J Yamaha, I can definitely tell you it's worth your time to look into. I have the active version (BB614) and it's an excellent bass.

 

[PilbaraBass]

I've played the Yammy BB415 (passive brother of the BB615), it's a great bass...I reckon the 615 would be a tad more versatile, but haven't tried one.

There's no shame in Yamaha...not at all!

I've had an RBX170, still have a PAC112J guitar and just bought a Yamaha Clavinova Dig Piano today

GREAT Gear for the price, for sure!

 

[Noosh]

ESP LTD makes some pretty good, cheap fives. the B-55 has PJ pickups. i have it, its a great bass.

 

[Sithian]

Do the P/Js truly capture the best of both worlds? Can you get a nice growly jazz tone out of these?

 

[Thump Jr.]

My Yamaha growls plenty with both pickups; the active controls help this a lot. I personally find the P-style pickup to provide a deeper-throated growl, which I prefer. But the J-style pickup has growl to burn IME.

 

[Munjibunga]

Fender American Precision Deluxe V. Best P-Bass Fender ever built. Problem: probably about $800 used.

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[El-Bob]

I'll give a plus 1 to everyone that reccomended the ESP/LTD B-55. great basses

 

[DanielleMuscato]

I used to have one of those. The rear humbucker does not sound much at all like a J bridge pup, in my opinion. It sounds more like a MusicMan, especially when paired with an ash body (like my old one and like the one you posted).

Unless the economy is doing a LOT worse than I thought, those are not going for $800 used - more like $1k+.

I do agree, though, that this was one of the best Fender Ps made. I'm upset that they were discontinued. Someday, I will get another one!

 

[cdaniel]

More than $800 my friend. I've been hunting one or a while. Lost out on two maple fretboard ones in ebay auctions because I couldn't go over $1000 plus shipping. Both sold for over $1200

Fender American Precision Deluxe V. Best P-Bass Fender ever built. Problem: probably about $800 used.

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