I was going to bring mine home after practice to try other strings ( currently Sadowsky black stainless lights) But it sounded and played so good maybe I'll just play it as is for a while 
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I was going to bring mine home after practice to try other strings ( currently Sadowsky black stainless lights) But it sounded and played so good maybe I'll just play it as is for a while
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." - Bert Lance
I'm pretty happy w/ D'addario nickels on mine, but I may give their new balanced tension strings a shot from more of a playability standpoint since I already like the tone.
Nice - Nino builds some great instruments... If I ever decided to "upgrade" from my Fender, I think I'd go with a Valenti.
Walnut/mocha finish, black pickguard, maple neck - like Paul Jackson's P from the 70's, only in a 5'er.
Can you tell I've given this a little thought?
Walnut/mocha finish, black pickguard, maple neck - like Paul Jackson's P from the 70's, only in a 5'er.
Can you tell I've given this a little thought?
Say it ain't so! 
We'll keep your membership on hold status, until GAS brings you back into the fold. LOL
Enjoy the Ray!
We'll keep your membership on hold status, until GAS brings you back into the fold. LOL
Enjoy the Ray!
I have had my Fender P5 for a few months now and I think it is great...perfect for my needs...the one thing I wanted to add to these discussions is that I bought this P5 (see pic in avatar) to have in the interim while my Dingwall Super P 5 was being built and it completely changed my plans...the build and playability are obviously going to be a rung below what the good people at Dingwall are doing but the TONE is what I was after...I visited the Dingwall shop last year and played the Fiesta Red NAMM Super P5 and it felt unreal but the tone was just a wee bit off the mark for MY ears...the first weekend gig I used the Fender P5 on...it ended up getting knocked around a bit and got some booze poured on it...etc...and I just realized that for MY needs, the Fender P5 did and is doing exactly what I wanted it to do...enough so that I could NOT warrant the $$ for the Dingwall option as much as I want to support that company (being located in my home province)...it just didn't grab my ears quite the way I had hoped...the Fender P5 is pretty no frills well put together five string P with the Fender P tone...done deal...
I will say too that I am very much surprised that they aren't a more popular bass than they appear to be but that doesn't bother me any...I found something that works for me...didn't cost too much and sounds great and feels really nice and solid...and at 9lbs exactly...comfy on those long night gigs!!
I will say too that I am very much surprised that they aren't a more popular bass than they appear to be but that doesn't bother me any...I found something that works for me...didn't cost too much and sounds great and feels really nice and solid...and at 9lbs exactly...comfy on those long night gigs!!
Chef
In Memoriam
No need to apologize for a 2008 and on Fender P5.
Those are fine basses.
Those are fine basses.
Couldn't agree more, quench!
It's all about TONE, and the P5 to my ears has plenty of it. It sounds like it should - a nicely built American made Fender Precision... with a low B. Perfect.
What was off on the Dingwall do you think?
It's all about TONE, and the P5 to my ears has plenty of it. It sounds like it should - a nicely built American made Fender Precision... with a low B. Perfect.
What was off on the Dingwall do you think?
I wasn't a fan of either. For my touch the B sounded a little dead on the DRs except for the DDT's. I like Balanced D'Addario XLs, DDT's, and the Balanced Circle K's. Obviously YMMV.
It was hard to point out what was "off" with the Dingwall...it was a bit to precise/sterile...the one I played had a maple neck which i am not a fan of so that may have contributed in tricking my ears...but it felt soo nice and an amazing lightweight build that I was willing to work with the tone's character (or lack thereof) but it just wasn't quite "right" to my ears...
The best comparison I can think of is the experience I had with the Lakland Skyline jazz...LOVED the feel of it...and the build was really exceptional...but the tone wasn't what I would expect out of a "jazz" bass...so...back to Fender I went...same kinda of deal with the Dingwall Super P...anybody who buys one of those is getting an amazing instrument that they will have and love forever no doubt about it...but for me personally, it was the tone that lacked the characteristics that I was seeking...again...that is just ME!!
The best comparison I can think of is the experience I had with the Lakland Skyline jazz...LOVED the feel of it...and the build was really exceptional...but the tone wasn't what I would expect out of a "jazz" bass...so...back to Fender I went...same kinda of deal with the Dingwall Super P...anybody who buys one of those is getting an amazing instrument that they will have and love forever no doubt about it...but for me personally, it was the tone that lacked the characteristics that I was seeking...again...that is just ME!!
Joe, what gauges on the balanced D'addarios did you try? And how does the feel differ from a standard set?
I hear ya. To me, a P should have a little "fur" to the tone - sterile shouldnt factor into the equation (also IMO).
Thanks again for the insight!
Thanks again for the insight!
Before I knew I was looking for a P, I tried almost everything and found most of the boutique basses sterile or at best modern sounding. I won't mention them here since I've noticed people tend to get more combative here than used to be the case.
I currently have the .145 set on the P5. I also have the .130 set on my Hannewinkle jazz and suspect that they would be great as well, but much lighter feeling.
I've played and/or owned basses that sounded great by themselves but get lost in a band setting - this has yet to happen with my P5. I play in a 6 piece band (keys, sax, drums & two guitarists who bogart the low mid frequencies ) & the bass sits in the mix so well. And on those occasions when I head into low B territory I get lots of smiles from my bandmates.
Plus I like how she sounds solo'd too!
) & the bass sits in the mix so well. And on those occasions when I head into low B territory I get lots of smiles from my bandmates.Plus I like how she sounds solo'd too!
Which set did you go with for E thru G? I thought they're only making 4 string sets thus far.
Chef
In Memoriam
I have the 130's on the Valenti single coil P5.
They maybe feel a little more even tension...but, I always liked the regular old 170's, and had been using those for decades.
They maybe feel a little more even tension...but, I always liked the regular old 170's, and had been using those for decades.
Same here, Chef. The XL-170's were what I used when I first started playing years (and years) ago, and I've come full circle & love 'em again.
I was wondering what kind of differences I could expect if I were to try out a set of the balanced - did you find there was a big adjustment (if any at all)?
Chef
In Memoriam
