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Recommend me a 5 string

JamesFoxBass

JamesFoxBass

Guest
Jun 13, 2014
202
49
32
Portsmouth, UK
#1
I'm finally playing lots of different gigs where a 5 string would be helpful, currently I don't own one, and haven't even played one for an extended period of time!

I currently only play a MIM P Bass with flat wounds, I'm looking to add a jazz bass to my stable anyway, probably a custom build/parts, I'm open to this jazz being a 5 string, but heard most 5 string jazzes have naff B Strings, so worried about that. my budget is about £500/$800.
 
#3
If you are stating your budget in British Pounds, my frame of reference for cost goes out the window. Normally, I would recommend getting a Warmoth neck made of bubinga, or padouk, or some other really dense wood, to alleviate concerns about the B string, but I don't know what shipping and customs is going to do to your budget. It can't hurt to ask.

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Note, one is designed to fit a MIM jazz 5-string, the other is designed to fit an American 5-string.
 
#4
If you want a lot of bang for your buck, any Ibanez BTB 5 is a GREAT buy. I have two and keep them both for different tunings.
The first thing I'd do is determine what string spacing you're most comfortable with. I dig 19mm, and have owned several that were 16mm. I got a Warwick that I soooooo badly wanted to like, but the 16mm string spacing was just unplayable to me.

I'd honestly go and try some out and then narrow my selection down after that. Some are only made in one certain spacings.
 
#6
AciDBatH666 said:
The first thing I'd do is determine what string spacing you're most comfortable with. I dig 19mm, and have owned several that were 16mm. I got a Warwick that I soooooo badly wanted to like, but the 16mm string spacing was just unplayable to me.

I'd honestly go and try some out and then narrow my selection down after that. Some are only made in one certain spacings.
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Sage advice. That's actually one of the advantages of a parts bass, you can put an adjustable bridge on it. I'm a fan of Schaller bridges for that very reason.
 

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