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Should I keep hunting for the ideal bass, or settle?
- Thread starter Bassaga
- Start date
Roscoe. The original tag line was, "A P bass that sounds like a Steinway." You may have to go in ears on, eyes closed. You won't see a P pickup or exactly that shape. Question is do you want to sound like you want to sound?
The bouteequees who replicate Fenders can give you the qualities you want in a modern bass and those of vintage Fenders. Fender's 5s are underwhelming for me. I repeat. For me. The perfect Fender is a good 4.
G&L L5000 90's
Here is one on Reverb right now. only 21 frets though.
G&L L5000 1990 Black | Lopez Music Center llc. | Reverb
G&L L-5000 1991 Black | vroc38's Bass Locker | Reverb
Here is one on Reverb right now. only 21 frets though.
G&L L5000 1990 Black | Lopez Music Center llc. | Reverb
G&L L-5000 1991 Black | vroc38's Bass Locker | Reverb
- Quartersawn maple neck, 1 3/4" at the nut
- MFD 5-string split pickup, truly a P bass on steroids!
- Metal pickguard and Saddle Lock bridge are finished with a factory black crinkle finish
- Controls: Volume, tone (passive)
- Super light! 8.4 lbs on my scale.
- Leo Fender's only B-G 5-string design to go to production!
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I struggle with this question. I guess if you're not losing enough money to notice on the endless cycle of buying and reselling, then why not experiment as much as you wish? On the other hand, there may come a time to admit it is not the acquisition but the pursuit that interests you.
My first thought was that Sandberg might be able to check most of the boxes for you. Their Basic models have 24 fret necks on their 5-strings, but these are offered in a P/MM pickup layout. The California models include the 5-string VS, which has only a P pickup, but those look like they have 22 fret necks. They also do custom work on what seems to be a regular basis. If you want to try to nail exactly what you want, I'd say contact them and see how big a deal it might be to have one of their instruments cooked up with your features included.
As long as a Warmoth build isn't too heavy, their stuff seems to be about as good as anything under the sun.
I've been settling myself in recent history and I've pretty much had it with feeling like I need more of this or less of that with my bass. If I come across something that costs twice as much as the $600-$750 instruments I've tried to get along with lately and I know I've got a honey of a player available (and also have the dough in the bank), I'm going to jump in with both feet and take it home. No more screwin' around.
There are more important things in life, but if you can afford to look after those other priorities and also go for what you want, I'd say do it. Otherwise that itch won't go away...
As long as a Warmoth build isn't too heavy, their stuff seems to be about as good as anything under the sun.
I've been settling myself in recent history and I've pretty much had it with feeling like I need more of this or less of that with my bass. If I come across something that costs twice as much as the $600-$750 instruments I've tried to get along with lately and I know I've got a honey of a player available (and also have the dough in the bank), I'm going to jump in with both feet and take it home. No more screwin' around.
There are more important things in life, but if you can afford to look after those other priorities and also go for what you want, I'd say do it. Otherwise that itch won't go away...
my advice: prioritize your preferences and see what you can get for the time/money you can invest in the acquisition of such an instrument --- at this point in your life. your somewhat specialized 'demands' + your admitted financial constraints are counterposed. i think others have been very thoughtful in their advice, but you're the only one who can judge what level of "settling" you'd be doing to take any of the advice offered.
my experience:
3. - i learned that the way an ax looks is way fun, but it's kid stuff --- like putting sprinkles on everything you eat for dinner.
2. - the way an ax sounds is changeable, usually easily...and if you can't do the work = someone else can!
1. - the way an ax feels is the single, most important attribute (i include the neck, including its own set of player standards/preferences, the balance, what folks call "ergonomics," and the weight: per player preference).
also, and more importantly: i learned that the more/better i play the easier it is to discern what i really need vs. what i used to think "i want."
and last: when folks state that they have found their "the one" = it's time-limited: TB proves that every day in almost every thread about almost every aspect related to playing the EB. but it's a fun concept and we all do our part to enable and congratulate. a real "the one" is likely to just be the ax that has been the most useful over the longest period of time...and then we move on to something that suits us better for the next leg of the journey.
good luck prioritizing your list of 'i gotta have...' and good luck on your "hunt!"
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I started playing in 1968, took me 15 years to realize my bass (Vox Delta 4) wasn't going to hack it when I got into a gigging band. Played various good basses the next 15 years before I decided to try to find the "1." Also went 5 string at this time. After going through MANY boutique basses the next 18 years I had my avatar Dingwall built (perfect in every way except maybe 1/2 lb heavier than I'd really like, but fantastic balance makes up for it).
And then the lead singer came down with COPD and the Classic Country band dissolved. Soon after, the Hard Rock Band I had played with 2000-2005 called wanting me back (I quit a VERY GOOD band because they drank too much on stage). Their drinking and drug use was under control.
At this point I was I was 66, and felt like my speed was possibly becoming compromised, and in any case wanted a bass less than 9 lbs for 3-5 hour practices. So back down the rabbit hole I went. Going back to 4s, I found an 8 lb bass with nearly the perfect tone, an Epiphone Embassy (Thunderbird pickups). I thought I was there, but after a year realized the neck wasn't quite right. Flat necks cause soreness on my index fretting finger. So I found a 1.6", 7.25 radius, modern C profile B. Hefner neck, had it mounted to a Squier Jazz body fitted with Thunderbird pickups, Gibson spec CTS Volume pots and Fender spec CTS tone pot and Switchcraft output jack. The result is the best 4 string I've ever owned or played in 51 years of playing.
Wanting a similar bass to leave at practice, I ran into bad news, B. Hefner was out of business, so long story short, having a similar bass assembled (custom Musikcraft neck, 4 lb 2 oz Warmoth P body, rear routed, Thunderbird PUP routings).
My point is you can find perfection once you REALLY know what perfection is for you. Sadly, I don't have enough life left to really wear my mojo into these basses, don't let this happen to you.
And then the lead singer came down with COPD and the Classic Country band dissolved. Soon after, the Hard Rock Band I had played with 2000-2005 called wanting me back (I quit a VERY GOOD band because they drank too much on stage). Their drinking and drug use was under control.
At this point I was I was 66, and felt like my speed was possibly becoming compromised, and in any case wanted a bass less than 9 lbs for 3-5 hour practices. So back down the rabbit hole I went. Going back to 4s, I found an 8 lb bass with nearly the perfect tone, an Epiphone Embassy (Thunderbird pickups). I thought I was there, but after a year realized the neck wasn't quite right. Flat necks cause soreness on my index fretting finger. So I found a 1.6", 7.25 radius, modern C profile B. Hefner neck, had it mounted to a Squier Jazz body fitted with Thunderbird pickups, Gibson spec CTS Volume pots and Fender spec CTS tone pot and Switchcraft output jack. The result is the best 4 string I've ever owned or played in 51 years of playing.
Wanting a similar bass to leave at practice, I ran into bad news, B. Hefner was out of business, so long story short, having a similar bass assembled (custom Musikcraft neck, 4 lb 2 oz Warmoth P body, rear routed, Thunderbird PUP routings).
My point is you can find perfection once you REALLY know what perfection is for you. Sadly, I don't have enough life left to really wear my mojo into these basses, don't let this happen to you.
There’s not a huge difference between one J and the next and one P and the next. The grass on the other side is always greener. I’ve wasted a lot of money on the pursuit. The thrill is in the chase. When I’ve caught the bass I’m happy for a while then want the next one. It has to be better in some way. You do need a decent instrument with a sound and feel you like but at some point you need to pursue your own betterment as a player and not another bass. Easy to say but I’m still addicted to the bass chase.
It's true. Each configuration you haven't yet experienced is potentially the magical combination of specs that fits you better than any other. It's kind of like spending your life looking for a soulmate--"the one""--who never comes along, while meanwhile you've let a succession of wonderful people pass out of your life without ever truly getting to know them.
I think it was Voltaire who said, don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I think I'm starting to clue in a little with my current collection of three.
EDIT: I am not a professional musician and do not claim to have the same investment, financially or spiritually, in finding the perfect tone. I'm just speaking as a consumer and enthusiast. I was the same way with vaporizers.
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Have been looking a little and found that Warmoth offers a Deluxe 5 body, but seem to route it for a 4-string Split-P pickup only for some reason... Maybe someone makes a split P that works for 5 string in a 4 string shape? They do seem to offer ready to install pick guards, but same thing; the pickup cutout matches the dimensions of a 4 string split P pickup...
The one thing that could be done on this is to be ok with an EMG-40 soapbar shape. If you like Bartolini Pickups, they make a pickup that is a split P configuration in an EMG-40 soapbar shape. All the magnets and windings and what-not are in the position and shape of a split-p. Might look a little odd with just one EMG-40 in the "sweet spot", but again, compromise seems to be the name of the game. I get where you are coming from, I have a Passive 4 P-Bass that will be mine until the day I leave the planet. If you can get jut what you want, it's kinda awesome...
It's true. What's kind of a spoiler on this is, you'll get just what you want/ordered and you'll find some way it could be improved. Your taste will evolve/change via your personal experience/growth. Being a bassist is a journey not a destination. Also, remember; the enemy of "good", is "better". Here endeth the cliche festival...
I understand your pain, sort of. I've been a P-bass guy, but when I switched to 5 string back in Y2K it was difficult to find a Fender-style P5 of any kind. Eventually Lull, Sadowsky, Fender (etc) began making them: 20 or 21 frets, of course.
As for why no P5-24, I see two main reasons. The first is that the standard Fender P and J bodies are made to accommodate 20 frets. 21 is possible, but tricky to reach because the cutaway isn't quite deep enough. For a P5-24 to exist, one of a few compromises has to be made:
- Extend neck into body (or fretboard over body), then radically deepen the lower cutaway so that the topmost frets are easily reachable
- Extend neck into body (or fretboard over body) without deepening the cutaway as in (1) above, but then you'll only be able to reach those top frets by reaching your entire hand over the body, as upright players do for the topmost register
- Bolt the 24 fret neck onto an unmodified P body. Problem with doing this is that the nut (etc) is pushed out by the inclusion of the extra frets, so you have to move the bridge toward the middle of the body by that same distance, which changes the ergonomics of the bass (neck dive, probably). Oh, and if you want the traditional P tone, then you'll also have to move the pickup, which means you need a custom route, pickguard shape, etc. I believe Valenti designed a 24-fret P this way, awhile back.
Second reason no P5-24 exists is the market. P-bass guys... especially P-only... are usually traditionalists and support players who don't want extra strings or frets. This was probably one reason why it took Fender awhile to offer a P5.
Actually, I just googled and found this Valenti P5-24. The body is radically changed from traditional P, but still has that vibe. He's a custom builder, though; may not be in your price range.
So the 4 string P bass pickup rout actually supports a 5 string precision pickup. They just space the magnets out a little wider. Alternatively, you could get the soap bar rout as you mentioned. They dont look as non traditional as you may think, especially the P2 shape. A bass with a Nordstrand big split in the P bass sweet spot would sound awfully close to a split coil P, and look awfully close to a single coil P.
You're looking for a needle in a haystack of needles.
You should save, not waist time and money doing crazy modifications to less than ideal cadavers and decrease any potential resale you may have in the process. Liquidate what you don't need/use and toss that on the pile. Find a maker you can work with, talk with them about what you want EXACTLY and take advise. Not every idea is a good one!
This is the way to get what you, and only you, wants.
You should save, not waist time and money doing crazy modifications to less than ideal cadavers and decrease any potential resale you may have in the process. Liquidate what you don't need/use and toss that on the pile. Find a maker you can work with, talk with them about what you want EXACTLY and take advise. Not every idea is a good one!
This is the way to get what you, and only you, wants.
