Slim-necked 5 with a Good B under $1.5k ????

[lyralain]

Is there a specific tone or vibe you’re going for?

Looking for something versatile. Something that can do more mutey, silky smooth tones, but also can growl or slap with a bite. Not a hyper modern prog/djent bass, but also not something that's exclusively laidback either.

I'm a music producer foremost. It'd be nice to dial the tone back for some buttery smooth early disco-y french-house vibes, but also be able to slap in some aggressiveness for a more modern over-compressed resampled dance or pop track. Compare:



It'd be nice to have a bass that can do both without a string change, with the extended range the B provides.

More importantly than all that though- it'd just be nice to have a B that sounds like it's part of the same instrument up the neck. Higher neck positions really help with my hands.

 

[Sid Fang]

It was these demoes that was making me feel it was pretty balanced-


buuuut in looking at it again he doesn't ever venture past the 6th fret on the B. Still seems a bit more cohesive than my EHB but I've also not messed with strings or the setup much yet.

I had the Elite, which is neck-through and same pickups as the Studio, but without the binding and with only a 2-band EQ in the pre-amp. It was cheaper, and I actually liked it better when I was A/Bing in a Guitar Center. It was playable all over the place. Not as nice a neck as my Status Graphites, but also it was about $700 out-the-door (in those days). I played 4-5 different Stilettos that day, and for me there was a big qualitative difference between the through-necks like the Elite and the Studio, and the bolt-on models like the Custom, which were cheaper both in price and in feel.

I note that there's a used Stiletto Studio 5 string on used.guitarcenter.com. IIRC they'll ship it to a GC close to you, you can try it, and walk away with a full refund if you don't like it.

 

[Corto14]

I would say Yamaha bb basses, for example Bb735, 1025 or BBP35 (used).
All below the price point you have mentioned, except for the latter.
Very versatile basses and good B string ime

 

[DwaynieAD]

Looking for something versatile. Something that can do more mutey, silky smooth tones, but also can growl or slap with a bite. Not a hyper modern prog/djent bass, but also not something that's exclusively laidback either.

I'm a music producer foremost. It'd be nice to dial the tone back for some buttery smooth early disco-y french-house vibes, but also be able to slap in some aggressiveness for a more modern over-compressed resampled dance or pop track. Compare:



It'd be nice to have a bass that can do both without a string change, with the extended range the B provides.

More importantly than all that though- it'd just be nice to have a B that sounds like it's part of the same instrument up the neck. Higher neck positions really help with my hands.

I felt all kinds of accomplished that you picked my suggestion but after hearing your clips here I'd say. Stingray

 

[Bill Murray]

Looking for something versatile. Something that can do more mutey, silky smooth tones, but also can growl or slap with a bite. Not a hyper modern prog/djent bass, but also not something that's exclusively laidback either.

I'm a music producer foremost. It'd be nice to dial the tone back for some buttery smooth early disco-y french-house vibes, but also be able to slap in some aggressiveness for a more modern over-compressed resampled dance or pop track. Compare:



It'd be nice to have a bass that can do both without a string change, with the extended range the B provides.

More importantly than all that though- it'd just be nice to have a B that sounds like it's part of the same instrument up the neck. Higher neck positions really help with my hands.

So I would say you definitely want an active bass with 2 pickups.

Unfortunately, I think if you could stretch that budget to $2K you’d be able to nail this.

my first recommendation would be a Stringray Special 5HH. I do pretty much everything you’re talking about, Disco, Funk, Folk, Rock, Jazz. My main projects are Reggae and Technical Death Metal. This bass is just so versatile and always nails the tone. I live on that B string. Obviously there is a difference string to string, a note on D string is not going to sound the same as it will on the A string, but the response is very even across and up/down the fingerboard.


Other viable options would be Dingwall and G&L or actually a Stingray Classic would be right in your budget, they’re a little more mid-forward than the specials and heavier but the B string is still solid.

With G&L there is a jump from tier to tier, the higher end models are incredible but the low end ones I didn’t like a single thing about.


Another route you could explore is trying out some flatwounds on your current bass

 

[lyralain]

or actually Stingray Classic would be right in your budget

I'm not seeing classics near my original price point (or very many at all), I presume the higher end sterlings won't cut it?

Dare I say there is a Special 5HH listed on a popular site closer to my budget? Not exactly my fav finish but in the studio it's the sound that matters. Maybe someone will use my indecision to snap it up at a steal.

 

[lyralain]

Another route you could explore is trying out some flatwounds on your current bass

Think I'll just try some flats as I wanna swap strings anyways.

Down the line though, I'm wondering... what if I stuck Nordstrand Zen Blade 6's in there some day?
6 because the stock pickup is sized like a 6, Blade so I don't need to worry about poll alignment, Zen for the humbucking.

 

[Bill Murray]

Think I'll just try some flats as I wanna swap strings anyways.

Down the line though, I'm wondering... what if I stuck Nordstrand Zen Blade 6's in there some day?
6 because the stock pickup is sized like a 6, Blade so I don't need to worry about poll alignment, Zen for the humbucking.

Flats could very well get you the vibe you’re looking for. Ernie Ball makes a set for 5 strings that’s pretty affordable and they’re actually decent.

Just be sure they will fit! Nordstrand rules, especially the Zen Blades, and pick-ups can definitely be a game changer. However, I had Barts in my Modulus and I swapped them out for Nordstrands Jazz Pickups and added an Audere preamp.

After all that work and $$$, I still didn’t love it. The pick-ups didn’t add what I was looking for. It could be worth a shot, but it’s a gamble. A little research goes a long way, if you can hunt down a thread revolving around swapping to Zen blades or even hit up Nordstrand and ask what specifically they believe the pickups would improve on that will help make sure your heading in the right direction their customer service is on point.. Had I been more patient I would have discovered I just don’t like J pickups and love humbuckers.

If you do a pick-up swap, keep the originals, and keep the packaging from the new ones. It will be much easier to recoup some of the cost of you decide to part with them.

good luck!

 

[Willie5String]

Dingwall Combustion 5. Fantastic B (37", I think?), usable pre, amazing value. The fanned frets take about 5 minutes to get used to, then start to feel really natural. The only spot I find I have to look for is the bit of extra reach needed for the first fret on the B...

Try playing a Jazz Bass Plus, they are close to 30 years old now, the ones I have sound great with the right strings (EB Cobalts), or Kalium balanced hybrids

 

[misterCRUSH]

I would check out Ibanez. I have two fretless models and the necks are super slim and the B sounds great. I don't know if other models have it but mine have individual volume pots under the bridge. Never had to adjust them, but they're there if I need to. Ibanez makes a really great product for the money.