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Suggestions for an active 5-string Jazz bass?

#23
Why not go with a boutique, custom build that has exactly what you want? With that budget you can hire any number of great luthiers. Personally I've had two basses built by Chris Stambaugh and they are both fantastic. Even something totally wild, like my 30" tenor bass here, is going to be well within your price range.


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#24
I would take a hard look at the basses that Ellis Hahn is building at LEH. I've bought a couple of custom basses in my day and working with Ellis has been the best experience I've had with a builder. They're really flexible and great with ideas, etc. My 4-string LEH is the best bass I've ever played and my other keepers include a 98 US Lakland 55-94, a NYC Sadowsky 5-21, and a couple of others. Ellis built basses at Sadowsky for quite a long time and then ran the shop as well for Roger. Definitely one of the best out there IMO. Have fun!
 
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#26
Since you're dead-set on active, you should probably test out a bunch of preamp pickup combos, then maybe choose the wood and hardware after? I've got a few active basses (6 I think), they are all a bit different, and I usually do all my preamp outboard, - other than rolling onto the bridge pup while adding some bass sometimes.
 
#27
If you are interested in boutique basses, the LEH 5 string basses start just north of $5,500 (new). You used to be able to find them for ~$3500 in the classifieds, but now that Ludo Lefebvre is playing them, they may have gotten more expensive.
According their website, they may also have some gig-ready models (whatever that means) for a bit more than $4,500...
 
#28
jefframm said:
I would take a hard look at the basses that Ellis Hahn is building at LEH. I've bought a couple of custom basses in my day and working with Ellis has been the best experience I've had with a builder. They're really flexible and great with ideas, etc. My 4-string LEH is the best bass I've ever played and my other keepers include a 98 US Lakland 55-94, a NYC Sadowsky 5-21, and a couple of others. Ellis built basses at Sadowsky for quite a long time and then ran the shop as well for Roger. Definitely one of the best out there IMO. Have fun!
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+1

I have two LEH basses (an offset 5 with PJ PUs bought here and a custom-ordered Offset 5 with Jazz PUs), and those are keepers.
 
#31
With that budget, I'd go for the Lull with 18mm spacing and 34" scale. I haven't played one in a long time, but I was extremely impressed with every one I tried. I always thought they were the best Fender-types out there, with exactly the changes I would make to most Fenders, like flatter 12" radius fretboards and 21 frets. You will not go wrong with Lull.

But also consider Sandberg, specifically the California TT-5, and if weight matters the Superlight version. I have one, and it's about 6.5 pounds. It's a fantastic bass, though the A string has slightly low output, probably due to the flush poles on the pickup but I'm not 100% certain. (I spoke to a pickup builder who thinks the magnets under the A are probably a little weak. Could be.) The string spacing is adjustable, 18-19.5mm. Mine is set just over 18mm and it's great.

I also like the G&L JB-5 recommendation, and those are available in lightweight empress (paulownia) like the Sandberg. I used to have a JB-5, and the neck carve was wonderful. I love the 17.4mm (I think) string spacing, but I didn't like the stock 9.5" fretboard radius. (It's available with 12", but I bought mine used for a great price so I was willing to try the 9.5".) For your budget, you could go with the Custom Shop and get it seriously tricked out.
 
#32
jmattbassplaya said:
I’d still consider trying an Ultra II if you haven’t yet already played one. The new preamp is excellent and sounds very good. There is seemingly no volume jump when going between passive or active, the mid switch is set at very useable frequencies, and the universal tone control was something I never knew I needed. To me, it’s even better than the East Retro preamp which I was running in an older Fender Jazz that I traded in for my Ultra II (I did take the pre out of that bass before trading it in lol).
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Kerem Koseoglu said:
I second the recommendation on Ultra II. The former Ultra Jazz dissatisfied me to the point where I sold it, but Ultra II has great improvements. Check my (subjective) comparison + sound demo here: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/nb...ra-ii-jazz-v-avalanche.1666471/#post-28889769
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You guys were right about the Ultra II. I tried a four-string one today and the preamp was quieter than the original Ultra I compared it with. Also, the tone control finally works in active mode.
 
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#33
Just Wrong said:
As much as I'd like to, their pricing scheme gets out of hand real quick. It's an extra US$800 just to change the string spacing.





I found a couple of four strings locally. I'll give them a try, but I really don't like the look of the aluminum pick guard and chrome knobs. The Avalanche model is a bit better, though.



They do offer 34-inch scale, but the default spacing on their website is 20mm, and you can't seem to change it from 20mm directly on the order form. I'll try contacting them. Thanks!
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As Killens mentioned, that’s a mistake on the Lull site. The spacing on Lull five strings is 18mm. I have two M5Vs and am very happy with them.
 
#34
jmattbassplaya said:
I’d still consider trying an Ultra II if you haven’t yet already played one. The new preamp is excellent and sounds very good. There is seemingly no volume jump when going between passive or active, the mid switch is set at very useable frequencies, and the universal tone control was something I never knew I needed. To me, it’s even better than the East Retro preamp which I was running in an older Fender Jazz that I traded in for my Ultra II (I did take the pre out of that bass before trading it in lol).
Click to expand...

Kerem Koseoglu said:
I second the recommendation on Ultra II. The former Ultra Jazz dissatisfied me to the point where I sold it, but Ultra II has great improvements. Check my (subjective) comparison + sound demo here: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/nb...ra-ii-jazz-v-avalanche.1666471/#post-28889769
Click to expand...

I can imagine the pick guard being easy to change, but would it be possible to change the knobs what with the S1 switch?
 

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