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The best 34" 5-string bass?

#41
Bassmickeyd said:
Good Post

The only 5-strings I like are 35" ......... And that's the reason I stay with my 4-strings with D-tuners. ..... Personally I haven't found a 34" 5-string that the B-string doesn't have that different (softer) feel from the other strings. ..... I'm looking forward to the rest of the posts.
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There are lots of quality 34" fivers. Sadowsky is the best I have played, but Modulus FBs, Zons and Nordys are also very good. (some Nordys are 34.5)

I have also had great experiences with SR5s and L2500s.
 
#43
Can't remember the last time I played a 5 string in that price range ,34" scale or not, that had a "bad B". My suggestion would be to take the instrument as a whole as there are many other MUCH more important factors in finding a bass.
 
#44
aproud1 said:
Not gotten my hands on one yet but hear the Carvin SB5000 has a pretty great B string.

Used would open up a whole wold of great B strings though. Just sayin..
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ghiadub said:
I see tons of used sadowsky M5-24s go for under 2k. Not hard to find at all. I got mine for 1400. IMO the best bass for the money and it is 34"

Really nails the modern sound but can go to passive old skool at the drop of a hat. Very versitile.

Here is one for $1650:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=733879&highlight=sadowsky
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I totally agree with the above posts as I own both these models. That is a great price for the Sadowsky. You can get a new SB5000 for $950. Both are very well built, play well, sound great and have fantastic B strings.
 
#47
spade2you: "Without trying to sound arrogant, these threads almost always feature the usual suspects, but IMHO, when you haven't played a few extremely top notch basses, you really don't know what you're missing. "

You're assuming very one wants to play a 5-string bass. ..... But, do they? ...... And you're wrong in assuming I haven't played "extremely top notch basses" because I have. .... And as I've stated already that the best 4-stings I've played are 34" and the best 5-stings, with equal tension B-strings, I've played have been 35" string length. ......
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
PS: It's the music played on the instrument not the instrument itself that is important.
 
#48
Stingray 5 HH:
Great Low B
Versatile with the 3 band eq and 5 way pickup switch
Under 2k new, can be had for about 1200 used
Good balance (no neck dive) and access to upper frets
Comfortable spacing (to me atleast)

The yamaha bb415
Also has a good solid B
Versatile enough even though not as aggresive as the ray
Good balance
Can be had for much less money
Comfortable spacing

Im sure others will have other options as well....
 
#49
My 34.5" FBass BN5 and 34" Skold Slayer fretless have equally excellent B's as did my dearly departed EBMM 20th Ann SR5. Best? I don't subscribe to the concept of 'best' Too many variables to consider- nearly all subjective. All that said - FBass.
:D
 
#51
Bassmickeyd said:
You're assuming every one wants to play a 5-string bass. ..... But, do they? ...... And you're wrong in assuming I haven't played "extremely top notch basses" because I have. .... And as I've stated already that the best 4-stings I've played are 34" and the best 5-stings, with equal tension B-strings, I've played have been 35" string length. ......
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
PS: It's the music played on the instrument not the instrument itself that is important.
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Given the context of the thread, it's a "safe assumption" that people are wanting to play a 5 string bass.

Tension isn't everything.

I also have a nice assortment of 35" scale top notch basses including Rob Allen and Conklin. They are killer, but the 34" scale basses I mentioned still have a top notch B.
 
#55
I think you might be approaching this from the wrong angle. Yes, an expensive bass would be cool, but that doesnt always make for a good B string. I hunted for years, looking and looking and was never satisfied. Long story short, I finally ended up with Circle k Standard Balanced .150 set on my MIM Jazz and it sounds great. Those with high dollar basses may scoff, but I agree with the earlier statements that the setup is the most important thing. And strings are part of that setup. A good bone nut is too. a $50 set of strings, a $10 bone nut, and a good setup. I love the Circle K Balanced strings. Dont be timid about a .150 B string. I wont ever buy anything else.
 
#57
jtc_hunter said:
I think you might be approaching this from the wrong angle. Yes, an expensive bass would be cool, but that doesnt always make for a good B string. I hunted for years, looking and looking and was never satisfied. Long story short, I finally ended up with Circle k Standard Balanced .150 set on my MIM Jazz and it sounds great. Those with high dollar basses may scoff, but I agree with the earlier statements that the setup is the most important thing. And strings are part of that setup. A good bone nut is too. a $50 set of strings, a $10 bone nut, and a good setup. I love the Circle K Balanced strings. Dont be timid about a .150 B string. I wont ever buy anything else.
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Thicker strings are one way to increase the low B tension, but I'd think the string starts losing the ability to play much above the 9th fret. I once thought about trying thicker strings, but my basses bring the thunder without anything thicker than a basic .130
 
#58
jtc_hunter said:
I think you might be approaching this from the wrong angle. Yes, an expensive bass would be cool, but that doesnt always make for a good B string. I hunted for years, looking and looking and was never satisfied. Long story short, I finally ended up with Circle k Standard Balanced .150 set on my MIM Jazz and it sounds great. Those with high dollar basses may scoff, but I agree with the earlier statements that the setup is the most important thing. And strings are part of that setup. A good bone nut is too. a $50 set of strings, a $10 bone nut, and a good setup. I love the Circle K Balanced strings. Dont be timid about a .150 B string. I wont ever buy anything else.
Click to expand...
Actually, I have a .136 balanced Circle K set. I'm going to try a .142 set soon. I haven't given up on this bass yet.

But, plenty of people on here have played basses that had B strings with much less tension than a .136 gauge and they said they sounded great. So I'm wondering what's wrong with my bass, why can't it have a nice clean B string without having to have huge high tension?
 

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