The most versatile 5 string bass

[Jakub]

Hello ! I want to buy the most versatile professional 5 string bass. Because I can't afford to have many basses (now I've got Musicman Stingray 4) I must have only one, so it must have most of the "typical" sound-like sounds (if you know what I mean). I've got about 2600 $ and I know that probably I must find a used gear but it's ok. I play various types of music from hard rock to pop, r&b, funk, jazz etc. but especially I love fat round sound with a lot bass and mids (but not too much bassy and growly) and medium amount of highs (I set my onboard eq like this bass: almost way up, mids: a little bit less and highs flat - on amp everything is flat - great round sound for sitting in the mix). So I wanted to achieve mostly that kind of sound. I'm sorry if I posted this topic in wrong place of this forum. Please forgive me I'm still green Thanks for your pro opinions and best.

 

[Shovel]

Fender Jazz 5
Custom order a Carvin, PB5000's are awesome.
2600$ can get you a lot of bass, that goes a long way.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Kinda hard to beat a Big Al, if you're looking for something versatile. 3 pickups, passive or active with a tone control for passive, series or parallel choice on the p/us and 4 band EQ. Plus it's a MM . I've owned lots of basses that I bought specifically for their versatility, and this one kills them all. Included in my search were an American P deluxe, a Mexican P Deluxe, a Streamer Jazzman... even had a bass custom built with a MM and P pickup (with 3 band EQ). Nothing comes close to the Big Al. I often say too that on other basses it seems the tone controls have a range of 1-5, while on the MM they seem to go past 11. A lot more tones in the twisting of each dial than with the other basses.

 

[Humbled]

For me, my G&L USA L2500 is a joy to play and I love the way it sounds.

I bought (from MF) a new Fender American Deluxe V (the newest issue with the active/passive switch) and I thought it was comparatively pretty awful. I sent it back. I'm certainly not a Fender-hater either. ...perhaps I just got a dud.

Happy hunting!

 

[taylor16]

Lakland 55-02.

 

[Tunaman]

Sterling 5 HH, both series & parallel tones with volume ALL EQUAL unlike others mentioned. I've found NONE better, not even close & I've tried all the above

 

[inate_hex]

Musicman bongo HHP or HSP


Musicman Bongo club #175

 

[Joe Nerve]

Sterling 5 HH, both series & parallel tones with volume ALL EQUAL unlike others mentioned. I've found NONE better, not even close & I've tried all the above

Not that I want to get into a pissing match here , but I own a Sterling 5 h/s, which I believe to be even more versatile than h/h mms (as I've owned some of them), and well... Let's just say it doesn't come close to the possibilites of a Big Al. Not even sure how you can think that? Almost tempted to make a video now comparing the 2. I could throw a Bongo in the mix, too. Hmm...

 

[scubaduba]

I'll vote Lakland 55-02 if you can tolerate the 35" scale neck. If not then a MUSICMAN sterling HH or possibly G&L L2500 or Carvin SB5000.

 

[mmbongo]

Lakland 55-02. The 35" scale is not a concern on a Lakland, plus it gives you superb string response and a deeper B string.

 

[ebannist]

Fender's custom shop Reggie Hamilton 5 string. The best Fender P and J combo

 

[SlugThrower]

G&L L2500. Love mine.

 

[Baird6869]

Most of the above IME. Great advice.

Basically any good bass with dual coil pickups that can also run in single coil mode will cover a ton of ground. The MM/J config of the Lakland 55-02 is also amazingly versatile and the big Al is the easiest bass to quickly dial in any PU config IMO.

 

[Humbled]

For a group as broad as TB, this is a fairly focused trend so far:

55-02: 3
Big Al: 3
L2500: 3
Sterling HH: 2
SB5000: 2
Bongo: 2
Jazz V: 1
Hamilton: 1

 

[inate_hex]

I had a lakland 44-02 but my single H Bongo just sounded so much better. I traded the Lakland for a HH Bongo, it's a much better instrument in my opinion.


Musicman Bongo club #175

 

[mmbongo]

I had a lakland 44-02 but my single H Bongo just sounded so much better. I traded the Lakland for a HH Bongo, it's a much better instrument in my opinion.


Musicman Bongo club #175

Oddly enough I went the other way, my 44-02 runs circles around the Bongo it replaced and weighs about 2 pounds less. I kept the name though

 

[mark beem]

5 string PJ from either Mike Lull or Valenti.

 

[Tunaman]

Not that I want to get into a pissing match here , but I own a Sterling 5 h/s, which I believe to be even more versatile than h/h mms (as I've owned some of them), and well... Let's just say it doesn't come close to the possibilites of a Big Al. Not even sure how you can think that? Almost tempted to make a video now comparing the 2. I could throw a Bongo in the mix, too. Hmm...

Sorry Joe- The Sterling 5HS has a volume drop in the single coil mode, worse at the neck. This is my 2nd 5HS thats in the classifieds now. Nice bass, dont get me wrong but I like my HH more. The Big Al was too close to a Sterling tone wise for me & it was much EASIER to dial in tones with the Sterling than the Big Al... I returned that bad boy in 2 days. Now the Bongo I love & is on par with the Sterling... different voicing & the 4 band EQ is killer. I wouldn't call it as versatile as the Sterling but it gets the job done.

5 string PJ from either Mike Lull or Valenti.

View attachment 423857 View attachment 423858

I ABSOLUTELY want this... I look in the classifieds every day for a Valenti PJ5 with a Musicman 5 neck

 

[IotaNet]

Lakland 55-02, hands down. If I had to choose only one 5-string bass, the 55-02 (or 55-94 if I had the dough) would be my choice.

 

[inate_hex]

Oddly enough I went the other way, my 44-02 runs circles around the Bongo it replaced and weighs about 2 pounds less. I kept the name though

Mine was the older model with the barts. I hated the preamp but it was one of the best feeling basses I've ever had my hands on. Shame I didn't care for the sound. I've never bothered about the weight of an instrument. What model bongo did it replace? I a/b'd it with my 4H 3 band. I guess the Bongo just had a better sound to my ears.


Musicman Bongo club #175