The most versatile 5 string bass

[Bassology]

Fender Roscoe Beck V is probably one of most versatile basses that I have came across. The possibility of tone from that bass is endless. You can go from single coil jazz to precision to meaty humcuker sound in a matter of few switches. It though isn't equipped with active EQ, but with a market full of decent preamp pedals that can easily be resolved. Fender doesn't make the model anymore, but one can easily be found on the used market for around $1500.

 

[bassbenj]

Fender Roscoe Beck V is probably one of most versatile basses that I have came across. The possibility of tone from that bass is endless. You can go from single coil jazz to precision to meaty humcuker sound in a matter of few switches. It though isn't equipped with active EQ, but with a market full of decent preamp pedals that can easily be resolved. Fender doesn't make the model anymore, but one can easily be found on the used market for around $1500.

I agree with most of the opinions here. I've played the Laklands and was VERY MUCH IMPRESSED with them. Also let me say that I came within a couple hours of owning an exceptional Roscoe Beck V. (Used at GC, I went home to sleep on it and at 10:00 Am when I came back the next morning it was gone!) Others mentioned are very impressive too.

However my vote goes for my three L2500 G&Ls. They are my main axes and do it all in 5ers. The others are great and might be your choice, but for me G&L does it.

 

[mmbongo]

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

Mine was also a 4HH 3 band. Very nice, I just liked the 44-02 better. Mine has Lace Sensor Man O War pickups in it though

 

[Joe Nerve]

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.

Ahh... you have issues with volume drops. I'm not expecting my basses to stay the same volume, especially the ones that I chose for versatility. Big Al can have HUGE volume changes, depending upon how I EQ it, whether it's passive or active, and what pickups I'm using. I have no problem using the volume control to adjust accordingly. I can get a million different sounds out of it without any volume drops too. And I really like all the extra play I get from the single coil. I had 2 HH Bongos, and finally got myself an HS. I can get the HS to sound like basses the HH couldn't go near. For my likes, the HHs were overkill. Loved them for my own music, but it was tough for me to dial in tamer, more traditional tones for other people's material. We're different bass players, different tastes... probably different styles. And I'm gonna bet we EQ our stuff way differently. All just opinions here. But mine is right on this one . Maybe I'll make that video tomorrow, and we can have some versatility wars...

 

[pertyman]

This !
Modified Warwick Streamer Jazzman:

 

[chris_b]

The Roscoe Beck V is a great sounding bass (but too heavy for me). I have a Lull PJ5 which is my current go to bass.

I've owned my Lakland for 11 years and I'd recommend a Lakland every time. They make great sounding instruments and I love the neck. Mine is a 1997 US model but if your budget doesn't stretch that far the 55-01 or 55-02 are top quality basses.

 

[Tunaman]

Ahh... you have issues with volume drops. I'm not expecting my basses to stay the same volume, especially the ones that I chose for versatility. Big Al can have HUGE volume changes, depending upon how I EQ it, whether it's passive or active, and what pickups I'm using. I have no problem using the volume control to adjust accordingly. I can get a million different sounds out of it without any volume drops too. And I really like all the extra play I get from the single coil. I had 2 HH Bongos, and finally got myself an HS. I can get the HS to sound like basses the HH couldn't go near. For my likes, the HHs were overkill. Loved them for my own music, but it was tough for me to dial in tamer, more traditional tones for other people's material. We're different bass players, different tastes... probably different styles. And I'm gonna bet we EQ our stuff way differently. All just opinions here. But mine is right on this one . Maybe I'll make that video tomorrow, and we can have some versatility wars...

I play in a dance cover band with no breaks in between songs, I have no time to fiddle with knobs & I need volume to be the same (I'm using a wireless to dance with the crowd) The Sterling HH gets me everything I need, especially with a rosewood board. I nail the tone on almost every song extremely quickly. Its not about taste, style, personal EQ choices for me... its about nailing the tone of the recordings, from warm & round to super aggressive. Nothing does that quicker & better than the Sterling HH

 

[Jakub]

Wow ! So many replies ! Thanks guys Now I know what to consider. We haven't so many opportunities to check this basses in Poland unfortunately. (so we need to bring it from USA or UK) You know... I want to ask one more question. When you compare this basses (Lakland, Musicman, G&L) to, I would say, handmade, "boutique" basses is that a really much difference in sound and build quality or it's often just the matter of the high price exotic woods used to built this instruments and costs of handwork ?

 

[Cliff Bordwell]

A P and MM pickup set up with a 3-way switch for the MM is very versatile.

 

[Tunaman]

Wow ! So many replies ! Thanks guys Now I know what to consider. We haven't so many opportunities to check this basses in Poland unfortunately. (so we need to bring it from USA or UK) You know... I want to ask one more question. When you compare this basses (Lakland, Musicman, G&L) to, I would say, handmade, "boutique" basses is that a really much difference in sound and build quality or it's often just the matter of the high price exotic woods used to built this instruments and costs of handwork ?

Honestly bro, if you like wider necks with full 19mm spacing, grab the lakland 55-02. If you like smaller necks with 17.5mm necks grab the musicman. Handmade basses are going to cost more for the cost of production for sure... if you go USA for Lakland G&L or Musicman the quality is very close to handmade boutiques costing much more. Good luck

 

[Wolffgang]

Wow ! So many replies ! Thanks guys Now I know what to consider. We haven't so many opportunities to check this basses in Poland unfortunately. (so we need to bring it from USA or UK) You know... I want to ask one more question. When you compare this basses (Lakland, Musicman, G&L) to, I would say, handmade, "boutique" basses is that a really much difference in sound and build quality or it's often just the matter of the high price exotic woods used to built this instruments and costs of handwork ?

This is fairly divisive issue around here, but personally I would say I don't think so. I've only ever owned one such instrument, which I'd been coveting for years, and it just didn't really live up. It was absolutely beautiful, but nothing about it's tone or playability made me sudden stop using my regular production basses. Then I grew to like it less and less and sold it; for a reasonable price, incidentally, but nowhere near what I paid for it. If you're someone who likes trying out different basses and then flipping them, it's worth thinking about resale and how the limited brand awareness and demographic could affect it. My Mexican Precision and Korean Spector are my favourite instruments (modded, to be fair, but still basically the same instruments).

Pics:

(lol this feels like showing pictures of an ex girlfriend >.>)

As an aside, when looking for basses to import from the USA, have you looked at using a reshipper? I didn't know what they were for a long time, which meant I was stuck only browsing department store used catalogues and the occaisional ebayer who felt like shipping internationally, but with a reshipper you can buy anything as if you were located in the US. I'll shut up about it, because you probably already know about them, but they're like my favourite bass-buying discovery, so I want to make sure other international buyers know about them. I use Shipito (no affiliation).

 

[Thornton Davis]

I'm with Tunaman, Sterling 5 HH is my preference. Although my Schecter Hellraiser Extreme 5 is a close second.

TD

 

[Timmah]

Most versatile: MM Big Al, G&L L2500, or Lakland 55-94. They each have their own character- the Lakie is modern, the G&L is aggressive, and the MM is kind of funky. All great basses.

 

[IotaNet]

Here is a comparison between the Lakland 55-02 and the three bass standards:

• Jazz Bass
• Precision Bass
  
• MusicMan Bass

... judge the versatility for yourself. (No, that's not me in the vid -- that's my old bass teacher and killer bassist, Ian Allison.)

 

[Dr. Cheese]

How does the OP define versatility? IMO, versatility can mean a bass that can sound like other basses like a Lakland 55-02 or 55-94, or it can mean a bass that gets lots of useful tones that do not necessarily mimic other basses. IMO, Bongos and Cirruses have that sort of sonic versatility.

 

[Gab124]

You will likely get a list of everyone's favorite instrument with this question. So far everything mentioned should work just fine, most of the tone changes you need can be done through eq or technique as well as string choice more so than the bass. I am not sure if someone said it already, but play as many as you can and pick one that speaks to you. And remember, no matter how nice the bass is without a proper setup it will not play or sound as good.

With all that said, I am very partial to the 55-02 and Sadowsky Metro PJ5 (also the Valenti and Mike Lull in PJ format).

 

[tonemachine]

Jakub asked what's the most versatile and he's getting a lot of "my favorite bass...."

Jakub, I was recently in the same position as you- I wanted one bass that does it all.

I would bet that the Big Al would do it, but the look isn't for me so I didn't even check it out.
The Stingray HH came close but not enough modern sounds for me.
I happened to be in San Diego in April so I went to the Carvin factory and I did not like any of their basses- except the SB5000. It is fantastic. It's as good as any P or J that I've heard. But again, I couldn't get it to pull off a modern R&B tone- that mellow, almost synthy sound.
I ended up buying a Bongo 5 HH. Killer modern R&B tone and fakes EVERYTHING else fairly convincingly. I would bet the HHp would be even better. I think the real purists would say that one still needs an actual Stingray H and a Jazz Bass and I wouldn't argue with them but the Bongo HH is the most versatile that I've played and you are looking for versatile.
Finally, if you can find one, I'd try that Yamaha Nathan East Bass which is right about at the top of your range... like $2300. I have a feeling that that bass will do anything.

 

[Sav'nBass]

Ok.. for the uninformed guy in the thread.. just what is a Big Al?

 

[zortation]

Why not just end your bass woes forever and get a BN5? $2600 is right in the ballpark for a used Fbass in the TB classifieds.

 

[MrLenny1]

Any P/J 5 , Low B.