You should google it for full, accurate details but Big Al is a Musicman model with 3 pick ups.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The most versatile 5 string bass
- Thread starter Jakub
- Start date
You should google it for full, accurate details but Big Al is a Musicman model with 3 pick ups.
LowBC
Commercial User
- Nov 17, 2008
- 152
- 29
- Disclosures
- Music Go Round - Aurora, CO (owner) We buy used gear!
Any Jazz type bass with a series/parallel switch will cover a lot of ground. In "regular" parallel mode you'll have the brighter J tones to work with and in series mode you'll find yourself in thicker P territory.
good luck!
good luck!
For sheer versatility, I think it's tough to beat the HH and HS Musicman basses (and presumably the Big Al, which I've never tried) and the G&L L-2500 and M-2500. When I tried a Sterling HS, I was surprised by how much the neck single coil sounds like a P-bass, which is really cool IMO. Also, IMO both have quality like the boutiques.
I'm partial to G&L, and when I wanted a versatile five, I went with the M-2500 which has an 18v preamp and MFD humbuckers slightly underwound relative to those in the L-2500. With the all active electronics, it has a more modern vibe than the L-2500, but it still has plenty of classic MFD punch. I've been extremely happy with it, and I usually don't like active basses much at all. For one project, I needed to switch quickly from a basic tone to a heavy club/techno sound, which was easily accomplished with the EQ.
Neither of the G&L basses really emulates classic bass tones, because the MFD humbuckers do their own thing, and produce a wide range of useful tones. But the neck pickup can get something like a P-bass vibe (even on the M-2500, as I've discovered), and if you get the L-2500 with the "K wiring" option (coil splitting) you can get something like a J-bass tone. (I don't believe this is available on the M.) With its active EQ, the M-2500 might be able to approximate a StingRay tone on the bridge pickup more than the L-2500 can, but I don't know MM tones well enough to say. I do think the active EQ makes the bridge pickup more useful, at least for me, and the pickup pan along with active EQ allows my M-2500 to sound very close to the G&L L-1500 I used to have.
Check out Ed Friedland's demos of the G&L's:
I'm partial to G&L, and when I wanted a versatile five, I went with the M-2500 which has an 18v preamp and MFD humbuckers slightly underwound relative to those in the L-2500. With the all active electronics, it has a more modern vibe than the L-2500, but it still has plenty of classic MFD punch. I've been extremely happy with it, and I usually don't like active basses much at all. For one project, I needed to switch quickly from a basic tone to a heavy club/techno sound, which was easily accomplished with the EQ.
Neither of the G&L basses really emulates classic bass tones, because the MFD humbuckers do their own thing, and produce a wide range of useful tones. But the neck pickup can get something like a P-bass vibe (even on the M-2500, as I've discovered), and if you get the L-2500 with the "K wiring" option (coil splitting) you can get something like a J-bass tone. (I don't believe this is available on the M.) With its active EQ, the M-2500 might be able to approximate a StingRay tone on the bridge pickup more than the L-2500 can, but I don't know MM tones well enough to say. I do think the active EQ makes the bridge pickup more useful, at least for me, and the pickup pan along with active EQ allows my M-2500 to sound very close to the G&L L-1500 I used to have.
Check out Ed Friedland's demos of the G&L's:
If had to have 1 bass for all sounds I'd get a Fender Roscoe Beck. It has dial double coils with switches to run each in single or double mode, series or parallel. Add an outboard pre of choice and I cannot think of a more versatile bass....but it's gonna be heavy, have an aircraft carrier fretboard (which I like), and you have to find one used.
Hard to beat good pasive or active jazz bass in terms of versatility and overall simplicity of use (when I see all the buttons on Big Al,I instantly feel nervous) .
Good outboard preamp,if bass is passive, and your fingers will give you all the versatility you need.
Good outboard preamp,if bass is passive, and your fingers will give you all the versatility you need.
+100
Roscoe Becks are heavy beasts with really wide fingerboards, but they are the best basses (certainly the best five) Fender ever made.
I agree. I think my ultimate bass would be a Lakland DJ5 (for the smaller body, exquisite neck profile and lighter weight) with the RBV electronics package!
I am still kicking myself for selling that RBV I bought from you. I was really used to typical Fender neck dimensions, and overreacted by letting that bass go too quickly. I think that Roscoe Beck V and my old Ken Smith Six are the two basses of mine I miss the most.
I might have to disagree with you on that one Doc -- "ever made" encompasses a long time and a lot of different basses.
An argument could be made for the ...
- Current American Deluxe Jazz Bass V
- Current American Standard Precision Bass V
- Discontinued American Deluxe Precision V
- Discontinued Reggie Hamilton Jazz V
These are all stone-cold killer basses that get the job done in a major way. When you account for playability, comfort, ease of maintenance, and versatility, there are a couple on that list that I'd pick over the RBV.
My gripe (and gripe is an overly strong word -- it really is a fine bass) with the RBV is that it is a BIG HONKING instrument. It's on the heavy side and not as comfortable to play as some other Fender fivers. My understanding is that's why people get rid of them. I had a bass teacher once who loved his RBV but he complained that it just got to be little too big for comfort.
Last edited:
IMO for the styles you listed I would go with a new Fender American Deluxe Jazz V. They are super versatile with a great sounding preamp. The necks also feel terrific. The Lakland 55-02(or even better a used 55-94) is a really good bass and very versatile as well. Assuming you are going to be gigging this bass I would probably steer away from the Big Al or Bongo basses as frankly they look out of place in a Jazz context(especially corporate gigs).
Thanks guys for all replies ! I choose (a 95%) that my next bass will be a Musicman Big Al 5 SSS (I like the sound of Lakland 55-94 or Mike Lull too, but I can't find used in my budget range).
I love the tone of it. It sounds like tru bass
(a lot of bass and middle, and not too much crazy treble that is on StingRay) but I can't decide which wood on fretboard i should choose: the rosewood or maple. I'm afraid that rosewood make this bass dull and add too much midrange and cut some clearness and brightness of this bass, so maby maple adds some brightness to this tone ?
Edit: I heard some good opinions about Sandberg basses but I've never play on them. Maby I should consider some of this basses ?
What are your opinions, friends ?
I love the tone of it. It sounds like tru bass
(a lot of bass and middle, and not too much crazy treble that is on StingRay) but I can't decide which wood on fretboard i should choose: the rosewood or maple. I'm afraid that rosewood make this bass dull and add too much midrange and cut some clearness and brightness of this bass, so maby maple adds some brightness to this tone ? Edit: I heard some good opinions about Sandberg basses but I've never play on them. Maby I should consider some of this basses ?
What are your opinions, friends ?
Last edited:
My Mayones Jabba Custom 5 is very versatile. It doesn't have the series/parallel switch but it doesn't need it. The neck pickup is a little closer to the neck than a typical jazz so I'm guessing between that and the twin coil Delano pups, is where I can get such great lows and low mids and then the bright and burpy stuff is there as well. Very versatile jazz bass.
All those are great basses, but why no interest in supporting a wonderful maker in your own country, one that many of us here in the US would love to have a bass from?Thanks guys for all replies ! I choose (a 95%) that my next bass will be a Musicman Big Al 5 SSS (I like the sound of Lakland 55-94 or Mike Lull too, but I can't find used in my budget range).
I love the tone of it. It sounds like tru bass
Edit: I heard some good opinions about Sandberg basses but I've never play on them. Maby I should consider some of this basses ?
What are your opinions, friends ?
I heard many sound examples of Mayones Basses on YT and even played on Jabba 4 a couple years ago and I just don't like sound of this basses. There are bright, clean, modern solo sounding basses without this "meat" and great low and mid in sound which for ex. Big Al have. For my preferences bass should give me a lot of useful tones which first of all will be sitting in the mix perfectly and give me big, round "bass" sound which I love in bassists ex. Pino Palladino, Nathan East or Sonny T. (on Prince's albums from 91-96).
Last edited:
