• 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 freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Top 3 five strings you have owned

*Fbass BN5
still miss my old F. :(
GREAT feel and look. They are lightweight, good B, nice tone, and very comfortable.

*Yamaha BBN5A
(I own it, they are no longer made) The B is up there with EVERY 5 I have played. The tone is variable from Pbass to modern. My bass teacher has one. It is the perfect axe for me and at $600 ($1700 list) used it was a steal!

*Zon Sonus 5
It was a very light bass. I didn't like the electronics or tight spacing though.
 
I've been lucky...I've never had a bad five string!

1. Ritter Classic

2. Rick Turner Electroline 534 PMM

3. Tie:
Sound - FBB fretless Bubingabass #002
Feel - F Bass BNF5

Actually, a Ken Smith CR5 and a G&L L2500 were both also kickin, but I didn't have them long enough to rate.

Marshall
 
  • MTD 535 - Chambered, "Marilyn" #8, water cured redwood top, chambered alder body, maple neck, flamed ebony fingerboard. I'd also have to include my other 535 here as well, -- maple burl on ash body, maple neck with ebony fingerboard.
  • Zon Sonus 5 - One fretted Sonus 5 with a figured redwood top on an ash body, one fretless Special 5 with a bubinga top. Composite necks.
  • Roscoe LG-3005 - quilted maple on spanish cedar body, maple neck with spalted purpleheart fingerboard.
Every darn one of these is pure magic.
 
Sadowsky P/J 5 Killer sound and feels just like home.

MTD 535, wenge/wenge its almost as having a compressor all the time

Sadowsky R5-24 Modern sound yet tight and also feels like home , the bad thing is I sold it and know I realize I miss it, Anyome selling one??
 
Sadowsky 5-24
Lakland 55-94 Deluxe
Yamaha TRB5P-II

The Sadowsky has a pretty distinct voice, rich in overtones, and is the only Sadowsky model I've played that can get a good, modern "bark" tone. The vintage tone control can give a decent vintage tone if you really need one.

I've used the 55-94 for many years in country and classic rock, and it's perfect for them. It has a broad range of tones, and the neck is very easy to play.

The TRB5P-II is best of the three for jazz with the greatest range of tones. It's the only neck-through I own, and the sustain is remarkable.

A close fourth is my Fender American Jazz Deluxe FMT. The Zon Sonus is fabulous and the Pedulla ThunderBolt is pretty good.

Others have mentioned the Fender RB5, which is a great bass, and the EM MM Stingray 5, which is just aight for me.
 
I have four Brubaker fives that kill, from the first all Maple NBS-1 to the Xtreme K5B with OBP-3 module to the best fretless I've ever played (K5B Custom) to the K5B I recently got back under duress;). That's over the limit right there... so I'll say number one, Brubakers ;). That's why I play them.

Number two would be my Ambush. Other worldy playability and a very unique sound. Raw yet fat... a very unusual combination. Thinnest wide spaced neck I've ever seen.

Number three would be my '84 Tobias omega 5. The high water mark for neck through fives I've played. Huge sound in a 34" bass that blew away any notion that a longer scale was needed for a monster low B.

Honorable mention would be my Elricks (NJS fretled and Custom fretless), F Bass Studio 5, Zon Legacy Standard fretless 5 and...

Basses I'd consider owning that I've played: I spent a few minutes with Carey Nordstrand's new Jazz 5 with Fats Stacks at NAMM and was seriously impressed. Also Fred Bolton's Bee Bass and the M Basses I checked out.
 
The only more-than-4 bass that I've played that I really felt comfortable with is my Tobias Growler. My main bass is a Sterling so I need something really comfortable and/or small.
 
Best one I've had was a Peavey Millenium 5 Plus.Second was a Millenium 5 standard,then my Guild Pilot 5 with Ultra Jazz's.SX Jazz 5 next then MTD Kingston.My first was a Kubiki Key Factor Five with neck problems and the one that should have been first was a Pedulla Rapture 5 with the single Bart.It sounded great for dub but I couldn't get enough mids to cut through with the band.I play my SX as much as my Guild because the tone works so well even though it's a bargain bass.
 
Well I need to redo my list... I want to add
My new Elrick Gold Standard 5 can definitely hold its own with any other bass Ive ever owned or played... tight B well defined no floppiness at all, the tone of the bass itself is very warm and growly, and definitely stands out playing live (very nice cut through) ... and that Mid switch selector should prove itself very useful in different situations....