What's your favorite 5 string and why?

[hobbes1]

My Gibson made Tobias Growler 5 string. swamp ash natural with black hardware. love the asymmetrical neck with smooth finish. feels great, sounds great and is very tweakable for different sounds, IMHO.

 

[Doug Parent]

1)
2) MTD 535
3) Fender American Deluxe V
4) one of my Warmoths V's


Scale length, nut width, neck shape, electronics/sound scheme. Pretty much in that order for me.

Still looking for #1. (Probably a Nordstrand VJ5)

 

[bassam0222]

Sadowsky.... It is BEST for me....

 

[SteveC]

Sadowsky MV5.
It just comes down to feel and tone. I'm always buying and selling other basses, and every time that I start thinking that some other kind of bass is my favorite, I do a head to head with the metro and the metro kills the competition. There may be something better out there for me, but I've not played it yet. The sadowsky is just so easy to play and sounds so great.

This is where I'm at right now.

1)
2) MTD 535
3) Fender American Deluxe V
4) one of my Warmoths V's


Scale length, nut width, neck shape, electronics/sound scheme. Pretty much in that order for me.

Still looking for #1. (Probably a Nordstrand VJ5)

Doug, I think you sold me a great #1 bass

 

[Doug Parent]

This is where I'm at right now.



Doug, I think you sold me a great #1 bass

Your welcome Steve!

 

[SteveC]

I considered a Nordy VJ5 as well.....

 

[sammyp]

I havent played a ton of 5 stringers but the most comfortable one Ive played was the Ibanez SR505

i enjoyed my 505 and miss it.....traded it for a tele this summer....i'm not a huge fan of the preamp in it but the playabilty and build was great!

 

[Boombass76]

This one:

Closely followed by:
- SR5 (Alnico)
- 55-02

 

[collins81]

I played a warwick thumb 5 string that I loved. Great neck, feel, and sound.
Currently have a BTB and soundgear 5 string. The low B is better on the BTB than a Soundgear, IMHO but the neck is a little thinner and is what im used too. I do want another Warwick thumb 5 string

 

[millsbass5]

My pre-Gibson Tobias 5 (need i say more?),with my Carvin as a close,close second. Yes,the Carvin is that good. I'll try to borrow a camera and post some pics.

 

[Doug Parent]

The Carvin SB5000 is a winner. Played one yesterday at Carvin, great bass.

 

[RobJ]

1991 Modulus Quantum 5 with EMGs and two band preamp. Terrific neck profile, even response between strings, play it nice and it responds nicely, slap it hard and it barks right back. Had this one for almost 15 years. Since I have owned probably 50 basses in the last 20 years, I think that's a good indication of this one being a keeper.

Very cool, I have a '91 as well. Great bass in everyway for me and probably the best all around 5'er I've ever played. I liked the sound of the Dingwall low B slightly better but all things considered prefer the Modulus.

 

[Bassmanmike1]

My mid 80's Yamaha BB5000. The early ones were basically retooled 4's so the neck is super narrow for a 5. I've had mine since 89 and I am so used to it that if I pick up any other 5er it just doesn't feel right to me. Even the BB5000A's when they came out had wider necks. I guess I'm spoiled now. I don't slap and I play with a pick, so I have never needed any wider string spacing.

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[nurnay]

:: points to avatar ::

Musicman Big Al 5
The tone. The vast vast versatility in passive or active modes. The overall package.

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This. Couldn't agree more. I also love my Warwick Rockbass. But nothing beats the Big Al 5 SSS IMHO.

Mine is attached.

 

[tekhedd]

I recently discovered that the string spacing at the nut and bridge *does* matter to me. You might not care. I prefer a wider nut...a lot of basses really cram the strings in tight at the top and it throws me off. Others probably feel just the opposite, I suppose. But you get my point. I think it is more important on a 5 because you often see string spacings at the nut that would be considered unusually close on a 4.

 

[millsbass5]

My mid 80's Yamaha BB5000. The early ones were basically retooled 4's so the neck is super narrow for a 5. I've had mine since 89 and I am so used to it that if I pick up any other 5er it just doesn't feel right to me. Even the BB5000A's when they came out had wider necks. I guess I'm spoiled now. I don't slap and I play with a pick, so I have never needed any wider string spacing.

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Didn't do any research. How wide is the spacing on the later models? Jeez,I've ALWAYS wanted a black 5'er w/gold h/ware like yours,but,as you know by know,with wider spacing.

 

[Doug Parent]

I recently discovered that the string spacing at the nut and bridge *does* matter to me. You might not care. I prefer a wider nut...a lot of basses really cram the strings in tight at the top and it throws me off. Others probably feel just the opposite, I suppose. But you get my point. I think it is more important on a 5 because you often see string spacings at the nut that would be considered unusually close on a 4.

+ 1

 

[Bassmanmike1]

Didn't do any research. How wide is the spacing on the later models? Jeez,I've ALWAYS wanted a black 5'er w/gold h/ware like yours,but,as you know by know,with wider spacing.

Yamaha BB5000A Bass Guitar ... Rare and Excellent!!! | eBay

Here is a white one I just found on E-Bay. It has the specs.

I just checked mine and the spacing is 5/16" at the nut.

Yes I have always loved Black basses too. My first "good" bass was a 67 Jazz, Black, with tortoise shell pickguard, and I had a black Gibson Ripper for 11 years before it was stolen from my house. I have been Gassing lately for a black Fender Aerodyne. I love the way the black body looks with the white binding, and I really need a 4 string in the stable.