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Which 5 would you get?
- Thread starter jmattbassplaya
- Start date
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
The only active electronics I've ever liked have been on Stingrays. Active jazzes always sound so....I don't know....phony. Stingrays just have more balls.
True. Pro/elite. I'm not used to those terms yet.The Jazz would be passive
Now I honestly have no preference.
Well, I would never get a 5 string, though I am pondering on investing in a short scale 6 string tuned E-E at some point.
If I was to buy a 5 string I would get the Ibanez Mirko one though, as I use a Ibanez Mirko 4 string as my main.
Can't really recommend you any, as I have no experience using a 5 stringer, or ever even played one for that matter.
If I were to chose between the 2 you pondered on, I would probably chose the StingRay though.
If I was to buy a 5 string I would get the Ibanez Mirko one though, as I use a Ibanez Mirko 4 string as my main.
Can't really recommend you any, as I have no experience using a 5 stringer, or ever even played one for that matter.
If I were to chose between the 2 you pondered on, I would probably chose the StingRay though.
StingRay. Easiest poll question I've ever answered.
If you don't mind my asking, whataya have now? That would weigh heavily into my decision. Also, how are you going to use it? Do you play a primary style or are you trying to cover all the basses/bases?
If it's going to be your only main player to cover a lot of sonic ground I would probably go with the Jazz. You can still tweek the tone actively with other parts of the signal chain. But having the passive option is a must for me. That's sticking to your two choices.
Going off the reservation, I would be looking into a Maruszczyk Jake with P/MM. It's active/passive. Coil split for the MM. Looks fantastic. Gets good reviews. Sonically covers just about as many sounds as one bass possibly can.
If it's going to be your only main player to cover a lot of sonic ground I would probably go with the Jazz. You can still tweek the tone actively with other parts of the signal chain. But having the passive option is a must for me. That's sticking to your two choices.
Going off the reservation, I would be looking into a Maruszczyk Jake with P/MM. It's active/passive. Coil split for the MM. Looks fantastic. Gets good reviews. Sonically covers just about as many sounds as one bass possibly can.
I already have it - Maruszczyk Elwood 5 P L W. 
It is a passive, medium scale bass.
It is a passive, medium scale bass.
I own a Fender Jazz and a MM StingRay. The Jazz is tuned Eb and is used in my cover group, and the Ray is tuned standard and is used in my tribute group.
The 5 would be used in my cover group and for any other time I need a low B. I personally am more of a passive guy, but I've been watching a lot of Marta Altesa's YouTube videos, and I love the tone of her Ray. That said, I also love the tone of my Jazz.
It's reeeeally tough to make the call when you reeeeeally love two very different tones, isn't it?
Yeah your closest compromise to getting it all will be an active/passive P/MM or J/MM with coil split. But if you are mostly going to use it for the cover band where you already use a J then that may be the way to go.
I'm a passive guy and have a Hammersmith 5 coming with a P (Seymour Duncan Antiquity II) at the neck and a Seymour Duncan NYC 5 (in essence a double jazz) at the bridge. Master volume and tone. 3 way for neck/both/bridge. 3 way series/single/parallel for the NYC. Should cover a lot of passive ground. Can't wait to dive into all the options. I should be able to set the amp and forget it and then use switches and my fingers/pick to do the rest.
Good luck with your hunt. When it's all said and done every bass is a compromise. Just don't get too caught up in the feeling of "Tonally, I left something on the table." Pick something and rock the crap out of it.
I own a Lakland Skykine 55-02 and love it.
For me, if they sell it new at guitarcenter, I'm not interested. I also believe the stingrays have a close string spacing, which I don't enjoy. (I'm not 100% on this, maybe someone could confirm)
For me, if they sell it new at guitarcenter, I'm not interested. I also believe the stingrays have a close string spacing, which I don't enjoy. (I'm not 100% on this, maybe someone could confirm)
If you love a Stingray sound...get that
if you are a Jazz bass sound guy...Get that
The Stingray will never sound like a jazz bass
The jazz bass won't sound like a Stingray , but can still get very funky
That is all
if you are a Jazz bass sound guy...Get that
The Stingray will never sound like a jazz bass
The jazz bass won't sound like a Stingray , but can still get very funky
That is all
If you really have no preference, play a bunch until you find one you like. I've played Stingrays with Killer B's and I've played them with B's that sound like you're hitting a big soft pillow. Without a preference, IMHO, it's all about the best value.
Have you checked out G&Ls? They have a few funky fivers to offer.
I picked a L-1505 but have heard nothing but good things about the JB-5. Being in the States, you'll probably have more opportunities than me to try one out.
I picked a L-1505 but have heard nothing but good things about the JB-5. Being in the States, you'll probably have more opportunities than me to try one out.
^^^This. These threads and polls make me chuckle because I'm not sure what criteria to use to vote. If you are just asking for my personal preference then I'd vote other because my preference doesn't involve Musicman or Fender. Since you asked to note below I'll start a list of basses I'd rather have (in no particular order and certainly not comprehensive).
Bacchus
Ken Smith
Tobias
Mayones
Spector
Sadowsky
Maruszczyk
Roscoe
Sire Marcus Miller V7 or M7
G&L L2500 or M2500
Etc.
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If you get a stingray check the D and G strings and make sure they have a good sound and volume. I have an early 90s Stingray 5 I used for many years, but I now play my backup, a MIM Jazz 5 (1995), because the D and G strings are louder and fatter sounding. Also the Stingray is heavier and I got used to to wider string spacing on the Jazz 5. I remember trying a Jazz 5 before I got the Stingray and I liked it a lot.
