Why are 5-string P-basses so rare?

[amper]

Oh, really? Trolling for effect, are we?

Nah, just mostly joking. P-bass players are more likely to be traditionalists and vice versa. My first bass was Fender's first 5-string, a 1992 Jazz Plus V. The Jazz Plus basses were never very popular because they were criticised for not sounding like a traditional Jazz Bass. The Lace Sensor pickups and Kubicki preamp gave them a modern sound that didn't sit well with people who wanted a regular Jazz Bass, just with one more string. Despite being Fender's top of the line instruments, they don't command high prices today.

TalkBass is loaded with people who insist that "what rock bass should sound like" is "a 4-string P through an SVT with an 8x10". The Precision Bass is the most traditional of all bass guitars because it was the first of all bass guitars, and so there's 39 years of Fender bass players that existed before Fender ever released a 5-string, and only 29 years since.

 

[amper]

Holy cow! By the way, nice bass.

What, this old thing? :grin:

 

[P. Aaron]

What, this old thing? :grin:

View attachment 3394063

Very nice looking bass! Look at all them knobs!

 

[Nevada Pete]

What, this old thing? :grin:

View attachment 3394063

Yes, and obviously, there's a reason why you've kept it. Didn't realize that was a fretless. Look at that fingerboard! Okay, I'm impressed! Absolutely!

 

[ontour4ever]

Just look on eBay or Craig's list for a Fender deluxe 5 string, there are no issues with these basses.. they were made from the mid nineties to the mid 2000's .. I paid about $1,200 for mine, they are kinda rare, but all of us bass players need some quick cash from time to time (that's how I got mine).. No issues with the B string (or any of the other strings)

at all .. the bridge has a hum bucker to balance the sweet spot P pickup with a nice punchy midrange sound, but to tell you the truth the P pickup sounds great as is !!!!

 

[Riff Ranger]

After a deal for a 5-string Squier P-bass fell through, I decided to take a different approach and match one of the 5-strings I already have with a 4. It feels like the right move for me!

I could still go for a 5-string P down the line, but do not feel a particular itch for it right now. All the best to those still searching!

 

[AKMongo]

I can’t be the only person who would like a 5-string P-bass, but it seems like those who make them aren’t making many, those who have them aren’t parting with them, and new ones don’t come cheap.

(For my purposes, “P-bass” means split pickup in the “sweet spot” on an instrument with a non-skinny neck; I’m not anti-Fender, but I’m not wed to a name on a headstock, either.)

We have 5-string J’s for days, and no shortage of 4-string P’s, but why so few 5-string P’s?*

*an apostrophe does not ordinarily make a plural, but it does in this case. There: I feel better.

One just recently popped up on my Reverb feed if you’re looking. It’s a sore Marcus miller p7 in swamp ash. Looks like a thing of beauty. Saw it and remembered this post. Hope it works out for you if you’re looking

 

[Riff Ranger]

One just recently popped up on my Reverb feed if you’re looking. It’s a sore Marcus miller p7 in swamp ash. Looks like a thing of beauty. Saw it and remembered this post. Hope it works out for you if you’re looking

Nice! I'm always looking, even if I do feel content with my fleet at the moment, haha. I'm sure some of the others following this thread are looking, too, so very thoughtful of you to mention this one.

 

[AKMongo]

Low end sticks together, even if we’re multi-classed instrumentalists.

 

[Riff Ranger]

Anybody know about these? Looks promising.[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[somebrains]

Anybody know about these? Looks promising.[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I got a weird vibe when I went to their site.
There are better ways to spend $650.

 

[stingray69]

Anybody know about these? Looks promising.[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I was looking at these a few months ago. There's some info floating around TB on them. The impression I got was that they are a well built, good sounding instrument, but pretty heavy weight-wise.

 

[Riff Ranger]

FINALLY GOT ONE.

Read all about it.

 

[selowitch]

View attachment 3452483
FINALLY GOT ONE.

Read all about it.

Wonderful photo. You look very pleased!

 

[Riff Ranger]

Wonderful photo. You look very pleased!

Thank you! It’s just what the doctor ordered. Picks, mids, tubes, and dirt This has the tone and feel … in spades

 

[bbh]

And it’s awesome. Very nice looking. Best to ya.

 

[B-Mac]

I can’t be the only person who would like a 5-string P-bass, but it seems like those who make them aren’t making many, those who have them aren’t parting with them, and new ones don’t come cheap.

(For my purposes, “P-bass” means split pickup in the “sweet spot” on an instrument with a non-skinny neck; I’m not anti-Fender, but I’m not wed to a name on a headstock, either.)

We have 5-string J’s for days, and no shortage of 4-string P’s, but why so few 5-string P’s?*

*an apostrophe does not ordinarily make a plural, but it does in this case. There: I feel better.

Came across this on MGR today

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

P-Bass body style but J-Bass pups.

 

[Riff Ranger]

Came across this on MGR today

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

P-Bass body style but J-Bass pups.

These seem a bit easier to find than the Vintage Modified Precision V. I considered getting one and swapping out the pickguard and neck pickup for a split coil.

 

[B-Mac]

Anybody know about these? Looks promising.[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

@flashgod has a Jericho P/J style that is really sharp. I'm sure he can tell you things about the brand.

NBD - Jericho Alpha Blacker 5

 

[flashgod]

Anybody know about these? Looks promising.[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thanks to B-Mac for mentioning.

I am not a big fan of 5 strings, not my cup of tea. But to throw out my 2Cents into this thread, I can say the following:

Jericho is a small manufacturer with a guerrilla sales strategy. They mainly sell direct to the customer and have no distributor and guitar shops in between, which results in an unbeatable price. But you have to buy without testing, which is for a lot of people not convenient at all.

The guitars are build in Korea and Indonesia and quality checked in USA. I was totally surprised by the quality standard of this instrument. Jericho cares for little details like rounded edges on the ebony fingerboard for example. The Hardware is from Hip Shot and the Pups from StewMac are a revelation. The P Pickup is real warm, raw and vintage sounding. In combination with the J Pick up you can soften the tone and create that typically PJ sound. I personally would not swap the PUPS for EMG´Gezzers, SD´s or anything else.
I have chosen a standard tuning and the 35“ scale delivers a fat E-string sound, you cannot get from a normal 34“ bass.

At the beginning I was driven by the Aerodyne design of that instrument. Funny-wise the look was identical to my dream bass I always wanted to build at Warmoth. This bass is a real black beauty.
After playing it for around a year, I really dig the quality aspects, playability and sound of the instrument.
This bass can easily win a shoot out with a doubled priced Fender MIA.

If you are bold enough to buy a bass without testing, Jericho is your kind of choice.