Why are 5-string P-basses so rare?

[MultiScaleMale]

Totally! I mean, its such a damn shame that beginners like Geddy, Jaco, Wooten and others weren't skilled enough to "graduate" and didn't have the talent or vision to see the magic of 5 string basses and stuck to their cheap 4 strings!










































I hope your post was satire because its truly laughable.

Single points of data do not disprove a premise.

 

[kobass]

My Sadowsky P5...(Nordstrand pickup)

Perfect in every way!

 

[BergerHead]

The L2 and L2-5-Berger EMGs have the same coiling as the Ps (2 equal half bars), and none of a lack on any string also on the 5er (wich is just a modified L2). I consider the 2 unequal coils on the P5 must somehow be leveled in accordance to cancel the hum, so i guess a P is a P and a P5 is not.

 

[Joedog]

Rare? 2 of my 3 basses are P5's. They play and sound great to me. If they were so bad, why are so few used ones being offered for sale?????? LOL

 

[Lovep]

I have played a Mike Lull PJ5 for the last 5 years. It's a beautifully made instrument, great sound on every note and all the "issues" being put up here are totally absent from this bass.

Same here! Mike Lull PJ5 with rosewood neck.

 

[jebmd]

I have a great one, I just wish I was more of a five string guy.

For Sale/Trade - Mbasses MP5

 

[bbh]

Traditional TB logic is that a 5 string P bass doesn’t sound as good as a 4 string because of the difference in the pickup windings.

Welll although I don’t use it live, my 5 string p bass is my main recording axe.

 

[SteveC]

P's are usually played by "traditional" players in "traditional" settings where a B string is not needed or wanted.
I have rarely heard a passive 34" B string that I liked.
I don't think they look "right" either.
None of these reasons are scientific, some maybe not logical, but those would be my reasons. If there were a financial reason (demand) for such an instrument, someone would be making it.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I consider the 2 unequal coils on the P5 must somehow be leveled in accordance to cancel the hum,

Exactly!

Let's say for instance in a 3/2 pole split-coil pickup configuration the 3-pole coil is putting out 30 milliVolts of noise/hum. The 2-pole coil is only putting out 20 milliVolts of noise to cancel the 30 mV of the other coil.
The designers have to do something to mitigate that. Extending the 2-pole coil to match that of the 3-pole coil is quite clever, because the coil is where the noise is being induced (not the poles).

Without that extended coil something else needs to be done, but reducing the output of one coil isn't the answer, because then the output of the notes played will also be reduced.

 

[sok monkee]

I have an alder / rosewood passive Mike Lull P5 with a Nordstrand pup its an absolute Beast!!!

 

[Charlzm]

You can get a very P-like sound from a soapbar split-coil. Maybe go that route?

 

[BergerHead]

You can get a very P-like sound from a soapbar split-coil. Maybe go that route?

That's what's in the L-Bergers (not a soapbar though), they have those offset P-coils also on the L2-5, very easy to get them pushing low mids plenty; i guess the unequal P5 pup is compensated by kinda dummy or active circuit.

 

[bassike]

I love mine, the alumitones are great

 

[stretch80]

Two basses that do "P bass" and "5 string" really well are the G&L L2500, and the Reverend Mercalli 5. I have both of them, and they are both great in their own way, and both get played more than my '76 P bass, haha...thought that is a great bass too.

 

[zubrycky]

Perhaps it might be more accurate to say:

1. Bill Lawrence was a brilliant pickup designer.

Sorry for derailing the thread, but I had to say that I agree with this wholeheartedly. I have a custom guitar (inspired by Johnny Ramone's Mosrite) with Bill Lawrence caps. Love its sound. Bill was indeed a genius.

 

[JSandbloom]

I thought everyone made them. Fender, Lull, Sadowsky, Lakland, Squire and so on.

 

[JSandbloom]

This ^^^^
Bridge pickup is essential when using B string.

That’s a matter of opinion.

 

[franklindayala]

I Love my P5 Wilkins bass. No problems with the B string whatsoever.

 

[Joeynone]

I have a USA P-Standard 5 string and boyyyyyyyy do I love that thing

 

[hypercarrots]

there are many 5 string yamaha p basses everywhere