TRBboy

In my experience, you need the P pickup to be normal orientation if you want to be able to nail that classic sound, but as long as you've also got a bridge pickup, you can dial in a nice tight sounding B. I love the look of the DE Jackson, it's perfect, apart from the 35"scale for me, I just don't like that extra length these days. If I'm being completely honest with myself, the only reason I'm looking at something else is purely aesthetics.... The BB435 is absolutely perfect and feels /sounds like a bass 3-4 times the price. But... I do love a maple fretboard, and something that looks like the sandberg I posted above would tick all the boxes. But maybe I just need to get over my vanity and stock with the BB! 🤦‍♂️

Oooh, very nice! Do they do a 5 string? Asking for a friend..... 😏

Thanks, that's already on my radar, I've asked Sandberg if they can do a non-reverse P, and they can! TBF their VS models have a non-reverse P. I'm also looking at going passive VVT instead of the preamp. 😊👍

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I do like the look of the Sires, but I wanted a passive bass really, and the preamp on those looks especially overcomplicated. Part of my issue is that although I love my Yamaha, I'd love something with a maple board and more colour options.... I find myself looking at yet another sandberg, even though it'll be a bit more pricy. I'm just not sure it'll give me the 'traditional' tone I'm after.... But it would look and play great!

Hi folks! Been looking recently for a 5 string PJ without paying to much (say under £1k), and aside from Yammy BB's (which I already have) there doesn't seem to be much on the market.... Just wondered if I've missed anything, any suggestions? Thanks! 😊👍

Those colours are REALLY drawing me towards the Sires! 😍 Wish they did the burgundy with a maple board too though.

That's really nice! I already have A Yamaha/Hiscox case I bought for a Yamaha bass I had years ago, now using it for my new BB!

Similar to me really, after my recent encounter with a Fender Player Series Jaguar, I realised that a passive P/PJ sound worked way better with my band, than the active, humbucking basses I have been using. But I missed the B string, which is why I returned and ended up buying the 435. These new alnico pickups definitely help achieve that traditional P bass tone with the neck pickup soloed. Even with bright strings and the tone rolled back, it's definitely there. Got that real mid range presence, warmth but clarity. As the 235 has ceramic pickups (like your 425), I would imagine it would sound quite so 'traditional' and will inherently sound a touch more scooped and modern (though not excessively so). It depends how much you want that classic tone I guess. I seriously think the 435 is worth the extra over the 235 though, I'd say the pickups are worth that alone, but then there's the other benefits too! Whatever you decide, it'll be a great instrument, but I suppose you just need to figure out what's most important to you, and whether you feel that's worth the money or not. 😊

Yeah a good point, pickups are subjective. I was never a big fan of the ceramic pickups in the 41x/42x series, but I love these new alnico V ones, they sound like really high end pickups, really tonally balanced, and great output! The next guy might not like them compared to the older ones. As a guy I used to work for often said, "one man's coq au vin is another man's chicken in a basket!"

Thanks hun X 😘

Ah okay, pretty much guaranteed to fit then! Where did you get it from?

Nice! Did you make a template or something?

Oh, and the 6 bolt mitred neck joint!

As a recent owner of a 435, I can testify that the new series are superb, the necks are fabulous, and it's great that the pickups are easily upgradeable (although they don't need to be!). If you can stretch to a 435, I think it's well worth the extra £150-170 to get the multi laminate neck, through body stringing, and most importantly the lovely alnico V pickups!

@AndyTravis how easy was it to make the pickguard? I'd love to make one for my BBN5. 😊👍

What a lovely pair! 😍

Yeah sorry, I don't mean the BB, I mean the Wilkinson 5 string bridges are 19mm I believe. 🤦‍♂️

Thanks Andy, pretty sure they're 19mm though. 👍

Been looking for brass saddles for my 435, was going to buy one of the Wilkinson bridges and use the saddles off that, but they're 19mm spacing and the new BB 5's are 18mm... Anyone got any ideas?

Very cool Andy! 😁👍