Paddy777

Sounds quality! If this had been north east rather than north west I’d have been all over this, right up my street - be a lot of fun playing in something like this

He’s done a good job with that white body it’s looks lovely - really nice! I’d love a US 55/94 but it’ll be a while yet - what’s the second switch for on the 94, I’m guessing it’s active/passive switch rather than push/pull on the volume maybe.?

It’s a beauty isn’t it - bought from a Cash Converters in Hounslow through Facebook Marketplace for an song and it’s absolutely immaculate! Even came with a really substantial Mono gig bag 👌🏼

I’ve not seen this thread before - I’m a massive Lakland fan, I’d go as far as to say it’s my favourite brand, started with a 44-01 and just bought a 55-02 Deluxe with an ebony board (pic below) which is immense. I also want to get a 55-01 at some point to make a ‘super jazz’ out of - gonna stick Nordy big singles and probably an East Uni 5 preamp in it. They’re such good basses to play, the necks are fantastic, they do everything you ask of them and you can gig them forever!!

I’m ‘82 so there’s some good Fender, Stingray and even Aria options about. I’ve thought about it, and it’s something I’d like to get probably - it’s just an excuse to buy another bass tho really. I think if you’re a session player it would be a good thing to have and whip out at the studio with a bit of a story lol but no one gives a monkeys when you’re gigging tbf

*low pass filter 😝 but yeh the VTC is essentially the same as the tone control on a Fender, but it works in active and passive mode - very useful with Sadowsky preamp and it’s so hot and has a huge amount of sizzle at the top end, I found boosting bass by about 25% and treble a little more, then rolling the VTC/tone control back at least halfway and then fiddling to suit worked well.

Great read Chris 😀 👍 Beautiful bass - as played by Sonny T no less of Prince/Cory Wong fame, so they must be good! I’ve never owned a Warwick but it’s inevitable at some point - this would be right up my street, Warwick’s always remind of expensive oak furniture - they bodies always such amazing lumps of wood

Like the look of that! What’s your thoughts on the DCX Bass/how do you use it? I’ve nearly bought one a couple of times and then changed my mind - do you rate it?

Nice! I’ve just bought a Providence dual preamp and I’ve been really impressed, so much clean headroom and very nice EQ!

Here’s an idea!…..💡 The Ken Smith Design Proto J was like the Ken Smith version of the Sadowsky Metro Expresses - Check em out on YouTube, they don’t sound bad at all and they get some really good reviews. There was some complaints about them from some people but I think back in the day but that was cos they weren’t that cheap new imported into the U.K - they’re basically a really decent Jazz bass that sound perfect for you & they’re popular with some of the Gospel playing Bass YouTubers from the US like Johnny Lee Long etc. Couple of them here 👇 but there’s loads out there Anyway the 5 string is 35” scale and there’s on for sale on here (that I’ve been tempted by myself several times, but I just don’t really need it - although it doesn’t usually stop me hah) that has been upgraded with a John East 2B J-Tone preamp, which I can tell you from experience is absolutely immense, for only £400!! (The preamp alone is £180 inc VAT and worth every penny) You can then use the remaining money from your budget to stick in some Bartolini B-Axis pickups in, which are absolutely made for your type of sound - you’d then have a very nice 35” scale Ken Smith 5 string jazz bass with a combo of John East preamp & Bartolini B-Axis pickups in it which would sound amazing, and you’d potentially have change from £600, which is nuts! I genuinely don’t know the BC’er selling it but he should definitely put me on commission 🤣 Here’s a video of a guy playing that combo of a John East preamp & Bartolini B- Axis pickups - sounds pretty impressive 👇

I’d love an MTD Super! I bought an MTD Saratoga 5 from @tobiewharton last year with all the Bartolini upgrades and it sounds epic, I’ve probably done at least 50 gigs with it and it’s so comfortable to play, but they just sound SO good. Talking of Sharay Reed - I picked up a MIM Fender Jazz Deluxe V made in 2000 for £450 with the Suhr pickups (single pole pieces like Delano often do) and this also sounds absolutely fantastic particularly for your requirements - not massively like a jazz bass but a super modern, clean tone that is perfect for Gospel and was played by Reed in that famous clip. The B string is great, no reason to ‘need’ a 35” scale for a good B, but these Fender Jazz Deluxe 5’s are out there for not a huge amount of money - they’re very good and have the exact kind of tone you’re after (however if you put a gun to my head to choose I’d got for the MTD). Obviously the one I got for that price was “well gigged” 😆 but its great - it came with the Suhr designed preamp separately as it had been converted to passive (so yeh it has an input on the body too) but I’ll either stick that back on or an East Retro on it, but it doesn’t sound like any other Fender Jazz I’ve had - and I’ve had loads. There’s a USA made version too but they’re over a grand usually 😮‍💨 🔥 🔥 🙌

Hell of a bass for the price! - honestly the MTD Kingstons made the last few years are fantastic, and you couldn’t get a more authentic Gospel sound

I agree with this - absolute max I’d pay for that would be £300, if I was selling it to a friend I’d probably on charge them £250 if that, but you could probably clean it up yourself to make a nice bass again with a bit of elbow grease and a new pickguard

MTD Kingston Andrew Gouche 5 would be absolutely perfect. MTD’s have that proper Gospel sound. There’s a used one on Bass Direct at the mo for £1,399 which is a snip for how good the bass is, and it comes with Bartolini pickups & preamp as stock EDIT - just noticed the budget restrictions. I would still look for an MTD, perhaps a used ZX5 or Saratoga 5 which would easily fall within your budget