Found the right 5 string for me

[Musicman20]

Ive no idea what the fuss about string spacing is on these! 17.5 seems fine to me. After one day I can almost slap on it, and I dont really slap much anyway.

The B is great, the 3 band EQ is brilliant, the HS options are excellent, the weight is LOW for a 5 string bass (possibly the lightest 5 string Ive tried) and the fit and finish are great. Excellent neck joint, and the paintwork is stunning.

Pics up in the Gear Porn bit over the next few days.

Now dont get me wrong, Ive tried some great basses to get to this, but EBMM just dont mess about when it comes to quality on the vast majority of their basses.

I nearly went for a JO5/DJ5 Lakland instead way before I found the Ray 5 HS, and I still go and test them when I see them in stores. I just cannot go over how bad some of the workmanship is on the Laklands on a £1K+ bass. The Ray 5 is more expensive, but you get your proper case, and massively superior electronics. I still think, after an almost instant A/B, that the 34" B on the Ray is tighter and more defined.

Anyways, thanks for all the advice!

[dub_junkie]

new SR5 best kind of new bass day imo

+1 on the B which is great and plenty fat sounding.

I'm looking forward to pics of this beauty

[Musicman20]

[quote name='dub_junkie' post='953009' date='Sep 11 2010, 06:54 PM']new SR5 best kind of new bass day imo

+1 on the B which is great and plenty fat sounding.

I'm looking forward to pics of this beauty[/quote]

Will get some up!

Ive just played this bass for 2 hours through headphones from my RH450 and an ipod. I am literally stunned. Not only are the solo tones good, but put this in a mix (say with just the S and a treble cut, bass boost a tad and minds boost a tad) it sounds bloomin marvellous. I played along with JK and 'Runaway' is a P bass, and the Ray sounded so good! Switching it to the classic MM H and it sounds massive.

Im a huge 5 string/Ray 5 convert. This is a great instrument. Easily the best 5er Ive had the chance to play.

Looks like im sticking with EBMM now.

[Clarky]

Hey Gareth, great news that after all your searching you have found " the right one". Looking forward to pics

[Delberthot]

The Stingray 5 is my favourite 5 string and if I were to go back to 5 string again I would either pick up an older one (before they changed the pickup) or go for a new Sterling 5.

The neck is perfect on it. its not particularly slim but is exactly as it should be IMO

I agree that the B string is amazing on these.

[dave_bass5]

Glad its finally hit the spot after waiting all this time for it.

Ive never played one but do think if i ever go back to a SR it will be a 5 string.

Ive always found i feel more comfortable on 5 strings, even if im not using the B string much. I like the narrow spacing you get on a lot of 5 string basses and find them easier to play than, say a P.

[Musicman20]

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='954377' date='Sep 13 2010, 09:07 AM']Glad its finally hit the spot after waiting all this time for it.

Ive never played one but do think if i ever go back to a SR it will be a 5 string.

Ive always found i feel more comfortable on 5 strings, even if im not using the B string much. I like the narrow spacing you get on a lot of 5 string basses and find them easier to play than, say a P.[/quote]

Funnily enough, as per usual, I was worried because of the 'oh Ray 5 have narrow string spacing' comments I hear.

I dont think its narrow, I think it just works. My hands dont ache or struggle in the slightest, and it just seems smoooooth.

Come to think of it, the Lakland 35" scale/neck works for me, but I did notice I was stretching quite a lot when I tried a JO5 for a good 10 minutes. I realise its just building muscle, but the 1st fret was a little further away. With the Ray 5, its just 'there' so to speak....waiting for you to use it hahah.

I also think, after a fairly close A/B, that the EBMM 'B' is much tighter and punchier that the Lakland. This was about half an hour between each other. The Lakland B is nice, but compared to the EBMM, it doesnt have that presence and tightness. I like Bs to be there, but not overly dominating, which Ive been told can happen with a 35". Again, this is just all talk!

Now Im so happy with this, Im quite happy to stick with EBMM for my 30th Birthday bass. I think im going to look into another 5 string. As much as Im tempted by the Big Al 5, I think a Sterling 5 might be a safer bet. Who knows!

Time to start researching.

[dave_bass5]

I really must try one of these at some point, although ill probably aim lower and go the SBMM route unless a good bargain appears on here.

In the past i always thought i couldn't get on with wide necks but recently realised its not the neck, its the string spacing.

I would point out that unless your talking about unplugged, you're comparing a active to a passive above, plus different style of pups.
I found the B sting on my old Fender P5 to be just as good as my 55-01 and DJ5, although ive never felt much of a difference between 34" and 35".

In fact out of those 3 i found the DJ5 to have the loosest sounding B, but then the P had more punch in general anyway. Also, the 55-01 was active which i found to to give it a bit more tightness. Certainly compared to the passive (EQ bypassed) tone.

[JTUK]

where da pics..?

[obbm]

I've been playing Stingray 5s for the past 12 years. I have dabbled with other makes but have found that the scale length, string spacing and neck profile really works for me. Even better with the Status Carbon-Fibre neck.

The ex-OHM Shuker PJ5 has the same string spacing and a very similar profile to the SR5 and also feels just right.

Last year I was considering a Sterling 5HS but really could not justify the outlay so I opted for a custom ACG headless Harlot 5HS with the same string spacing and similar neck profile. It's now on the radar, as in Alan has started showing pictures, so hopefully it will be with me before the SE Bash.

[Musicman20]

[quote name='obbm' post='954479' date='Sep 13 2010, 10:42 AM']I've been playing Stingray 5s for the past 12 years. I have dabbled with other makes but have found that the scale length, string spacing and neck profile really works for me. Even better with the Status Carbon-Fibre neck.

The ex-OHM Shuker PJ5 has the same string spacing and a very similar profile to the SR5 and also feels just right.

Last year I was considering a Sterling 5HS but really could not justify the outlay so I opted for a custom ACG headless Harlot 5HS with the same string spacing and similar neck profile. It's now on the radar, as in Alan has started showing pictures, so hopefully it will be with me before the SE Bash.[/quote]

Sterling 5 HS....I know exactly what you mean...I can see myself looking into one right now!

[BottomEndian]

[quote name='obbm' post='954479' date='Sep 13 2010, 10:42 AM']Last year I was considering a Sterling 5HS but really could not justify the outlay so I opted for a custom ACG headless Harlot 5HS with the same string spacing and similar neck profile. It's now on the radar, as in Alan has started showing pictures, so hopefully it will be with me before the SE Bash.[/quote]
Is that the one with ebony top and ash body? Laaaarvely. But not going for Alan's asymmetric profile? Interesting.

I think it says something about EBMM's pricing (and also how reasonable Alan's is!) when you commission a custom build because you can't justify the outlay on the Sterling.

[garethfriend]

I came to the same conclusion about 5 stringers, I only get on with the sr5 and the ibanez btb 5 stringers. As I already have a 4 string btb that I love I reckon my next purchase is going to have to be the mm to have some variety in my life.

[obbm]

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='954523' date='Sep 13 2010, 11:25 AM']Is that the one with ebony top and ash body? Laaaarvely. But not going for Alan's asymmetric profile? Interesting.

I think it says something about EBMM's pricing (and also how reasonable Alan's is!) when you commission a custom build because you can't justify the outlay on the Sterling.[/quote]

This one:





Now waiting for the new custom hardware and the sycamore fretboard.

[BottomEndian]

[quote name='obbm' post='954582' date='Sep 13 2010, 12:09 PM']This one:
...
Now waiting for the new custom hardware and the sycamore fretboard.[/quote]
Yep, that's the one I was thinking of. Simple, clean choices. Lovely. Keeping a close eye on that one, because I'm quite tempted to get Alan to build me a fretted 5er after my fretless is finished, and I'm just getting into the idea of headless. Yours could be just the inspiration I need.