fretmeister Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 I know that Fender recently got round to making a 5 string P bass - but who else is making good ones? I really need 5 strings for orchestra use, but I'm loving the sound of my CIJ P at the mo and I'd like to see what is out there. Not fussed about budget limits at the moment, just looking for ideas. ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 You can look at Lull, Sadowsky, Lakland, Sandberg and many others, but if you're happy with your Fender I'd start trying their 5ers out. I'd also look at the FS section. There are good Fender Jazz and Lakland basses at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Jon Shuker - he made me a fabulous 5 string fretless P - 8th row down on the gallery: http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/pbassgallery.html (and no, not a sales pitch)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jellyfish Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Dingwall! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy_PCtpnK_g"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy_PCtpnK_g[/url] You can be safe in the knowledge that a 5-string version of any Dingwall is going to be great as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Yammie BB's. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted August 2, 2013 Author Share Posted August 2, 2013 [quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1375446932' post='2161502'] Yammie BB's. G. [/quote] I hadn't thought of them! I shall investigate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmayhem Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 I'd suggest a Lakland (Skyline). They make five string P-basses with their own "digit-combination-names". They used to be called Bob Glaub and Duck Dunn models before. The thing I like with Lakies is the familiar feel of the Fender string spacing, regardless of number of strings. 19 mm (3/4") at the bridge on the fivers. You don't have to adapt to another spacing and feel, just play... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 To me, the P is pretty much a P...no matter what. Cheap, expensive, boutique, churned out factory versions, they all sound pretty similar. Aesthestics, weight and necks can differ. A Fender P5 would be my choice. No need for anything else unless you want fancy options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceguyhomer Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 I've had a few P5s - a MIA Fender which was very nice, I've also had 3 Lakland Jo Osborns and 2 Sandbergs. They were all good but the best for me was the Lakland Jo5 I had with a John East Preamp - 35" scale mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 [quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1375484369' post='2162263'] To me, the P is pretty much a P...no matter what. Cheap, expensive, boutique, churned out factory versions, they all sound pretty similar. Aesthestics, weight and necks can differ. A Fender P5 would be my choice. No need for anything else unless you want fancy options. [/quote] This. I may be biased, but if I were looking for a Precision (4 or 5) I`d check out Fender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 Not forgetting that Squier now have a P5 in the range! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 (edited) I A/B'ed a Squier P5 (£350-ish) with a Fender Std P5 (£650-ish, would this be MIM?) in a local shop. Neither set up was great but the Squier won hands down for feel and playability. I didn't plug them in but I wouldn't be worried about the stock pickups. Replacement pickups will usually sound better than the units supplied on a production line instrument. I wouldn't be tempted to sell the Lull but it was an interesting afternoon. I don't often play basses from this price point and the Squier was a real eye-opener. Also, I know that Dave Swift is very happy with his new Fender US Std P5. Edited August 3, 2013 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 The Fender p5 is USA, so used at that price. Nice to hear good things re the Squier P5. I'll be after one soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted August 3, 2013 Author Share Posted August 3, 2013 If the used US P bass 5 string is only hitting £650 then I'll have to have a proper look at that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 I think the US P5 is definitely a 'try before you buy' bass. I can't quite understand why but Fender 5's, especially P's seem to have a bit more tonal variation than their 4's. I've tried a couple of nice Fender US 5's but also heard quite a few that were very bland sounding I quite like some of the 5 string PJ options out there. The J can add some nice bite to a meaty P pickup I've played this one a few times and the configuration works really well: http://www.bassgear.co.uk/product/5-string-bass-guitars-po/shuker-custom-p5/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 I have a Korean MTD which I love to play acoustically but I have never been happy with the tone (and believe me I tried so many different options) I had Aaron Armstrong wind me a P5 pickup and now I could not be happier. I would love it to look like a P as well but other than that I cannot fault it. Any 5er you like with a P5 in a pickup shape you can drop in will do the job. Sadly I now have a redundant second pickup rout as well as two spare control holes in my MTD. You live and learn. Eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 I've a Lakland 55-64 incoming (impulse buy... What can I say, I was having a bad day!). I'll add my thoughts here in case it's of any help to others regarding 5 string P basses in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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