Best Active 5 String Bass???

[tauzero]

There's also Cort and Ibanez to consider.

[Paddy777]

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

There's also Cort and Ibanez to consider.

Even the best Cort Jazz bass (the NJS5 which is excellent, and I own one) isn’t even in the conversation next to a used Sadowsky, Mike Lull, Sei etc for £2k. A great jazz bass for the money but a level below some of the ones he could realistically get within his budget.

[M@23]

7 hours ago, Paddy777 said:

Even the best Cort Jazz bass (the NJS5 which is excellent, and I own one) isn’t even in the conversation next to a used Sadowsky, Mike Lull, Sei etc for £2k. A great jazz bass for the money but a level below some of the ones he could realistically get within his budget.

 

 

I bought a Sadowsky MV5, Japanese one that was superbly built - as they all are/were, but after the initial excitement of having a Sadowsky subsided, on gigging it, it just wasn’t for me. I bought a Sire V7 as backup and preferred mostly everything about it. So while I agree the Sadowsky was objectively “better”, I didn’t prefer it and it wasn’t a better gigging tool, for me. 
These “what’s better” threads are a great way to build a shortlist of stuff to try - but if you’re like I was at the time and just trying things on a whim based on internet praise and appreciation, it may not be a keeper, even though it is the “best”.

[NancyJohnson]

Bongo 5HH.  

 

Honestly one of the best basses I've ever owned.

[Wolfram]

15 hours ago, Paddy777 said:

I would honestly go with this exact bass - handmade, Bartolini & East electronics which are the best there are. Sei Basses are unbelievable and you’re getting a lot more instrument for your money than picking up a Fender at the same price, a LOT more

 

 

 

 

Hah, I was about to re-post that myself! Not really my cup of tea, but if I was after a Jazz that's the one I would buy right now. Every Sei bass I've played has been exceptional, and I've been hankering after one for a while now - but it will be a headless Flamboyant sixer.

[peteb]

On 04/08/2024 at 10:02, itu said:

We know so far:

- 5 string J

- J pickups

- 34"

- tight string spacing

- thin maple neck

 

There should be lots of such basses. Some brands:

Lull, Sadowsky, Vincent, Sandberg...

 

I would also throw Xotic into the ring. For  example this one at Bass Direct (You could probably pick up a second hand one for nearly a grand less)

 

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/xotic-xj-1t-5-sonic-blue/

 

[NancyJohnson]

On 04/08/2024 at 11:58, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

I’ll chuck Mike Lull into the mix. You won’t get a new one for £2k, but you might score a used one for that ball park.

The B on mine is fantastic. They are 35” scale tho. For my money, 35” scale basses shouldn’t be disregarded in terms of 5’ers.

 

Mike Lull MV5 at Bass Direct.

 

 

I'd concur...my Lull has a sublime B.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

@mattwarrillow

 

 

[Rich]

OP, I don't know where you are geographically, but with that sort of hefty budget I would definitely consider a day off & a road trip to a specialist stockist such as Bass Direct or the Bass Gallery. If you can't find it in either of those places, it doesn't exist.  

[Paddy777]

14 hours ago, M@23 said:

I bought a Sadowsky MV5, Japanese one that was superbly built - as they all are/were, but after the initial excitement of having a Sadowsky subsided, on gigging it, it just wasn’t for me. I bought a Sire V7 as backup and preferred mostly everything about it. So while I agree the Sadowsky was objectively “better”, I didn’t prefer it and it wasn’t a better gigging tool, for me. 
These “what’s better” threads are a great way to build a shortlist of stuff to try - but if you’re like I was at the time and just trying things on a whim based on internet praise and appreciation, it may not be a keeper, even though it is the “best”.

I fully get this as well - one of my favourite basses to play live is a Sadowsky MetroExpress PJ5 and I pick it over basses that cost 3 and 4 times as much, I also preferred my Sire P7 to pretty much all my other basses when I had it. Objectively it’s easiest to say “what’s best” but yeh what’s best is what you play and go “oh this is amazing” and if that only costs £600 or whatever then go with it anyway and save the dough, definitely agree with that 

[Paddy777]

2 minutes ago, Rich said:

OP, I don't know where you are geographically, but with that sort of hefty budget I would definitely consider a day off & a road trip to a specialist stockist such as Bass Direct or the Bass Gallery. If you can't find it in either of those places, it doesn't exist.  

This is very good advice 👆 

[Rich]

32 minutes ago, Rich said:

OP, I don't know where you are geographically, but with that sort of hefty budget I would definitely consider a day off & a road trip to a specialist stockist such as Bass Direct or the Bass Gallery. If you can't find it in either of those places, it doesn't exist.  

Of course, there once was a time when the obvious answer was "get thee to Wapping". Ohh, those were the days. *very wistful sigh*

[Chadu25]

2 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

@mattwarrillow

 

 

Aw cheers mate!

 

@mattwarrillow, if you are London based, I can meet you somewhere  I'll give it to you for £2000 with an amazing Mono Vertigo Ultra (comes with detachable wheels at the boot) =D

Edited August 7 by Chadu25

[Guest]

14 hours ago, peteb said:

 

I would also throw Xotic into the ring. For  example this one at Bass Direct (You could probably pick up a second hand one for nearly a grand less)

 

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/xotic-xj-1t-5-sonic-blue/

 

I’ll second this. I love my Xotic 5-string. Just an incredible bass. 

[tauzero]

On 06/08/2024 at 13:38, Paddy777 said:

Even the best Cort Jazz bass (the NJS5 which is excellent, and I own one) isn’t even in the conversation next to a used Sadowsky, Mike Lull, Sei etc for £2k. A great jazz bass for the money but a level below some of the ones he could realistically get within his budget.

 

Personally, I prefer my Seis to my Corts for the shallow necks. However, somebody with a preference for slightly thicker necks might prefer the Cort. I've not played a Sadowsky or Lull.

[Paddy777]

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

 

Personally, I prefer my Seis to my Corts for the shallow necks. However, somebody with a preference for slightly thicker necks might prefer the Cort. I've not played a Sadowsky or Lull.

My Cort Elrick NJS5 has a really shallow neck, very easy to play 

[dclaassen]

On 05/08/2024 at 16:53, Misdee said:

If you like slightly tighter (18 mm)string spacing then another option might be a used Yamaha BB NE2.

 

Jazz Bass pickups, superb preamp and build quality is as good as it gets at any price, no exaggeration. Sounds amazing, plays effortlessly, usually weighs somewhere between about 9 1/2 and 10 pounds. 

Second this…certainly the best “all rounder” out there. If you can’t get every tone you want, it’s not the bass’s fault. Ebony board though (which I love) and you will struggle to find a good one for 2 K. I’m choosing this for gigging over every other fretted bass I’ve owned.

[MJJS]

just an idea, perhaps put a pre amp in it?

https://acguitars.co.uk/project/046g-j-type-5-34

 

[Paddy777]

1 hour ago, MJJS said:

just an idea, perhaps put a pre amp in it?

https://acguitars.co.uk/project/046g-j-type-5-34

 

ACG’s are amazing basses - there was a 5,string active in the classified in a sort of MM/J pickup config for a grand recently and it’s without a doubt in terms of sheer quality the best value bass I’ve seen in ages - handmade with top tier electronics, really beautiful instruments 

[MJJS]

Also

 

https://thebassgallery.com/collections/bass/products/shuker-v

[cocco]

That Shuker is lovely 

Edited August 14 by cocco

[Paddy777]

4 hours ago, MJJS said:

Also

 

https://thebassgallery.com/collections/bass/products/shuker-v

and https://bassbros.co.uk/product/shuker-custom-jazz-5/

 

Either of the Shuker basses, for £1200, are likely in the same league as the top brands already mentioned like Sei, Lull, honestly possibly above the Sadowsky Metroline stuff, it’s difficult to know - the QC of Warwick Metroline stuff seems to be somewhat questionable - Bullythakidd on YouTube for example bought an MMJ 5 string Metroline and seemed unimpressed with the QC, and it is a production bass, albeit a very good one, whereas Sei & Shuker are handmade. Doesn’t necessarily make them better for you personally though, you need to play them and see what it is that you like - especially with that sort of budget. 

Edited August 14 by Paddy777

[sam10]

Ibanez ANB 205

[Misdee]

On 06/08/2024 at 23:03, NancyJohnson said:

Bongo 5HH.  

 

Honestly one of the best basses I've ever owned.

If you can cope with the G string sliding off the edge of the fingerboard, same as all the EBMM five string basses.

[Misdee]

On 14/08/2024 at 14:05, Paddy777 said:

and https://bassbros.co.uk/product/shuker-custom-jazz-5/

 

Either of the Shuker basses, for £1200, are likely in the same league as the top brands already mentioned like Sei, Lull, honestly possibly above the Sadowsky Metroline stuff, it’s difficult to know - the QC of Warwick Metroline stuff seems to be somewhat questionable - Bullythakidd on YouTube for example bought an MMJ 5 string Metroline and seemed unimpressed with the QC, and it is a production bass, albeit a very good one, whereas Sei & Shuker are handmade. Doesn’t necessarily make them better for you personally though, you need to play them and see what it is that you like - especially with that sort of budget. 

 

I watched the Bullythakid review on YT.  His criticisms seems to be based on the assumption that the pan pot is wired the wrong way round. It isn't. He doesn't know what he's talking about. That's the way that Sadowsky basses are supposed to be.