Struggling to decide on new Bass for alt rock/dream pop; Sire Z series, M series, Cort B5...

[Roseweave]

Here in Ireland atm there's a limited range of basses available to me for the most part, so I'm probably going to end up having to order blind sooner or later. Guitarist in my band is gonna be leaving in the summer, so there's a narrow window for me to get to use it with that band(we play mostly heavy 90sish alternative, stuff like Skunk Anansie, heavy Shoegaze etc.) My current basses are a J&D Jazz Bass copy(my main bass) and an Ibanez Mikro(the one I take for going out and about). They're nice, but they don't inspire me like they used to; I feel like I need a "Main" Bass.

I was taken in by the idea of a Stingray as it sounds so unique compared to my other basses, and some of my favourite guys like Joe Dart used one. Most stingrays I've tried have been really excellent and articulate under dirt in a way few other basses are.

I've also started moving towards the idea of a 5 string for a number of reasons - if I were to get a Z3 it probably would be the 5 string as I found the string spacing up the neck a little much on the 4 compared to what I'm used to. I've tried out a Z3 and M2. Both were great. I liked the neck pickup and versatility of the M2, but the base tone of the Z3 SEEMED better. It does have a chunky neck - but this could be a benefit for me in the 5 string model. I'm not sure how much I'd be able to get on with it. If it was just for this band I'd probably get the Z3, for my own music I do like to do funk, dreampop, psych and vintagey tones too. I know Stingrays can sound smooth, but I did struggle with the Z3. A pickup swap wouldn't be out of the question, but I mostly really like how it sounds. I just don't know if I'd use it as a main sound.

I haven't been able to find an M5 locally unfortunately to play. Being able to switch between Parallel and Series is a bonus. I've also been looking at the Cort stuff - I tried one Cort 5 string and found the neck very comfortable. The B5 Element looks great - but I'm not sure I'm sold on the Bartolini Mk1s. I'm open to other "Modern" style basses in that style though - Ibanezes tend to have too narrow a sting spacing(same for Sterling 5s) and tend to have too flat a neck - I'm very picky with 5 strings and need a sweet spot of not too thin or wide, thick enough to wrap my hand around but not so wide it strains me. I'd rather stick with 34" but am not beyond 35" if the bass isn't too physically large.

the "best of both worlds" here could be the Z7 - but I'm worried about the weight, and if it's just "too much" bass for me. The look of the Z3 has grown on me, particularly the Rose Gold which isn't available in 7. To be honest, I'm not a fan of the M2 knobs which are roughly the same on the Z7 - though I guess they're replaceable.

I am really looking for "that" Bass which I know is no mean feat. The main sound I want out of it is one good for some heavy moody psych stuff and gnarly alt rock, but able to do some smooth jazz funk noodling too. I'm open to left field options here - my main issue I think is finding a 22+ fret 5 string(or bass in general) that feels comfortable in my hands and is a good balance of articulate and smooth without sounding boring. Budget up to €700 but ideally closer to 5, I'm not sure what I can afford.

[Sibob]

Sire P7-5, done and done.

 

https://www.thomann.co.uk/marcus_miller_p7_alder_5_awh_2nd_gen.htm?glp=1&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADuDMCX_zSAZrfny3pSxbsVTTyYr2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIydDKvNqLjAMVyodQBh13qhEUEAQYAyABEgIs4_D_BwE

 

Si

[Roseweave]

Was looking at that - only 20 frets unfortunately. I really want a bass i can play Aeroplane on LOL

Z7-5 might be worth checking out tho?

[neepheid]

You know what I think of the Z7, in that I approve highly of it.  Don't worry about it being "too much bass" for you - you deserve as much bass as can be delivered to you.

[Baloney Balderdash]

On 15/03/2025 at 16:25, Roseweave said:

Was looking at that - only 20 frets unfortunately. I really want a bass i can play Aeroplane on LOL

Z7-5 might be worth checking out tho?

Yeah, I personally would never buy a bass that didn't have at least 22 actually accessible frets.  

 

Personally out of the basses you mention I would probably go for the Cort B5.

 

That said mind I do not have personal experience with any of the ones you mention, but I do know Cort is incredible value for the money.

 

Edited March 18 by Baloney Balderdash

[Terry M.]

My take on this is any bass can be used for any genre as long as you bond with it. Ultimately the bass does whatever you tell it to. I know others may disagree and feel for example if you play genre X then you need to play bass Y. I say bond with the feel and sound of a bass and it doesn't matter. My opinion only 😊

[Kyndainverse]

This reminded me of Steve Queralt's (Ride bass player) choice of bass in the studio vs live.
 

Quote

I used a four-string Steinberger bass for a lot of the recording - no-one must ever know that I used one (I’m joking). It’s the full-body one, not the wedge-shaped one, so it’s almost there, it just needs a headstock! The sound of it was brilliant.
I bought it when we did our second album [Going Blank Again, 1992] and we were recording with Alan Moulder, who suggested I get one - we just laughed at the time. But he persuaded me eventually, and I’ve used it for recording ever since. It’s absolutely bang-on, all the time. All the dirty, overdriven, natural clean sounds - if that makes sense - come from the Steinberger.

I’ve never played it live, though. Shoegaze was very image-conscious: all about staring at your pedals and being too cool for school. A big white Steinberger wouldn’t have fitted in. Bill Wyman had the same one. It really has such a cool, angry sound, and there’s no dead spots on the neck. It sounds really alive, with loads of tonal quality. 

Live, I’ve always used a Music Man Stingray, right from the early days. I bought it brand new in 1990. I still play it: it really is a nice bass, nothing comes close to its sound. I also use a Fender Jaguar bass as a live backup, but it’s active so it’s a bit lively, so the nice people at Fender have given me an American P-Bass which I’m going to take out on the next dates, just to deal with the songs that have a classic bass sound.

 https://www.musicradar.com/news/steve-queralt-talks-rides-weather-diaries-i-used-a-four-string-steinberger-bass-for-a-lot-of-the-recording