Easy, Fender player plus jazz. Best of both worlds. Active/passive. Don’t discount using active on a 5 String. You can control the lows and add a little punch on top.
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Looking For Recommendations on a Quality Jazz 5 String
- Thread starter Federighi
- Start date
I can also recommend Xotic. Great basses.
My Xotic is the top one in this pic.
My Xotic is the top one in this pic.
I’ve had several 5 strings over the years (and have settled on a FJ Elite) and I found a Roscoe V out in the wild and bought it. It played wonderfully, and the sound/tones were definitely there but that neck was just too wide for me.
Really trying to find something used right around $1.5k. Preferably a passive (or active with pre bypass), 'naturally' aged (some relic jobs are ok), and hopefully not too heavy (def needs to be under 10 lbs). I also typically like to play instruments that are unique or that possess a certain character; whether it be cosmetic or aural.
Over the years I've owned many active and passive basses (Lakland skylines, Sadowsky Metro, early 70's J, late 70's P, 80's L-1000/L-2000, etc) but always found myself gravitating towards the passive ones. I sold off all my basses except for an 80's JV Pbass. Looking for another forever instrument.
Something like the J bass in post #24 above looks like it would do it. Not sure what model/year it is or how much they run?
I've also looked at the new 'mod shop' and 'pro I/II' offerings and they look pretty nice imo. How do people feel about the current QC?
Thanks for all the recommendations club!
I really like my fender American pro precision V. I have the first gen… bought it when they came out. True, it’s not something unique… but the cool part is, if something catastrophic were to happen… it’s easily replaceable.
a fender ultra jazz gives you the active/passive option and the pro 1 or 2 is a straight passive 5 string jazz as you know. I haven’t played either of them, but I’m considering trying a jazz again and I’d probably go with an American pro 2 I think?
are they the best? No. Probably not… but they work well and everyone will get along with it when you take it out of the case.
I have the pro p 5 and a stingray special 5 HH and when I’m in new places or playing with new people, with either one there’s like a sigh of relief when they are unsheathed.
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Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
Black Friday sale? Barely $1100 seems like a crazy price. No?
MEVJJ5MpFbOW--sadowsky-metroexpress-21-fret-vintage-jj-bass-5-string-olympic-white
MEVJJ5MpFbOW--sadowsky-metroexpress-21-fret-vintage-jj-bass-5-string-olympic-white
I’ve never tried one…the metro line seems like a great deal to me…
but you said in a previous post you had already owned a sadowsky metro, do you want another one?
Sadowsky Metroexpress 2023 and you are welcome
Sadowsky 2023 SMX MetroExpress Hybrid PJ 5-String Blue Electric Bass Guitar | Reverb Canada
Sadowsky 2023 SMX MetroExpress Hybrid PJ 5-String Blue Electric Bass Guitar | Reverb Canada
With the weak yen all tbe Japanese names are competitive - Atelier Z, Crews, Moon, Momose, Three Dots, Van Zandt, ESP (not an exhaustive list). Your choice of active/passive, modern/vintage.
All the big chains will ship internationally.
All the big chains will ship internationally.
Not sure what you mean about Fender 5-string reissue? I can't remember seeing any low B Fender 5-strings basses until the early 90s, or possibly VERY late 80s??? Fender's "reissue" series are all about the 50s, 60s and 70s.
As for recommendations on a quality Fender-ish 5-string... I have been VERY impressed with the FGN (Fujigen) Mighty Jazz Expert. I don't own one myself (yet) but I REALLY want one, although I might go for the 4-string version as I don't really use 5-string basses that much.
As for recommendations on a quality Fender-ish 5-string... I have been VERY impressed with the FGN (Fujigen) Mighty Jazz Expert. I don't own one myself (yet) but I REALLY want one, although I might go for the 4-string version as I don't really use 5-string basses that much.
Love five strings J's too, my list is (in no particular order):
- Fender Jazz American Elite 5 strings, which I still own and love, not the Ultra version, tried it, but I can't stand the lack of truss rod wheel and strings trough body construction
- Maruszczyk Elwood 5 strings which I've tried (for a long happy time), really great quality build
- Dingwall Super J 5 strings (I owned a 4 strings and currently own a Super P 5 strings), the only word which comes into my mind to describe this instrument is "oustanding"
Talking about the Dingwall you should stretch your budget a bit (a big bit), but this way you will definitely cure jazz basses GAS
- Fender Jazz American Elite 5 strings, which I still own and love, not the Ultra version, tried it, but I can't stand the lack of truss rod wheel and strings trough body construction
- Maruszczyk Elwood 5 strings which I've tried (for a long happy time), really great quality build
- Dingwall Super J 5 strings (I owned a 4 strings and currently own a Super P 5 strings), the only word which comes into my mind to describe this instrument is "oustanding"
Talking about the Dingwall you should stretch your budget a bit (a big bit), but this way you will definitely cure jazz basses GAS
Set up a search here and on Reverb.
They pop up regularly, and occasionally can be had for ~ $2k if you're lucky.
A great price, if you consider what they'd go for new if they were still in production.....
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
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- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
Yamaha BB435 or BBP35. Great instruments. There are YouTube reviews and demos on both.