Bigwan

[quote name='dub_junkie' post='552809' date='Jul 27 2009, 04:22 PM']Just got a Bongo 5HH last week from bigwan. best one yet. [/quote] ...not as good as the 4 string I got off you mate! Good to see you're pleased with the 5. I'm very pleased with the 4!

Just met up with Keir yesterday to trade my Bongo 5HH for his Bongo 4HH. Couldn't be happier. Got the chance for a great chin wag too! All the best mate!

[quote name='Stuart Clayton' post='529468' date='Jul 1 2009, 12:03 PM']Bigwan, With regard to the amp rigs, yes they are both over a grand, but the Peavey Tour Series head is great value for money at £480 (can't recall exact price, haven't got a copy of the mag here). I believe there was a comment in the review to the effect of the cab not being such great value, and a suggestion that the head be paired with a different cab. I would say that in the middle of a recession, the head unit at least represents a pretty good buy. Stu Stuart[/quote] I can understand your defence of the mag Stuart. I did read the Peavey review and, agreed, it's good value for what it is, but it's the only piece of gear under £750 reviewed in the mag this month. Out of 8 items (if you count every item individually). Expensive basses are fine (I love them!), but only if you're reviewing one or two a month, combined with a mixture of beginner and intermediate equipment, but 3 such reviews in the one issue are pretty indefensible, especially if there isn't a sub £400 piece of gear reviewed to offset them!

I'm pretty unimpressed by the new issue. A quick look at the front cover made my heart sink - my first thought was "they'll never fit this all in one issue"... and they haven't. The home recording roundup is a single page where they only mention one (yes that's ONE, UNO) audio interface. The 3 basses reviewed in the issue are all over 3 grand! The 2 amp rigs reviewed both stack up to well over a grand (a lot more in the case of the mesa stack). What planet are these people on? There's a recession on you know! Get the reviews sorted out guys, for goodness sake! Granted the Sadowsky interview is moderately interesting (although the online video interview floating around at the minute with the man himself is SO much better). The session player article is pretty good. Haven't read the rest yet... although once again the proof reading is diabolical. I'd do it for free and be better than whoever's doing it now! Going by this issue I'll not be renewing my subscription...

I played one on my last visit to Guitarguitar in Glasgow. Other than the Sadowsky on the wall it was the best bass in the place. Beat the stingrays in the place into a very poor 2nd... 5 string sounded great too but tight string spacing.

[quote name='mrcrow' post='520945' date='Jun 22 2009, 05:53 PM']firstly make sure you need a 5[/quote] That's also a pretty valid point. I only played 4 string for about 3 months before switching over to 5 string, where I stayed pretty permanently for about 7 years. It's taken me a long time to realise that I don't NEED a 5 string for anything I do. The real kicker is, no matter what 4 string I play, I always feel more comfortable on a 5 string... using the B as a thumbrest is all I really do!

[quote name='PauBass' post='520842' date='Jun 22 2009, 03:48 PM']For that price I'd go with an Ibanez ATK 305...very, very good bass for the money, well built and good tone, similar to a Stingray with and also to a P bass on steroids depending on the pickup selector position.[/quote] Forgot about that one! Also an excellent suggestion, but I'd have to class it along with the 'ray. Good if you have small hands. Pretty tight string spacing for a 5 string. An excellent bass for the money though.

[quote name='chris_b' post='520596' date='Jun 22 2009, 11:14 AM']My first 5 string was a Stingray. In my view it was the best bass that was at the bottom of my price and quality range, but that was before the days of Lakland. If I was doing it again I'd start by trying either a 55-01, 55-02 or JO5 Skyline. These are just miles ahead of anything that I was looking at 15 years ago.[/quote] In total agreement with my learn-ed colleague on this one. A big thing to think about is string spacing and neck shape. My first decent 5 string was, as with chris_b, a 'ray. However I bought it without playing one first and regretted it almost immediately. The neck was too narrow/string spacing was too tight for my hands (although other than that it was damn good!). The Lakland 5 string neck is awesome, and I'd put my 55-01 head and shoulders above any 5 string I've played under a grand and a half. Probably the best deal close to your budget would be a s/h G&L Tribute 5 string I should think, although I've never played one myself. Play as many as you can before deciding what you want. It'll give you some time to save a bit more too!