Grahambythesea

Thanks Bassbunny, point taken on variations but if a particular model has some lighter ones out there then at least it's worth pursuing. Some are just never light!

Having got rid of my Fender Jazz 5 string for being too heavy (10lb+) I have wondered whether the Squier P 5 might be a lighter alternative. Do you know what it weighs in at?

Got 2 - a Rebop bought 2nd hand on here and a Spectorcore 5 string fretless bought new. I cannot fault the build quality (Rebop is made in the Czek Reupbulis & Spectorcore in Korea) and both are really comfortable with great sounds. I'd recommend them.

Is it in the grain? Looks like a dribble of varnish to me. For the money you paid, send it back!

If Trump gets his way about taxing to the hilt US companies building product in Mexico then US pro series may not look so expensive. Where will Fender move production next, UK might seem cheaper LOL!

Starting with your point "how does it compare to a Fender Jazz V" - I played one for 20 years, but it originally arrived new with the neck set in badly, I had to install a shim straight away, the single coils picked up lights and hummed in many venues and the range of tones was not as good as I expected. Probably should have sold it earlier but instead I bought 2 others. An electro acoustic Washburn AB35 which was fitted with a tree trunk for a neck, that went quite soon, then more recently the Spector Spectorcore (fretless) which I still have and really like. Perhaps not enough growl from the EMG pickup (and new ones have a Bartoloni) but it is well put together for the money looks great and doesn't weigh a tone, which the Fender did! I have also had access to a Status headless 5 which is amazing, but not everyone's cup of tea & expensive and a Godin which is a good workman like bass but not exciting. The trouble is there are now too many out there and one man's (or woman's) meat etc........ Hope you find something you like and can afford, hear very good reports of MTD & am tempted to try one.

How is it for weight and balance? Do you know it's country of origin?

I had the basic Ibanez Roadster with the 4 on a side headstock with a P type single pickup. It had a fretless maple board. I loved these when they came out but never found one. I think the deluxe branding is right and refers to the bound edged body. The others were the same shape but with rounded edged like most basses. This definitely not marmite!

If watching bands on the TV is anything to go by I think more use J's than P's. They can't all be wrong can they? However having played Ps for years I switched to a Jazz 20 years ago, loved the neck width but thought the sound was generally thinner. Having finally abandoned Leo's offspring completely I think there are a lot better instruments out there and bass players should show the way and not be sheep like our guitarist brothers and sisters sticking to Strats Teles and Les's!

Try Southern Ukelele Store in Bournemouth. They have a solid body Mahola for £289. They are part of a shop called Music is Life.

What about the various bass uses that are for sale, there are solid bodied versions if you don't want the so called "acoustic" bodied versions. There is a shop in Bournemouth that sells all things use, I'll try and find the name and post it for you.

If you like low tension flats and can't afford Thomastik try La Bella Low Tension Flats. They are also lighter gauge and fit most nuts without needing adjust whereas many flats are also thicker and less straightforward to swop on to a bass designed to take rounds.

US Fretless Precision in Olympic White, 94 or 96 if I remember correctly. Sold to a friend and offered to buy back but he likes it too much to!

I haven't heard of a full bodied acoustic bass guitar which doesn't come with a built in piezo pickup in the bridge. I don't think you need to fit one but I have never played an electro acoustic bass that was loud enough other than in my home to play and be heard without amplification. I eventually sold mine as there was no point, my solid bodied fretless bass has a piezo bridge that sounds the same as an amplified acoustic but no risk of feedback.

Thanks, that's not going to work for me even with a 4in strap! Better keep hunting.

How are they for weight? At over 10lb I had to get rid of my Fender Jazz 5 string, but I do miss it a bit, but know mr shoulder can't bear that weight for any length of time. With active/passive option, does that mean you can carry on playing if the batteries go down?