Grahambythesea

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1483125344' post='3204927'] Where are all the cheap Basses on AE? I had a quick look and they were up in the £300 plus mark. [/quote]+1, I can't find them either!

How's it doing 5 months in? Like you I only recently saw these. Used to have a Gibson EB2 but didn't like the short scale s traded it. Not seen a semi with long scale other than the Gretsch but really don't like orange much!

I play this, but in the uk we call it an octave mandola. Tunes like a mandolin but an octave lower. I have one built by Robin Greenwood who is based near Bournemouth in Dorset and he usually has one in stock that he's made. Fantastic instruments. Be careful of the cheaply made Chinese like Ozark, they tend to be very trebly in a not very nice way, you need the bottom end to make them sound good and that usually means quality woods and good bracing. I used to have an Oakwood, which was also very good. eBay is a good source for 2nd hand and lots of British luthiers make them as they are popular on the folk scene.

That's a very acceptable weight for 5, and the price seems unbeatable.

I'm with Pinball on this one, a Mustang is easy to handle , compact body and short scale but still with some mojo. As to amps a little Hartke 150 is perfect, 15 watt very compact, surprising loud when it needs to be and with a headphone socket ( and a line out). Can be picked up second hand for £50 .

Thanks kodiakblair, that makes calculating the end price a bit easier.

I've played 5's for 20 years or so, initially I switched between my fretted 5 and fretless 4, then bought a fretless 5 so kept to that format for years, but last year switched my fretted for a 4 and seem to be happily switching again! However once you play 5 I see no real point to having a 4 after all you can always use the fifth string as a rather expensive thumb rest!

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1482449866' post='3200776'] I would be very surprised if they were built in the Czech Republic. They may arrive as finished bodies and necks for final assembly but, as you say, they seem surprisingly cheap for a EU-built product. My Google Fu isn't strong today, but there was a bit of discussion on other forums about those Thunderbird basses at one point. BaCH were also poised to introduce EB-2D/Rivoli copies at both 30'' and 34'' scale lengths at one point, though I'm not sure if this happened. They seem to shy away from Gibson designs entirely, which is a shame as they even copied the Peter Cook Fenderbird designs at one point. [/quote]It was the EB2 clone in a photo that first lead me to them. I might try an email to them to enquire, as long as it turned out cheaper than a 2nd hand midtown.

Like you I am sorely tempted by the Aliexpress offers, I am not even phased by the "fakes". Hadn't seen that 5 string Jazz with MMs , looks good but will it play good? Sometimes you just have to take a risk, don't you. Good luck, I may be following your lead sometime soon.

Advice required. Thinking of importing direct from China so it's 20 vat plus 3.2% import duty plus Royal Mail handling fee? I read that you also have to pay on the shipping cost but the bass I'm looking at is sold with "free delivery" which of course means the mailing is factored in to the price, but will I get clobbered with an estimated shipping cost over the top of the actual price?

Came across these on the web recently, appear to be from Czech Republic but are very cheap, €230 for 5 string in the style of an early precision. http://www.bachmusik.com/en/bach-bpb-60-5-abk_p1783 Anyone tried one ,got one, reviewed one? They also do something that looks like a Ricky Cheyenne and a short scale tele shape bass.

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?