Paulhauser

[quote name='40hz' timestamp='1475533362' post='3146795'] I second this. My Euro 4 was the best bass I've ever owned and I miss it dearly. Tone-wise IMO, they are utterly untouchable in a rock setting. Snarl, crispness, presence, bags of punch and a focused bottom end. Absolute bargain at the price they go for. [/quote] Exactly. Actually, if the OP has 1500 GBP budget, he could buy both a used Spector Euro4 and a used Fender Geddy (which is a great instrument, too. I had one) This way the jazz territory is covered, too. With a J, a P and a Spector you are covered for anything really.

For a rock band it is hard to beat a Spector. Queensryche, Alice in chains, Skid Row, Cannibal Corpse, Judas Priest and a host of other well known and iconic rock bands' bassist all used and still use Spector basses. I'd say you go for a EURO 4. It has PJ pickups, active electronics, slim neck, contoured body. They'd fit into your budget even new, but used they go around 800-900 GBP (or less sometimes) It will give you different tone options compared to your P bass.

I had a NT5 from 1991, the most un-ergonomic bass I have ever had due to what was said above: the 1st position is really far. The sound was thin and while I wanted to like that bass as it was nice and with some tweaking I could get some useful tomes out of it I eventually sold it. I think I sold for around 1000 GBP or such. Interestingly some of the best fretless sounds I've heard were on Thumb fretlesses.

[quote name='pmjos' timestamp='1473531040' post='3131061'] No matter how I try I cannot find the remotest, miniscule GAS molecule for anything Gibson. I know, they are iconic, I know they are a part of bass history. Help me here..............I just don't get it. [/quote] Neither do I. Never had the remotest interest in any of their basses. So you are not alone in this :-)

My Monday morning could not start better than with a package waiting for me in the office with the bass in it that I bought from Tom. The whole deal was easy, the bass was very well packaged and arrived intact. I'd deal with Tom anytime again without hesitation. Props to Basschat!

[quote name='tonewheels' timestamp='1471713873' post='3115290'] Got frustrated at not having a Hammond player so went over to playing Hammond myself. In the meantime, started playing Stingrays and Jazzes. I think the NS-94 may be better than my Jazz though. And it's worth sod all. [/quote] Cool! Have fun with the Spector! I have a few of them and they are my fave basses.

I use Spector Euro5's as my main isntruments and had SR5's for a while. I personally found that the Euro5's can do everything that the SR5's do (for me, anyway) and ther Euro5's offer more tonal variety, more suitable ergonomics and neck and the B string is more to my liking. (35") Being used to Spector ergonomics I found the neck and the body size on the SR5 a bit less comfortable. Also I like the tighter stringspacing on the Spector more. Still, Stingrays have a signature sound and if that's what one wants then the only thing to do is to get a Stingray. I think getting your question answered is pretty easy as used SR5's are quite easy to get and also not a hassle to pass on without much loss if it turns out not to be your liking.

My suggestion would be to increase your budget to 400 and buy this Yamaha TRBII-5. (not mine and has no affiliation) I had one like this, sounds excellend, build quality is top notch and the neck is very comfortable. Spacing is 19 or 20mm IIRC. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/276701-yamaha-trb-ii-5-string-bass-mij-1998-l400-final-price-drop/

And you loaned it to someone else for 20 years? There must be a story behind that :-) Spectors are great basses at every price level and those korean models are very nice, too.

I think it is a NS-94. Everything fits except for the the NS-4 truss rod cover.

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1470460140' post='3106119'] You could see if you could custom order a Spector euro with a MM. They do a bolt on 35" rebop with a MM [/quote] Yes, Spector has done some single MM Rebops. But the pickup is a lot closer to the bridge, so it's not in the SR sweet spot. (which is a pity because I'd already had one if it was in the 'right' place)

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1469659761' post='3100202'] That's great. But I've decided not to buy an instrument sight unseen. If it's something I've tried, like the Yamaha, then I'm happy to take a look. I can't otherwise justify purchasing something I may not like. The sr370 looked promising, but i didn't get on with it. Had i brought a cheap one from here, for instance, I would have been disappointed. That is what I want to avoid. [/quote] Well I think the seller offered the option of trying.

I think this post worths nothing considering all the above, but there is a used MIJ Ibanez Prestige SR3000 in the sales section for 450GBP. That is a goddamn steal and if I was on the market for a 4 string Ibby Soundgear, would not look further (I have the six string version of if for ages) edit: I have no affiliation whatsoever with the seller

This screams for Ibanez SoundGear or Spector Euro5. Based on my experience of both I'd say the necks are slimmer on the SR but the sound makes up for the slight increase of thickness of the Euro5 neck. Width at the nut is the same IIRC. I love the Ibanez SR six strings but for 5 string, the Spector is the winner. I'm also a sucker for tight spacing and slim necks.

I've owned a BTB556 10 years ago and it was great apart from the neck which was not to my liking. This one caught my eye before, I think the BTB1606 is one of the greatest looking BTB I've ever seen and it sounds great. The 35" scale will add a strong and clear fundament to the tone. I'm sure you will like it a lot!

Very nice! I have a couple of Spectors , all 5 strings and recently got a NS-4CR, which is basically a pre LX Euro4 with dot inlays. Same maple wings like yours. My first 4 string bass for a loooong time and can't put it down. The neck is great and the sound is incredible. So I have a quite clear idea how yours sounds and plays. Have fun with this red beauty, the TonePump is really useful once you tame it a bit with the output trimpot.

I had one 5 string version of this line, the TRB 5P. I can't recall how much it did the P sound, but the bass sounded great, very clear, articulate across the fretboard and the build quality was truly excellent. Blending the piezzo and the pickups would result in very good and useable tones. I think it would do a 'OK' for the P sound.