Paddy777

Nice! I’ve just bought a Providence dual preamp and I’ve been really impressed, so much clean headroom and very nice EQ!

Here’s an idea!…..💡 The Ken Smith Design Proto J was like the Ken Smith version of the Sadowsky Metro Expresses - Check em out on YouTube, they don’t sound bad at all and they get some really good reviews. There was some complaints about them from some people but I think back in the day but that was cos they weren’t that cheap new imported into the U.K - they’re basically a really decent Jazz bass that sound perfect for you & they’re popular with some of the Gospel playing Bass YouTubers from the US like Johnny Lee Long etc. Couple of them here 👇 but there’s loads out there Anyway the 5 string is 35” scale and there’s on for sale on here (that I’ve been tempted by myself several times, but I just don’t really need it - although it doesn’t usually stop me hah) that has been upgraded with a John East 2B J-Tone preamp, which I can tell you from experience is absolutely immense, for only £400!! (The preamp alone is £180 inc VAT and worth every penny) You can then use the remaining money from your budget to stick in some Bartolini B-Axis pickups in, which are absolutely made for your type of sound - you’d then have a very nice 35” scale Ken Smith 5 string jazz bass with a combo of John East preamp & Bartolini B-Axis pickups in it which would sound amazing, and you’d potentially have change from £600, which is nuts! I genuinely don’t know the BC’er selling it but he should definitely put me on commission 🤣 Here’s a video of a guy playing that combo of a John East preamp & Bartolini B- Axis pickups - sounds pretty impressive 👇

I’d love an MTD Super! I bought an MTD Saratoga 5 from @tobiewharton last year with all the Bartolini upgrades and it sounds epic, I’ve probably done at least 50 gigs with it and it’s so comfortable to play, but they just sound SO good. Talking of Sharay Reed - I picked up a MIM Fender Jazz Deluxe V made in 2000 for £450 with the Suhr pickups (single pole pieces like Delano often do) and this also sounds absolutely fantastic particularly for your requirements - not massively like a jazz bass but a super modern, clean tone that is perfect for Gospel and was played by Reed in that famous clip. The B string is great, no reason to ‘need’ a 35” scale for a good B, but these Fender Jazz Deluxe 5’s are out there for not a huge amount of money - they’re very good and have the exact kind of tone you’re after (however if you put a gun to my head to choose I’d got for the MTD). Obviously the one I got for that price was “well gigged” 😆 but its great - it came with the Suhr designed preamp separately as it had been converted to passive (so yeh it has an input on the body too) but I’ll either stick that back on or an East Retro on it, but it doesn’t sound like any other Fender Jazz I’ve had - and I’ve had loads. There’s a USA made version too but they’re over a grand usually 😮‍💨 🔥 🔥 🙌

Hell of a bass for the price! - honestly the MTD Kingstons made the last few years are fantastic, and you couldn’t get a more authentic Gospel sound

I agree with this - absolute max I’d pay for that would be £300, if I was selling it to a friend I’d probably on charge them £250 if that, but you could probably clean it up yourself to make a nice bass again with a bit of elbow grease and a new pickguard

MTD Kingston Andrew Gouche 5 would be absolutely perfect. MTD’s have that proper Gospel sound. There’s a used one on Bass Direct at the mo for £1,399 which is a snip for how good the bass is, and it comes with Bartolini pickups & preamp as stock EDIT - just noticed the budget restrictions. I would still look for an MTD, perhaps a used ZX5 or Saratoga 5 which would easily fall within your budget