Choose a 5 string bass for £500 (ish)

[kwmlondon]

3 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

My Warwick Broadneck 5s with 20mm spacing I would say has spoilt me. Space and comfort for days (for me) while for some it's too much like playing on an aircraft runway. Great there's something for everyone out there 😀

Sounds accomodating!!! I don't think I've ever tried a Warwick, certainly not a 5 string. It's totally on my list of lusted-after instruments...

[Terry M.]

9 minutes ago, kwmlondon said:

Sounds accomodating!!! I don't think I've ever tried a Warwick, certainly not a 5 string. It's totally on my list of lusted-after instruments...

Be great if you get to try one sometime.Or not but at least you'll know either way ☺️ Flat feeling fretboards which may or not matter to you.

[kwmlondon]

Just now, Terry M. said:

Be great if you get to try one sometime.Or not but at least you'll know either way ☺️ Flat feeling fretboards which may or not matter to you.

I was planning to take the  Dingwall into The Bass Gallery for a check over and setup sometime so if they've got one there I'll ask if  can have a fumble with it.

[Cornwall Steve]

1 hour ago, Terry M. said:

Can I assume you're avoiding any BTB's with the far eastern Barts?

I'll do me best. Failing that, for the right bass, I'll stick in some EMG or Aguilars or whatever else takes me fancy come the time.

[Cornwall Steve]

1 hour ago, kwmlondon said:

Trust me, having lost way too many beloved peple recently getting old sure as hell beats the alternative. AND with the whole small hands thing - when I started getting bombarded with videos of Ellen, a little girl absoutely tearing up a full-size bass, I thought I can't use that excuse any more! Dammit, at about 8 years old she could bearly reach both ends of the bass and had nailed down the whole of Sir Duke!!!!!! Gaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!

Yep, she's a bit of a legend isn't she. Mind you she's had her pick of smaller scale basses with quite a few manufacturers falling over themselves trying to get in on the scene. And despite the obvious parental and sponsorship grooming, the young lass certainly has the talent and charisma to charm. Wonder what she'll be up to 10 years from now. Still playing I hope....

[Cornwall Steve]

1 hour ago, Terry M. said:

My Warwick Broadneck 5s with 20mm spacing I would say has spoilt me. Space and comfort for days (for me) while for some it's too much like playing on an aircraft runway. Great there's something for everyone out there 😀

As a retired pilot I'd never recommended playing on any aircraft runways 😳, but Yep there's something for everyone. Just a shame we have to kiss (or ought I say 'play') a few frogs along the way 😂

[Terry M.]

47 minutes ago, Cornwall Steve said:

As a retired pilot I'd never recommended playing on any aircraft runways 😳, but Yep there's something for everyone. Just a shame we have to kiss (or ought I say 'play') a few frogs along the way 😂

Sometimes these creep into your £500 price criteria Steve,the Indonesian-built Yamaha TRB1005/J series. The original Japanese TRB/TRB mk2 from the 90s early 2000s really do it for me also. You have any experience with any of these?

[Cornwall Steve]

1 hour ago, Terry M. said:

Sometimes these creep into your £500 price criteria Steve,the Indonesian-built Yamaha TRB1005/J series. The original Japanese TRB/TRB mk2 from the 90s early 2000s really do it for me also. You have any experience with any of these?

The closest I've got to any TRB is a TRBX604 which I made a special trip to Yamaha's HQ in Soho to buy/collect. Sadly I couldn't get on with it and sold it on about 9 months later, which is a pity because I'm a big fan of Yamaha gear (not just basses, though I have several of these), have loads, and don't like parting with them.

To be honest I wouldn't mind trying one of the older 90/2000's models if I can find one (no chance in Devon or Cornwall) 😂

Edited 52 minutes ago by Cornwall Steve
I bought the 4 string model of the 600 not the 5 string

[Terry M.]

25 minutes ago, Cornwall Steve said:

The closest I've got to any TRB is a TRBX605 which I made a special trip to Yamaha's HQ in Soho to buy/collect. Sadly I couldn't get on with it and sold it on about 9 months later, which is a pity because I'm a big fan of Yamaha gear (not just basses, though I have several of these), have loads, and don't like parting with them.

To be honest I wouldn't mind trying one of the older 90/2000's models if I can find one (no chance in Devon or Cornwall) 😂

Being London-based I was in Yamaha Music on Wardour Street two Sundays back and tried...a TRBX605FM. It did nothing for me,felt ever so flimsily built. I would pick either of the Japanese TRB5 (MK1 vs MK2) models however. They look and feel different but I like them equally. In fact visually the slap-cut contour on the MK1 isn't to my taste so maybe not so equal after all...

[Cornwall Steve]

19 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

Being London-based I was in Yamaha Music on Wardour Street two Sundays back and tried...a TRBX605FM. It did nothing for me,felt ever so flimsily built. I would pick either of the Japanese TRB5 (MK1 vs MK2) models however. They look and feel different but I like them equally. In fact visually the slap-cut contour on the MK1 isn't to my taste so maybe not so equal after all...

 

19 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

Being London-based I was in Yamaha Music on Wardour Street two Sundays back and tried...a TRBX605FM. It did nothing for me,felt ever so flimsily built. I would pick either of the Japanese TRB5 (MK1 vs MK2) models however. They look and feel different but I like them equally. In fact visually the slap-cut contour on the MK1 isn't to my taste so maybe not so equal after all...

Yes, my conclusion was pretty much the same Terry. When I visited the Store I'd hoped to have tried several different models including the (what was then) new model Broad Bass plus the TRBX. Typically they had next to nothing available. The TRBX604 EQ wasn't bad but, like you, it felt quite toy-like and didn't over inspire me. On the train back to Cornwall I kept telling myself I'd get to love it when I plug it in. But I didn't 🙁

The TRB5 looks a different animal ?

I think I'll short list it.

Thanks again, Terry 🤗