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5 String Bass Comparison and Poll

Which of these three would you buy?

  • MTD Kingston KZ 5

    Votes: 26 29.2%

  • Peavey Cirrus 5

    Votes: 44 49.4%

  • Carvin B25P

    Votes: 19 21.3%
  • Total voters
    89
  • Poll closed .
Leftybassist4

Leftybassist4

Dec 28, 2011
47
12
#1
So, I have been hearing alot of great things about the Carvin B25P, the Peavey Cirrus 5, and the MTD Kingston KZ 5. I am wondering which of the three you guys consider to be the best and why you thing so. Even though the MTD is passive and the other two are active, I think it is a valid comparison. I am primarily concerned with tone and feel. But, comments about construction, design, neck profile, electronics, and pickups are also appreciated. Thank you.
 
#2
I really don't know which one would be "best", although they do seem to share a certain stylistic similarity, now that you mention it. And the MTD is actually active - not passive. So they have more in common than you'd realized. I do know that each one is an excellent instrument in its own right, and that you'd be unlikely to go wrong with any one of them - depending a bit upon your specific application(s), which you haven't discussed... :hmm:

One additional distinguishing feature about the MTD: It's a bolt-on neck instrument. The Peavey and the Carvin are both neck-through. In case that's an issue to you.

Also, the MTD and the Peavey each has a 35-inch scale. The Carvin, a 34-inch scale.

MM
 
#4
Carvin has a pretty solid reputation of solid construction. Not necessarily amazing construction, but they put together good instruments. I don't know about the B25P specifically, but I will say that that 34" scale would sell me on it from the start, over the other two. Took me years to figure out that was what I didn't like about a lot of the basses I've had over the years - I just prefer 34s.

The Cirrus is pretty well reviewed and IMO a great bass for the money - Peavey really stepped up their game, and I haven't heard anything BAD about the Cirrus, except that they can tend towards sterile sounding to some.

I can't speak at all about the Kingston, having never played one, but I'm sure it would be a decent bass - Michael Tobias designs some pretty awesome basses. I've heard hit-or-miss on the build quality, though.
 
#6
I only have experience of the Kingston from this list (and in the UK, all three are imports!).

The build quality of the Kingstons is superb - I certainly didn't find any eveidence of hit-or-miss in the various models I tried in store. The selling point for me was the neck - I never thought a 19mm-spaced 35" bass would suit someone with small hands but it feels fantastic, which I put largely down to the asymmetric neck profile. My hand just wants to stay in a good position.

I chose the slightly cheaper Heir over the KZ due to it sounding slightly less 'polite' and more like the sort of tone I wanted but I'd rate them equally in term of overall build quality, i.e. excellent.
 
#7
I should add, as has been pointed out, that the KZ definitely has an active pre-amp (3-band). And that from the experience of my Heir, it being a bolt-on has never given me a problem. I've got as much sustain as I could ever want.
 
#11
neurotictim said:
Carvin has a pretty solid reputation of solid construction. Not necessarily amazing construction, but they put together good instruments. I don't know about the B25P specifically, but I will say that that 34" scale would sell me on it from the start, over the other two.
Click to expand...

mmbongo said:
Of those three I chose Carvin mainly because it's the only one made in the USA, assuming you're looking at the current Cirrus line.
Click to expand...

For the record, I actually own a Carvin B25PF - fretless that is. And I can tel you that it's quite a remarkable instrument. Yes, the build quality is excellent, as is the case with virtually every Carvin bass guitar. But this model has something special going on with the electronics as well - unlike most Carvin instruments of days gone by. It isn't "your daddy's Carvin".

Whether it has the specific mojo you may desire is an entirely different matter. But you can get one - fully fitted out - for something in the range of $1,500 - $1,600, and they can easily hang with many other makes & models costing twice as much. Or more.

MM
 
#17
MysticMichael said:
For the record, I actually own a Carvin B25PF - fretless that is. And I can tel you that it's quite a remarkable instrument. Yes, the build quality is excellent, as is the case with virtually every Carvin bass guitar. But this model has something special going on with the electronics as well - unlike most Carvin instruments of days gone by. It isn't "your daddy's Carvin".

Whether it has the specific mojo you may desire is an entirely different matter. But you can get one - fully fitted out - for something in the range of $1,500 - $1,600, and they can easily hang with many other makes & models costing twice as much. Or more.

MM
Click to expand...

Everything about the Carvins are better now. The PU’s (same single coils as the SB4000), neck treatments (stability), the setups (spot on, most of the time).
Tough to beat in the price range. Lakland Skylines are there. Had some luck with a Cort Artisan too.
 

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