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Carvin PB5 or Fender Precision V?

Carvin PB5 or Fender USA Precision V

  • Carvin PB5

    Votes: 97 53.0%

  • Fender USA Precision V

    Votes: 86 47.0%
  • Total voters
    183
#22
I buy basses to play them, not to resell them. I don't know where the obsession with resale value comes in, chances are that the vast majority of everyone's possessions depreciate in value far more than a bass ever will.

I haven't played the Carvin, but I also haven't played a Fender 5 that did it for me. I'd certainly try a Carvin because of their return policy. I did not vote on the poll.

e: I will say that I hate how the pickups look on the Carvin. On a P-styled-bass I gotta see those pole pieces.
 
#23
A +1 to the "Fender makes better 4's than 5's" folks.

I've owned a Fender P5 and still own multiple Carvins, including a B50 w/a P pickup in it (a pre-PB custom I had done). I believe that the PB5 and B50/SB5000 use the same necks. The Fender B was less than impressive and the whole bass was just kinda 'OK'. Not awful, just 'meh'. Carvin B's are stellar and they are a joy to play.

If you buy basses solely to re-sell, or buy them based on headstock decal then it really doesn't matter how it plays, so go for the Fender. If you're buying a bass to play, I vote Carvin.

CnB77 said:
e: I will say that I hate how the pickups look on the Carvin. On a P-styled-bass I gotta see those pole pieces.
Click to expand...

I think they are blades under there. But I think the Carvin will allow for more pickup upgrade options with its symmetrical pickup design as opposed to the Fender's asymmetrical one.
 
#24
People continually parrot what they have read in the past about Carvin resale value. Used Carvins go for pretty good money these days.

The Carvin PB is pretty new. There aren't many people who have had a chance to play them. I'm a Carvin fan, but I wouldn't want to make any kind of recommendation since I haven't played the new Carvin yet.
 
#25
Thumper said:
Interesting thread, it would be even moreso if any of the voters had actually played both.

The P5s and VMP5s do not have muddy Bs but I agree earlier Fenders I have played or heard did. Fender got it right on these, even the $299 Squiers.
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Have you played a Ray35 or a Stingray 5? I'm use to how awesome my B is on my Ray35, will the Squier or Fender be just as tight?
 
#26
I know anytime I have heard a b on a fender I wasn't impressed, but they were the Jazz basses, so I'm not so sure it's a fair compassion on my part, but any Carvin b I have heard was stellar. Now granted it wasn't the split pickup on a Carvin either that I had heard. Unfortunately the Youtube videos I listen to on both aren't very true reproductions to what I would hear through my Ampeg, making this even tougher, I have decided I want quality over resell, so that is no longer a deciding factor, but I guess I hadn't really considered the Squiers. One problem I have with the reviews left on alot of sites such as musicians friend is almost no one give a truly unbiased review, from reading the reviews you would think the $100 dollar rogues is just as nice as the $4000 dollar private reserve Fender Custom Shop.
 
#27
I have not played either in a live situation, so I can't give an endorsement either way, but I have heard Stingrays and the B sounded very solid.

I'm no stranger to good Bs, look at my basses owned :).

I have a fretless LBf Carvin strung with Black Beauties and it is blah.

Didn't vote since I haven't played a Carvin P.
 
#28
WoodyG3 said:
People continually parrot what they have read in the past about Carvin resale value. Used Carvins go for pretty good money these days.
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The more "bling" you put on a Carvin, the lower the percentage you'll recoup in a resale. Someone has a BB75 in the classifieds for sale that he originally maxed out on options at $2800. That will probably end up being a huge hit when it sells.
 
#30
Not on the list, but I'd vote Lakland Skyline 55-64. I have one and the longer scale, stronger bridge and overall build quality made it my choice. If I had to choose between the 2 options listed - Carvin. They used to be kind of generic sounding but great to play. Now they've really improved their game. Also lots of options and a 10 day return policy. I have many Fenders - great for 4 strings to me, but for a 5 string Precision, I'd go Lakland or Carvin.
 
#31
I have some Fender and Squier 5's that sound great so not sure how common the "poor B string" issue is on the Fender and Squier lines. I don't have any Carvins yet but have priced some of their custom builds and was kinda shocked to see how much of a hit it would take on resale.

From a strategy standpoint I wouldn't normally buy a new bass with the intent to re-sell but I also wouldn't just blindly waltz into a purchase without at least thinking am I gonna lose my shirt if I ever have to dump this thing. Given that logic, if you like the looks and sound of the Carvin more maybe it makes sense to start searching for a good clean used one. If in fact the resale value on these things isn't good you should be able to find some real steals out there. After you get it you could then play it along side a number of Fenders and Squiers to decide first hand if its a keeper or if it should be flipped for little to no loss so you can buy something even better.
Be sure to keep us posted on your NBD!
 
#32
I had an American Std. Precision V bass and for me the passive electronics and the lack of a pickup in the bridge position always left me wanting a better B string sound. I sold it and picked up an ADPV and it has a much better tone. I would do the Carvin P and add a MM style pickup in the bridge position.
 
#37
cybersnyder said:
The more "bling" you put on a Carvin, the lower the percentage you'll recoup in a resale. Someone has a BB75 in the classifieds for sale that he originally maxed out on options at $2800. That will probably end up being a huge hit when it sells.
Click to expand...

Sure, the more you customize, especially with expensive options, the less you will likely get back in resale. The same is true of a fender that has been highly modified or customized.

If you are talking about the bass in the classifieds that I think you are, it is no longer for sale because Carvin is completely rebuilding the bass for him, for free, after he was dissatisfied with the highly customized paint job on the first.
 
#38
I know this was not one of the options, but if you buy used; you can pick up a Mike Lull P5 which is a far superior instrument. They are 35" scale, but I have never found it to be an issue, though it is for some. A used Lull P5 can be found for around $1500.
 
#40
WoodyG3 said:
Sure, the more you customize, especially with expensive options, the less you will likely get back in resale. The same is true of a fender that has been highly modified or customized.

If you are talking about the bass in the classifieds that I think you are, it is no longer for sale because Carvin is completely rebuilding the bass for him, for free, after he was dissatisfied with the highly customized paint job on the first.
Click to expand...

That's good that they're hooking him up. I have been getting the Carvin catalog since '86 and have yet to order. Too many options, too indecisive. I wonder how many others are like me?
 

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