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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
#81
Although I've never owned a PB5 or P5, I do own a Carvin SB5000. Every time I go into any music store, I always play all of the top of the line 5 strings to compare with my own. After doing this countless times, I am 100% convinced that my Carvin is the equal or better to any 5 string under 2 grand. With the active electronics, they are most comparable to the Fender American Deluxe. If you don't go crazy with the custom woods and options, it can be had for $700 less, made in America by an American company, and there are so many more finish options available. Like I said in my first sentence, this is regarding the jazz bass, not the P, so not a"direct"comparison. But you really should try the Carvin before you buy. And if you do decide to go fully custom, remember that you'd be saving thousands over a similar Fender.
 
#86
I've got a Fender P5, and a Carvin B50. The Fender neck is chunkier than the Carvin neck. The Fender IMO is just like the 4 string version, but with a low B added. It is an amazing bass, and sounds just like a P-bass should. I prefer the Carvin neck, as it seems easier to play. I keep them side by side, and I usually end up picking up the Carvin. I have no idea how the Carvin P pickup sounds compared to a Fender.

Both of my basses have nice B strings FWIW.

Grateful said:
I thnk they are the same neck.
Click to expand...
 
#87
Just sold a Fender P5 to a fellow TB'er. Great sound, but the neck faught me, it was just too big. Was on the watch for a 5'er with tighter string spacing and a smaller neck. I came to realize that the nut on the Carvin PB5 was 1.76, which is even smaller than my Warwick Corvette, so I pulled the trigger on my first custom made bass built by Carvin in San Diego. Between the small nut and the flatness of the fretboard, I am feeling perfectly fine with this neck, and this string spacing which is a quite nominal 18mm at the bridge.

The sound on this Carvin absolutely "sings" compared to all the Fenders and the Lakland that I also own. The B string sound, I would say, is on par with the Fender P5, which does not match the clarity of my Warwick for hard playing. But for normal, more moderate playing, you can get great tones across the fretboard, including the B. Therefore, the PB5 might not be the best for Metal....

My build included Walnut body, Ebony fretboard, black pickguard and black 3+2headstock with chrome hardware with a touch of Abalone diamonds and nameplate. A design which I stole from the Carvin website from a bass that is for sale there right now.

I like being unique and doing the Carvin custom build process gives me everything that I want. One more thing to mention, is that the build quality and attention to detail surpassed Fender and is on par with my Lakland.

This was one bass buying experience that led me to GAS for another Carvin almost immediately. Next is a 4 string PB4....I assume next year.
 
#89
The sound on this Carvin absolutely "sings" compared to all the Fenders and the Lakland that I also own. The B string sound, I would say, is on par with the Fender P5, which does not match the clarity of my Warwick for hard playing. But for normal, more moderate playing, you can get great tones across the fretboard, including the B. Therefore, the PB5 might not be the best for Metal....
Click to expand...

Have you played a Stingray 5 or a Ray35? You have said the Warwick is a tighter B, my Ray35 has a really tight B, would you say the Stingray5 is closer to the the Carvin or to the Warwick?
 
#93
Mike M. said:
Just out of curiousity, I'd like to know how the neck on the Carvin 5'er compares to the Fender P5 neck. About two months ago I tried out a 2013 Fender American Standard P5 and the neck was great. It felt just as wide as the neck on my 2011 American Standard Jazz 5'er but not quite as deep from front to back. Very comfortable player...a bit more so than mine.
Click to expand...

Carvin: THinner front to back. The nut width is closer to 1.75"
Fender: Somewhat thicker neck and wider nut width. (my preference)

Tonally the Carvin is more even and clear sounding, I thought the Carvin surpassed the Fender tonally. The narrower nut on the Carvin was a non starter for me unfortunately.

Also I believe someone posted the Carvin PB5 is 18mm. Pretty sure that is incorrect as Carvin uses 19mm for 5 string basses.
 
#95
Funny that I have had the opposite experience with the B string. I own a Fender P5 and Roscoe Beck V and the B strings are great. (And I pretty pretty hard.) I also owned a Carvin LB76 for a while and loved every single thing about that bass except the B string.

Here's the thing. You really can't go wrong either way. I voted for the Fender simply because I like the tone. What should probably be your deciding factor is the neck. The Fender will have a chunky neck compared to the Carvin. I actually prefer it but I have big hands. In my experience they are both made well.
 
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#97
two fingers said:
Funny that I have had the opposite experience with the B string. I own a Fender P5 and Roscoe Beck V and the B strings are great. (And I pretty pretty hard.) I also owned a Carvin LB76 for a while and loved every single thing about that bass except the B string.

Here's the thing. You really can't go wrong either way. I voted for the Fender simply because I like the tone. What should probably be your deciding factor is the neck. The Fender will have a chunky neck compared to the Carvin. I actually prefer it but I have big hands. In my experience they are both made well.
Click to expand...

The LB76 and Carvin's P5 are different animals just FYI. Carvins P5 pickup is a real winner, lots of clear punchy tone from that bad boy. That pickup itself is strong candidate once they make it available as an accessory!
 
#98
Doug Parent said:
Carvin: THinner front to back. The nut width is closer to 1.75"
Fender: Somewhat thicker neck and wider nut width. (my preference)

Tonally the Carvin is more even and clear sounding, I thought the Carvin surpassed the Fender tonally. The narrower nut on the Carvin was a non starter for me unfortunately.

Also I believe someone posted the Carvin PB5 is 18mm. Pretty sure that is incorrect as Carvin uses 19mm for 5 string basses.
Click to expand...

Have you played a Ray35? I love the neck on mine but I'm not sure if it's thinner like the Carvin or Thicker like the Fender.
 
#99
aparker82 said:
Have you played a Ray35? I love the neck on mine but I'm not sure if it's thinner like the Carvin or Thicker like the Fender.
Click to expand...

If I recall remotely correctly from the short time I played with a Ray, I seem to remember that the Ray neck was a little 'rounder' than the Carvin, but not at all 'chunky'. The Carvin might be 'thinner' feeling front to back, but with no 'shoulders' or 'squared-off' feeling that some thinner necks have. The string spacing is much tighter on a Ray, so that plays into things as well. It's been a while, though...
 

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