• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thinking about getting a new bass. Would like everyone's opinion please!

Which 5er should I pick?

  • Carvin PB5 with Active Electronics

    Votes: 18 26.5%

  • EBMM Stingray 5 H

    Votes: 50 73.5%
  • Total voters
    68
#22
bordinco90 said:
So I have been wanting to get a nice 5 string. I am a p bass guy so I was thinking about getting a Carvin PB5 with active electronics (just a p bass pickup). I was also thinking about getting a Musicman Stringray 5 H. I've owned a SBMM Ray35 in the past and could not get over the overly trebley tone of the bass, but I have never played a real deal Stingray 5 H. I just want something that has a great B string and sounds good to my ears. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

If you are a P bass guy, I think you would really like the G&L L2500. It has a ton of mids, especially low mids. You can scoop it out some by putting it in parallel–active w/ treble boost–both pickups, but neck pickup in series, especially in passive, sounds just like a P bass, but with a great low B and more flexibility when needed. It even has a nice, kinda chunky neck that reminds of a P bass. The scale length and string spacing is a lot like the Stingray I think. The biggest difference from a P for me are the tone controls. The G&L has a passive bass and a passive treble roll off. A regular passive P tone control first rolls off treble, then upper mids. The treble cut on the G&L pretty much rolls off treble. At the absolute extreme it sounds pretty dark, but it really doesn't cut into the upper mids like a regular passive tone. So if you play your P with the tone control off, I'm not sure the G&L would do that for you perfectly. You'd want something with a traditional tone control. But it does get close. I'll say that if you love the P for the mids, especially the low mids, the G&L is just like it, huge mids. I don't know anything about the Carvin, but personally the G&L's a lot more like a P than a Stingray. I think the Ed Friedland demo video is great, but really doesn't showcase that aspect of the L2000.
 
#23
bordinco90 said:
I was also thinking about getting a Musicman Stringray 5 H. I've owned a SBMM Ray35 in the past and could not get over the overly trebley tone of the bass, but I have never played a real deal Stingray 5 H.
Click to expand...

Why not get the HH if you want less high midrange and are considering a Stingray? Using one coil from each pickup sounds a bit like a J bass and using the neck pickup by itself sounds a bit like a P. The 5 way switch (not to mention 3 band EQ) give you a ton of versatility beyond the traditional Stingray tone.
 
#30
Killed_by_Death said:
Yeah, if you're going to blow that much money, go the extra mile & get the double humbuckers.
Click to expand...
I'm a bit of a tone chaser ... and I really liked the "sound" of the H ... maybe it was just the group I tested or I had wax in my ears ... but I actually preffered the H to the HH ... to me it's what a Ray is supposed to sound like ... I did not try an HS. I think there's a pretty long thread in the EBMM community on the differences. I love the way the SR5 H sounds. the band likes it the best. But I actually don't love the bass just yet because I keep pushing or pulling the B or G off the frett board. I'm learning to deal with that ... this is my 1st month or so playing it regularly. I'm sure it's poor playing habits on my part ... but it is what it is.
 
#32
I think that is one of the drawbacks on the Stingray sound: the clanky treble. Even when you cut the treble all the way, it's still there. It may be different with the double pickup models, but that is my experience with the single pickup model (I have one and have owned several others).

I think there's a whole lot of good stuff you can choose from. Would a Jazz Bass be something that might interest you? A Lakland Skyline DJ5 is a really nice bass with a great B-string. A Dingwall Afterburner is a great instrument too.

And a Fender P5 is also really nice. I love the P-Bass sound too. You may want to go a little more modern for the material you describe though.
 
#34
without a doubt the stingray, and I'm not just saying that. Here's mine
image.jpg
 
Last edited:
#35
I don't know Carvin basses but I did own an SR5 which was good but I replaced it with a Lakland.

Looking at the genres you play I'd put a Lakland 55-01 and 55-02 on your "to check out" list.
 
#40
bordinco90 said:
So I have been wanting to get a nice 5 string. I am a p bass guy so I was thinking about getting a Carvin PB5 with active electronics (just a p bass pickup). I was also thinking about getting a Musicman Stringray 5 H. I've owned a SBMM Ray35 in the past and could not get over the overly trebley tone of the bass, but I have never played a real deal Stingray 5 H. I just want something that has a great B string and sounds good to my ears. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

Get a used MM5 - stingray OR sterling. Plenty out there to choose from. Carvins are nice but their value does not hold up.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back