Great video. Looks like the difference between this model and earlier Pro Mod basses is the pre-amp now has a grounded metal case to improve screening. Low-End Lobster also recommends screening/grounding the pick-up cavities, inc. grounding pole pieces - it's a bigger job.
You are supposed to shield the control and pickup cavities anyway. Usually this is done with conductive paint. Charvel (Fender Mexico) cheaped out on this and didn't do it.
Dude thanks for making this. I was about to get a stingray then I picked up the 4 string charvel pj and was blown away by the feel. Wanted to learn more and your vid just showed how many other awesome things there are about this. Might have to go back to the store tomorrow to cop one! Curious to know if you’re gonna keep it or not.
THANK YOU for doing a good review on the 5-string! Anytime I see these basses in a store, they just have the 4-string. And as you said, there aren’t many good RUclips reviews on this bass in general. Also, I have a Jackson 5-string with a 35” scale, and the B string of the Charvel sounds about the same. To me that’s a compliment to the Charvel.
Good review. It's good to see the B string being used a lot in a fiver review. I've had the JJ 5 string for a couple of years now; there is a bit of neck dive, but a good strap sorts that out. I might put lighter tuners on it in the future. The B was a bit floppy but I have a 0.145 in it now, which is about as tight as the 0.105 E string. Great basses and if Charvel bring out some new colours for the fivers, I might buy a back up.
Thanks for the great review. I believe you may be incorrect about the shielded cavity. Most instruments now use black conductive paint. It looks like the video you showed has it. You can take a mutlimeter on the "ohm" setting and it will probably show continuity meaning it is shielded. It doesn't make any sense that they wouldn't shield a higher end Fender corp instrument.
@@funkingitup1805 lowendlobster did a great video on this. The paint layer was so thin it looked like normal paint to me, but many owners complain about the noise and it goes away after adding additional shielding tape. I’m lucky my bass is not very noisy :)
@@Music-for-Miles You are right. I got one today for $399. I put a multimeter on it and there is no continuity at all in the control cavity. Garbage quality for a $1000 asking price. The neck is badass. The J pickup is good. The finish is perfect. The tuners look and feel a little cheap, but they are probably lightweight to prevent neck dive. My P pickup (not a Dimarzio since they don't make a 5P pickup) is farty when played hard either with fingers or a pick. I do like the Dimarzio J. Going to get some copper foil tape and consider how to deal with the farty P as I like to do choppy palm mutey metal sometimes. Oddly the J pickup doesn't hiss at all, but the P does.
Thank you for the thorough review. I'm torn between this bass or the new Sadowsky MetroExpress. I haven't been able to find anyone comparing the two. Any thoughts or advice? Thanks!
Why would you level the frets if all that happened to it was that it was sitting unused? In your words, it's "practically brand new" .... "The fret work is amazing"....
He didn’t level all of the frets only the last 6 frets per my request so I can lower the action to my liking with the fat strings I use. It was not because of bad fret work. I should have explained that better.
@@Music-for-Miles I'm going to trade stuff towards a san dimas or btb this weekend. Leaning towards the San dimas for the price. I could get a nice pedal or something too
Thank you. I bought it today.
Great video. Looks like the difference between this model and earlier Pro Mod basses is the pre-amp now has a grounded metal case to improve screening. Low-End Lobster also recommends screening/grounding the pick-up cavities, inc. grounding pole pieces - it's a bigger job.
You are supposed to shield the control and pickup cavities anyway. Usually this is done with conductive paint. Charvel (Fender Mexico) cheaped out on this and didn't do it.
I just bought the blue 4 version. I wanted a modern PJ bass so The Charvel was a perfect choice for $499
great buy!!
Dude thanks for making this. I was about to get a stingray then I picked up the 4 string charvel pj and was blown away by the feel. Wanted to learn more and your vid just showed how many other awesome things there are about this. Might have to go back to the store tomorrow to cop one!
Curious to know if you’re gonna keep it or not.
Oh 100% keeping it! Friggin in love with the neck. Check reverb some of these like new prices can save you $200-300
THANK YOU for doing a good review on the 5-string! Anytime I see these basses in a store, they just have the 4-string. And as you said, there aren’t many good RUclips reviews on this bass in general. Also, I have a Jackson 5-string with a 35” scale, and the B string of the Charvel sounds about the same. To me that’s a compliment to the Charvel.
I’m so glad you found it helpful! Love this bass!
Good review. It's good to see the B string being used a lot in a fiver review. I've had the JJ 5 string for a couple of years now; there is a bit of neck dive, but a good strap sorts that out. I might put lighter tuners on it in the future. The B was a bit floppy but I have a 0.145 in it now, which is about as tight as the 0.105 E string. Great basses and if Charvel bring out some new colours for the fivers, I might buy a back up.
Thanks for the great review. I believe you may be incorrect about the shielded cavity. Most instruments now use black conductive paint. It looks like the video you showed has it. You can take a mutlimeter on the "ohm" setting and it will probably show continuity meaning it is shielded. It doesn't make any sense that they wouldn't shield a higher end Fender corp instrument.
@@funkingitup1805 lowendlobster did a great video on this. The paint layer was so thin it looked like normal paint to me, but many owners complain about the noise and it goes away after adding additional shielding tape. I’m lucky my bass is not very noisy :)
@@Music-for-Miles You are right. I got one today for $399. I put a multimeter on it and there is no continuity at all in the control cavity. Garbage quality for a $1000 asking price. The neck is badass. The J pickup is good. The finish is perfect. The tuners look and feel a little cheap, but they are probably lightweight to prevent neck dive. My P pickup (not a Dimarzio since they don't make a 5P pickup) is farty when played hard either with fingers or a pick. I do like the Dimarzio J. Going to get some copper foil tape and consider how to deal with the farty P as I like to do choppy palm mutey metal sometimes. Oddly the J pickup doesn't hiss at all, but the P does.
Thank you for the thorough review. I'm torn between this bass or the new Sadowsky MetroExpress. I haven't been able to find anyone comparing the two. Any thoughts or advice? Thanks!
Neck is better on the Charvel. Everything else is better on the Sadowsky.
That active bypass is cool if your battery dies at a show 😂
or if you like the raw pickup sound too
It's great, but it's super lame to not have a passive tone control to actually use it as a passive bass.
Man, you could be easily a bass play for some brazilian hardcore band.
how's the weight???
It’s a little heavy but not too bad, I have a nice leather padded strap I use so it doesn’t bother me any.
@@Music-for-Miles thanks forthe reply,more power and God bless
Around nine pounds for mine. That's light for a fiver with a slab body in my opinion.
Why would you level the frets if all that happened to it was that it was sitting unused? In your words, it's "practically brand new" .... "The fret work is amazing"....
He didn’t level all of the frets only the last 6 frets per my request so I can lower the action to my liking with the fat strings I use. It was not because of bad fret work. I should have explained that better.
Thanks for the clarification
Charvel is a better deal than ibanez now lol
I agree and they have the fender’s DNA baked into it!! Their guitars are great too.
@@Music-for-Miles I'm going to trade stuff towards a san dimas or btb this weekend. Leaning towards the San dimas for the price. I could get a nice pedal or something too