MB-5 SB Deluxe Series : An ok introduction to 5-strings

I bought this bass mainly for home studio use (I was done downtuning a 4-string) and am definitely not disappointed.

The MB-5 offers a decent, low barrier introduction to 5-string basses. The neck, though quite thick, fits nicely in my slightly-larger-than-average hands, and the contour on the body is placed perfectly to avoid getting in the way or excessive friction against the arm. The MM-style pickup and the separate volumes for each coil offer enough tonal variety for my uses, and the pickup itself sounds good with good strings. Tuning stability is fine. Out-of-the-box this bass does however require a setup in order to eliminate string buzz and correct intonation. That being said, for 130e + shipping this is pretty much the best bass I've played in that price range.

TL;DR:

Pros:

- Nice neck for larger hands

- Separate volume-pots for the 2 coils of the pickup

- Good, comfortable design

- Good tuning stability

Cons:

- Requires setup

- Factory strings aren't great

- Wood is what you'd expect for 130e