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Carvin Basses

#21
If you're looking for a Fender-type axe, the SB5000 or SB5001 (a little lighter) is hard to beat. Great sound I'd put up against a Sadowsky or KSD Fender type-very much a modern Jazz Bass sound. The Brombergs are great, a little more of a hot rod with a very slim, easy to play neck.
But, what else would I say? I've endorsed these basses since 1992 and I'm really happy with them.
 
#22
I bought an SB 5000 on a whim, after reading posts on TB. Couldn't be happier. After years of trying many different 5 strings, the SB is the first one that I feel totally comfortable playing (I have played 4 strings since 1971 and found the transition to a 5 a bit difficult).

As a result I now have an SB4000, and an Icon 4 will be delivered to me tomorrow.

After owning about every brand you can name, I believe the Carvin line is way up towards the top of the list in terms of fit, finish, tone, playability and affordability.
 
#23
I wish they'd let you pick your electronics. Many custom builders let you do this. I realize that Carvin isn't really a custom builder, but in a way they are. Almost every post talks about how great the build, finish, etc. are but...the electronics. Maybe they would sell more stuff if they had a couple electronics options.

I had a fretless 6 years ago that I "custom" ordered. It was really nice...except the electronics. I put in Bartolini pups and pre and it was much better - to my ear.
 
#24
SteveC said:
I wish they'd let you pick your electronics. Many custom builders let you do this. I realize that Carvin isn't really a custom builder, but in a way they are. Almost every post talks about how great the build, finish, etc. are but...the electronics. Maybe they would sell more stuff if they had a couple electronics options.

I had a fretless 6 years ago that I "custom" ordered. It was really nice...except the electronics. I put in Bartolini pups and pre and it was much better - to my ear.
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Carvin's newer electronics in the SB/B/B2 basses are incredible pickups and pre's that have great tone. I agree that Carvin pickups in the past were very neutral sounding, however, I like that they manufacture and design their own pickups (rather than outsourcing). And recently their designs have been outstanding!
 
#25
chucko58 said:
I've got mixed feelings about Carvin, based on owning several of their basses. They do great woodwork and the finishes are superb. Playability is a personal matter, and I find some of the models work well for me (B-series bolt-ons and Bunny Brunels) and some don't (LB, Icon). The electronics are decent (not terrible, not great, but certainly adequate).

I don't care for their pickups. So to answer your pickup question... Wilde by Bill Lawrence J-45L would be my choice.
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Chucko, I've had the older models too, but the SB Series with J99A's are a different animal altogether!
 
#26
madbassplaya said:
Carvin's newer electronics in the SB/B/B2 basses are incredible pickups and pre's that have great tone. And recently their designs have been outstanding!
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This seems to be the case. I am tempted to get a fretless 6 again to really challenge myself. Can you get the new pups and pre in the LB series? Or maybe a used Roscoe... :ninja:
 
#28
B String said:
The new Brian Bromberg basses are looking like one of the best deals anywhere. Using the same Carvin "Jazz" pickups as the SB basses, but the form and function are much more "boutique", like Fodera, Elrick, etc. Once you get use to radiused pickups, you get spoiled.
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My understanding is that the radiused pickups were designed specifically for the B24/25's and are different than the J99's found in the SB5000. They are both fantastic.

Jayhawk said:
Carvin makes a great product and, for the money, you can't beat them. The SB5000 has tons of love on TB, but don't write off the B50. Mine has the same electronics, neck and hardware as the SB5000, but I prefer the P style body.
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Very true! I have an SB, a B25 and 2 B50s. All are excellent.

shaboda said:
guys---quick question: On the sb5000's..... J99's or the 50A's??
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Depends on what you want. I like the J99a's on the SB with nickels and my H50a/HB5w on my B50 that wears coated strings or flats and is usually a fretless now (I have 2 necks for it).
 
#29
Grateful said:
My understanding is that the radiused pickups were designed specifically for the B24/25's and are different than the J99's found in the SB5000. They are both fantastic.
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From all I've been told, Bromberg loved the SB pickups and is using them in his basses. The only change was to the shape, going with the radiused shape.

In my opinion, Carvin has entered a new era of making very good basses, at a great price, designed by great bass players.
 
#30
vrussell said:
Iwas gonna get a fender american stardard Jazz V5, but a couple of my bass buddies were saying that you could have your own custome CARVIN bass for about the same price. Now i have never played one but seen a couple of videos and they sound pretty good. so my question is has anyone ever played a CARVIN and how does it compare to the fender V 5???
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I've owned a Carvin B4 years ago for a brief time. I sold it to get a 5-string and regret it. It was a great bass. I also used to live and regularly go to a Carvin outlet store, and ended up drooling over the SB5000. I haven't picked one up, but it's my next bass to get.

Here's my take:

  • Carvin basses (and guitars) are more bang for the buck for a high end instrument then almost anywhere. Certainly more bang for the buck then a MIA Jazz of an equal price.
  • The SB5000 is probably the most like a Jazz bass. The differences are the neck dimentions. I never really liked any Fender Jazz 5-string necks (although I do like the feel of most 4-string Fender Jazz basses). They were a bit too wide. The SB5000 feels a bit smaller neck-wise with more natural string spacing.
  • The tone of the SB5000 is WAY more versatile. A Jazz bass always sounds like a Jazz bass. The SB5000 has a great tone, and it varies more as you sweep through the neck/bridge pickups.
  • Fender can jack their prices up a bit more then I think they're worth due to branding and their name recognition. I guarantee that no one in the audience will care about the brand that you have. The only people who would care are other musicians. Other musicians can get you gigs, but they probably aren't your target audience. The good musicians all know that Carvin is quality. The ones who don't or somehow think that you'd be better off with any brand (especially Fender) may be stubborn or thick-headed. They're probably nothing but a very minor, miniscule component of your audience, so their opinions don't matter.
 
#33
I think the old electronics have put a bad taste in peoples' mouths, but the electronics from the new SB are really pretty great. I like them so much I have put them in my Marcus Miller Jazz bass and my Warmoth Jazz bass, and I am planning on putting them in the Warmoth P-bass I'm building. I also have an SB4000 on order. I think Carvin is the best value for the money out there. The downside, the fact that most people can't play one before they buy it, is also the reason they are so affordable.
All that said, Fender makes a fine product as well, and I have had quite a few of them.
If you're willing to take a risk on a bass you haven't played, Carvin is the way to go. But if you go out and find a Fender your really dig, why not buy it?
 
#34
Up until recently, every few years I'd say to myself "go buy a Fender Jazz, just to say you have one". I've had everything from cheapo Squiers all the way up to American Deluxes, and within a year of owning one, I'd sell it.

I recently got a Carvin Icon, and I'm a few weeks away from ordering an SB4000.
I know this is blasphemy to some, but: to me, Fenders are garbage, worth nowhere near the price you'd pay for a new one.
 
#35
HypersoulRocks said:
I know this is blasphemy to some, but: to me, Fenders are garbage, worth nowhere near the price you'd pay for a new one.
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Not blasphemy, but maybe a bit dated (IMHO). They had some pretty serious QC issues a while back, but I think they're gone now and have been for a while. The USA stuff might still be a little overpriced, but I think these days they're very far from garbage, and some of the Mexi stuff is truly worthy, which also gets rid of the price issue. Just trying to be fair, given current product.

I will go this far, however, to the main point at hand, I do feel the Carvins, and especially the SB series, represent a far and away better value, so if the style and options fit the buyer, I'd definitely recommend the SB over any comparable Fender J.

Anyway, IME/IMHO/FWIW.
 
#37
Hi, few days ago I bought a used SB 5000. The neck is incredible. I m from Germany and Carvin is a nearly complete unknown brand here. I m very exited to hear the SB 5000 in context to my bands.
Questions to the exprienced SB users: Which strings, amps, cabs do you recommend ?
I actually have old DR Sunbeams on my Bass and want to replace them.
I could imagine, that Epifani gear could fit to the SB Sound. What do you think? In practice room I have my Fender TBP-1 Preamp and my Glockenklang Cab waiting. Just had the chance to play the SB at home with my PJ Basscub 100 so far.

Thanks in Advance and cheers from Germany
Sorry for my poor english ;-)
 
#39
i have 5 carvins, and a few other botique basses. i play the carvins most. i love them. i have never played the newer pickups or electronics, but i can say that the older single coil J pickups (j99?) are just great, and the music man pickup is really great too. i did not like the stacked humbucking jazz pickup (the old one), but the great thing is, they are standard size, so you can easily drop in any pickup you want. so, now i have one carvin with nordstrands, and one with dimarzio model J and one passive with single coils. in my opinion, the one with the best tone is the passive with single coils (stock). that bass can do anything. the next is the one with the model J. i swear that neck pickup can nail a p bass tone if you need it to. but which ever model you get id get one with standard pickup sizes so that you can mod it in the future if you ever want. im not sure, but i think their soapbar sizes might fit other company's soap bars in there too (nordstrand) but id double check that.
 
#40
The reality is, Carvin and Fender basses sound different and feel/play different.

Not necessarily better, just different.

It's all a matter of personal preference/taste and what tone/sound presentation each indvidual is looking for.

Then there are some people, such as myself (and others) who love both and like to have both options available to them.

I love my Carvin B40's and I just ordered my first SB4000.

But I also love my Fender Precision basses. Don't have a Fender Jazz, yet, but some time in the future I will.

I play my P-basses and Carvin B40's quite often and use both brands for different songs/music.

It doesn't have to be one or the other, if you don't want it to be. Appreciating and utlizing both brands/models .....is a wonderful thing.
 

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