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Carvin compares to...?

#21
My SB5000 feels better than my Lakland Skylines I had, as good as the US Lakland I had, better than the Sadowsky Metro I had. I have never found a Fender 5 that felt remotely right.

I'll put the construction up against anything at double the price.

Sound-wise, the SB5000, with the active/passive pre with passive tone knob is very versatile and sounds great. I will say that it is the one bass that I have not liked with flatwounds. But again, that's just me.
 
#22
Calaverasgrande said:
You guys are smoking that wacky tobacky.
Carvins have always had nice fit and finish.
Their pickups/preamps are kind of ho hum though.
For that reason I woudlnt put them above Musicman or G&L, which is pretty much equal in fit and finish. Nor would I put them anywhere close to a Sadowsky.
It's not like anyone is copying Carvin model features (like has been going on for a while with Musicman and Fender) or buying their pre/pickups for upgrading a stock model as folks do with Sadowsky.

I'd say they are great on the used market because they don't hold value well. A negative for folks that buy them new, but a plus for folks that find them used!
The other good thing about Carvin is that they have ebony fretboards ona lot of their line. It's not a BFR type of thing like with Musicman.
Click to expand...

Dude,

Firstly, the question referred specifically to the Carvin SB5000 - NOT to Carvins in general. Secondly, you're probably about 4-5 years behind the times. You're describing the generic Carvin bass guitar scenario of around 2008 - or earlier.

Get up to speed already...

MM
 
#23
MysticMichael said:
Dude,

Firstly, the question referred specifically to the Carvin SB5000 - NOT to Carvins in general. Secondly, you're probably about 4-5 years behind the times. You're describing the generic Carvin bass guitar scenario of around 2008 - or earlier.

Get up to speed already...

MM
Click to expand...

IMO, the Carvin electronics made a leap forward even before that when they introduced the Icon in 2006.

I think the Carvin compares favorably to a Sadowsky Metro as far as build quality.
 
#25
Well I don't have time to keep up with all the brands that I have already found boring in the past. I'm sure you guys love your SB5000's. Me I find them a bit homely. Maybe if a used one crosses my path I'll give it a spin.
I'm going to play my Musicman Sub now, which is JUST LIKE A SADOWSKY.
 
#28
Calaverasgrande said:
I was being sarcastic.
I have a great Musicman SUB. It's a really great bass for the price. For. The. Price.
But it ain't close to a sadowksy no matter how you set it up.
Click to expand...


Those who have compared their Carvins to Sadowsky's in this thread have owned both or at least have some practical experience with them both. They are making an apples to apples, dollar for dollar comparison, not a 'for the price' comparison. No sarcasm involved.

The fact that a new SB is costs roughly half what a used import Sadowsky costs is just a bonus.
 
#31
I have played a lot of basses, but I am not sure exactly how to compare my Carvin b50 (You can see pix on the b40/b50 thread)..

Maybe I would compare it to the well made import basses (sadowsky, lakland, etc) and to some american mades like MM and G and L...definitely to the higher end japanese (Yamaha pattitucci, Ibanez prestige, etc) and of course it compares to all fenders except the custom shop...but I am thinking specifically of Victor Bailey, Marcus Miller...those kinds.

As much as I love my Carvin (It is my main electric now) I don't think I would compare it to the Lulls, celinders, USA laklands or USA sadowskys. Its a great bass but not mind blowingly great like those.

But where it really excels is the fact that it is really "customizable" in that you pick the color and everything else. Few companies except boutiques will do that, right?

Usually I have to settle for whatever a company has...but not with the Carvin. I wanted green quilt, I got green quilt!

Oh, and it is true that in the past, Carvin electronics and pups were kind of boring. Not any more. The new pups on all their models are great! You might actually see them finally being used to mod other basses.

The B40/B50 and SN series have one other majorly cool thing going for them...a passive tone knob that can be used at the same time as the active electronics! On so many basses, it's either one or the other...and usually going into the passive mode (like when your batt dies mid-gig) you don't have any tone control....not so with the Carvin! On many active electronics, as concerns the high end you are face with only one option: Less treble and more treble, but there is no way to cut it down completely like with a passive tone....with my Carvin I can do both, and that is a huge plus for me (and for anyone that also wants to use an electric to play roots music)
 
#32
lucas vigor said:
The B40/B50 and SN series have one other majorly cool thing going for them...a passive tone knob that can be used at the same time as the active electronics! On so many basses, it's either one or the other...and usually going into the passive mode (like when your batt dies mid-gig) you don't have any tone control....not so with the Carvin! On many active electronics, as concerns the high end you are face with only one option: Less treble and more treble, but there is no way to cut it down completely like with a passive tone....with my Carvin I can do both, and that is a huge plus for me (and for anyone that also wants to use an electric to play roots music)
Click to expand...

+1. The passive tone control is a great feature. My Sadowsky doesn't even have it (must be one of the older ones). My Sadowsky does have a couple of advantages over the Carvin: it's lighter and the bridge saddles can go lower. On my SB5000, I had to shim the neck since the saddles were bottoming out. Mind you, the action from the factory was good, I just like it LOW.

I'm an active bass guy but I like the way the Carvin sounds in passive mode. The Sadowsky is not really meant to be played in passive. It's more of a backup in case of battery failure.
 
#35
I have already been GASing for a Carvin for a while. You guys are killing me! Trying to decide between SB4000/5000 or B40/50. Once I get the model and number of strings figured out then I have to figure out what pickup configuration I want. By then I should have enough gig money saved up to order one!:D
 
#36
Grateful said:
Those who have compared their Carvins to Sadowsky's in this thread have owned both or at least have some practical experience with them both. They are making an apples to apples, dollar for dollar comparison, not a 'for the price' comparison. No sarcasm involved.
Click to expand...

+1

I have never owned a Sadowsky but I have played several and borrowed 1 once to see if I could fall in love with it. (I liked it but I did not love it...I love the Carvin).

Take price out of the equation and I would still rather have a SB5000.

The price is just a bonus. ;)
 

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