Carvin SB4000 or MM Stingray?? Help

[Angelsbass]

Hello fellow TB's
I need some advice and helpful opinions. I have my Musicman Stingray and Im happy with it, however the G string always gets lost in the mix. I know that they are known for this, and Ive heard many ways of trying to fix the problem. At the same time Ive heard really great things about the Carvin SB's? So what do you guys think? would I be happy with a Carvin or should I just stick to my MM Stingray?

Thanks in advance fellows

 

[stflbn]

Comparing Apples and Bananas IMHO.

Both great basses but vastly different sonically.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Get an SB4000 with a J/MM pickup option.

 

[TonyP-]

Comparing Apples and Bananas IMHO.

Both great basses but vastly different sonically.

+1

Is your G lost in the mix or is there a volume drop? (2 different things that can or cannot be related)

I love Js and Rays...I will say this that the Carvin is very very J like to me IMHO.

If you want a J sounding instrument then the Carvin is a great way to go.

Dr C has a good suggestion, but remeber You will not be getting a ray or a J when that happens (It would put you into that Lakland sound) since the spacing (I believe) for the humbucker is not in the sweet spot.

If you like the ray and the solutions are not resolving your issue then I would suggest possibly trying a Nordstrand replacement pickup (some folks says that the drop in volume was eliminated that way) I do not notice that issue with my Rays.

 

[Angelsbass]

Thanks fellows!

The G string is lost and very noticably from the others. Volume & mix Ive heard things to help such as raise the pu?? or change out strings to heavier gauge. However Ive also heard great things about the Carvin SB's as is??

 

[stflbn]

First... try raising the G-string side of the pickup. All you need is a phillips screw driver.
You can also lower the E side.

 

[Angelsbass]

stflbn

Thank you! I will try that today and hopefully that will fix my problem. Thats the only downfall on my MM, otherwise I LOVE it! If I lower the E will that affect the low end? I dont wanna lose any bottom end at all. I will experiment with it today.

Thanks again

 

[Dr. Cheese]

+1

Is your G lost in the mix or is there a volume drop? (2 different things that can or cannot be related)

I love Js and Rays...I will say this that the Carvin is very very J like to me IMHO.

If you want a J sounding instrument then the Carvin is a great way to go.

Dr C has a good suggestion, but remeber You will not be getting a ray or a J when that happens (It would put you into that Lakland sound) since the spacing (I believe) for the humbucker is not in the sweet spot.

If you like the ray and the solutions are not resolving your issue then I would suggest possibly trying a Nordstrand replacement pickup (some folks says that the drop in volume was eliminated that way) I do not notice that issue with my Rays.

I guess that was my point about J/MM set ups although I did not actually say it. A Jazz and a Ray are two distinctive bass sounds, and they cannot really be mixed without one being more dominant. On Laklands, the Jazz aspect dominates, on J/MM Stingrays or Warwick Jazzman basses, the Stingray tone dominates. From what I know of Carvins, they lean more to the Jazz tone.

 

[Limeman]

... Dr C has a good suggestion, but remeber You will not be getting a ray or a J when that happens (It would put you into that Lakland sound) since the spacing (I believe) for the humbucker is not in the sweet spot.

You might want to give Carvin a call and see if they might do something custom for you with the SB4000 by moving the optional humbucker to the MM position? Worth a call, since they can do a ton of custom work that is not listed in the catalog or online.