Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 2!

[Sparks55]

Thanks for the advance clips, Ed. Sounds great. 33 days to the brown truck and counting down........

Mark

 

[Carlo Tanori]

I know this bass has been out for a while, but I'm finally getting around to doing a review. They sent me an SB5000 with:

• ash body
• flamed maple top
• Honey Burst w/matching SB headstock
• Cream colored J99As
• Gold Hardware
• Birdseye board

When I saw the bass in an ad, my first impression was a little muted. The body looked weird to me, and the headstock? Nah. But after playing this for a week... I'm smitten. This is definitely the best sounding Carvin I've ever played, and some may recall I was a Carvin endorser for many years. I have owned and played a boatload of Carvins!

Now, I'm really digging the look of it, and seriously considering pulling the trigger on one for myself. The review bass sounds awesome, forget about comparing it to other Carvins, this thing really does stand up to basses that are 4x as expensive. They totally nailed the Jazz bass tone without making yet another clone. I'm curious about the Icon HS option, while the body is now speaking to me, not sure about the SB HS. Although... there is a certain flow to it, adding a different HS kind of messes with the design. Ah, anyway... I'm loving this bass, I'm finishing up the written review for GW, and look forward to shooting the video.

+1 Ed! I could not have said it better! I'm really enjoying my SB5000!

Carlo Tanori

 

[Carlo Tanori]

Hey !! Justa quick question for all the owners for the SB 5000 here . Does the bass fit into a ' Regular ' Gig Bag, by that I mean the several popular Gig bags like Protec Contego, iGig , Levy's, Reunion Blues, etc...

Does it fit in those bags or do u need to get the Carvin Gig bag they have for sale, or is the body shepe suck that You'll need a specially made bag or a hardcase ??

Thanks !

Fits in this [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. It's wide enough for the body of the Carvin SB5000, and I like the color.

Carlo

 

[vibhas_2310]

Hey . Just have a look at this . I really like the vibe of this bass . I know it says its a 59' burts, but thgere's no such thing a s a 59' burst on the carvin website . Which is the closest carvin finish to this bass ??

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[tink9975]

Hey . Just have a look at this . I really like the vibe of this bass . I know it says its a 59' burts, but thgere's no such thing a s a 59' burst on the carvin website . Which is the closest carvin finish to this bass ??

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Probably the Tobacco Burst(figured maple finish) or Tobacco Sunburst

 

[L. L. Elwood]

When I saw the bass in an ad, my first impression was a little muted. The body looked weird to me, and the headstock? Nah. But after playing this for a week... I'm smitten. This is definitely the best sounding Carvin I've ever played, and some may recall I was a Carvin endorser for many years. I have owned and played a boatload of Carvins!

Now, I'm really digging the look of it, and seriously considering pulling the trigger on one for myself. The review bass sounds awesome, forget about comparing it to other Carvins, this thing really does stand up to basses that are 4x as expensive. They totally nailed the Jazz bass tone without making yet another clone. I'm curious about the Icon HS option, while the body is now speaking to me, not sure about the SB HS. Although... there is a certain flow to it, adding a different HS kind of messes with the design. Ah, anyway... I'm loving this bass, I'm finishing up the written review for GW, and look forward to shooting the video.

Ed,

I thought the same thing about the headstock, so I ordered mine with the Icon option and in my opinion it has a much more balanced "boutique" look with it. One last detail that i think would really trim out the SB with the icon headstock is a set of Hipshot Ultralight cloverleaf tuners - Mostly for looks. But, now that i've had the SB for a few months, i have noticed it needs tuning more frequently than almost any other bass i've owned and i wonder if hipshots would cure that.

Here's a picture

 

[southpaw420]

The Icon headstock looks great but I personally prefer the SB headstock it just looks cooler to me. I cant wait to see Ed's review on youtube I love watching those. Im still as thrilled with mine as when i first opened the box.

 

[boristhespider9]

SB400 Antique Brown Flame

 

[edfriedland]

Here's a picture

Thanks Larry. It looks okay with the Icon hs. But I'm actually starting to like the original. It's all personal taste, it's nice they offer that option.

I'm loving the hell out of this bass. I guess I'll be shooting some video next week, but it won't be online for a couple of months. In the meantime, I'm still thinking about what I'd want mine to look like. Definitely an opaque finish with pickguard, maybe Vintage Cream, Tort, Maple board w/block inlays. Or maybe even black with tort.... I've seen a few Big Als in that scheme that floated my boat.

Oh well, I'll keep thinking.

 

[Jarrett]

But after playing this for a week... I'm smitten. This is definitely the best sounding Carvin I've ever played, and some may recall I was a Carvin endorser for many years. I have owned and played a boatload of Carvins!

Now, I'm really digging the look of it, and seriously considering pulling the trigger on one for myself. The review bass sounds awesome, forget about comparing it to other Carvins, this thing really does stand up to basses that are 4x as expensive. Ah, anyway... I'm loving this bass

Ed, I have to say that I really appreciate you taking the time to come and make these comments about the SB series basses. We SB owners have been taking a lot of heat this year making comments similar to yours and its nice to have someone of your reputation reporting similar findings. Helps remind us we're not crazy

I've owned lots of high end basses over the years but had never really experienced the Carvin thang, but this bass really grabbed me when I played it at the Dallas Guitar Show back in April. I felt like they really nailed it with this one. I'd put it up against any of the high end basses I've owned over the years.

Our family stays in the San Marcus/Gruene/New Braunsfels area a couple of times a year and I made a point to visit Bass Emporium while I was on my way back to Waxahachie. I wanted to play several of the high end basses at one time. After playing several $2-4k basses, I walked out of there very happy with my $1000 SB5000.

I just got finished restringing it (with some DR strings I picked up at Bass Emporium) and jamming on it for an hour or so. I've owned this bass for about 3 months now and my appreciation of it grows each time I play it. I've been kicking around the idea of getting a SB4000 with a Hipshot D-tuner next as well.

 

[edfriedland]

Well, as a former Carvin endorser, I'm all too familiar with the attitude you get from other people. It seems they have some sort of credibility gap with a lot of folks. But, I played their basses for many years, and I think I've done some of my best work on Carvin basses. They have always been well made, and they are constantly making improvements.

I stopped endorsing them when I got my job at Bass Guitar magazine. As a Senior Editor, I couldn't have any endorsements, and now that I'm doing gear reviews, the same is true. My only complaint through all the years was that I have always preferred bolt-on necks. Their neck through stuff sounds great, and are probably some of the best playing instruments out there, but... the tone of the bolt-on is really my thing. I came up playing Fenders, and that is still my preference. They did come out with the bolt-on series when I was there, but I didn't feel like they were quite the same level as the BB and LB series. I also grew quite used to having 24 frets... something I've learned to live without for the most part. So, now that they have a higher level bolt-on, I'm not surprised that I like it.

Don't concern yourself with what other people think. It's a good rule in general... but keep in mind that a good percentage of the gear snobs that play 6K basses don't even gig. They are armchair players that like to buy expensive coffee table basses as a hobby. I'm not knocking it, but why care what they think? I'm going to play what feels and sounds right to me.

The only "boutique" bass I own is a Tom Clement, and while I think it's a great bass, and certainly the most comfortable 6-string I've ever played, gear snobs would not be impressed because it isn't a Fodera. The rest of my collection is all Fender, Music Man, Lakland, and Eastwood. My instruments are tools I use to create music, not showpieces or status symbols.

And like I said before... based on my preference for bolt-ons, I think the SB really is the best bass Carvin has ever made, and that is not a knock to any of their other models.

 

[bassplayer7770]

But, now that i've had the SB for a few months, i have noticed it needs tuning more frequently than almost any other bass i've owned and i wonder if hipshots would cure that.

The Carvins look like Gotohs, and I have Gotohs on my 5-string. Compared to the Hipshots on my 4-string, I do find myself tuning a bit more often. Maybe I just need to increase the tension on the tuners.

 

[boristhespider9]

The Carvins look like Gotohs, and I have Gotohs on my 5-string. Compared to the Hipshots on my 4-string, I do find myself tuning a bit more often. Maybe I just need to increase the tension on the tuners.

First of all, Long Live Ed Friedland!! His instructional materials are the best and he's just super-cool and accessible. There is no better advocate in the bass world who truly gets it, whatever "it" is. I wish I could take live lessons from him, but I'm numerous states away.

I increased the tension on the tuners by gently tightening the little screws in each tuning peg. It made a noticeable difference. Keep in mind that these are "precision" tuners, so they feel different than traditional Fender-style tuners. It seems like you're turning them a lot farther than you would traditional tuners, but they're moving in smaller gradations I believe.

Check out my sweet SB4000, by the way. Below are some video samples of the bass. My playing doesn't do the bass justice! It's beautiful!

(Sorry if I posted this already.)



Carvin SB4000 through Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0 and 2x12 Genz-Benz Neo Cabinet.

A few mistakes, etc. -- but you can hear the SB4000.

Specs:

Alder body (requested lightweight piece and got it!), maple neck
Rosewood Fretboard
Satin Finish on Back of Neck
Active Electronics (Master Volume with Pickup Pan option instead of two pickup volumes)
Antique Brown Stain Flame
Birdseye Natural Headstock
Abalone Block Inlays
10" Fretboard Radius
Abalone Carvin Logo
Metal Knobs with Abalone Inlays
Red Tortoise Pickguard
Ivory Graph Tech Nut

Yea, it looks like I need to polish her up!

 

[phillipkregg]

In the meantime, I'm still thinking about what I'd want mine to look like. Definitely an opaque finish with pickguard, maybe Vintage Cream, Tort, Maple board w/block inlays. Or maybe even black with tort.... I've seen a few Big Als in that scheme that floated my boat.

Oh well, I'll keep thinking.

Sounds like a great one, but unfortunately Carvin doesn't offer block inlays with a maple fingerboard.

I tried to spec out a Geddy look-alike once when I discovered this.

 

[jzbass6]

Sounds like a great one, but unfortunately Carvin doesn't offer block inlays with a maple fingerboard.

I tried to spec out a Geddy look-alike once when I discovered this.

You mean like this one, my camera doesn't show the birdseye FB that well but it looks great. I'm really enjoying this bass, I've had it for about a week and I'm just knocked out about the sound and how easily it plays. Carvin hit it out the park with this one, better yet a GRAND SLAM, I hope they make a 6 (SB6000) in the future.

 

[phillipkregg]

You mean like this one, my camera doesn't show the birdseye FB that well but it looks great. I'm really enjoying this bass, I've had it for about a week and I'm just knocked out about the sound and how easily it plays. Carvin hit it out the park with this one, better yet a GRAND SLAM, I hope they make a 6 (SB6000) in the future.

That looks great! But are those actual inlays or stickers?

When I called Carvin I was told that they can't do block inlays on Maple fingerboard. Plus the online tool that lets you spec out your bass won't allow that option either.

When you try to spec it out, it gives you this message:

Inlays
Standard Dot Inlays on ebony and rosewood fingerboards are white pearl dots. Standard dots on maple and birdseye maple are black dots. Note that block or diamond inlays are not available on maple or birdseye maple.

Also, here is Carvin's head guitar tech explaining why they don't put block inlays on maple fingerboards:

The main reason we don't use block inlays on maple boards is because abalone or MOP inlays are very dense materials. More so than maple by far. So, when the fretboard is given the radius, the inlay will not sand evenly. You would need to use more pressure when sanding causing the maple to burn. Not a pretty sight. There's also the filling issue as well.

It can be done with plastic inlays, which is what most companies like gibson, jackson and ibanez use. But not something as dense as abalone or MOP.

Now, I'm not saying it can't be done. But it would require different tooling and would be extremely time consuming, making it not worth the effort at that point. So we opt not to have this as an option.

And here's the link at Carvin's forum where that quote came from:
http://www.carvinguitars.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=8653]

By the way, I TOTALLY second the SB6000!!!! I would pull the trigger on one of those immediately, if not sooner.

 

[jzbass6]

They are stickers, I wanted the Geddy look too and was disappointed about NO BLOCKS issue on maple . So I ordered the decal and installed them, they are really thin and if you didn't look real close you couldn't tell the difference. They are made really well and I don't feel them when I play, $7.50 on Ebay.

Sorry for the tease

 

[wimpy]

You mean like this one, my camera doesn't show the birdseye FB that well but it looks great. I'm really enjoying this bass, I've had it for about a week and I'm just knocked out about the sound and how easily it plays. Carvin hit it out the park with this one, better yet a GRAND SLAM, I hope they make a 6 (SB6000) in the future.

nice!...I have fight inside my self to order or not to order one of these SB's

 

[phillipkregg]

They are stickers, I wanted the Geddy look too and was disappointed about NO BLOCKS issue on maple . So I ordered the decal and installed them, they are really thin and if you didn't look real close you couldn't tell the difference. They are made really well and I don't feel them when I play, $7.50 on Ebay.

Sorry for the tease

Ha, - no problem.

You're right, it's hard to tell whether yours were stickers or not - very professionally done!

I do wish Carvin offered that option, although, I have to say that the ebony board with abalone blocks does look fantastic.

I wouldn't consider that settling at all.

 

[jmain]

That looks great! But are those actual inlays or stickers?

When I called Carvin I was told that they can't do block inlays on Maple fingerboard. Plus the online tool that lets you spec out your bass won't allow that option either.

When you try to spec it out, it gives you this message:




Also, here is Carvin's head guitar tech explaining why they don't put block inlays on maple fingerboards:


And here's the link at Carvin's forum where that quote came from:
http://www.carvinguitars.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=8653]

By the way, I TOTALLY second the SB6000!!!! I would pull the trigger on one of those immediately, if not sooner.

What about other materials instead of abalone or MOP? If they used something else they wouldn't have that problem.