Ok, so it doesn't get the "Lakland sound" (example?), does it get the MM sound then?
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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 2!
- Thread starter smperry
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Ok, so it doesn't get the "Lakland sound" (example?), does it get the MM sound then?
I would imagine that if you popped a Nordie into it, than it would.
But my experience has been that only a MM can get a true MM tone.
David,
Very interested in hearing how you like the low wide frets. I was really tempted to get those, however, i chickened out and went with the standard medium jumbos!
Also, nice build too.. would love to see some photos. BTW, i just spoke w/ carvin and they said build times are 6-8 weeks currently.
Not really... not to my ear, at least. It was funny - I played it with both p'ups up, and then with just the bridge p'up - and neither setting sounded interesting - not nearly as fat sounding as a MM, nor as rich as my Lakland when both p'ups are up...
But when I played the J/J combo, the bass tone just jumped out and made me want to slap it silly... I had to resist the urge to dive into full-on in-store slap wankery -- which tells me that's a fun tone to have...
Thanks. I'm assuming the J/J pickups were the J99A, right? Were they too noisy?
I played one with the Humbucker at the bridge and had the same feeling. It wasnt impressive at all. The two J's are amazing however and thats what i ended up buying.
People seem to keep asking if the J99a pickups are noisy, but they are simply single coils. They humbuck when set to equal volume, and hum when they are not - exactly like a Jazz bass, or any instrument with single coils. It's something fans of these pickups learn to accept. The J99a is a great sounding pickup though, I would put it up there on the short list.
I agree, Ed, although one nice thing about Carvin single coils is that they are shielded, and have a shield wire soldered to the ground. That does seem to cut a bit of extraneous noise.
Thanks Ed, appreciate it. I (regrettably) have no experience w/ Jazz basses, and when I asked the question I was trying to get a 2nd opinion to contrast w/ this youtube video:
When I saw that video, the J99A was the clear winner.
Yes, they are extremely noisy...
You'll find that you have lots of problems with ballsy low end funk noises pouring out of your amp every time you touch the strings.
That's the unfortunate reality of single coils.
I see they make these J99A pickups in their soapbar housings as well; I'm going to grab a set for my BB75 while I save up for a 5000 of my own.
And that green bass is the BOMB! That green one and the red lefty with the ebony board are two awesome looking basses I was thinking of going 3 tone sunburst when I order one myself but you guys have forced me to reconsider their metallic orange now lol
And that green bass is the BOMB! That green one and the red lefty with the ebony board are two awesome looking basses
I was thinking of going 3 tone sunburst when I order one myself but you guys have forced me to reconsider their metallic orange now lol
These SB4000 and 5000's are an excellent interpretation of the Jazz Bass. Now I wish Carvin would do the same for the P-bass, Stingray, and T-bird. That would kick a$$.
You'll have to post pics when it comes in, Ive been thinking a lot about a SB5000 in trans red with the black burst edges, would love to see how yours turns out.
I guess I'll be the guinea pig on the low-wide frets, LOL. I've played a couple of other basses with low-profile frets and liked them - felt a little smoother running up and down the neck and seemed to enable the action to get a hair lower. I thought about getting a satin black finish on the back of the neck to enhance the "stealth plus a burst of red" look, but I really do like how the tung oiled neck feels.
This made me
I've been playing/gigging the SB since June and haven't run into a noise problem yet aside from the one Philip mentions 
My SB5000 arrived last night and it's amazing. Deep orangeburst with dark edges on a quilted maple top, reverse matching retro headstock (and I asked for 3 tuners on the bottom and 2 on the top so the Hipshot is close to the nut for a quick thumb flick), ebony fretboard with inlays, white pearloid guard and knob inserts, oiled neck, Hipshot Extender, and they are sending me the Dunlop Staplocks that they forgot to install. Setup was good and the pickups seem to be adjusted for even output. It's just a little higher than I like it so I'll have to adjust a bit after she settles in. Nice case, too. I'm selling everything else (except for a knock about P Bass) so I can order another one, but fretless!
Can't see the Hipshot from straight-on:
Sexy backside!
Very tight neck fit.
Can't see the Hipshot from straight-on:
Sexy backside!
Very tight neck fit.
My SB5000 arrived last night and it's amazing. Deep orangeburst with dark edges on a quilted maple top, reverse matching retro headstock (and I asked for 3 tuners on the bottom and 2 on the top so the Hipshot is close to the nut for a quick thumb flick), ebony fretboard with inlays, white pearloid guard and knob inserts, oiled neck, Hipshot Extender, and they are sending me the Dunlop Staplocks that they forgot to install. Setup was good and the pickups seem to be adjusted for even output. It's just a little higher than I like it so I'll have to adjust a bit after she settles in. Nice case, too. I'm selling everything else (except for a knock about P Bass) so I can order another one, but fretless!
Beautiful bass, but, umm...call me crazy, but I don't think that's a reverse headstock. I think that's a right handed neck on a left handed bass. The inlays are upside down...
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Seems like the Hipshot may have been closer to the nut on the regular headstock (with the side with 3 tuners). But it's pretty close either way.
Man, that is a gorgeous finish! All Carvins finishes look so great is really hard to decide on which one to go with.
Time for one more. I've had it a couple weeks now, and its proven itself on it first gig.
Alder/Rosewood SB5000 in Vintage Cream, a color that I believe was created for the SB series. It actually came out a little more "fabulous" than I intended. The VC borders on pastel yellow. I like it a lot, though.
For all the good things they do, Carvin still does some silly cosmetic stuff, though:
* The cream pickup covers have black screws, even though the bass has chrome hardware.
* They put dark brown dots on the pickup covers. I know that's so they can tell them apart at the factory, but the dots are ugly.
* Carvin only does truss rod covers in black, so I have a white pickguard and a black truss rod cover.
* All the block inlays are the same size, and they are sized for a four string. Seems like it would look a little better with a little wider blocks.
* I ordered standard frets, which are pretty small. The nut is a little high. Not horribly high, but I wonder if Carvin cuts the nuts the same regardless of fret size.
* It would be great if clover leaf machine heads were an option.
* They don't offer any fingerboard radius options for five string basses.
All in all, it plays and sounds like a good active jazz bass should. The bridge is this beautiful chrome retro thing that would be at home along side a '57 Chevy. The finish is excellent, but not perfect (there is a very small flaw above the neck pickup). The bass balances wonderfully, and isn't overly heavy or ridiculously light.
I do wonder about all the debate over the top horn being in the way. If you don't wear your bass so high your strangling yourself, it is a non-issue. Same thing with the single coil hum. If I turn my amp WAY up, I can hear something, but it is not significant. This is a very quiet single coil bass. What little noise is there will be drowned out by the guitar players strat, anyway.
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Alder/Rosewood SB5000 in Vintage Cream, a color that I believe was created for the SB series. It actually came out a little more "fabulous" than I intended. The VC borders on pastel yellow. I like it a lot, though.
For all the good things they do, Carvin still does some silly cosmetic stuff, though:
* The cream pickup covers have black screws, even though the bass has chrome hardware.
* They put dark brown dots on the pickup covers. I know that's so they can tell them apart at the factory, but the dots are ugly.
* Carvin only does truss rod covers in black, so I have a white pickguard and a black truss rod cover.
* All the block inlays are the same size, and they are sized for a four string. Seems like it would look a little better with a little wider blocks.
* I ordered standard frets, which are pretty small. The nut is a little high. Not horribly high, but I wonder if Carvin cuts the nuts the same regardless of fret size.
* It would be great if clover leaf machine heads were an option.
* They don't offer any fingerboard radius options for five string basses.
All in all, it plays and sounds like a good active jazz bass should. The bridge is this beautiful chrome retro thing that would be at home along side a '57 Chevy. The finish is excellent, but not perfect (there is a very small flaw above the neck pickup). The bass balances wonderfully, and isn't overly heavy or ridiculously light.
I do wonder about all the debate over the top horn being in the way. If you don't wear your bass so high your strangling yourself, it is a non-issue. Same thing with the single coil hum. If I turn my amp WAY up, I can hear something, but it is not significant. This is a very quiet single coil bass. What little noise is there will be drowned out by the guitar players strat, anyway.
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