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

[CharlieC]

Quick answer from limited time spent so far... yeah, the unplugged tone is a big one for me as well, and so far, all the SB's I've picked up have had great unplugged tone.

On the horn issue, there's two things here, aesthetics (which also gets into the headstock) and function. At least from a functional standpoint, they hang just fine on a strap. From an aesthetics standpoint, I think they look great, but opinions vary as much as you can imagine on this of course.

In my case, I've actually had the luxury of playing a bunch of these things at least for a little while, and a few of them a while longer. Again, the consistency of how great they played and sounded was astonishing. Carvin has a HUGE win on their hands here. HUGE.

While at the show, I spoke to a couple top folks and voiced a concern I've heard here; "these basses are so great, the prices are gonna' have to go up, right?". At least as of this time, they're currently happy with the business model, so they're not looking at raising prices. I think this is fantastic news. It's always nice to have such a great bass at such an affordable price point.

In general, I've always been particularly impressed with Carvin's quality/price ratio, and their customer service seems to also typically get top marks. In these times, that is particularly hard to accomplish, especially while also maintaining manufacturing here in the USA. You have to give these guys props for getting all this done.

Thanks for the valuable feedback, Vic!

I hope to agree with your assessment when it arrives late February.

The SB4000 is my way of finally being able to get a left-handed Jazz style instrument in white with a maple neck because Fender seems to think we southpaws only see in black, sunburst and rosewood.

Thanks, Carvin! I hope you deliver on this, BIG TIME!

 

[T-MOST]

I just got a Carvin catalog in the mail a few weeks ago. The gear looks much better it used to. Those SB basses look pretty nice in particular.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

pity there's no stores outside of CA - If they put a store in NYC and maybe Nashville, they'd get more pub...

 

[Jarrett]

pity there's no stores outside of CA - If they put a store in NYC and maybe Nashville, they'd get more pub...

Sshhh, then prices would go up

 

[phillipkregg]

pity there's no stores outside of CA - If they put a store in NYC and maybe Nashville, they'd get more pub...

I certainly agree with the Nashville idea.

 

[bassjam]

I'm in.

I have one now on the way that will be pretty similar to this. Ash body with a flamed top, FDO finish, ebony board, black guard/pickup covers, abalone dots, SB5000. Can't wait. I played a bunch of the SB400x/500x basses at NAMM and it was impressive how consistently great they all played and sounded.

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That looks great-cant wait to hear your thoughts.Ive thought about pretty much that same combo but with a maple board.

 

[bassjam]

Man that's a sweet looking bass. What's FDO?

I've got a 5001 due to complete in 6 days that is supposed to look like a 5-string version of this:

I'm fired up and ready to get that puppy in.

Yeah something like this!!I may have to come try this one!!

 

[Vic]

That looks great-cant wait to hear your thoughts.Ive thought about pretty much that same combo but with a maple board.

Well, lessee... since I played that one like 8 times because I thought I was gonna' end up with it...

In short, great J tone, great playability, great B string, ...you get the idea.

I'd say the only "issue" I have with the SB's is the non chambered ones can get kinda' heavy, so you have to either get the chambered one or wait for a lighter solid one to come around (I don't know if you can actually specifically ask for lighter non-chambered). I didn't hear a huge diff between the x000 and x001 models at NAMM, but that's also not a great listening environment. In my case, I like to stick with what I have the most experience with, so I went solid body.

One other minor thing for me is the neck profile on the 4. This was done exactly as spec'd, but my personal prefs would be for one that wasn't quite as round. If the line takes off like I think it will, maybe they can afford to throw some more available options in the mix... like a couple different base neck profiles. If enough business comes in to pay for that kind of line expansion anyway... and if it matters to enough people, I guess. I'm pretty persnickety tho... most folks aren't like that... thankfully...

 

[Jarrett]

I'd say the only "issue" I have with the SB's is the non chambered ones can get kinda' heavy, so you have to either get the chambered one or wait for a lighter solid one to come around (I don't know if you can actually specifically ask for lighter non-chambered).

That's my only complaint with my SB5000, little too heavy. 9.5-10 lbs. and I did ask for the lightest piece of wood in my order. Although I bet they are more likely to comply in your case That's what prompted me to order my SB5001. If its not substantially lighter than my SB5000, I'll return it and just keep my SB5.

 

[pyrohr]

IS that a NYBW in the lower lefthand corner?

Yes it is, I believe it's an early prototype bass now owned by Shawn Whitley that works at Epiphani.

 

[Bass Viking]

I'm very happy to see people get excited about this bass, as many of you know, I was a Carvin endorser for about 9 years or so, and I always thought they built great instruments. But there was always a pervading sentiment that somehow their basses weren't as good as they really were. Well, those of us that played them knew the truth, but I'm very happy to see them getting well-deserved kudos for this model.

Agreed!

But one question: How come there isn't an Ed Friedland model?

 

[Mystic Michael]

pity there's no stores outside of CA - If they put a store in NYC and maybe Nashville, they'd get more pub...

That'd be OK with me...

MM

 

[bassjam]

Well, lessee... since I played that one like 8 times because I thought I was gonna' end up with it...

In short, great J tone, great playability, great B string, ...you get the idea.

I'd say the only "issue" I have with the SB's is the non chambered ones can get kinda' heavy, so you have to either get the chambered one or wait for a lighter solid one to come around (I don't know if you can actually specifically ask for lighter non-chambered). I didn't hear a huge diff between the x000 and x001 models at NAMM, but that's also not a great listening environment. In my case, I like to stick with what I have the most experience with, so I went solid body.

One other minor thing for me is the neck profile on the 4. This was done exactly as spec'd, but my personal prefs would be for one that wasn't quite as round. If the line takes off like I think it will, maybe they can afford to throw some more available options in the mix... like a couple different base neck profiles. If enough business comes in to pay for that kind of line expansion anyway... and if it matters to enough people, I guess. I'm pretty persnickety tho... most folks aren't like that... thankfully...

Id go 5'er for sure so I dont know about the neck profile on that one-havent looked into it that far.But these seem great so far.I read when they first came out folks werent really digging the way they looked.I was the opposite-I actually like the look of them.

Honestly Im looking at one as a possible travel bass.I can buy one loaded for far less than it would cost me to replace what Im using now for fly dates.And I have a couple that are too sentimental to take on the road.Ive gone through a few "bargain" type basses for this but havent found "it" yet.I need to look further into this.

 

[kb9wyz]

I just ordered an SB4000.

LH
fretless (lined w/dots b/c that's how I like it)
Black body & headstock
Pearl Pickguard
Chrome Hardware
3 band EQ
and the HB and H50A (I hate J pups on the bridge. A lot.)

I am very excited for them to take my money and give me a bass for it.

 

[phillipkregg]

I'm in.

I have one now on the way that will be pretty similar to this. Ash body with a flamed top, FDO finish, ebony board, black guard/pickup covers, abalone dots, SB5000. Can't wait. I played a bunch of the SB400x/500x basses at NAMM and it was impressive how consistently great they all played and sounded.

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Wow...

That may be the best looking bass I've ever seen.

 

[blmeier7]

Here are a couple of pics of my SB4000 that arrived a couple of days ago. Alder/rosewood, J99A.

I owned an ash/maple SB5000 for about 6 months and decided I would prefer a 4 string with an alder body. The consistency between the SB5 and SB4 is amazing. Now, if Carvin will just start offering a "P" pickup

 

[phillipkregg]

Here are a couple of pics of my SB4000 that arrived a couple of days ago. Alder/rosewood, J99A.

I owned an ash/maple SB5000 for about 6 months and decided I would prefer a 4 string with an alder body. The consistency between the SB5 and SB4 is amazing. Now, if Carvin will just start offering a "P" pickup

Very cool and classy bass. Those diamond inlays really pop out on that rosewood board.

And it would be interesting to see someone get their SB bass routed for a P-pickup under the pickguard. Interesting indeed...

 

[pyrohr]

It would be interesting to see someone get their SB bass routed for a P-pickup under the pickguard. Interesting indeed...

Carvin will make it how YOU want it, if you want a pbass pup they will do it so I'm told!

 

[phillipkregg]

Carvin will make it how YOU want it, if you want a pbass pup they will do it so I'm told!

Really??? I didn't think they even made a P-bass pickup.

 

[pyrohr]

Really??? I didn't think they even made a P-bass pickup.

I do not see P pups listed either. I have a friend thats an endorsee with a direct track to the builders, I will ask him to call and see if they will do that but from what I've seen already being around this person Carvin ain't no joke and is going all out to become recognized in the bass world! You see The SB bass won bass of the year!