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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 2!
- Thread starter smperry
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But never say never, Carvin more than ever seem to be listening now to what bassist want. Even there new speaker line is nothing to sneeze at!
Are they? They came out with a good Jazz version but the headstock shape doesn't scream listening to what bassists want. Oh and they still have those 80s headstocks.
But yeah never say never. We started a thread over there @ the Carvin forum about a P pup.
But yeah never say never. We started a thread over there @ the Carvin forum about a P pup.
Oh well, I'd rather play a jazz-style bass anyway.
I certainly agree that Carvin seems to be listening, though. For one thing, the main complaint about the SB series basses was that they were a little too heavy.
After about 6 months, Carvin developed the SB5001 (and SB4001) series that have chambered bodies that reduce weight quite a bit.
I'd say that is good evidence of listening to its customers. If they don't currently make a bass with a P style pickup, it may just be because there isn't enough demand for it - yet.
I said the same thing until I played one. it didn't matter what the headstock looked like after that! The judges at Namm agree and gave it the bass of the year award! so you see not every one cares what a headstock looks like it's what the bass sounds and plays like......
Bassists are asking for specific headstock shapes?
Seriously tho, there's really not that many options to the shape of a 4-5 inline headstock, especially if you want to avoid simply copying Fender's, and also if you want to keep the strings relatively straight to the tuning peg (a good thing, IMHO). Clearly they wanted to have their own flavor of both body and headstock shapes so they have their own identity with this instrument. Personally, I applaud that, but clearly, with everybody so used to Fender's shape, it's gonna' seem odd to a lot of folks... at least until they get used to it... then it's all good.
Bassists are asking for specific headstock shapes?
I know you're kidding but you, I and most other folks could've done better than a goofy, banana/scimitar shaped headstock that clashes with the body shape. Valenti, AC and of course Sadowsky were able to conjure up nice looking ones.
Don't get me wrong, I have a B50 coming with, yup, an SB headstock but it was a Rosie O Donnell or Whoopi Goldberg choice for me with triple bags and my eyes closed.
Yeah, I hear ya, but man, these things are just so subjective, and I'm sure they also wouldn't want to copy any of those others for the same reasons, either.
Oh, and BTW, both AC and Valenti headstock shapes took a LOT of flack about their looks when they first came out, and the fact that you currently cite them as "nice looking", actually proves my point. The AC was called "bulbous" and the Valenti was compared to a gasping goose or something like that.
HAH! I WIN!
Vic: 1
Gomeztool: 0
Ok, yeah, I'm ribbin' ya, but it is actually true about the initial flack thing on AC and Valenti. Perfect example... thanks.
Yeah, I hear ya, but man, these things are just so subjective, and I'm sure they also wouldn't want to copy any of those others for the same reasons, either.
Oh, and BTW, both AC and Valenti headstock shapes took a LOT of flack about their looks when they first came out, and the fact that you currently cite them as "nice looking", actually proves my point. The AC was called "bulbous" and the Valenti was compared to a gasping goose or something like that.
HAH! I WIN!
Vic: 1
Gomeztool: 0
Ok, yeah, I'm ribbin' ya, but it is actually true about the initial flack thing on AC and Valenti. Perfect example... thanks.
This isn't the best Photoshop job, but I wondered what the SB5000 would look like if Carvin just flipped the headstock upside down:
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That looks weird to me...
I like the SB headstock as is, not love, but like. It echoes some of the curves in the body, both on the top and bottom, which the flipped design in your photoshop doesn't do as well:
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VS
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Overall I like the design of the bass. It's just a bit off the Fender Jazz beaten track, enough to be distinctive yet classic at the same time. It's like a toned down version of the Ibanez Grooveline:
Which I think is really cool (I like it more than the SB personally), but it's a bit too funky to be considered classic.
I like the SB headstock as is, not love, but like. It echoes some of the curves in the body, both on the top and bottom, which the flipped design in your photoshop doesn't do as well:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
VS
Invalid Link Removed
Overall I like the design of the bass. It's just a bit off the Fender Jazz beaten track, enough to be distinctive yet classic at the same time. It's like a toned down version of the Ibanez Grooveline:
Which I think is really cool (I like it more than the SB personally), but it's a bit too funky to be considered classic.
I really don't mind the regular SB headstock at all - it's probably the best headstock they've ever made. There's so many mixed reactions over it though, I just wanted to see what it looked like flipped.
Quick update... my SB5000 should be about a month out. Got the deep orange burst, ebony board with abalone dots, black guard/pickups, flamed top and headstock, blend instead of vol-vol, dunlops.
Lookin' forward to it.
Lookin' forward to it.
I would love it if Carvin offer P pups as an option. Of course, I would want to do a P and the HB. I would name the bass Ballsy. And I would buy a 2Kw head to play it through.
I was speaking to folks at Carvin just today and told them they should expect to hear about P pickups with as popular as I think these SB's will become.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
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- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
My first SB5000 had the blend control and my second have the V/V control. I like the blend better because I like to roll off the pickup then trying to adjust two volume knobs.
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