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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 4!

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#201
smeet said:
Maybe I'm wrong, but the neck on my SB5000 reminds me of some Laklands I have tried.
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Maybe, but he was asking about the SB4000, and those aren't the same thing as an SB5000 only smaller. Totally different profile. Just like BigOldHarry says... it's a lot like a Fender J4... maybe even a bit rounder IMHO.
 
#202
ThumbyAche said:
Ok, I am kind of bummed...The playability is good in the lower registers but not the higher registers. I took the bass to my local luthier and he said there is a "twist" in the neck and he could not get the action set consistently from bass to treble side. This was not noticeable to me when I first picked it up and played it as I just thought it needed to be setup. I am not covered by the Carvin warranty as I bought it used and I made the seller an offer on this bass after the item ended on ebay... Paypal won't protect me because I did not buy it on Ebay (well techically). Any ideas or thoughts on Carvin Customer service as I am told the neck has a defect. I played it and although the action is better, it is not at all where I like it in the high registers. Worried I will have to buy a new neck. Not trying to bass the seller at all as I don't believe he knew or thought there was an issue with it when I bought it... Shame if there is a defect as I have a very nice piece of birdseye maple..
Click to expand...

Can you file the frets down a little to get the action where you want ..??
 
#204
DavC said:
Can you file the frets down a little to get the action where you want ..??
Click to expand...

According to the luthier I took it to in Denver (Del Toro Guitars), the neck needs to be leveled out and a refret needs to be done. This was also the same info that the Carvin tech gave me over the phone based on what I told him the neck was doing. So...I may sell this neck cheap on TB if anyone is interested in a project. It's a KILLER piece of BE maple on the fingerboard and has the ICON headstock. It will be at Carvin while the new neck gets put on and they will send it back with the bass. I asked them to tell me specifically what needs to be done to the neck to get it back to Carvin specs. I would like to sell it though to offset the cost of the new neck. Gonna go RW fingerboard with painted black headstock just for something different than my other Maple necked basses. Usually don't like Black bodies and RW fingerboards but trying it anyway.
 
#205
ThumbyAche said:
According to the luthier I took it to in Denver (Del Toro Guitars), the neck needs to be leveled out and a refret needs to be done. This was also the same info that the Carvin tech gave me over the phone based on what I told him the neck was doing. So...I may sell this neck cheap on TB if anyone is interested in a project. It's a KILLER piece of BE maple on the fingerboard and has the ICON headstock. It will be at Carvin while the new neck gets put on and they will send it back with the bass. I asked them to tell me specifically what needs to be done to the neck to get it back to Carvin specs. I would like to sell it though to offset the cost of the new neck. Gonna go RW fingerboard with painted black headstock just for something different than my other Maple necked basses. Usually don't like Black bodies and RW fingerboards but trying it anyway.
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Curious - how much is Carvin charging for the new neck & work???
 
#206
10 Weeks and well worth the wait!! Picture does not do the rich purple, the abalone and the gold justice... Looks almost black from a distance, then the light reflects and its just damn elegant looking. Funny because I was going for shockingly bright and different, but am knocked out by what it ended up being. I'll try to post a better resolution photo later...Gotta go play now

BTW thanks to 5stringGecko for the mock up inspiration a few months ago
 

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#207
mglabrie said:
10 Weeks and well worth the wait!! Picture does not do the rich purple, the abalone and the gold justice... Looks almost black from a distance, then the light reflects and its just damn elegant looking. Funny because I was going for shockingly bright and different, but am knocked out by what it ended up being. I'll try to post a better resolution photo later...Gotta go play now

BTW thanks to 5stringGecko for the mock up inspiration a few months ago
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Two thoughts:

1) we need better pix!
2) Thank you for NOT getting cream p'up covers! Looks great!
 
#209
tlr1293 said:
I know the topic has been broached many times, but...

I'm really GAS'n for an SB4000 - what bass could I compare the neck to if I dropped into a Guitar Center and tried a few (Schecter, Fender P, Fender 70's RI Jazz, etc...)?

I know - pay for a Carvin, try it and return it if I do not like it - a tad bit of a hassle that can be avoided if I had an idea of what I'm getting into first and I'd probably feel compelled to try and 'accomodate' myself to the neck.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I would sum it up this way: The neck is the same width as a Jazz Bass, maybe a little thicker front to back, and with a flatter fingerboard radius. Virtually every Carvin I've ever picked up has great fretwork, FWIW.
 
#210
This works well.
I can live with the front to back thickness (I have a couple of SX Jazz necks like that), and I think I'm going to opt for the 10" radius fingerboard - closer to the Fender 9.5, but still a bit flat.
Thanks.

WoodyG3 said:
I would sum it up this way: The neck is the same width as a Jazz Bass, maybe a little thicker front to back, and with a flatter fingerboard radius. Virtually every Carvin I've ever picked up has great fretwork, FWIW.
Click to expand...
 
#211
WoodyG3 said:
I would sum it up this way: The neck is the same width as a Jazz Bass, maybe a little thicker front to back, and with a flatter fingerboard radius.
Click to expand...
I agree with this SB4000 neck profile description.

The SB5000 is a totally different animal. More of a "modern" shallow C profile.
 
#212
mglabrie said:
10 Weeks and well worth the wait!! Picture does not do the rich purple, the abalone and the gold justice... Looks almost black from a distance, then the light reflects and its just damn elegant looking. Funny because I was going for shockingly bright and different, but am knocked out by what it ended up being. I'll try to post a better resolution photo later...Gotta go play now

BTW thanks to 5stringGecko for the mock up inspiration a few months ago
Click to expand...

That looks very nice! You should put up some larger pics with different lighting - I've heard good things about that purple finish.
 
#214
mglabrie said:
10 Weeks and well worth the wait!! Picture does not do the rich purple, the abalone and the gold justice... Looks almost black from a distance, then the light reflects and its just damn elegant looking. Funny because I was going for shockingly bright and different, but am knocked out by what it ended up being. I'll try to post a better resolution photo later...Gotta go play now

BTW thanks to 5stringGecko for the mock up inspiration a few months ago
Click to expand...

Very classy looking bass! Congrats!
 
#220
Just thought I would mention, I was getting an acoustic buzz on some notes, and it was driving me crazy. I thought was the bridge, the straplocks, the knobs, could not locate it... I thought there might be something structurally loose somewhere.

Turned out it was one of the battery covers rattling at certain frequencies. Reseating the cover fixed it. Whew. :hyper:

But, in going over everything I noticed several screws were not tightened down enough, including the straplock screws and some of the locking screws on the bridge. I recommend going over your bass and making sure everything (especially those strap buttons:eek:) is nice and tight.
 
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