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

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#401
tercesyrev said:
I'm about to pull the trigger. Can't decide which one to get . . .the 5001 or 5000. Can anyone offer their experiences comparing the chambered and non chambered models? Can you feel the weight difference? Difference in tone??
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I've had one of each model. Unfortunately the woods and options are so different that it's more of an apple verses orange comparison.
The SB5000 is alder body, maple board and J99 pickups w/vol/blend controls.
The SB5001 is ash body, walnut top, ebony board and H50 pickups w/vol/vol controls.
The 5001 is warmer sounding but it can still get the great JJ slap tone and the bridge soloed has a great growly midrange voice. The 5000 is definielty brighter sounding overall.
As for weight, the 5001 is still just over 9 lbs. so it was probably a fairly heavy piece of northern ash.
Good thing that it was chambered!
But it sounds so good so no complaints here!
 
#403
I've had both same body wood same J99/VVTBT. The SB5001 is definitely my preference. IMHO fit and finish is stellar. Mine weighs 8.45 pounds and is just so comfortable, balance is perfect. Jarrett has clips of each posted. The SB5001 is the most comfortable I've ever been on a 5 string. I really don't hear any significant difference tonally. String changes make more difference than any inherent tonal difference between the two. At this stage of my career the fact that the SB5001 is so lightweight it makes it easy to get through the night. Any tonal difference is undecipherable in the mix where it counts for me. I guess it all depends on weight really, personally in my collection I don't have a bass that weighs over 9 pounds. I keep anchors in my boat where they belong. All this of course IMHO, IMHE.
:cool:
 
#405
woo10 said:
So, you're saying that there is a noticeable construction quality differences between the two basses, are they identical? Same options? Don't they use machines to cut & shape the necks?
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The necks are hand sanded per their head tech so there are slight variations. The rest is just opinion.
tercesyrev said:
I'm about to pull the trigger. Can't decide which one to get . . .the 5001 or 5000. Can anyone offer their experiences comparing the chambered and non chambered models? Can you feel the weight difference? Difference in tone??
Click to expand...
I've had both the chambered and non chambered and I think the chambereing detracts from the sound of the bass. That's why I sent my SB5001 back. If I had never played either bass I probably wouldn't be able to tell, but since I had my SB5000 for a long time before the chambered model showed up, I was able to discern the noticeable difference. I A/B'ed both for my band as well and they also voted to send the SB5001 packing, just didn't work in the mix as well. But the weight savings is nice.
 
#406
Dr Funk said:
I've had both same body wood same J99/VVTBT. The SB5001 is definitely my preference. IMHO fit and finish is stellar. Mine weighs 8.45 pounds and is just so comfortable, balance is perfect. Jarrett has clips of each posted. The SB5001 is the most comfortable I've ever been on a 5 string. I really don't hear any significant difference tonally. String changes make more difference than any inherent tonal difference between the two. At this stage of my career the fact that the SB5001 is so lightweight it makes it easy to get through the night. Any tonal difference is undecipherable in the mix where it counts for me. I guess it all depends on weight really, personally in my collection I don't have a bass that weighs over 9 pounds. I keep anchors in my boat where they belong. All this of course IMHO, IMHE.
:cool:
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8.45 lbs is pretty light for a five banger. Have you noticed any issues with neck dive?
 
#407
phillipkregg said:
8.45 lbs is pretty light for a five banger. Have you noticed any issues with neck dive?
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With any bass design that has a reasonably typical length top horn, neck dive shouldn't be an issue at all until you get down to 7 pounds or maybe even less... in other words, VERY rare. By "typical length" I mean anywhere near the 12th fret.

I have a 7.45 pound 5 string J style bass, and it even has a deeper lower cutaway because it's a 24 fret model. Standard maple neck. NO neck dive whatsoever. None.

In short, at least based on the average weights I've seen go by, and the fact that the upper strap button is right over the 12th fret, Carvin will never be able to build an SB light enough that it could even come close to having neck dive issues.
 
#408
Vic said:
With any bass design that has a reasonably typical length top horn, neck dive shouldn't be an issue at all until you get down to 7 pounds or maybe even less... in other words, VERY rare. By "typical length" I mean anywhere near the 12th fret.

I have a 7.45 pound 5 string J style bass, and it even has a deeper lower cutaway because it's a 24 fret model. Standard maple neck. NO neck dive whatsoever. None.

In short, at least based on the average weights I've seen go by, and the fact that the upper strap button is right over the 12th fret, Carvin will never be able to build an SB light enough that it could even come close to having neck dive issues.
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Good to know thanks! And I don't think I've ever played a bass that was as light as 7.4 lbs. That would be awesome.
 
#410
phillipkregg said:
Good to know thanks! And I don't think I've ever played a bass that was as light as 7.4 lbs. That would be awesome.
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It is, and I even have a lighter one (still 5 string, but not J style). The main challenge when you get that light is maintaining focus and sustain, which requires more care be taken with design and especially wood selection.

What I've found changes in tone as you get lighter, assuming nothing is done with construction or wood selection to counter it, is the sound becomes more punchy, but less focused and doesn't sustain as well. In worst case scenarios, you can also have a lot of tonal inconsistency.

I honestly believe that's the reason why people generally prefer a J style bass stays above 8 pounds, and the "magic zone" seems to be 9-10 pounds for most folks. This allows a builder to simplify construction/design as well as wood selection and still produce a great sounding bass. It's just when you get into the ultra-high end, and especially the uber-modern stuff, where they do those extra things anyway, where the really light stuff can come through and not suffer tonally.

IMHO/IME at least.
 
#417
atrapp said:
yes the nordy's net out to about $90 more... but I'm ok with that, tone is the key.
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You know the strange thing is that to my ears the Carvin alinco version JJ's sound better than any Bart or Duncan's that I've heard. I never thought that I'd be saying that but I really believe it. Keep in mind that I'm judging them as paired with the Carvin SB preamp so I suppose that it may be the preamp that I really like.
I'd be curious to hear the Bart or Ducan JJ's in an SB, paired with the Carvin SB preamp.

I haven't heard the Nord JJ's, although I've had a few Roscoe's with the Nord DC's installed and I slightly prefer the Bart CB's over them (primarily based on cost).

Let us know how the transplant goes. I have H50 stacked Carvin P/U's in my Sb5001 and I know that I'll eventually give the J99 p/u's a try in the bass. I'm afraid that I'm just too curious! :)
 
#418
tercesyrev said:
Just curious, since this is a quality problem, is Carvin picking up the ship costs . . to & from?
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Yes, they offered to send me pots and I could do it myself or send it back. I opted to return it to them. I had to do some solder work on that SB5001 I got and don't really feel like doing repairs for them this time.

WoodyG3 said:
Sorry, man, that sucks. At lest it's an easy fix and hopefully it won't take to long.
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Yep, I think so.
 
#419
Jarrett said:
Yes, they offered to send me pots and I could do it myself or send it back. I opted to return it to them. I had to do some solder work on that SB5001 I got and don't really feel like doing repairs for them this time.
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Stuff like this makes me glad I'm comfortable and pretty quick with a soldering iron in my hand. I understand not wanting to mess with it otherwise, but I suppose FWIW I might have looked to a local tech instead of shipping the bass two more times. IMHO of course.
 
#420
Vic said:
Stuff like this makes me glad I'm comfortable and pretty quick with a soldering iron in my hand. I understand not wanting to mess with it otherwise, but I suppose FWIW I might have looked to a local tech instead of shipping the bass two more times. IMHO of course.
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I hear you, Vic, but I also kinda' think Carvin should have to invest the time, money and effort into the repair, since it was their fault, and then you don't have to worry about screwing anything up when you do it yourself. Plus, what if the pots aren't the total solution to the problem? Then there would be even more time wasted. If they have to keep paying shipping and have one of their techs take the time to fix their mistakes, maybe they'll have incentive to make fewer mistakes in the future, too. ;)
 
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