Well, here's another example of poor Carvin quality control. They forgot to install the frets!
Just kidding, just kidding!!!
That looks like a nice bass, Dave. Congratulations and have a lot of fun with it!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 4!
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
- Status
Well, here's another example of poor Carvin quality control. They forgot to install the frets!
Just kidding, just kidding!!!
That looks like a nice bass, Dave. Congratulations and have a lot of fun with it!
Man, that is one sweet looking fretless there! Nice stuff.
LOLWell, here's another example of poor Carvin quality control. They forgot to install the frets!
That cracked me up 
Goofing around with my new SB this morning I stumbled onto another tone that I kinda like. Passive mode, tone off with about 70% of the front pickup only. Not super functional, but yielded a fun tone:
Link Removed
I put a set of DR Hi Beams on it and the new blue SB is growing on me a bit. Kinda has a slightly softer, rounder tone to it than my old one. It made me wonder if plain maple is softer than birdseye...
I thinking about reconsidering the return and having them send me some volume pots to do the work myself.
I also figured out if I turn down both volumes, switch to passive mode and roll of the treble, the new SB only puts out a little bit of output. I might be able use the bass until the parts arrive.
I thinking about reconsidering the return and having them send me some volume pots to do the work myself.
I also figured out if I turn down both volumes, switch to passive mode and roll of the treble, the new SB only puts out a little bit of output. I might be able use the bass until the parts arrive.
OK, so here's a funny story for full disclosure..
Both of my fretted 5-strings have a single volume knob, so I've gotten used to that configuration. Between that, and figuring my SB5000 might have some kind of quality control issue, I had a total brain fart when I plugged it in.
I thought the neck pickup volume was the master, and of course when I turned it down, I still had sound. I turned it back up, and the tone changed quite a bit. So I thought, "they reversed the volume and tone knobs!" Then, I started messing with the "tone knob" (actually the bridge pickup volume) and confused myself even more. I thought I had two tone knobs and no volume. It wasn't until going into passive mode that I turned both volume knobs down, so then I thought, "the volume knob only works in passive mode!" Finally, I figured it out. Duh!
The passive sound of this bass is really great.
Both of my fretted 5-strings have a single volume knob, so I've gotten used to that configuration. Between that, and figuring my SB5000 might have some kind of quality control issue, I had a total brain fart when I plugged it in.
I thought the neck pickup volume was the master, and of course when I turned it down, I still had sound. I turned it back up, and the tone changed quite a bit. So I thought, "they reversed the volume and tone knobs!" Then, I started messing with the "tone knob" (actually the bridge pickup volume) and confused myself even more. I thought I had two tone knobs and no volume. It wasn't until going into passive mode that I turned both volume knobs down, so then I thought, "the volume knob only works in passive mode!" Finally, I figured it out. Duh!
The passive sound of this bass is really great.
I've been gigging my SB5000 primarily in passive mode through a Tech 21 VT bass, both pickups on full. But I really do like the preamp of the bass - it's great!
i love a good passive bass! i've always been skeptical about having an active pre without a passive bypass.
Just plugged in and took her for a spin. Sounds great, nice mwah, all the controls work as they should, stacked bass/treble knobs turn independently. The neck feels great, too. Super-tight joint. Setup is good.. a little too much relief for my taste, but that's probably a result of the cross-country trip. Action is nice. Intonation.. who can say, really, with me playing it?
It weighs 9.5 pounds on my trusty digital bathroom scale.
I was a bit surprised when I opened the box to find zero packing material on the sides, and the bare minimum at the top and bottom. The case feels very sturdy, but still.. I thought UPS demanded a certain amount of packing material.
Here's some quick pics:
Looks great Dave! Very classic looking instrument. Let us know how it does out on a gig.
For what it's worth, both of the SB's that I ordered came packaged as you described and arrived perfect. They must know what they're doing.
Ok, for those of you who have been following this thread you may, or may not, remember that I was putting together a B50A kit. I have an SB5000 that I love BUT it weights 10 lbs. Not a bad weight, but not great either. I've developed some neck/shoulder issues from playing and wanted to minimize these issues so I've been on a quest to set up the lightest bass I could. Originally I was going to do a Warmoth build but after getting an SB5000 and loving it, I went with the Carvin kit (MUCH cheaper than the Warmoth route).
I talked with a couple people at Carvin and they both told me that the CURRENT version of the B50A is identical to the SB except for the body shape (same neck, same hardware, same electronics). So, I put in an order and specified that the swamp ash body had to be super light. I told them if the kit showed up weighing over 9 lbs that I would send it back. So, initial weight unfinished was 8 lbs 2oz (low threes for the body)!
After going with Hipshot ultralight tuners (a 15% weight reduction from the Carvin tuners) and finishing the bass the fighting weight is......(drum role please).......8lbs even! Holy cow! For a 5 string!
I've been playing it for one week now (lots of solo time, one gig, one long band practice) so it is time for the initial report. I'm happy as a pig in slop. The bass plays, sounds, and feels remarkably like my SB5000. The neck feels the same, action is set up the same, all electronics work the same. The tone is a little different. Swamp Ash has a reputation for having a mid scoop. After all the sound clips I listened to on TB, I didn't expect to hear much of a sound difference. It isn't huge, but it is there. Clearly more low end...I've had to EQ my low end down more than usual. I know people would like sound clips but I have different strings on the two basses so that won't help and I have no good way to record at the moment. To me, I can clearly hear that midscoop and I had to compensate on my EQ because the low end was slightly more boomy than my SB...enough so that the guitarist (who is a good friend with a good ear) asked me to role back the lows to tighten up the tone.
Strings: I first set the new bass up with D'Addario coated strings. I did NOT like the sound. Too nasally sounding and I thought it might have been the body wood. So I switched strings with my SB (which had well broken in D'Addario nickles) and the bass sounds switched basses! Gave me an appreciation for how much the strings control the sound.
Besides the slight difference in EQ, very similar sound. Eventually, I'll put the same new strings on both basses so I have a better comparison (I'll try and put a sound clip up when I do that). Bottom line is I'm thrilled. The SB might be favored for home practice. The heavier body means that it balances better on my leg. The new B50 will be the clear winner for band practice and gigs because it is ONLY 8 LBS! I'll post a few more pictures and maybe some details on the finish. The new B50A ran around $740 with shipping...
Basic kit is $509...Extra for the 5 piece neck (which I wanted for long term stability), Abalone knob and dot inlay, and Swamp Ash body.
I thought the extra $100plus was worth it for the Hipshot tuners given the super light body.
Damn good price for a kickarse bass.
I talked with a couple people at Carvin and they both told me that the CURRENT version of the B50A is identical to the SB except for the body shape (same neck, same hardware, same electronics). So, I put in an order and specified that the swamp ash body had to be super light. I told them if the kit showed up weighing over 9 lbs that I would send it back. So, initial weight unfinished was 8 lbs 2oz (low threes for the body)!
After going with Hipshot ultralight tuners (a 15% weight reduction from the Carvin tuners) and finishing the bass the fighting weight is......(drum role please).......8lbs even! Holy cow! For a 5 string!
I've been playing it for one week now (lots of solo time, one gig, one long band practice) so it is time for the initial report. I'm happy as a pig in slop. The bass plays, sounds, and feels remarkably like my SB5000. The neck feels the same, action is set up the same, all electronics work the same. The tone is a little different. Swamp Ash has a reputation for having a mid scoop. After all the sound clips I listened to on TB, I didn't expect to hear much of a sound difference. It isn't huge, but it is there. Clearly more low end...I've had to EQ my low end down more than usual. I know people would like sound clips but I have different strings on the two basses so that won't help and I have no good way to record at the moment. To me, I can clearly hear that midscoop and I had to compensate on my EQ because the low end was slightly more boomy than my SB...enough so that the guitarist (who is a good friend with a good ear) asked me to role back the lows to tighten up the tone.
Strings: I first set the new bass up with D'Addario coated strings. I did NOT like the sound. Too nasally sounding and I thought it might have been the body wood. So I switched strings with my SB (which had well broken in D'Addario nickles) and the bass sounds switched basses! Gave me an appreciation for how much the strings control the sound.
Besides the slight difference in EQ, very similar sound. Eventually, I'll put the same new strings on both basses so I have a better comparison (I'll try and put a sound clip up when I do that). Bottom line is I'm thrilled. The SB might be favored for home practice. The heavier body means that it balances better on my leg. The new B50 will be the clear winner for band practice and gigs because it is ONLY 8 LBS! I'll post a few more pictures and maybe some details on the finish. The new B50A ran around $740 with shipping...
Basic kit is $509...Extra for the 5 piece neck (which I wanted for long term stability), Abalone knob and dot inlay, and Swamp Ash body.
I thought the extra $100plus was worth it for the Hipshot tuners given the super light body.
Damn good price for a kickarse bass.
Attachments
Basics of the finish:
I asked Carvin not to install the strap locks and they complied. I installed the bridge strap lock just slightly to the top of the upper end of the bridge to help it hang with a nice angle (I play with it pretty close to 45). The neck just has about 10-12 coats of gloss Tung Oil with lots of sanding at the beginning and a fair amount of Naptha in between coats and 0000 steel wool. Looks very nice and shiny like a gloss nitro...very naturale feeling.
I first did one coat of tung oil on the body, thought it was too light so I put a light stain on. The stain didn't take evenly (likely because of the one uneven coat of tung oil so I sanded all back down but left some of the stain coming out on the end grain because it looked cool and gave the body an aged looked. Then I put 4-5 coats of tung oil with the same Naptha/steel wool treatment to keep it smooth. They finished with a couple coats of fine wood wax for a little more shine. I'm not actually sure that this helped it shine any better but it does look really pretty to me. I wanted a functional yet classy look...like a 70's Ash bass.
I asked Carvin not to install the strap locks and they complied. I installed the bridge strap lock just slightly to the top of the upper end of the bridge to help it hang with a nice angle (I play with it pretty close to 45). The neck just has about 10-12 coats of gloss Tung Oil with lots of sanding at the beginning and a fair amount of Naptha in between coats and 0000 steel wool. Looks very nice and shiny like a gloss nitro...very naturale feeling.
I first did one coat of tung oil on the body, thought it was too light so I put a light stain on. The stain didn't take evenly (likely because of the one uneven coat of tung oil so I sanded all back down but left some of the stain coming out on the end grain because it looked cool and gave the body an aged looked. Then I put 4-5 coats of tung oil with the same Naptha/steel wool treatment to keep it smooth. They finished with a couple coats of fine wood wax for a little more shine. I'm not actually sure that this helped it shine any better but it does look really pretty to me. I wanted a functional yet classy look...like a 70's Ash bass.
Attachments
Nice job on the B50. My B4 kit fretless with DiMarzio Model J's is one of the very best fretless basses I've ever played / heard, and it is freakishly light to boot.
I need this bass now:
SB5000 with:
Alder body
Rosewood/Maple neck, no dots
Classic White body and headstock
White pickguard
Chrome hardware
Rosewood knobs
Straplocks
And that's it. I've fallen in love with the white Xotic jazzes with the rosewood pickup covers, trying to emulate that with my selections.
NOW, I don't really have the money to put into it yet... maybe after this summer..
Damn.
I need this bass now:
SB5000 with:
Alder body
Rosewood/Maple neck, no dots
Classic White body and headstock
White pickguard
Chrome hardware
Rosewood knobs
Straplocks
And that's it. I've fallen in love with the white Xotic jazzes with the rosewood pickup covers, trying to emulate that with my selections.
NOW, I don't really have the money to put into it yet... maybe after this summer..
Damn.
That bass looks great! Did you apply a clear finish or did it come straight from the factory like that?
Look a couple posts up and you will see the finish details. It didn't come finished. I sanded, tung oiled, stained, sanded, tung oiled a bunch while buffing in between coats and then did a fine furniture wax.
hmm. mine was supposed to ship on the 13th but i haven't gotten an email confirmation. did you call them to find out or did they email you?
- Status
