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

[Rano Bass]

My SB5000 took a dive last night.

We were doing an outdoor gig for a street festival, and it was just starting to really get going when... the weather was too. We were just about to call it quits and pack up when a huge gust a wind came down the street and started knocking stuff down. One light tree, cymbals, my bass... and oh yeah, our guitar player's brand new Marshall half stack... right off the 4ft stage to the asphalt below... blown right down (along with a lot of other general stuff in the festival).

No damage report on the stack yet, but thankfully my bass only got as far as some stuff laying on stage, so a couple small dings in the upper horn and one small dipple on the back. Actually had to look for them. I think I mostly got lucky but it is a fair reminder these things aren't made of tissue paper... they're pretty durable. It takes a lot of abuse to really do damage to a well made bass. Actually, I was mostly concerned about the back of the neck because that's something you'd be reminded of over and over again, but thankfully, no problems.

That sucks!

At least it makes for great stories about bass dings.

 

[Jarrett]

thankfully my bass only got as far as some stuff laying on stage, so a couple small dings in the upper horn and one small dipple on the back. Actually had to look for them. I think I mostly got lucky but it is a fair reminder these things aren't made of tissue paper... they're pretty durable.

Sucks that it happened, but all things considered, I feel pretty damn lucky.

Dang man! Sorry to hear that, glad its ok. You are right, the finish on these basses is really durable. I've bumped mine a couple of times here and there and inspect it afterward and can't find a mark on it.

i have an SB4000 that i decided to convert to fretless instead of drop the $250 on the neck. i must say.. it's already the best sounding fretless i've ever owned

you're killing me I'm still not sure what I want to do on that front. I'd really like an unlined Ebony board for it, but I hate to wait the 6 weeks to get it and worried that swapping necks might cause a problem somewhere.

 

[J. Crawford]

Looking to buy a "beginner" SB4000 or SB5000 before I make the decision to go fully custom.

Shoot me a PM if you're looking to sell!

 

[Bassman8416]

very cool. custom order? in stock? or used?

we want to know man!

Custom order...

FLAMED BURNT UMBER FINISH

5PC-PC LAM MPL NCK W/WNT STRIP

SATIN FINISH BACK OF NECK

ICON HEADSTOCK

FLAMED MAPLE HEADSTOCK

STAINLESS STEEL FRETS

BLACK CHROME PLATED HARDWARE

BLACK CARVIN LOGO

NO PICKGUARD ON BASS

IVORY GRAPH TECH TUSQ NUT

STRAPLOCKS BY DUNLOP INSTALLED

I am really excited about this bass!!!!!!

 

[Jarrett]

Cool order, can't wait to see it. What's the thinking on the 5 piece neck? I've seen a few with that.

 

[madbassplaya]

you're killing me I'm still not sure what I want to do on that front. I'd really like an unlined Ebony board for it, but I hate to wait the 6 weeks to get it and worried that swapping necks might cause a problem somewhere.

I don't see any problems with the neck. It should bolt on just fine.

Looking to buy a "beginner" SB4000 or SB5000 before I make the decision to go fully custom.

Shoot me a PM if you're looking to sell!

Check the classified's! There are a couple there.

I am really excited about this bass!!!!!!

I bet you are man! I am anxiously waiting for my SB5000 and it will be finished this month!

Cool order, can't wait to see it. What's the thinking on the 5 piece neck? I've seen a few with that.

5 piece necks are supposed to be stronger. The laminate neck isn't suppose to move like a 1 piece will. However, 5 different pieces of wood could contract and expand differently and you can feel the difference.

 

[WoodyG3]

Vic, I'm sorry to hear about the "wind damage." It's great that there's no damage to the neck. One thing I can't believe about my SB4000 is how smooth and perfect the back of the neck is.

Well, it's day 10 with my new bass, and I'm not even thinking of sending it back. I think my LB70 is still my favorite bass, but I've had 7 years to "bond" with it, so we'll see how I feel a couple of years from now.

 

[Jarrett]

I'm kicking around buying that fretless SB5000, swapping the neck with my current SB5000 and relisting it for sale as a passive fretted SB5000 with tort guard and bell cover. Think that will absolutely kill my resale? My SB5000 isn't getting many hits as it is.

The alternative is a six week wait for a new fretless neck, then I'd have to try and sell my current SB5000 neck. Not sure which would move faster.

One other thing is I would like an unlined fretless, but the one instock is lined. What do y'all think?

 

[WoodyG3]

I'm kicking around buying that fretless SB5000, swapping the neck with my current SB5000 and relisting it for sale as a passive fretted SB5000 with tort guard and bell cover. Think that will absolutely kill my resale? My SB5000 isn't getting many hits as it is.

The alternative is a six week wait for a new fretless neck, then I'd have to try and sell my current SB5000 neck. Not sure which would move faster.

One other thing is I would like an unlined fretless, but the one instock is lined. What do y'all think?

I'd accept the wait and order just exactly what you want.

 

[Dave Siff]

I'm kicking around buying that fretless SB5000, swapping the neck with my current SB5000 and relisting it for sale as a passive fretted SB5000 with tort guard and bell cover. Think that will absolutely kill my resale? My SB5000 isn't getting many hits as it is.

The alternative is a six week wait for a new fretless neck, then I'd have to try and sell my current SB5000 neck. Not sure which would move faster.

One other thing is I would like an unlined fretless, but the one instock is lined. What do y'all think?

Wow.. my head hurts!
I don't think you should go there. Like you said, swapping necks on basses could get messy as far as resale. And, you'll end up with a lined fretless, which you don't want.
I wouldn't get a fretless neck by itself, because then you've got the fretted neck laying around, and that'll be another tough sale.
I think you should wait for your fretted SB5000 to sell and then order the unlined fretless you really want. Or, do what I'd do - order the fretless now, and wait for your fretted one to sell in the meantime. The buzz on the SB basses is pretty big. I'm sure yours will sell sooner or later.

 

[madbassplaya]

Well, it's day 10 with my new bass, and I'm not even thinking of sending it back. I think my LB70 is still my favorite bass, but I've had 7 years to "bond" with it, so we'll see how I feel a couple of years from now.

i love your loyalty to that bass.

I'm kicking around buying that fretless SB5000, swapping the neck with my current SB5000 and relisting it for sale as a passive fretted SB5000 with tort guard and bell cover. Think that will absolutely kill my resale? My SB5000 isn't getting many hits as it is.

The alternative is a six week wait for a new fretless neck, then I'd have to try and sell my current SB5000 neck. Not sure which would move faster.

One other thing is I would like an unlined fretless, but the one instock is lined. What do y'all think?

buying that sb5000f in stock and swapping necks would totally get you a fretless faster and if you could swap nuts i think it would be your ideal fretless? yes? however, then you would be looking to move a passive sb5000 which may not sell as quickly or for as much as the one you have now, but i think you could move it.

if i were to buy just a fretless neck i probably wouldn't sell he fretted one quick. if you decide fretless isn't for you, you could move the bass with both the fretted and fretless necks.

lined vs. unlined doesn't matter to me, i'm not playing it.

I'd accept the wait and order just exactly what you want.

i do agree. don't compromise. i have been playing long enough to know what i like and thats why i decided to go semi-custom with Carvin. if this bass is half of what you guys say it is i'm gonna have a life long friend!

 

[Dave Siff]

Jarrett, here's another strategy. This guy says he's interested in an SB5000 with a maple board as a trade:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/near-mint-1990-singray-4-string-ft-fs-777268/
You could make the trade, then flip the Stingray and get your fretless.

 

[Jarrett]

Being stuck with an extra SB5000 wouldn't be the end of the world I called an talked to Carvin about it, they said their lined necks are dead on intonation wise. That was my concern, apparently of some the lined necks are not and you end up playing in between the lines which seems like a hassle. So I'm easing up on my unlined stance. Also, there is a 10 day trial with it. If I get it and decide I was totally wrong about wanting a fretless, then I send it back. Can't do that with the neck.

On a totally different topic I saw this on the Carvin forum from Carvin:

The SB Series basses - especially the SB5000 - are the best selling basses we've ever made. The return rate for these - like all Custom Shop instuments - is very, very low - and like most returns, the reasons are generally aesthetics (didn't like the color, wood, etc) or because of a build error (something was left off)... the guitars & basses in the In-Stock section are mostly NOT returns. Most of them are made specifically to go there, a few are ones that the customers cancelled prior to completion (money problems, or whatever), and even fewer still are returns. In the year-plus since the SB basses were introduced, I can only think of one that was returned and added to Guitars-in-Stock (because the customer didn't like the spalted top). I don't know how it keeps getting perpetuated that GiS are almost all returns; they're not.

I suggested they label which are new and which are returns.

 

[madbassplaya]

Jarrett, here's another strategy. This guy says he's interested in an SB5000 with a maple board as a trade:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/near-mint-1990-singray-4-string-ft-fs-777268/
You could make the trade, then flip the Stingray and get your fretless.

often times flipping basses can make you lose money.

Being stuck with an extra SB5000 wouldn't be the end of the world I called an talked to Carvin about it, they said their lined necks are dead on intonation wise. That was my concern, apparently of some the lined necks are not and you end up playing in between the lines which seems like a hassle. So I'm easing up on my unlined stance. Also, there is a 10 day trial with it. If I get it and decide I was totally wrong about wanting a fretless, then I send it back. Can't do that with the neck.

sounds like you're looking to go with the in stock model?

 

[Jarrett]

Yes, I am trying hard to rationalize that decision

 

[BobWestbrook]

I suggested they label which are new and which are returns.

+1

 

[J. Crawford]

Jarrett, if youre going to swap and such, send me the details om the bass with the pieces left over. I may take it off your hands.

 

[Jarrett]

J, will do if I get to that point. It would be a few weeks down the line. It would look just like the one I have for sale now except passive instead of active.

This caught my attention and bothered me a little:

In the year-plus since the SB basses were introduced, I can only think of one that was returned and added to Guitars-in-Stock (because the customer didn't like the spalted top). I don't know how it keeps getting perpetuated that GiS are almost all returns; they're not.

I know this is false. I've returned a few and have seen folks buy from the GIS page and return them. Makes me wonder about other false statements.

 

[madbassplaya]

This caught my attention and bothered me a little:

I know this is false. I've returned a few and have seen folks buy from the GIS page and return them. Makes me wonder about other false statements.

well, you have to remember Carvin salesmen are salesmen. I think that he's probably right that not all of the GiS are returns, but he's on the extreme end that only 1 has been a return. There have been several. Also, I've seen a bass that was on there and then popped up a few weeks ago.

 

[Vic]

well, you have to remember Carvin salesmen are salesmen. I think that he's probably right that not all of the GiS are returns, but he's on the extreme end that only 1 has been a return. There have been several. Also, I've seen a bass that was on there and then popped up a few weeks ago.

+1

I'd like to think he was simply ignorant of facts rather than dishonest, though.