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

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#61
I just wanted to say I'm drooling over the beautiful basses in this thread. I hope to become an SB owner in the not too distant future.

Quick question: Is the bass SB plays in the demo videos on the Carvin website an active or passive model?
 
#62
Freddels said:
So does Matt Garrison. :)
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Yeah, yeah, and SO many others that are far greater than I'll ever be, but I've just never had a use for a C string. They just sound so thin to me I feel like I'm not playing bass anymore.

Anyway, mainly just razzin' ya. Personal prefs as always. :)
 
#63
Vic said:
Yeah, yeah, and SO many others that are far greater than I'll ever be, but I've just never had a use for a C string. They just sound so thin to me I feel like I'm not playing bass anymore.

Anyway, mainly just razzin' ya. Personal prefs as always. :)
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Yeah I know. I was only thinking of it for chording. I'm really just a 4 string player. :)
 
#64
Freddels said:
Yeah I know. I was only thinking of it for chording. I'm really just a 4 string player. :)
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One of my Lakland 5's is strung EADGC. I've played in many bands with it and it's never hindered my core function.

You still have the EADG strings just like you do on a "regular" bass. So really nothing is different - except if they give you a solo nod you have something extra to play around with. :D

I did it because I was practicing chord theory and that C string really livens up chords. I'd record myself playing chords, loop that, then improv scales over the chords to listen to various patterns over different changes.

I see nothing at all wrong with it and it makes a great practice tool.
 
#66
I mentioned earlier in this thread that although I was very happy with my SB5000, I ordered a B50A kit from Carvin to try and trim down on the weight (10 lbs). For those of you who don't know, the current B50A kit has ALL of the same components (neck, pus, electronics, etc) as the SB5000 except the shape of the body is different. The B50A kits start at $509. I ordered the 5 piece laminated neck for extra strength, some other decorations, and the swamp ash body for light weight. The entire thing ran $770 shipped and arrived this week. My fear was that I would put all of those pieces on the scale and still have a 10 lb bass. I made it clear when I ordered that I needed a super light piece of swamp ash for the body and that if the bass showed up weighting 10 lbs, I would send it back. I also requested that they NOT drill the strap locks as I wanted to mount the bridge one higher to keep the neck angled up. Well, I put the body on the scale and she comes in a light weight 3lb 6oz! Add in the neck and all of the hardware and she comes in at 8lbs, 2oz! Even with a 1/2 pound of finish I'll have a nice light 5er for a damn good price.

THANK YOU CARVIN!

I know the light weight will change the sound some but I went with the tone clips I've been listening to on TB and decided that the weight was more important than the difference in tone. I'm also going to install Hipshots rather than the Carvin tuners. The Carvins are 288 grams total while the Hipshots are 15% lighter at 245 grams. That sounds like a small difference but it is at the end of a lever and with such a light body I want to make sure the bass balances well as I play with the bass and a steep angle (hence my wanting to mount the strap locks myself).

Here is the kit pictured. It will be a bit before I get her finished (still considering options) but when she is ready I'll post more pics as well as other comparison opinions. Ok, having an issue attaching the pictures...stay tuned...
 
#67
Ok, I think this worked...
 

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#70
I want the finish to be something I can easily do myself and something that looks "natural." I'm going to use tung oil on the neck just like Carvin as I really like that soft feel on the neck. Makes it feel very smooth. I'm considering Tru Oil for the body. I want to have the bass look slightly darker in the body with accentuated grain so that is has that '70s Ash bass vibe. I have a luthier friend who will be providing me with expert guidance (much needed!).
 
#71
phillipkregg said:
I did it because I was practicing chord theory and that C string really livens up chords. I'd record myself playing chords, loop that, then improv scales over the chords to listen to various patterns over different changes
Click to expand...

That's why I have been considering it as well. I've been doing some Jazz theory studies with a local keyboard player and it's hard to voice the 9th and 13th chords on a BEADG bass for practice. I was playing them on guitar for a while, but I really don't like playing guitar that much anymore and would rather do it on bass.

I'm torn. I guess I could break out my old Warwick and E-C that one to give it a try.
 
#72
drdunwoody said:
I mentioned earlier in this thread that although I was very happy with my SB5000, I ordered a B50A kit from Carvin to try and trim down on the weight (10 lbs)
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I'm the same way. I really dig my SB5000, but even an hour and a half gig last night was uncomfortable with 10lbs. around my neck. Please let us know how they compare tonally.
 
#74
Does anyone who is complaining of weight problems have an alder body? From my experience Alder is a better tone wood and weighs about a 1 lb less than Ash.

My SB5000 is 9 lbs and very comfortable. Got an Ash SB4000 coming Wednesday, but I don't anticipate that weight will be a problem.

Also I make it a point to request a lighter weight body when ordering direct. Not sure how much difference it makes but I do it and it has worked out.

It wold also make a lot of sense for Carvin to use the heavier bodies for the 5001 and 4001 models in hopes of carving out some a couple pounds.
 
#76
Jarrett said:
I'm the same way. I really dig my SB5000, but even an hour and a half gig last night was uncomfortable with 10lbs. around my neck. Please let us know how they compare tonally.
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My Alder-bodied, passive SB4000 weighs about 8.5 lbs and is a featherweight that packs monstrous tone

All you 5000 guys with your extra-string support, twin 9-volt batteries, and active guts are simply paying the price of living large! :D

:hiding:
 
#77
kraigg007 said:
Does anyone who is complaining of weight problems have an alder body? From my experience Alder is a better tone wood and weighs about a 1 lb less than Ash.

My SB5000 is 9 lbs and very comfortable. Got an Ash SB4000 coming Wednesday, but I don't anticipate that weight will be a problem.

Also I make it a point to request a lighter weight body when ordering direct. Not sure how much difference it makes but I do it and it has worked out.
Click to expand...

My alder SB5000 weighs around 9.5 lbs by my crappy bathroom scale. I didn't ask for lighter wood, I was a bit afraid of losing some of the tone, who knows if it matters much.
 
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