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

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#781
I like their SS strings ok, not as nice as DR, imo. I swap the strings immediately when I get a new Carvin in. If I send it back, I usually put the strings back on it that came with it. I didn't do that once and got called out on it. So I make a point to keep the stock strings just in case now :)
 
#783
Jarrett said:
I like their SS strings ok, not as nice as DR, imo. I swap the strings immediately when I get a new Carvin in. If I send it back, I usually put the strings back on it that came with it. I didn't do that once and got called out on it. So I make a point to keep the stock strings just in case now :)
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+1 except I was pretty happy with the Carvin stainless strings, so I didn't swap them out right away.
 
#791
Here's a clip of the new passive fretless:

Link Removed

I don't know much about fretless tone. Does this sound good for a fretless? Sorry if the playing is off, I haven't owned a fretless before.

Side note - I had to crank my input volumes to get this level into the mix way over what I normally do with my active SBs.
 
#792
By the way, I did a funny thing with it :) I took the bell cover off and put it on my desk with the screws in the holes. Then when I'd play, I would hear this metal rattling :D I was looking all over the bass trying to figure out what was rattling on it, hehe. Finally figured out I was play so loud I was shaking the desk and causing the screws to rattle in the bell cover, LOL :)
 
#793
Jarrett said:
Here's a clip of the new passive fretless:

I don't know much about fretless tone. Does this sound good for a fretless?
Click to expand...
Well, since you asked a subjective question... :)

The bass seems to have a really nice voice, but I'd eq it differently for myself...

Personally, I thought it had too much of the roundwound ring and overtones in it. I would have dropped the passive tone control a good amount. I think you did some of this, but I would also almost always at least favor the bridge a little, and maybe pretty strongly as a general rule... maybe even bump the bass a tad. Never use any treble boost... maybe play around with using treble cut vs using passive tone cut... they're very different of course. I feel you get a lot of purity and fundamental back when you cut those highs... or at least it unmasks them nicely.

There's just something about a fretless when you favor the bridge pretty strongly and then just move your plucking hand around... get right up on top the board for an almost upright kinda' sound, and if you hit it just right, "mwah" for days... and then also get down near the bridge for a Jaco-ish kinda' sound... lotsa' bite/burp... all without touching a single control.

IMHO/IME anyway.
 
#796
Sounds like a fretless bass with lots of growl and Mwah available, Good growl, great low notes. I agree with Vic about rolling off the passive tone control a little more. Makes it a little darker and gets a bit more classic 'fretless' sounding. But in the band mix, you might find all that roundwound growl to be perfect. Enjoy it! Sounds way cool to me!
 
#797
Jarrett said:
This bass is passive (for now) so bass or treble action going on. I did roll back the neck pickup a fuzz, and rolled the tone control way down. I was definitely missing the bass and treble controls when I started trying to dial it in. So I think I am going to go ahead and swap the necks so I can get the preamp involved, I think it will help.

What about mids on fretless tone? Flat, cut, boost?
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WAIT! Spend a little more time with it first. Passive fretless basses can be pretty darned awesome. I think the key is the pickup blend and plucking hand position... you can do a LOT with that! :)

Combine plucking hand and blending with passive tone control adjustment, you also have a lot of control over mids IMHO. Remember, a passive tone control doesn't just roll off highs... it also affects mids. Don't be afraid to roll that sucker off strongly, favor the bridge a little more, and turn the amp up a bit. You can add bass back by moving your plucking hand a bit closer to the neck.
 
#798
Jarrett said:
Here's a clip of the new passive fretless:

Link Removed

I don't know much about fretless tone. Does this sound good for a fretless? Sorry if the playing is off, I haven't owned a fretless before.

Side note - I had to crank my input volumes to get this level into the mix way over what I normally do with my active SBs.

Pic:
Link Removed
Click to expand...

Cool playing. I'm not a fretless player, but I would like to hear some more bridge pickup in that! ;) If I were going fretless, I almost think I would only want a bridge pickup on it. :)
 
#799
Vic said:
WAIT! Spend a little more time with it first. Passive fretless basses can be pretty darned awesome. I think the key is the pickup blend and plucking hand position... you can do a LOT with that! :)

Combine plucking hand and blending with passive tone control adjustment, you also have a lot of control over mids IMHO. Remember, a passive tone control doesn't just roll off highs... it also affects mids. Don't be afraid to roll that sucker off strongly, favor the bridge a little more, and turn the amp up a bit. You can add bass back by moving your plucking hand a bit closer to the neck.
Click to expand...

I agree with Vic. I don't think you'll get the same organic sound with that pre.

What Would Jaco Do?!?!
 
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