Jarrett's fretless which is now mine has arrived at my job and I'm counting the minutes till the 6:30 whistle when I can unpack it! Woohoo!
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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 5!
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
- Status
Me too, obviously. It'll be my first 5-string, and the first fretless I've owned in 18 years, which is kind of weird when you consider my main instrument is URB.
Hey fellow Carvin owners....I am getting a 6-string bass(Modulus Q6), so I am thinking about trading this new SB5000 for an SB4000. Here are the specs:
Flamed Burnt Umber Finish
5 PC PC Lam MPL NCK W/WNT Strip
Satin Finish back of Neck
Icon Headstock
Flamed Maple Headstock
Stainless Steel Frets
Black Chrome hardware
Black Carvin Logo
No Pickguard on Bass
Ivory Graph Tech Tusq Nut
Straplocks By Dunlop Installed
The only thing I want on the SB4000 are the Stainless frets, the Ivory Graph Tusq nut and Volume Volume Tone Active electronics. Kind of want a satin or tung oil back of neck.
I apologize for putting this thread here but this is where us Carvin guys do look. Give holler if any of you are interested.
Flamed Burnt Umber Finish
5 PC PC Lam MPL NCK W/WNT Strip
Satin Finish back of Neck
Icon Headstock
Flamed Maple Headstock
Stainless Steel Frets
Black Chrome hardware
Black Carvin Logo
No Pickguard on Bass
Ivory Graph Tech Tusq Nut
Straplocks By Dunlop Installed
The only thing I want on the SB4000 are the Stainless frets, the Ivory Graph Tusq nut and Volume Volume Tone Active electronics. Kind of want a satin or tung oil back of neck.
I apologize for putting this thread here but this is where us Carvin guys do look. Give holler if any of you are interested.
Just got my second SB yesterday, a 4001 fretless. Spalted maple top, no fretlines, got the mid-sweep concentric knob to replace the tone knob option. This is one beautifully crafted, fine bass. The tone is great, pickups ridiculously powerful and deep (as loud as my Sadowsky NY), and the neck plays fantastic--even better than my SB 4000.
I'm too tech challenged to post pics, but it looks very similar to a spalted SB 4000 in the Carvin Gallery--the middle one, not the crazy looking spalted or the dark brown spalted. In fact, that was the model--I paid a small upcharge for Carvin to pick out a piece of spalted maple that would look similar, and they did a great job. Mine is lighter in color than the one in the gallery, and I think that one is probably lighter, too--it is maple.
The big question was chambered vs. non-chambered tone. The 4001 sounds great. At first it seemed not as resonant as the 4000, but after playing for several hours and learning the mid sweep controls it's absolutely as rich & deep as you'd want, with lots of mwah. Played through both a Genz Benz 6.0 12t, and my Eden WT 400 with Eden 210.
And, most important for us old guys--it is LIGHT. Haven't weighed it yet, but definitely under 9 lbs, way lighter than the 4000. About the same as my Sadowsky, which is also chambered.
I'm too tech challenged to post pics, but it looks very similar to a spalted SB 4000 in the Carvin Gallery--the middle one, not the crazy looking spalted or the dark brown spalted. In fact, that was the model--I paid a small upcharge for Carvin to pick out a piece of spalted maple that would look similar, and they did a great job. Mine is lighter in color than the one in the gallery, and I think that one is probably lighter, too--it is maple.
The big question was chambered vs. non-chambered tone. The 4001 sounds great. At first it seemed not as resonant as the 4000, but after playing for several hours and learning the mid sweep controls it's absolutely as rich & deep as you'd want, with lots of mwah. Played through both a Genz Benz 6.0 12t, and my Eden WT 400 with Eden 210.
And, most important for us old guys--it is LIGHT. Haven't weighed it yet, but definitely under 9 lbs, way lighter than the 4000. About the same as my Sadowsky, which is also chambered.
I've had an ongoing pinch nerve issue in my shoulder. My SB5000 weights in at 10lbs so I ordered a B50A kit and specified that I wanted a super light weight ash body. Not an SB but the weight changes the tone in a similar way. The pickups, neck, and electronics are identicle between the basses. The B50 has a noticeble mid-scoop compared to my SB. However, it also weights in at only 8lbs! I'll take a more scooped sound for a 2 lb reduction. I play both at home while sitting but ALWAYS take the lighter B50 to practice and gigs (where I stand).
- Aug 30, 2003
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- Engineer & Owner, Sonic Nuance Electronics
Tung oil on swamp ash. Initially I had a light stain on it but it blotched so I sanded it back down and just used the more idiot proof tung oil. I like the simple classic look of it too!
Good to know. I hadn't thought of one of those kit basses though I've built my own basses before. Have to get a new roof on the house this week so it's kinda killing SB5000 dream again... that B50 kit may be a good option and I just happen to have a can of Reranch Sherwood Green that's been sitting there all lonely!
Every time I start a build or a paint project i feel like Tom Hank in Cast Away when he's talking about making more rope......
rmars said:
I played my new fretless SB 4001 at an outdoor gig yesterday, 4 hours. I know someone else had a problem with the chambered tone, but not me. It just sounded great, got compliments from everyone in the band. Some of my other fretless basses get sort of muddy and lost in the mix, not this one.
There was a big rig provided, SVT head and GK 410. For grins, I wanted to see how my little Genz Benz 6.0 Shuttle 12t would do. It actually sounded great, I used it for most of the gig. Everyone heard it fine.
rmars said:
Yea, the Swamp Ash is an up charge and can vary more than Alder in weight. I specified super light body and they accommodated. Same everything as the SB but just a different shaped body. Btw the more traditional shape tends to weight less as well. You can see that by comparing basses on the e-store. I've been thrilled with the kit. Only variations are that installed ultra light tuners and mounted the rear strap lock high to keep the bass well balanced (due to the light body).
Hey fellow Carvin owners....I am getting a 6-string bass(Modulus Q6), so I am thinking about trading this new SB5000 for an SB4000. Here are the specs:
Flamed Burnt Umber Finish
5 PC PC Lam MPL NCK W/WNT Strip
Satin Finish back of Neck
Icon Headstock
Flamed Maple Headstock
Stainless Steel Frets
Black Chrome hardware
Black Carvin Logo
No Pickguard on Bass
Ivory Graph Tech Tusq Nut
Straplocks By Dunlop Installed
The only thing I want on the SB4000 are the Stainless frets, the Ivory Graph Tusq nut and Volume Volume Tone Active electronics. Kind of want a satin or tung oil back of neck.
I apologize for putting this thread here but this is where us Carvin guys do look. Give holler if any of you are interested.
Hi everyone, I've just come on here to inquire about either a SB5000 or 4000 fretless for a friend who may be interested, and I'm not sure if there are any out there used or if they even make enough to be worth the time to look for one?
Appreciate any info.
Thanks!
Appreciate any info.
Thanks!
I've seen a number fretless SB basses go through the classifieds here. I'd keep an eye out.
What ever happened to the discussion concerning equal passive vs active volume? I asked Flock at the SD Carvin store, he told me about the SB5000's totally awesome and different pickups. He said a lower passive volume was normal. It turns out I'm almost totally ignorant of the whole passive vs active, attributes, especially techniques regarding how to best use this brand new beast of a five string bass.
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