NO and NO!!!! I LOVE LOVE my SB, the case however is marginal at best. The one time I have taken it out of the house for any extended time it was wrapped a few times in duct tape. The latches at least on mine are kinda crap. The case itself is solid as a mid level case could be, though not flight case level obviously. I have an Eastman, and a Larrivee both acoustic guitars, and sent them both into the belly of a plane with confidence. Would not do so without duct tape on my Carvin.
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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 5!
- Thread starter smperry
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NO and NO!!!! I LOVE LOVE my SB, the case however is marginal at best. The one time I have taken it out of the house for any extended time it was wrapped a few times in duct tape. The latches at least on mine are kinda crap. The case itself is solid as a mid level case could be, though not flight case level obviously. I have an Eastman, and a Larrivee both acoustic guitars, and sent them both into the belly of a plane with confidence. Would not do so without duct tape on my Carvin.
Haha, well there you have two completely different opinions. Guess it depends on your definition of abuse! 
I tend to baby my gear.
I tend to baby my gear.
You need to get a quality gig bag. I have one that I've had since around 1984 and it's been around the world with me and still in good shape.
Yea, I have a good one now. I will say though that Carvin did replace them OUTSIDE of the 3 month warranty period. So hats off to Carving for good customer service. Just a shame that the strap quality is lacking.
Here is what this bass sounds like
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I have the same Maple/Ash combo, love it. Just put a fresh set of hi-beams on and it sounds AWESOME!
I made a comparison clip of my two basses. They are fairly similar in that both are SB5000's with the same electronics in them. Same neck and fretboard although the Alder one has the Tusq nut. The main difference is the body wood and the strings noted below. Here is the clip:
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Here is the order of the clip:
Fingerstyle A: Alder SB5000 w/DR Fat Beams
Fingerstyle B: Maple/Ash SB5000 w/Carvin Nickels
Slap A: Alder SB5000 w/DR Fat Beams
Slap B: Maple/Ash SB5000 w/Carvin Nickels
I'm interested to hear which one you prefer and what differences you hear between them.
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Here is the order of the clip:
Fingerstyle A: Alder SB5000 w/DR Fat Beams
Fingerstyle B: Maple/Ash SB5000 w/Carvin Nickels
Slap A: Alder SB5000 w/DR Fat Beams
Slap B: Maple/Ash SB5000 w/Carvin Nickels
I'm interested to hear which one you prefer and what differences you hear between them.
Here is what this bass sounds like
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Yep...mine too! Crazy awesome sound..whole lot less talent on mine though. Hopefully my bass is not jealous of your fingers..I do my best with her, at least three hours a day. She's amazing to look at too. Sniff.
Well this makes me feel good about my choice.
I chose Alder, and in this clip most other variables being equal, I feel (whether it is true or not) that there is an obvious difference in tone of these 2 instruments.
I think the Alder bass is richer in the low mids vs. high mids on the Ash. The Alder has a great meat and potatoes also sound, but as far as an all around workhorse goes falls short for me, IMO. The Ash fingerstyle is a little anemic, and lacking for me. The fingerstyle tone of the Alder is just perfect. What a jazz bass should be 100%.
YMMV of course.
Thanks for the comparison Jarrett
I chose Alder, and in this clip most other variables being equal, I feel (whether it is true or not) that there is an obvious difference in tone of these 2 instruments.
I think the Alder bass is richer in the low mids vs. high mids on the Ash. The Alder has a great meat and potatoes also sound, but as far as an all around workhorse goes falls short for me, IMO. The Ash fingerstyle is a little anemic, and lacking for me. The fingerstyle tone of the Alder is just perfect. What a jazz bass should be 100%.
YMMV of course.
Thanks for the comparison Jarrett
Thanks for the kind words, mcglyph. JeffLieby, no problem I've always wanted to hear a recorded comparison of them as well.
I have another set of DR FatBeams. I'm undecided at this point if I want to throw them on the Maple/Ash SB or not and do a retake to see how much difference the strings play into it. Hmm...
I have another set of DR FatBeams. I'm undecided at this point if I want to throw them on the Maple/Ash SB or not and do a retake to see how much difference the strings play into it. Hmm...
Let me also point out that the Ash does sound great. Any "negative" subjective adjectives were meant only in context of the comparison, not in general terms.
I can't listen to the clips at work, but I think that FatBeams sound very different from Carvin Nickels. I don't know how much you can trust the results without the same strings on both.
I was thinking this morning at work about the strings of my Carvin and funny thing I was planing to ask what strings do you guys use with your SB.
I also Got the Alder and what made me think about the strings this morning is that I'm a stainless steel Guy, and I did enjoy the sound of the Carvin Nickel.
I'd also liked to ask if anyone knows any other brands that I can use on my carvin
I oviously know the other brands but what I mean if any other maker makes the 040, .060, .080, .100, .128 tapered core.
the only brand I know is pedulla but i think they are all tapered and Carvin makes only the B tapered.
I also Got the Alder and what made me think about the strings this morning is that I'm a stainless steel Guy, and I did enjoy the sound of the Carvin Nickel.
I'd also liked to ask if anyone knows any other brands that I can use on my carvin
I oviously know the other brands but what I mean if any other maker makes the 040, .060, .080, .100, .128 tapered core.
the only brand I know is pedulla but i think they are all tapered and Carvin makes only the B tapered.
Sadowsky 5-string sets all have a tapered B, if I'm not mistaken. The Blue label nickels are my current favorite strings. I also love their Black label flats and Black Stainless.
Thanks for the clip man! Alder it is for me too!! Although the ash does sound great. From what I know about the SB series of basses, I'd want the alder rosewood configuration. The 70's style pickup placement already adds a bit of bite and brightness to the overall sound and that's enough for me in that I don't need to add more of it by using a maple board and an ash body. But still, both of the basses in the above clip sound fantastic. Cheers!!
I have Carvin roundwounds, in fact the same strings which came with it. Med-Heavy guage. I'm with the other dude, for a good comparison you'd need both with the same strings. Or not. My bass weighs 9.3 I think alder is a little heavier, just about the only negative I have to point out on these basses! Has to be one I guess. The tone is schweeet!
I use Circle K Balanced sets. The E and B are tapered and the Carvins are one of the very few basses that can use them strung through-body. Best roundwound I have ever played, but that's just me...
I currently have a set of MTD SS strings on mine. Also has a tapered B. Sound/plays great to me. That said, I'm gonna' put HiBeams on it next. I don't mind a little more slinkiness for the added life and a sizzle that just seems to go really well with a 70's J type tone.
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