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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 5!
- Thread starter smperry
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Check out my new SB5000 that just came in!
I decided I wanted that vintage 70's scheme to it with the rosewood, blocks, sunburst-tort look. I got the low-wide frets and am digging them. This bass has a swamp ash body and is super lightweight!
Here's a shot with its older brother, my first SB5000 that got me hooked!!!
Both just so nice! Now the question: major/minor difference with the two fingerboards? (both bodies are ash correct?) and what are the pro's of your fret choice as I know nothing of how that could affect playability?
Alder Body
Gloss Finish
Maple Fingerboard
Black Dots
Low Wide Frets (Like yours)
10" Radius
J99's
Cream Pickups
Active w/tone control
Chrome hardware (but I have some alterations in store)
Flatwound strings
Black Logo
Red Tort PG
Metal Handguard
Nothing super special, just an inexpensive setup.
Is the 10" Radius an "Option 50"? I don't remember seeing it in the order process. I wanted the 14" anyway, but I was just curious.
No, it's on the options page. You can get it in 12 (standard), 14, or 10. I've been playing fenders so long I was a little sketchy on making a jump from 7.25 to 12. 10 is close to the 9.5 of most standard fenders of today, so I opted for the 10.
Plus, Freddels gave the 10" radius with low wide frets high praise, and he seems like a trustworthy guy.
Indeed! I was dead set on the wood options from the get-go. Alder and maple, great classic sound. But I also thought the Transparent Vintage yellow finish, gold hardware, tort PG, and cream pickups would have been a pretty classy high end look. And wouldn't have done anything to change the tone. But I'm thinking of doing some mild alterations to the finish of the hardware when it comes. I'll do some before and after shots and get all of your opinions.
Here is my Deep Ruby SB5000.
Holy Carp! Sexy. Just. Too sexy...
Looks good enough to eat!
I know that you can never go by specs alone, but my favorite neck is my Lakland 4-94 at 1.6 inches which is a 10 in radius. My Sadowsky is a 12 inch at 1.5 inches . The Lakland seems a little flatter. I know I asked this question before, just curious of additional feedback and experiences since I am teetering between the Carvin 10 or 12.
Here is my Deep Ruby SB5000.
What color choice is that? I don't recall seeing a Deep Ruby. It's gorgeous!
Well, it's possible the added width of the Lakland forces your hand into a flatter position even though the fingerboard itself has a tighter (rounder) radius. The general thinking would be that for all other measurements being equal, a tighter radius will feel more curved. It's also not as big an issue on bass as bassists rarely barre across strings and typically play with their finger tips or a bit of the pad. I believe guitarists are much more likely to feel the effects of fingerboard radius than bassists. I regularly switch between my 7.25 and 9.5 (both jazz basses so neck width and string spacing are the same) and barely notice a difference. I went with the 10" more for fear of a different feel than from true expectations of it.
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