I would think that a basic alder/rosewood would still sound fantastic. I think the beauty of the basic design of these is that there is really no reason for serious upgrades. Some guys may want ash/maple for something a little brighter but that's it.
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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 5!
- Thread starter smperry
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For me, the must have things are the low wide frets (for fretted) and the V/V/T with the active preamp, the default basic neck (oiled), and I prefer the 10" radius on the neck.
I think you're pretty safe no matter what. Just depends on how fancy you want it to look and what options (like maybe electronics) you prefer. All the SB's I've ever played at NAMM, which covers many different wood combos, electronics, and both 4 and 5 strings, including fretless, were all excellent (and hard to put back up on the rack
).
In my experience, the closer I order an SB to the stock config, the happier I am with the end result. Personally I opt for stainless steel medium jumbo frets mostly because I've used those in the past and liked them and because the Carvin reps recommend them highly. I have not tried the low wide frets. I think the J99A's with the standard electronics is the way to go. I personally like the combination of Alder body with a Maple board.
That was my thinking when I ordered mine. The videos showed Sekou playing an Ash bodied SB, so that's why I was ordered the Ash. I'm very pleased with the tone and playability of my SB4000. One of these days, I'm going to order a 5 stringer.
A base model Alder/Maple SB with the J99A pickups passive is a fantastic bass, no question. All the cosmetic and electronics upgrades are nice and can really elevate the bass to a very "boutique" level, but I think they're all built on a very solid foundation of a quality instrument.
Does the low-wide just allow for lower action? What fret would get me the closest to what a present day Fender would have?
Hey Corey, I remember you saying you did some mockups in photo shop. Would you please help construct a sb4k, Ferrari red, with maple board,black guard, and creme pups? I think this would be my low end choice.
My high end build would look like Darryl William's dragon burst in the most recent Carvin mag, but in a 4 string.
Something will happen this May as long as I pass my two classes, wifey promised.
IMO they do. I like a very low action and this bass has the lowest of any bass that I own.
I don't know which fret Fender uses so I can't comment on that.
I just called Carvin to ask them about that. They said if you modify the nut to accommodate, the low wides can allow for lower action. The sales rep suggested not going that route on bass because its not a stainless fret and if you needed to have work done on it, there isn't much fret to work with and the need for replacement is likely.
Also saw this:
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"I think Carvin should do limited run of graphite necks."-Quote
That's what I've been thinking for a few years.
That's what I've been thinking for a few years.
Joe, here's a really quick and dirty mach up of a Ferrari Red SB4000 with black pickguard, cream pickups and maple fingerboard. Pretty sloppy, had to just roughly color in the finish and highlights, but close enough to get the idea across I think.
Sweet! All I would have to do would be to get the inlay stickers for some black blocks and I think I would be in business.
Even if they did (which I truly doubt they will), they wouldn't put it on the SB models b/c the SB's are signature models.
Joe, here's a really quick and dirty mach up of a Ferrari Red SB4000 with black pickguard, cream pickups and maple fingerboard. Pretty sloppy, had to just roughly color in the finish and highlights, but close enough to get the idea across I think.
IIRC, there is one of these (Ferrari Red) in one of the previous SB threads. I think it had a white pearloid guard on it.
To me swamp ash is amazing and light. Mine is a five and it is 9.3 lbs. I have stainless steel frets, the tone and action are together perfection. Can't imagine not having a five string, as the low B is just well, LOW and growly, and warm and...!
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