There may be a small difference in tone between the koa and alder body. Koa may give a little mellower tone. I wouldn't pay extra for koa if it wasn't showing, myself. I love the look of koa, and it would seem criminal to me to hide it. 
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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 6!
- Thread starter smperry
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There may be a small difference in tone between the koa and alder body. Koa may give a little mellower tone. I wouldn't pay extra for koa if it wasn't showing, myself. I love the look of koa, and it would seem criminal to me to hide it.
This.
true all that would be seen from the from is the maple. I will probably go with ash, because at least it's not alder.
Is there something you don't like about alder, or are you just wanting something different from the "norm?"
svt1233 said:
???
Give me an alder body over an ash one any day. My alder SB5000 is incredible!
With Carvins, you can get one of each! I have an Ash B50 and SB5000, and an Alder B50 and B25. My next is either gonna be walnut or mahogany...
I thought it was pretty common knowledge that alder was boring and stale sounding...
svt1233 said:
Hardly, prior to my SB, the best bass I have ever owned tone-wise was a Geddy Jazz (alder body). Jarrett posted some sound clips at one point comparing alder vs. ash.
I know it is very subjective, but to my ears ash is naturally voiced for what I think of as a modern slap sound, and I hear alder as more of a classic fingerstyle jazz tone. YMMV. Again it is all preference and it is very subjective, but I have owned both and I prefer alder.
Either one would make a darn fine bass that you could be proud to own for many years to come. It isn't hype... These things are lights out!
svt1233 said:
I wonder where you heard this. Why would they make basses of alder of that was true?
I happen to have owned an ash SB and now I own an alder one. And coincidentally I currently own the same jazz bass from another brand in these two versions.
Alder has more mids. Both sound awesome, just different. I am currently going through an alder phase.
well, most of here ARE sure that alder is neither boring nor stale sounding. So, you can trust a salesperson or those who own the item.
I trust Flock's judgement, sincerity, and honesty. While I know he is a salesman, he is also world famous for a few things other than hawking Carvin basses, et al., and thus I don't believe he is out to jerk anyone's pennies! He didn't jerk mine, my bass could have cost at least 1800, the MB12 I bought he could have sold me for 100 more. In my SB process, he was more happy about my bass than I was at first. These are my opinions. YMMV.
Flock has been nothing but a pleasure to deal with, but Flock aside; I went to the Santa Ana Carvin showroom today. Basically, I should stop posting in this thread and start posting in the B24 thread 
I wasn't as impresse with the sb's as I thought I would be but some of their other basses, specifically the B24 just blew me away.
I wasn't as impresse with the sb's as I thought I would be but some of their other basses, specifically the B24 just blew me away.
LOL. I don't know what stale sounding is, but I guess about half of all the production basses ever made must be stale sounding, then. Seriously, I 100% disagree, but to each his own.
Ash would be a fine choice for your bass, if that's the way you want to roll.
Here is Carvin's own wood guide, if you haven't seen it. This might give you a little more info on the whole tone wood issue.
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Alright guys, I'm about to order another SB today. Need some input on color. I'm shooting for the old school Fender sunburst/Boring/Stale/Alder/Rosewood type thing 
but not sure which of Carvin's burst finishes to get. I don't really like the really dark edges on their Classic Sunburst, so I've been looking a some of the other finishes:
Here is one example of a Classic Sunburst I kinda like:
but here is another Classic Burst that I think is too dark:
Here is their Honeyburst which seems a little light on Alder:
Here are some (non SB) examples of other bursts:
Cherry Sunburst:
Tobacco Burst:
Sunset Burst (kinda digging this one since its lighter):
Just putting this here for comparison sake:
Umberburst (I like this one too):
What is your input?
but not sure which of Carvin's burst finishes to get. I don't really like the really dark edges on their Classic Sunburst, so I've been looking a some of the other finishes:Here is one example of a Classic Sunburst I kinda like:
but here is another Classic Burst that I think is too dark:
Here is their Honeyburst which seems a little light on Alder:
Here are some (non SB) examples of other bursts:
Cherry Sunburst:
Tobacco Burst:
Sunset Burst (kinda digging this one since its lighter):
Just putting this here for comparison sake:
Umberburst (I like this one too):
What is your input?
I like the first Classic Sunburst. The one you think is too dark appears to have a satin finish so that does change the look of it. I'd go with the gloss.
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