Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 7!

[Vic]

I wouldn't call it a grudge. It was a bass that warped due to a design flaw and they were not willing to help me even if I offered to pay. But the main reason that I have not gone back to them is that they have not had any basses that have really caught my eye until this one.

Then again, you made me think. If they were not willing to fix their mess-up then, maybe I should learn my lesson and not go back there...I don't call that a grudge.

Still, it's a great looking bass.

Well, if you still hold them guilty today even though you have no specific reason to assume your experiences would be the same now, I'd call it a grudge, but let's not worry about labels if that's what's bugging you.

My main point is, that was a long time ago. If they've got something that looks interesting to you now, then I'd say it's time to give them another shot unless you have a specific reason, based on current information, to suggest they'd handle things poorly again.

I'm also keeping in mind I don't know all the details of both sides of the story, so take this post FWIW, I guess.

 

[Bassorama57]

Any updates on how this pup combo has come out? Even sound samples???

Any responses on this one at all??

 

[Bassnkeys]

Any responses on this one at all??

So, I just spoke with Carvin's guitar tech. First - thanks to all who put in their opinion here. Carvin told me that in purely passive mode, there should really be no difference between the V/V and the V/B option - very slight if any. He said it could be a pickup positioning difference. However, I measured - both single coil pickups are exactly the same distance apart, and are both exactly the same distance from the bridge on both guitars. He also said there are no adjustments to be made to any pots, as someone had suggested here (and the guy who picked up the phone in the call center thought might also be the case, when I called the other day). Nope. He didn't think there was anything wrong with the guitar either. I just feel my 4000 is more punchy in Passive mode. It's not that the 5000 doesn't sound OK - it's just not as "satisfying" to listen to in passive mode, without having to up the volume on my amp. or switch to active mode. If anything, gives me reason to keep GAS'ing for another 5 someday. It's a great bass, but perhaps not "the" one. I'll date her for a few years, and then look to marry someone else. Ha ha.

 

[Tom Howland]

Got mine in yesterday. Practiced with it last night. This thing is awesome! I'm moving or I'd have some really nice pictures, but here's a couple of crappy cell phone pics.

The burled maple top looks incredible with the Birdseye fretboard.

Mike

Digging that top.
Looks great with the BEM fingerboard.

 

[Jarrett]

So, I just spoke with Carvin's guitar tech.

Just so I understand, are you saying that you V/B SB5000 isn't as punchy in passive mode as your V/V SB4000 is in passive mode?

 

[Bassnkeys]

Just so I understand, are you saying that you V/B SB5000 isn't as punchy in passive mode as your V/V SB4000 is in passive mode?

Yes, exactly. The only other difference is my SB5000 is chambered.

 

[Jarrett]

Yes, exactly. The only other difference is my SB5000 is chambered.

Aw man, now you really went and did it, I thought we had some good evidence

From personal experience, I don't think the chambered SB's have the same punch as the non chambered. I've heard that the V/B's don't have the same punch as the V/V's as well. So who knows what to attribute your issue to

 

[micgtr71]

Well, if you still hold them guilty today even though you have no specific reason to assume your experiences would be the same now, I'd call it a grudge, but let's not worry about labels if that's what's bugging you.

My main point is, that was a long time ago. If they've got something that looks interesting to you now, then I'd say it's time to give them another shot unless you have a specific reason, based on current information, to suggest they'd handle things poorly again.

I'm also keeping in mind I don't know all the details of both sides of the story, so take this post FWIW, I guess.

I wouldn't say that I still hold them guilty. I guess it is more of a once bitten twice shy kind of thing.

I think that when I said that this might be the bass that brought me back to carvin I did not necessarily mean that I stayed away because of that situation...re-reading my original post I understand why you would think that. For a few months there was definitely a grudge...I'm over that now.

This bass is cool looking and when I am ready it will definitely be a consideration. The 5 in sunburst with ebony and a tort guard is a looker.

 

[micgtr71]

Aw man, now you really went and did it, I thought we had some good evidence

From personal experience, I don't think the chambered SB's have the same punch as the non chambered. I've heard that the V/B's don't have the same punch as the V/V's as well. So who knows what to attribute your issue to

I was wondering what you meant by V/V and V/B...thank you in advance.

 

[madbassplaya]

Well, if you still hold them guilty today even though you have no specific reason to assume your experiences would be the same now, I'd call it a grudge, but let's not worry about labels if that's what's bugging you.

My main point is, that was a long time ago. If they've got something that looks interesting to you now, then I'd say it's time to give them another shot unless you have a specific reason, based on current information, to suggest they'd handle things poorly again.

I'm also keeping in mind I don't know all the details of both sides of the story, so take this post FWIW, I guess.

Yea, I don't think it's super dramatic, but there is definitely a difference. I prefer V/V typically and especially with passive instruments.

 

[Vic]

Yes, exactly. The only other difference is my SB5000 is chambered.

That actually makes it an SB5001, not an SB5000. No biggie, just for clarity here when posting.

 

[Bassnkeys]

That actually makes it an SB5001, not an SB5000. No biggie, just for clarity here when posting.

That used to be the case, but now they offer a $150 option to have the SB5000 chambered, so that you could have a solid color, versus the chambered 5001 which has wood grain tops. Thanks.

 

[Bassnkeys]

Aw man, now you really went and did it, I thought we had some good evidence

From personal experience, I don't think the chambered SB's have the same punch as the non chambered. I've heard that the V/B's don't have the same punch as the V/V's as well. So who knows what to attribute your issue to

I hear 'ya, but I did disclose that important fact when I started this thread. . Separately, the fretless you got from your girlfriend - I had my eye on that for months, but couldn't justify another Carvin. Looks like a real beauty (speaking of the bass - never met your girlfriend). I'm sure she is too...

 

[Vic]

That used to be the case, but now they offer a $150 option to have the SB5000 chambered, so that you could have a solid color, versus the chambered 5001 which has wood grain tops. Thanks.

Very interesting... I hadn't seen that... any idea when they started offering it?

 

[seanieb]

Just bought a beautiful SB4000. Mahogany body with a spalted maple top, black pick guard, maple neck and ebony fretboard. I love it

 

[Bassorama57]

Carvin told me that in purely passive mode, there should really be no difference between the V/V and the V/B option - very slight if any.

Good to know as I'm not smart enough to keep track of V/V (V/B much easier to manage).
The thread I'd pulled forward was on different pickups - if anyone had tried the HB Alnico Bridge Humbucker/J9A Alnico Neck Pickup option or, HB Alnico Bridge Humbucker/H50A Neck Humbucker. The "HB" would seemingly be the MM pickup - and as I was thinking of replacing an EBMM Sterling with an H/S pickup combination, was wondering if anyone had tried Carvin's take o

Found a thread that discusses this: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/do...owners-have-mm-j-pickup-configuration-870337/

 

[Jarrett]

I was wondering what you meant by V/V and V/B...thank you in advance.

It took me a couple of times rereading this, but I think its a question.

On the SB series basses, Carvin offers a few electronics configuration options. One is a choice between the old school Jazz bass knob selection of front pickup volume, rear pickup volume, tone (V/V) OR the option to have a master volume, pickup blend knob, tone (V/B).

I have always used a master volume/blend (V/B) type setups on my other basses, but the first SB5000 I played at a guitar show had the volume/volume (V/V) setup on it. When I called to order my SB5000 and spoke with the salesguy, I told him I wanted it to sound exactly like the one I played, then asked for the V/B option.

He told me that if I wanted it to sound exactly like the one I played with the V/V option, I should also get that option because there is a bit of a sonic difference between the V/V and V/B options. He went on to say that Seiku wanted to make sure the V/V was the standard electronics option on the bass because he felt like that got the sound he wanted out of it. So despite being used to and liking the V/B control layout, I went with V/V because I wanted my bass to sound exactly like the one I played at the guitar show. And it did.

So the question has always sort of lingered out there, does the V/V really sound different than the V/B? I thought we might have had some evidence with David's post but the chambered SB5000 was also in the mix in that scenario. I personally think that chambering an SB takes a little bit of the fundamental punch away from the bass. Nothing dramatic, but slightly different when comparing a solid body SB to a chambered body SB.

I have a solid body, fretted SB5000 and a chambered, fretless SB5001 and the SB5001 has a little less punch, but I don't mind as its a fretless and I like it having a little smoother sound than the other.

 

[Jarrett]

Separately, the fretless you got from your girlfriend - I had my eye on that for months, but couldn't justify another Carvin. Looks like a real beauty (speaking of the bass - never met your girlfriend). I'm sure she is too...

I'm glad you didn't pull the trigger I had my eye on it for months as well and couldn't believe that it didn't sell. I can only assume being fretless and having a Mahogany neck kept buyers away. I went to buy it a couple of times and chickened out. It's hard to tie up that much money in a fretless. The bass and my girlfriend are both beautiful to me, thanks

 

[Bassnkeys]

Very interesting... I hadn't seen that... any idea when they started offering it?

Not really sure when they started offering it. The salesman who helped me configure the bass over the phone had to put me on hold for a while to ask someone in the shop which option to select on his computer to make it happen. You can see the option when you "build a bass." I really wanted as light a bass as possible - and even put on Hipshot Ultralites afterwards (which didn't really make much of a difference, as the existing tuners were pretty light).

 

[Bassnkeys]

It took me a couple of times rereading this, but I think its a question.

I have a solid body, fretted SB5000 and a chambered, fretless SB5001 and the SB5001 has a little less punch, but I don't mind as its a fretless and I like it having a little smoother sound than the other.

This is probably the best evidence. The tech at Carvin dismissed both the V/B vs. V/V as well as the chambering for the tonal differences, and simply conjectured that it was to do with the pickup spacing differences between 4000 and 5000 (which ended up being identical when I measured). Since Jarrett has two 5001's, one chambered and one not - and he's experiencing less punch with the chambered, I really bet that is the bulk of it. Maybe the pre-amp knob configuration adds insult to injury (even though a couple of people at Carvin dismissed that) - but having a "little less punch" is how I'd describe my situation. Makes me feel better - because I'd give up a little less punch for a half-pound or maybe more of weight off of my back. Really wanted as light as possible for a 5-string that I could get. One of the major reasons I went with Carvin over a Fender Jazz Deluxe for the 5 was due to the ability to chamber it. Would much rather have something just under 9, than just over 10 hanging from this 40+ frame. Thanks again to all for your input.