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

[Vic]

Yeah actually with a P pickup in it.

????

 

[Jarrett]

Sorry Vic, I shoulda been more clear. I'm getting the itch to try an actual P Bass config. Not a B50 that's shaped like a P but has Jazz pickups in it, but actually a P bass that is shaped that way and has a single P bass pickup in it.

I know Carvin doesn't offer that, so I'm asking the Carvin owners if there is a P Bass out there made by another builder that is the same quality/playability/ball park price range as the B/SB series.

 

[dgce]

Sorry Vic, I shoulda been more clear. I'm getting the itch to try an actual P Bass config. Not a B50 that's shaped like a P but has Jazz pickups in it, but actually a P bass that is shaped that way and has a single P bass pickup in it.

I know Carvin doesn't offer that, so I'm asking the Carvin owners if there is a P Bass out there made by another builder that is the same quality/playability/ball park price range as the B/SB series.

You should talk to that guy, Grateful. He built this beauty.

 

[fivestringgecko]

Sorry Vic, I shoulda been more clear. I'm getting the itch to try an actual P Bass config. Not a B50 that's shaped like a P but has Jazz pickups in it, but actually a P bass that is shaped that way and has a single P bass pickup in it.

I know Carvin doesn't offer that, so I'm asking the Carvin owners if there is a P Bass out there made by another builder that is the same quality/playability/ball park price range as the B/SB series.

Something like this?

5sg.

 

[dgce]

Something like this?

5sg.

Ha ha! I beat ya!

 

[Vic]

Sorry Vic, I shoulda been more clear. I'm getting the itch to try an actual P Bass config. Not a B50 that's shaped like a P but has Jazz pickups in it, but actually a P bass that is shaped that way and has a single P bass pickup in it.

I know Carvin doesn't offer that, so I'm asking the Carvin owners if there is a P Bass out there made by another builder that is the same quality/playability/ball park price range as the B/SB series.

Ok, so the missing piece is a B50 with a P pickup option. That's what I was trying to figure out in my earlier post. I was trying to understand why it wasn't an option... availability (ding ding ding) or desirability (bzzzzzt).

This does surprise me tho... that they'd only offer the J and the MM style without offering a P... apparently in any config or on any style of bass (to your point). I wonder why. Makes sense to me in the SB, but not the B50.

 

[Jarrett]

You should talk to that guy, Grateful. He built this beauty.

Something like this?

5sg.

Yeah that's nice but I don't have a local luthier that I feel confident enough in to pull this off.

 

[fivestringgecko]

Ha ha! I beat ya!

Must've been by mere seconds. Lol

Yeah that's nice but I don't have a local luthier that I feel confident enough in to pull this off.

Road trip? Or maybe send the body to a luthier you DO trust?

5sg.

 

[Hans Gruber]

It IS for an SB5000. Again, there's a good upcharge. There's no major change, like drilling or routing. It's just basically a blank.

I'm not asking for anything particular in terms of custom radius, shape, etc.

So what's the deal with Carvin. On their forum they have a FAQ that says something to the effect "THERE ARE NO SECRET OPTIONS. ITS ALL ON THE TABLE. CALL US. ETC ETC"

and you are saying that you can order an SB bass all built, except no pickups or knobs.

The other day I asked if they could make me a neck with an unfinished/unshaped paddle headstock, but was drilled for inline tuners and they said "NO".

*there are also posts in their forum from last year, of people providing neck measurements and getting custom neck profiles on their carvin guitars. Going so far as being offered the option to mail a guitar/neck to Carvin to be scanned into a computer and essentially replicated onto a Carvin guitar.

 

[Hans Gruber]

You should talk to that guy, Grateful. He built this beauty.

Very similar in the vibe I'm going for.

 

[G On Bass]

I know Carvin doesn't offer that, so I'm asking the Carvin owners if there is a P Bass out there made by another builder that is the same quality/playability/ball park price range as the B/SB series.

There isn't, at least for me. That's why this one exists. Fender, Laklands, all come and gone. This one remains. Nothing close.

You should talk to that guy, Grateful. He built this beauty.

Still love it. The P search is over for me. Done.

Yeah that's nice but I don't have a local luthier that I feel confident enough in to pull this off.

Perhaps you could ship the bass and the pickups to someone and have them do it, then ship it to you? I got some names out here in LA if you want 'em. I might even be inclined to check on it fer ya when it gets here...

 

[Lackey]

Well...(Saying this politely) I believe that is the whole reason of the 'signature' model. Sekou is a big 70's guy and that was a key element for him in this bass.

Well - saying this politely - how many 70's jazz basses have music man style humbuckers as a factory option. For that matter, does Sekou even have an SB with the humbucker? Yet its still a factory option..

So I still ask - why can't they move the bridge pickup a half inch..

 

[TonyP-]

Well - saying this politely - how many 70's jazz basses have music man style humbuckers as a factory option. For that matter, does Sekou even have an SB with the humbucker? Yet its still a factory option..

So I still ask - why can't they move the bridge pickup a half inch..

I can only assume He owns because at the NAMM bass bash in 2012 He used one with MM style humbucker for part of the night.

Carvin I feel is probably the most accommodating guitar manufacturer in market without going true custom soup to nuts. Then your going to pay through the nose and quite possibly some more orifices.

Flock from Carvin told me that is updated 70 frame with an new pre that is supposed gets the Carvin option package. (I might not be quoting that exactly but its basically those words).

Question to you Lackey-

What are you looking to obtain from the SB that you cannot with B50 with 60's placement?
(I might be missing something).

 

[G On Bass]

So I still ask - why can't they move the bridge pickup a half inch..

My guess is that the machines are not programmed that way. They would likely have to reset everything for one bass, then restore it to where it was.

If you plan to change pickups, keep in mind that the Carvin makes 1 size of J pickups. All the basses are routed for Bridge sized pickups, not different bridge and neck sizes like Fender and other third party makers. Yet another bonus to ordering unrouted if you plan to mod...

 

[Jarrett]

Perhaps you could ship the bass and the pickups to someone and have them do it, then ship it to you? I got some names out here in LA if you want 'em. I might even be inclined to check on it fer ya when it gets here...

Thanks for the kind offer. I think I need to go play some P basses a little before making that kind of non returnable commitment.

 

[qervo]

Sounds like your just gonna have to build your own bass.

 

[WoodyG3]

My guess is that the machines are not programmed that way. They would likely have to reset everything for one bass, then restore it to where it was.

Yeah, and this is a bigger deal than most people realize. Carvin has a ridiculous number of options already, and they have to draw the line somewhere.

Thanks for the kind offer. I think I need to go play some P basses a little before making that kind of non returnable commitment.

Well,Jarrett, we do know you tend to return and sell basses every now and then...

 

[Jarrett]

I keep some on occasion

 

[Lackey]

I can only assume He owns because at the NAMM bass bash in 2012 He used one with MM style humbucker for part of the night.

Carvin I feel is probably the most accommodating guitar manufacturer in market without going true custom soup to nuts. Then your going to pay through the nose and quite possibly some more orifices.

Flock from Carvin told me that is updated 70 frame with an new pre that is supposed gets the Carvin option package. (I might not be quoting that exactly but its basically those words).

Question to you Lackey-

What are you looking to obtain from the SB that you cannot with B50 with 60's placement?
(I might be missing something).

Honestly the B50 is not a particularly attractive bass to me - this coming from somebody who has the B4. The SB looks great and it'd be nice if they offered the 60s position for it, given that its the closest thing they have to a jazz bass. Oh well, I just won't buy I guess, hehe.

 

[TonyP-]

Honestly the B50 is not a particularly attractive bass to me - this coming from somebody who has the B4. The SB looks great and it'd be nice if they offered the 60s position for it, given that its the closest thing they have to a jazz bass. Oh well, I just won't buy I guess, hehe.

There is that Idea of routing Big Singles in one and getting the route for the bridge pickup towards the neck.

Some of the SB character might disappear, but I'm sure it would sound kick @ss.