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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 7!
- Thread starter smperry
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First of all , Welcome to TB, second, how would you compare your SB to other basses you've played? It seems like SB owners have played many basses in the past and once they get their hands on a SB they forget about all the others. Does your SB make you want to leave all the other basses behind?
This is my 3rd bass. I have a Carvin B50, which is a great playing bass also, and a Warwick Corvette (German). I love the Warwick but it is soooooo heavy that after 30 min of it on my sholder I have a baseball on my sholder. The SB just plays itself and is easier on my back. I also love the neck.
Hello TB'ers!
I have a free moment and I want to share my take on the Carvin SB series basses.
I feel the need to share more about my experience playing, and past gear I have the amazing pleasure of owning and playing.
I am 25 years old and married I am a live/studio bassist. I worked at GC for about three years in my early youth. I have played pretty much every mass produced that's currently in production.
I have built basses and have done many fret dresses, and general setup work on the side.
I have recently recorded with a few national recording gospel/ neo soul artist as well as countless live gigs.
I started my gear "addiction" in my very early years. Around 17 or so. I owned my first Ken Smith BSR 5 at 19 years old.
I have owned a ton of boutique brands and have also built my own from raw materials. Like I said I stated earlier... I started very young in this "Bass Game". I feel like I need to stress that this list is posted in no specific at order at all!
The list is as follows:
F BASS
Sadowsky Metros
Valenti
Benevente
Bee basses
Elrick
Fender
Ken Smith
Warrior
Stambaugh
Josh Helms
M Basses
Lakland
I had the absolute pleasure of attending NAMM years back with the master Luthier Jerzy Drozd. When my buddy and I went on Jerzy's passes, we had the pleasure of eating dinner at JT SNIGGS in LA with the likes of Sheldon Dingwall, Carey Nordstrand, Micahel Citron, Kenneth Lawrence, Y'ves Carbon, and a few others. My apologies, my memory is giving out right now. There were about 15 of us there. I was about 21 and my buddy William and I were the only "normal" people there.
I have played just about every mass produced bass you can think of. If the brand is currently in production, I have played it.
I have also played donzens of higher end, hand built instruments not listed such as Fodera, Nordstrand, Alleva~Coppola, Ritter, MTD, Mike Lull, Jerzy Drozd, and many more in the interest of time.
I have had the pleasure of owning Orange, epifani, markbass, Aguilar, Eden, tc Electronics and many more. And just like basses, I have also played through all of the others.
I have many influences. All of the normals, Miller, Wooten, Bona, Anthony Jackson, Brand Johnson, Preach, Reggie Young, Jaco..... I mea, really, I think you guys understand. There's way to many to actually post.
Okay.... Brief history is out of the way. I really just wanted you guys to have a legit point of reference. Now on with the review!!!!!!!
Carvin SB Review
The carvin SB is an incredible bass. I'm currently playing praise and worship at church and with a couple of NeoSoul projects as well as some studio work.... The SB, when setup properly is no doubt, everything you would expect from a boutique jazz "clone".
I will edit my post and add to it. Ran out of time. Ill get back in a few. Sorry for the suspense.
I have a free moment and I want to share my take on the Carvin SB series basses.
I feel the need to share more about my experience playing, and past gear I have the amazing pleasure of owning and playing.
I am 25 years old and married I am a live/studio bassist. I worked at GC for about three years in my early youth. I have played pretty much every mass produced that's currently in production.
I have built basses and have done many fret dresses, and general setup work on the side.
I have recently recorded with a few national recording gospel/ neo soul artist as well as countless live gigs.
I started my gear "addiction" in my very early years. Around 17 or so. I owned my first Ken Smith BSR 5 at 19 years old.
I have owned a ton of boutique brands and have also built my own from raw materials. Like I said I stated earlier... I started very young in this "Bass Game". I feel like I need to stress that this list is posted in no specific at order at all!
The list is as follows:
F BASS
Sadowsky Metros
Valenti
Benevente
Bee basses
Elrick
Fender
Ken Smith
Warrior
Stambaugh
Josh Helms
M Basses
Lakland
I had the absolute pleasure of attending NAMM years back with the master Luthier Jerzy Drozd. When my buddy and I went on Jerzy's passes, we had the pleasure of eating dinner at JT SNIGGS in LA with the likes of Sheldon Dingwall, Carey Nordstrand, Micahel Citron, Kenneth Lawrence, Y'ves Carbon, and a few others. My apologies, my memory is giving out right now. There were about 15 of us there. I was about 21 and my buddy William and I were the only "normal" people there.
I have played just about every mass produced bass you can think of. If the brand is currently in production, I have played it.
I have also played donzens of higher end, hand built instruments not listed such as Fodera, Nordstrand, Alleva~Coppola, Ritter, MTD, Mike Lull, Jerzy Drozd, and many more in the interest of time.
I have had the pleasure of owning Orange, epifani, markbass, Aguilar, Eden, tc Electronics and many more. And just like basses, I have also played through all of the others.
I have many influences. All of the normals, Miller, Wooten, Bona, Anthony Jackson, Brand Johnson, Preach, Reggie Young, Jaco..... I mea, really, I think you guys understand. There's way to many to actually post.
Okay.... Brief history is out of the way. I really just wanted you guys to have a legit point of reference. Now on with the review!!!!!!!
Carvin SB Review
The carvin SB is an incredible bass. I'm currently playing praise and worship at church and with a couple of NeoSoul projects as well as some studio work.... The SB, when setup properly is no doubt, everything you would expect from a boutique jazz "clone".
I will edit my post and add to it. Ran out of time. Ill get back in a few. Sorry for the suspense.
That's great to know. A couple of guys on here have even said after receiving their SB , they sold all their others. To me , that speaks volumes . I've ordered one and it is suppose to arrive in march . Every time I read a positive review I just get more hyper about it. If its as good as the remarks said here I should be well pleased . Can't wait...
All I can say about this bass is that I feel like I got an instrument that many aren't aware of and after they become aware of it you won't be able to afford one or get one because everyone is going to want one. With my SB I was able to find "my voice and my sound" and not just everyone elses.
It replaced my MIM jazz. It's a weird story involving an American body and neck combined with Chinese electronics in a Mexican factory.
Anyways, I have played usa fender and musicman basses, a super nice German Warwick, and a handful of other cheaper models (mij ibby, schecter, peavey.). So carvin is definitely an awesome bass. The sb does the jazz thing perfectly. I played jazz styled basses almost exclusively for years. Carvin does it better. Sorry fender... As for boutique basses, I don't know. Ed Friedland did say no comparable competition in the price range. I'll take it from him. And now my experience with it has been love at first sight. My jazz bass built to my specs. Amazing. Just be sure to know what you want. My customer sales experience left something to be desired. In other words. Go to the bass builder and either order online, or call and read it off. They don't hold your hand, even if you sre a first time customer.
Anyone rocking flats on their SB5000? I love flats on my 4 string Jazz. Only thing I am concerned about is their lack of sustain when compared to roundwounds.
I haven't used flats on my SB5000, but as has been noted, Chromes are a gentle intro to flats, as they have a lot of bite and sustain compared to most flats, but they also have that fat fundamental thump, especially once they "break in".
I... My customer sales experience left something to be desired. In other words. Go to the bass builder and either order online, or call and read it off. They don't hold your hand, even if you sre a first time customer.
There are good sales reps, and not so good. Keith is great, and that's the guy I would recommend to anyone calling an order in. For some reason, this has been an issue at Carvin on and off through the years. But, there have always been good, helpful folks there, too.
I used Chromes and TI flats for a while on my SB4000. They sounded great, but I am pretty much feeling like the flats are best on my P Bass, and the SB does it's best work with rounds. Of course, that's just from one guy's perspective, and it all depends on what sound you are going for. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to put flats on an SB, it gives a great tone, for sure!
I did it; custom SB5000 on the way! Ed told me 8 week lead time. That puts me right at April 15th. Needless to say, I've never anticipated tax day quite like this!
I always felt those were too stiff for my tastes, but let us know what you think.
I have a set on my Pbass V. Great old school thump without completely losing the high end... I still dial the treble knob back about 30% most of the time, but with the treble knob cranked, there's enough snap for a passable slap tone... a dull slap tone, but still passable. Chromes are definitely stiff though, and boy that low B is pretty chunky. Sometimes it takes me a minute to adjust back to the Chromes when I switch from another bass. But I like the sound.
5sg.
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