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

[JoeVictim]

Lakland Owner's Group is on part 61..

My group is aiming for #1. Should be there in a few months.

 

[plong123]

So much for Carvin's lousy resale value. Saw a used SB5000 at GC tonight for 1699.00. Gold hardware, active/passive, fancy inlays. Still, that's a pretty penny for a used Carvin!

Is that in Illinois? I saw that during a GC.com national search of Carvin basses just yesterday.

I sent an email to that store manager letting him know that his SB5000 was WAY overpriced. I looked up the new build price of that bass and it was under $1200 LOL

 

[Smallequestrian]

So much for Carvin's lousy resale value. Saw a used SB5000 at GC tonight for 1699.00. Gold hardware, active/passive, fancy inlays. Still, that's a pretty penny for a used Carvin!

I've played that one, its not exactly the best example of a bass. Heavy, and didn't play very well. I also think the electronics might be out of whack. They will never sell that bass for 1700 bucks.

 

[Franz Jr.]

Is that in Illinois? I saw that during a GC.com national search of Carvin basses just yesterday.

I sent an email to that store manager letting him know that his SB5000 was WAY overpriced. I looked up the new build price of that bass and it was under $1200 LOL

My really good friend is a Regional Mgr for GC. I talked to him about that bass, he said it was an example of an uninformed store associate paying WAY too much on a trade and now the store is scrambling trying to get back some of the funds. He saw it several times when he ran various GC's.

 

[WoodyG3]

If it's any consolation, that's actually the most common failure mode with electronics - it's called "infant mortality". Chances are, it played and sounded great at Carvin during their QC so they put it into the case and sent it to you. When you plugged in the very first time, it could have popped and went Tango Uniform right then and there before you ever heard a peep.

Like I said, very common... Once they make it past the first week or so, they'll almost never die tho...

LS

That's why so many manufacturers don't even blink when a bad pre is reported on a new bass, I suppose. Carvin has always sent new pres out without hesitation.

 

[Handyman]

My really good friend is a Regional Mgr for GC. I talked to him about that bass, he said it was an example of an uninformed store associate paying WAY too much on a trade and now the store is scrambling trying to get back some of the funds. He saw it several times when he ran various GC's.

Well, its obviously better to get zero out of an asset you overpaid for than to take a loss.

They're geniuses, I tell you!

 

[Jarrett]

That was my first experience of Carvin 20 years ago. There was a bad example of a used one in a local store. It was beat up, set up really poorly, nasty old strings, played and sounded terrible. I shied away from them for 20 years due to that.

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

If it's any consolation, that's actually the most common failure mode with electronics - it's called "infant mortality". Chances are, it played and sounded great at Carvin during their QC so they put it into the case and sent it to you. When you plugged in the very first time, it could have popped and went Tango Uniform right then and there before you ever heard a peep.

Like I said, very common... Once they make it past the first week or so, they'll almost never die tho...

LS

That's why so many manufacturers don't even blink when a bad pre is reported on a new bass, I suppose. Carvin has always sent new pres out without hesitation.

In the words of Sgt. Lincoln Osiris, one of the greatest philosophers of our time….

 

[Freddels]

My really good friend is a Regional Mgr for GC. I talked to him about that bass, he said it was an example of an uninformed store associate paying WAY too much on a trade and now the store is scrambling trying to get back some of the funds. He saw it several times when he ran various GC's.

I've been in GC when someone tries to trade something in and it always takes a manager to sign off on the deal. So I doubt it was just an uninformed associate.

 

[DwaynieAD]

Any Carvin owners in the Harrisburg, PA area? I would love to play one.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

I'm getting very close to pulling the trigger on one of these basses. I'm trying to get my final specs together. I'm wondering if any of you could offer your opinions on either of these things.

1. This bass will be primarily for covers. Hence, long gigs. That makes me think I should get a chambered version, to reduce weight. But that adds $300 to the cost of the bass, and I'm not really all that interested in a fancy top. Does the chambering *noticably* reduce weight?

2. I'm thinking of getting the 5-piece neck. This is solely because I'm getting the 5-string version, and I'm thinking the multi-piece laminate neck would add strength to hold up under the extra tension of that low B. Care to school me otherwise (and save me $90)?

Sorry if this has been covered, I'll confess I didn't really search

 

[G On Bass]

1. This bass will be primarily for covers. Hence, long gigs. That makes me think I should get a chambered version, to reduce weight. But that adds $300 to the cost of the bass, and I'm not really all that interested in a fancy top. Does the chambering *noticably* reduce weight?

-Get a nice, padded strap. I use the NeoTech Mega Bass strap (w/Dunlop Straplocks) , I can wear 11 pound basses all night (my Carvins are no more than low 9lbs.) and I'm no spring chicken.

-2. I'm thinking of getting the 5-piece neck. This is solely because I'm getting the 5-string version, and I'm thinking the multi-piece laminate neck would add strength to hold up under the extra tension of that low B. Care to school me otherwise (and save me $90)?

I have all Carvins with single piece necks, and have had them strung with high tension flats for a year or more. No issues whatsoever with either bolt ons or neckthroughs. I have another non-Carvin bass with a 5 piece neck that is pretty thick, and the Carvins have required no more set up than that one, which is pretty much none. Unless I change to a different brand/style of string.

 

[rmars]

I'm getting very close to pulling the trigger on one of these basses. I'm trying to get my final specs together. I'm wondering if any of you could offer your opinions on either of these things.

1. This bass will be primarily for covers. Hence, long gigs. That makes me think I should get a chambered version, to reduce weight. But that adds $300 to the cost of the bass, and I'm not really all that interested in a fancy top. Does the chambering *noticably* reduce weight?

2. I'm thinking of getting the 5-piece neck. This is solely because I'm getting the 5-string version, and I'm thinking the multi-piece laminate neck would add strength to hold up under the extra tension of that low B. Care to school me otherwise (and save me $90)?

Sorry if this has been covered, I'll confess I didn't really search

1. Call and specify you want a light body and they will pick you out a light piece (mine will be here any day so I can tell you then if they really do) or there is a $150 Chambered Option if you choose the SB5000 bass builder.
2. I considered a 5 piece neck but was concerned it may alter the 70's J vibe and add weight. If the wood is decent and well made I don't think stiffness will be a big deal. Keep in mind a that the bass uses full string spacing so that extra width should more than make up for the extra B string tension. That said I'm sure a 5 piece neck would be very nice and l like the idea of it.

 

[rmars]

-Get a nice, padded strap. I use the NeoTech Mega Bass strap (w/Dunlop Straplocks) , I can wear 11 pound basses all night (my Carvins are no more than low 9lbs.) and I'm no spring chicken.

I have a Comfort Strap and a wide leather strap but with my 9.5lb bass I get the worst pinches in my shoulder by the 3rd set. I'm a good size guy and in decent shape but it's amazing how bad that pinch gets, may have to try one of those NeoTech's.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

1. Call and specify you want a light body and they will pick you out a light piece (mine will be here any day so I can tell you then if they really do) or there is a $150 Chambered Option if you choose the SB5000 bass builder.

Thanks! I missed that "chambered option". I didn't want the fancy top, and it's in that list, so I just kept passing it by. That sounds like a good solution for me. I may call them too, as you suggest.

You must be getting pretty psyched! This will be my fourth Carvin, and the third one I've ordered direct (the first was used, and it created a monster ) so I know well the excitement and anticipation.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

-Get a nice, padded strap. I use the NeoTech Mega Bass strap (w/Dunlop Straplocks) , I can wear 11 pound basses all night (my Carvins are no more than low 9lbs.) and I'm no spring chicken.

I've never weighed my basses, so I don't really know how many pounds I'm dealing with, but I've got two Carvins made of walnut (the new one will be alder). One has the figured walnut top, and the other is solid walnut. Both are fairly heavy, but the solid walnut is a boat anchor. Luckily, I don't really gig that one. The one with the figured top is my main bass for originals (one-hour gigs, mostly). I'm just transitioning back into covers after about 10 years of originals only. As I'm closing in on 40, I'm a little concerned about stamina for a 4-hour gig, so weight is "weighing" on my mind. (Feel free to groan here ). And yes, this will be a 40th b-day present to myself.

Thanks for the heads-up on that strap. I'm currently using a 4"-wide leather strap that also has a layer of padding in the middle (just like me ). It's fairly comfortable, but if I start finding fatigue to be a problem, I will check out the Neo-Tech as you suggest.

 

[fivestringgecko]

Just got off the phone with Steve... SB5k ordered.

5sg.

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

Just got off the phone with Steve... SB5k ordered.

5sg.

Nice! Do tell...

 

[fivestringgecko]

Nice! Do tell...

Uhhhh... it's a bass? LOL

LOL. Seriously though... I'm keeping the specs under wraps for now. You guys will know when I post pics.

5sg.

 

[fivestringgecko]

I'll tease you a little though... this is the strap that will go with it.

5sg.