Here's my SB4001. I use it all the time..
That's a real classy look you've got working there, bluesdragon. And your bass is sharp too!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 7!
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
- Status
That's a real classy look you've got working there, bluesdragon. And your bass is sharp too!
The brown truck came and picked up my SB5000 this morning. I kept some of the case candy so I could get that New Carvin Smell when I get lonely. Looking like middle of May for the return.
Mine's going back as well but not to return. Last night when I plugged in it made a fizzle sound and I smelled electronics burning. Open the control cavity and a corner of the shielding was sticking out in the same area as the hot wire is soldered in the circuit board. I'm assuming that fried it.
If anyone gets it from the Carvin showroom make them put a new nut on it before you buy it. I shimmed the strings with some paper but it's cut to low and the B has really bad back buzz. Also when I was inspecting it to see what happend I noticed 1/4 of the control cavity wasn't shielded. It buzzed pretty bad (not single coil buzz) with the pre flat if I wasn't touching the strings, bridge or controls.
The open E and B sound particularly hollow and have little to no punch to them with both pickups on full, not sure why that is. At first I thought it was a string or pickup height issue but tried changing string and lowering the pickups and still sounded super wimpy. I only use bone for nut material so maybe that's just what Tusq does for open strings. The A thru G sound fine but the E and the B sound wrong. I thought my SX E string was a little wimpy but it punches like a mule compared to the Carvin.
Otherwise the bass if gorgeous, extremely playable and capable of super low, buzz free action if you pluck at the bridge p/u. Hands down the nicest fretwork of any bass I've ever owned and that includes 2 US Laklands, a Plek'd US G&L, a couple German made Warwick Dolphins.
The Carvin guy was really nice and offered to do a rebuild but I've been dying for one of these for 2 yrs and now I'm just bummed out on it. A heart breaker for sure....
If anyone gets it from the Carvin showroom make them put a new nut on it before you buy it. I shimmed the strings with some paper but it's cut to low and the B has really bad back buzz. Also when I was inspecting it to see what happend I noticed 1/4 of the control cavity wasn't shielded. It buzzed pretty bad (not single coil buzz) with the pre flat if I wasn't touching the strings, bridge or controls.
The open E and B sound particularly hollow and have little to no punch to them with both pickups on full, not sure why that is. At first I thought it was a string or pickup height issue but tried changing string and lowering the pickups and still sounded super wimpy. I only use bone for nut material so maybe that's just what Tusq does for open strings. The A thru G sound fine but the E and the B sound wrong. I thought my SX E string was a little wimpy but it punches like a mule compared to the Carvin.
Otherwise the bass if gorgeous, extremely playable and capable of super low, buzz free action if you pluck at the bridge p/u. Hands down the nicest fretwork of any bass I've ever owned and that includes 2 US Laklands, a Plek'd US G&L, a couple German made Warwick Dolphins.
The Carvin guy was really nice and offered to do a rebuild but I've been dying for one of these for 2 yrs and now I'm just bummed out on it. A heart breaker for sure....
Mine's going back as well but not to return. Last night when I plugged in it made a fizzle sound and I smelled electronics burning. Open the control cavity and a corner of the shielding was sticking out in the same area as the hot wire is soldered in the circuit board. I'm assuming that fried it.
If anyone gets it from the Carvin showroom make them put a new nut on it before you buy it. I shimmed it with some paper but it's cut to low and the B has really bad back buzz. Also when I was inspecting it to see what happend I noticed 1/4 of the control cavity wasn't shielded. It buzzed pretty bad (not single coil buzz) with the pre flat if I wasn't touching the strings, bridge or controls.
The open E and B sound particularly hollow and have little to no punch to them with both pickups on full, not sure why that is. At first I thought it was a string or pickup height issue but tried changing string and lowering the pickups and still sounded super wimpy. I only use bone for nut material so maybe that's just what Tusq does for open strings. The A thru G sound fine but the E and the B sound wrong. I thought my SX E string was a little wimpy but it punches like a mule compared to the Carvin.
Otherwise the bass if gorgeous, extremely playable and capable of super low, buzz free action if you pluck at the bridge p/u. Hands down the nicest fretwork of any bass I've ever owned and that includes 2 US Laklands, a Plek'd US G&L, a couple German made Warwick Dolphins.
The Carvin guy was really nice and offered to do a rebuild but I've been dying for one of these for 2 yrs and now I'm just bummed out on it. A heart breaker for sure....
I'd exchange it. Sounds like a lemon.
Bummer...
I'm starting to get spooked about my order, reading about these problems...
5sg.
Worst thing is that you send it back and get refunded. No reason to be spooked.
I think it has some issues but wouldn't call it a lemon. I repair my own basses and could easily make a bone nut, replace the preamp and do a proper shielding job if I wanted just not in the mood to deal with it. Was hoping this would just be a bass I could pull out of the case, do a little set up and play. Don't need/want anymore projects (or project basses) right now.
Agreed. If my 60's J custom build wasn't turning out so promising I probably would have let them do a rebuild and changed some stuff. S&$# happens and generally to me so I don't take it personally. The playability of the bass is amazing.
Bassist4Eris
Frat-Pack Sympathizer
I'm starting to get spooked about my order, reading about these problems...
5sg.
I'm getting cold feet, too. Last week I was all set to place an order. Something told me to wait, and then this thread kind of took a turn. Now I'm thinking maybe I should just check my local shops for a good Fender Jazz.
The thing is, I own several Carvins, two of which were ordered within the last three years. No problems. But a company is only as good as its employees. Who knows if they've got a few sloppy workers in there recently.
A problem here and there is to be expected. But there's an awful lot of problems being reported in this thread in a pretty short period of time. And while Funkinthetrunk has a point, I'd rather not get into the hassle and dissappointment of having to ship my new bass back.
I think I may just watch this thread for a while and see if things improve.
I STRONGLY agree that Carvin should have a rep on TB. I don't care for the look or tone of Warwicks, but the fact that they have someone on TB answering questions and dealing with customer service impresses me.
Sorry to hear about the issues, I hope its just a couple of unfortunate mishaps.
I just got back from the Dallas Guitar Show and got to play some Musicman, Us Lakland, Skyline Lakland, Mike Lull, Metro Sadowsky and one NYC Sadowsky basses and I was happy to come home to my SB's.
I played a nice Mike Lull 5 P/J through a new, small Mesa tube bass amp. The amp didn't sound that great to me. The bass played great, but I really didn't like the sound of the electronics compared to my SBs.
All of those were great basses, but I came away feeling very fortunate that I prefer the neck profile and electronics of my SB's to those basses. Thanks Carvin.
I just got back from the Dallas Guitar Show and got to play some Musicman, Us Lakland, Skyline Lakland, Mike Lull, Metro Sadowsky and one NYC Sadowsky basses and I was happy to come home to my SB's.
I played a nice Mike Lull 5 P/J through a new, small Mesa tube bass amp. The amp didn't sound that great to me. The bass played great, but I really didn't like the sound of the electronics compared to my SBs.
All of those were great basses, but I came away feeling very fortunate that I prefer the neck profile and electronics of my SB's to those basses. Thanks Carvin.
- Jul 3, 2004
- 1,300
- 641
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball MusicMan Guitars
Easy now.
Ah..the problem with Talkbass. Especially with the MEGA THREADS..where pages and pages contain conversations of 4 people or less. Usually a bitch session
How many people have ordered with NO problems..that don't even come here?
10 Day Return period.
One of my students just got the SB4000...Flawless..
He doesn't know what Talkbass is...nor am I going to tell him...
cuz I don't want him to talk about "Low Resale" during lessons.
I'm gonna get one..betcha it's gonna be great.
- Jul 3, 2004
- 1,300
- 641
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball MusicMan Guitars
Bassist4Eris
Frat-Pack Sympathizer
Yeah, I hear you. It's just that the one I've got spec'd out will run me about $1400, which is a lot of money for me. I have it, and I can spend it, but I'm nervous about spending all that money, especially having so recently bought other instruments. So I guess I'm easily spooked. In any event, there's no hurry for me, so a little more thinking time can't hurt.
"Low Resale" during lessons: LOL
Just for the sake of speaking out for the best case scenario, I had no problems at all with my SB4000. A little more than two years in and still loving it. I'm considering purchasing an SB5000 this summer.
QC problems are really frustrating, especially with a made to order purchase. However, at least Carvin has a good return policy and they deal with their mistakes. There's no such thing as a company that never makes mistakes, but there are plenty that really don't care about keeping their customers happy once they've got their money.
QC problems are really frustrating, especially with a made to order purchase. However, at least Carvin has a good return policy and they deal with their mistakes. There's no such thing as a company that never makes mistakes, but there are plenty that really don't care about keeping their customers happy once they've got their money.
I've had my SB 4000 for over 2 years - zero issues. Bought an SB 5000 10 months ago - play it every day, have gigged with it - zero issues. I've never heard of quality control issues with Carvin until some recent posts within this thread. And, I've read this thread for many months now. I think the SB series are well regarded, and you'll be good to go to get one.
I will say that I've read/heard nothing but positives about the SB series, and the last few problems being reported are the only things I've read that have been other than glowing reviews. I also agree (and am aware of) the phenomenon of Talkbass where the people with problems are the ones who come say something. And yeah, no company is perfect.
It's just that this is the first bass I've bought in 4 years, and yeah... mine spec'd at just over $1500, so I'm really hoping it's one of the "flawless" SB's. Just a little nervous I guess. I was the same way with my Stambaugh.
One week into the waiting game doesn't help either. lol
5sg.
It's just that this is the first bass I've bought in 4 years, and yeah... mine spec'd at just over $1500, so I'm really hoping it's one of the "flawless" SB's. Just a little nervous I guess. I was the same way with my Stambaugh.
One week into the waiting game doesn't help either. lol
5sg.
Nobody should be spooked about any Carvin bass. Sure, mine had a few things different than what I thought I ordered but for the past few years, I've never had an issue with it. It plays like a dream and sounds absolutely fabulous. If I could only have one bass for the rest of my life, it would probably be my choice. I will order another one.
- Status
