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 8!
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
- Start date
Yeah, I was just noticing the similarity to a tort guard a little while ago. Wild.
About the choices - thanks. I have an almost embarrassingly large folder of just about every SB5000 picture I could find on the interwebz, plus hundreds of pictures of Carvin instruments that had a look I really liked, combined with screenshots of a TON of daydream-builds on the build-a-bass part of Carvin's website. I was a little obsessive in finding the right look. A couple pages back in this thread I posted the 3 Carvin guitars and basses that most inspired my choices - Post 163
Here in Columbus - there's a guy who does this fulltime named Tony. Check out his website at
http://www.pickguardian.com
Definitely love the clear pickguard!
So today is the day...I sold my P bass and I'm about to call Carvin to order it! Here are the specs I'm thinking and I'd love to hear your thoughts!
MT - Plain Maple Top $80.00
-MA - Maple Neck/Alder Body (Standard) $0.00
-CG - Clear Gloss Finish (Standard) $0.00
TU - Sunset Burst $30.00
5MM - 5-Piece All-Maple Neck $90.00
-TN - Tung Oil Finish Back Of Neck (Standard) $0.00
-SBH - SB-Style Headstock (Standard) $0.00
BMNH - Birdseye Maple Natural Clear Headstock (Non-Painted) $30.00
FMF - Flamed Maple Fingerboard (Tung-Oiled) $60.00
ABD - Abalone Dot Inlays $20.00
STF - Stainless Med-Jumbo Frets .048" H .103" W $40.00
-R14 - 14in Fretboard Radius (Standard) $0.00
-J9A - J99A Alnico Single Coil Pickups (Standard) $0.00
-BLK - Black Pickups $0.00
-CH - Chrome Hardware (Standard) $0.00
-5011 - Nickel Roundwound .040 .060 .080 .100 .128 $0.00
ABL - Abalone Logo $30.00
AK - Metal Knobs w/ Abalone Inlays $10.00
RP - Red Tortoise Pickguard $15.00
WP - White Pearloid Pickguard $15.00
Going with the 2 pickguards just to have the option!
So today is the day...I sold my P bass and I'm about to call Carvin to order it! Here are the specs I'm thinking and I'd love to hear your thoughts!
MT - Plain Maple Top $80.00
-MA - Maple Neck/Alder Body (Standard) $0.00
-CG - Clear Gloss Finish (Standard) $0.00
TU - Sunset Burst $30.00
5MM - 5-Piece All-Maple Neck $90.00
-TN - Tung Oil Finish Back Of Neck (Standard) $0.00
-SBH - SB-Style Headstock (Standard) $0.00
BMNH - Birdseye Maple Natural Clear Headstock (Non-Painted) $30.00
FMF - Flamed Maple Fingerboard (Tung-Oiled) $60.00
ABD - Abalone Dot Inlays $20.00
STF - Stainless Med-Jumbo Frets .048" H .103" W $40.00
-R14 - 14in Fretboard Radius (Standard) $0.00
-J9A - J99A Alnico Single Coil Pickups (Standard) $0.00
-BLK - Black Pickups $0.00
-CH - Chrome Hardware (Standard) $0.00
-5011 - Nickel Roundwound .040 .060 .080 .100 .128 $0.00
ABL - Abalone Logo $30.00
AK - Metal Knobs w/ Abalone Inlays $10.00
RP - Red Tortoise Pickguard $15.00
WP - White Pearloid Pickguard $15.00
Going with the 2 pickguards just to have the option!
If you're going with the flamed fretboard, I'd suggest the flamed headstock (not birdseye) or plain. I would think the birdseye and flame wouldn't be the best match.
I quoted my highlights.
1) Plain maple top, 5-piece maple neck, flame maple board, and birdseye maple headstock. Very interesting maple choices! Can't say that I've seen one in that configuration. How did you come to that decision?
2) Tort guard and pearl guard - I love pickguard choices! LOL
Yeah, why the plain maple top? Since you're not ordering a chambered body, just wondering why the plain?
I'd love the flame headstock, if they offered one that was a plain flame (didn't see the choice in their online builder). I personally don't like the look of a headstock that matches body. I don't know why, maybe because I'm so used to the Fender look. Something about it...I'd rather have the attention on the body of the guitar, not the headstock.
They offer the flamed maple on the headstock. Maybe you just overlooked it but I'm pretty sure I've seen it hundreds of times.
I would love the flamed maple top with the Umber Sunset burst, but I'm a young married guy and the extra 200 bucks to do that might push the wifey over the limit. :/
I'd love a flamed board with a flamed headstock. If they can do that, I might go with that. Do you think a plain maple top with the flamed board and head would look weird?
I think the plain maple top is a waste of money. Just go with the plain body wood and the burst finish that you want.
They offer the flamed maple on the headstock. Maybe you just overlooked it but I'm pretty sure I've seen it hundreds of times.
MPH - Satin Maple Headstock (Standard)
BMNH - Birdseye Maple Natural Clear Headstock (Non-Painted)
BMPH - Birdseye Maple Headstock Matches Body Finish
BPH - Black Painted Headstock
FKPH - Flamed Koa Headstock Matches Body Finish
FPH - Flamed Maple Headstock Matches Body Finish
FWPH - Figured Walnut Headstock Matches Body Finish
HPH - Mahogany Headstock Matches Body Color
KPH - Koa Headstock Matches Body Finish
PH - Headstock To Match Body Finish
QPH - Quilted Maple Headstock Matches Body Finish
SMPH - Spalted Maple Headstock Matches Body Finish
UMPH - Burled Maple Headstock
WPH - Walnut Headstock Matches Body Finish
Maybe they just forgot to add a Plain Flamed headstock?
I would suggest that once you got everything the way you want it, call them and place your order over the phone. I'm sure they'll do the flamed maple headstock with clear finish.
Yeah I was planning on calling to place it...
Are the Stainless frets worth it? I know they supposedly last longer, but I haven't heard much either way about it.
That online builder is kooky. It certainly doesn't have every option listed; case in point, my icon headstock. I'm pretty sure the code is -NH, for Natural headstock, as opposed to -PH, for painted headstock. So FNH or FMNH would probably get you there.
Regardless, call Carvin right now and talk to one of the guys. They'll let you know what is and isn't possible.
Regardless, call Carvin right now and talk to one of the guys. They'll let you know what is and isn't possible.
Yeah it can be silly...
For example, they don't have the signature inlays in the bass builder either.
I love the ability to build my own bass, but I think Carvin would really benefit by having a more interactive bass builder. I'd love to be able to "see" the bass I'm building. I know that no two basses are the same due to the different woods, grains and cuts, but I'd love to see the different stains on a full piece of wood and not just a little square!
For example, they don't have the signature inlays in the bass builder either.
I love the ability to build my own bass, but I think Carvin would really benefit by having a more interactive bass builder. I'd love to be able to "see" the bass I'm building. I know that no two basses are the same due to the different woods, grains and cuts, but I'd love to see the different stains on a full piece of wood and not just a little square!
I've never had stainless frets so I can't comment on that. I've read that some say they're brighter sounding. I prefer the low wide frets anyway.
Definitely call the order in. The sales person might catch some of the things mentioned already. If you want something that isn't listed on the builder, just ask them if they can do it.
Here is a great resource for seeing all kinds of options:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
If you choose finish = clear gloss and top wood = flame maple, you'll see tons of examples of that natural flame headstock. Problem is, they're all considered "matching", or "FPH" because the body is natural. But, anyway, it might ease your mind to know that the headstock can exist!
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
If you choose finish = clear gloss and top wood = flame maple, you'll see tons of examples of that natural flame headstock. Problem is, they're all considered "matching", or "FPH" because the body is natural. But, anyway, it might ease your mind to know that the headstock can exist!
I think this is the updated list...I know a sunset burst would look so killer on a flamed top, but I think I'll be happy with the classic look of the alder. (and excuse my ignorance on my last build that I shared, didn't realize that I had selected the "maple top" on my Alder body...rookie mistake!)
Maple Neck/Alder Body
TU - Sunset Burst
5MM - 5-Piece All-Maple Neck
-TN - Tung Oil Finish Back Of Neck (Standard)
-SBH - SB-Style Headstock (Standard)
FPH - Flamed Maple Headstock Matches Body Finish
FMF - Flamed Maple Fingerboard (Tung-Oiled)
ABD - Abalone Dot Inlays
STF - Stainless Med-Jumbo Frets .048" H .103" W
-BLK - Black Pickups
-CH - Chrome Hardware
ABL - Abalone Logo
AK - Metal Knobs w/ Abalone Inlays
RP - Red Tortoise Pickguard
WP - White Pearloid Pickguard
Maple Neck/Alder Body
TU - Sunset Burst
5MM - 5-Piece All-Maple Neck
-TN - Tung Oil Finish Back Of Neck (Standard)
-SBH - SB-Style Headstock (Standard)
FPH - Flamed Maple Headstock Matches Body Finish
FMF - Flamed Maple Fingerboard (Tung-Oiled)
ABD - Abalone Dot Inlays
STF - Stainless Med-Jumbo Frets .048" H .103" W
-BLK - Black Pickups
-CH - Chrome Hardware
ABL - Abalone Logo
AK - Metal Knobs w/ Abalone Inlays
RP - Red Tortoise Pickguard
WP - White Pearloid Pickguard
