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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 8!

#281
WoodyG3 said:
I would go with rosewood, as well, for the fretboard, and mahogany, koa or alder for the body. J99A pickups are on the bright side, so you might consider the H50A pickups, as well. I would remember, though, that it's always easier to warm up a slightly bright sounding bass than it is to try to brighten up a bass that lacks the upper end you might want at times.
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How versatile would you consider the j99a's? I've heard really good things about them which is why I wanted to try them out. I generally go for a darker tone but my bass that I have now does that decently well and I wouldn't mind having some variety
 
#282
ImageUploadedByTalkBass1370913874.932199.jpgWould like to join the club. Here's my 2 SB5000's. best basses I've ever owned ! I had the Carvin soap-bars pups installed locally and now the basses sound even more incredible. Wonder why Carvin doesn't offer this as an option?
 
#284
plong123 said:
I've never seen or played an Icon in person. Since you have two four stringers, how do they compare tonally? Do you use them interchangeably, or does each have it's purpose?
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LOL. My wife probably wishes I ONLY had 2. I also have a couple of LB70s, and 4 other non-Carvin basses.

Anyway, the Icon with the soapbar humbuckers is a fairly modern tone, deep and similar to many of the Bartolini soapbar pickups in tone. They are very hot, and very deep, with not a lot of upper end. The J-99A, of course, has that typical single coil sizzle thing going, so the basses sound very different.

Hope that helps a little.
 
#286
xMaxBASSx said:
How versatile would you consider the j99a's? I've heard really good things about them which is why I wanted to try them out. I generally go for a darker tone but my bass that I have now does that decently well and I wouldn't mind having some variety
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I don't know that you can get a real dark tone out of the J99A without turning the tone knob way down and getting pretty muddy. I can't with my SB4000 anyway. That's not to say that you can't get some good bottom end, but the J99A is a pretty bright sounding pickup in my opinion. It's a great sounding pickup, for sure, just not dark at all. You could order with J99 pickups, and if they don't give you quite what you want, you could always switch out and give the H50 pickups a whirl.
 
#288
WoodyG3 said:
LOL. My wife probably wishes I ONLY had 2. I also have a couple of LB70s, and 4 other non-Carvin basses.

Anyway, the Icon with the soapbar humbuckers is a fairly modern tone, deep and similar to many of the Bartolini soapbar pickups in tone. They are very hot, and very deep, with not a lot of upper end. The J-99A, of course, has that typical single coil sizzle thing going, so the basses sound very different.

Hope that helps a little.
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Weren't you selling or trading that SB4?
 
#294
WoodyG3 said:
I would go with rosewood, as well, for the fretboard, and mahogany, koa or alder for the body. J99A pickups are on the bright side, so you might consider the H50A pickups, as well. I would remember, though, that it's always easier to warm up a slightly bright sounding bass than it is to try to brighten up a bass that lacks the upper end you might want at times.
Click to expand...

I second this. As a bass player, a band mate and a sound guy, I've learned that its always better to be a little bright than being too thick. I've had to learn the hard way that just because something sounds good when I'm practicing by myself doesn't mean it's gonna sit well in the house.
At first I was cautious about the J99A's because of how bright it sounded (and at times it sounded thin, mostly due to bad quality videos). But having an articulate tone is wayyyy easier to beef up in the mix than a pile of tonal crap. Just like my janitorial grandfather used to say, "It's hard to polish a turd."

Amen, grandpa.
 
#295
WoodyG3 said:
Lakland 44-01 with US Barts and LH3 pre. WAY to dark for me. The SB4000 was way too bright for the guy I traded with. We were both just caught up in the wanting something new and different.
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Those are nice. I almost went that route myself. I think I would have still been happy with either bass, except I would have had to replace those Bart pickups.
 
#296
xMaxBASSx said:
Hey guys,
So I wanted to buy a new bass as a graduation present to myself and I've been obsessed with carvin ever since my brother got a carvin guitar. I've decided I want to get an SB5000. my question is what wood combination will give me the warmest tone. I know that I want a birdseye maple fretboard but thats more for looks. all the best looking sb's that ive seen have had them. from reading the descriptions on the website It seems like mahogany would be the wood Im looking for. should i get mahogany body and a maple neck or mahogany for both the body and neck? thanks
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Alder body, rosewood fretboard for the warmth..

The fretboard has a bigger impact on sound than the body. Neck wood will have very little impact. Alder is a nice smooth, balanced tone wood. Alder is also the lightest of all the wood options. Personally, I think it sounds the best in a solid body bass or guitar.

I'm so close to ordering my own sb4000. I definitely, without a doubt, have alder/rosewood. I like maple necks, and will go with the 5 piece all-maple neck; not for sound but for stability.
 
#297
bASsplayer103 said:
I second this. As a bass player, a band mate and a sound guy, I've learned that its always better to be a little bright than being too thick. I've had to learn the hard way that just because something sounds good when I'm practicing by myself doesn't mean it's gonna sit well in the house.
At first I was cautious about the J99A's because of how bright it sounded (and at times it sounded thin, mostly due to bad quality videos). But having an articulate tone is wayyyy easier to beef up in the mix than a pile of tonal crap. Just like my janitorial grandfather used to say, "It's hard to polish a turd."

Amen, grandpa.
Click to expand...

Yea guys! I will second that second! I'm using an SB5001 with maple board, ash body, j99a pickups, pro steels. This bass defines what is a bright bass. When I do like non-solo type slapping, I turn the tone down 1/2 and treble boosted only abt 1/10. But beefing it up to a fat finger tone is so so much simpler than dialing up a articulate tone with my old jazz bass with Barts.

So never scrimp on the brightness guys, it's never a problem
 

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