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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call!

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#265
I'll try to get some pics up here. I have a natural ash/maple/maple board SB5000. The last two recording sessions I've done my Modulus Quantum 6 (the A studio bass) has stayed in the bag while the SB5000 did every track. Great tone, dead quiet, pockets great with a band, a total winner!
 
#266
I know KayCee sent his back due to the weight issue, and maybe I'm used to heavier basses, but mine, which is an ash body seems just fine to me, definitely lighter than the Stingray 5 I've been playing...so you know which bass will now become the main one! I've only played it thru my little practice amp, but it's so obvious that it sounds great; I'm really happy. It feels great, looks great, that neck is wonderful too. I'm hoping my friends with the Sadowskys and Alleva's dig it, as that neck just rocks in my opinion. I love the looks too, AND the finish, the spacing is comfy as well and I don't have huge mits either, and my little photos don't do justice. I know not everyone likes EVERYTHING but this thing is so much lighter than my Stingray and around the weight of my Wal 5, that I think I'll commit to her !
 
#272
Commreman said:
Great! I can't wait to hear your review, especially how the tone stacks up against the SB. Do these basses have identical electronics?
Click to expand...

I'd like to add that I'm really anxious to compare the two instruments myself. Carvin's given this model almost no hype compared to the SB5000, and the body styling doesn't have the flair of the SB. I wonder what the sales ratio of SB's is -vs.- the B40 & B50 series. 10-1? 50-1?
100-1?

And, what if Sekou's name was attached to these basses as well (with names like the "SB4010" and "SB5010"), and they had him make six smokin' videos playing these instruments. Do you suppose they might sell a few more?
 
#274
Jazzdogg said:
Was the guy with the very tall hair blonde? If so, I wonder if he's the same guy who used to work at the GC in San Marcos?
Click to expand...

Blonde/white, but I don't know about the SM store (I got given attitude there once years ago and haven't been back since). I *do* know that sales guys at different stores do float around quite a bit (been there, done that myself).
 
#277
Okay the UPS man arrived very shortly after my last post.

While this isn't a "B40/B50" thread, there seems to be a lot of interest here in this bass.

First impressions:
The bass looks beautiful. This isn't a big surprise, as Carvin has always impressed me with their finishes. This is a honeyburst with maple board, SB headstock, chrome, and cream-colored pickups. I shot a couple of photos that I'll upload later on.

I then weighed the bass, which is not something I would typically do next with a new axe. 9.7 lbs.. Not bad, a half-pound less than the SB5000 that I had. That's pretty much in line with the weight difference shown in their specs. Whether the ash -vs- alder actually made some of that difference, I suppose I'll never know, especially since weights of wood pieces vary even within a species.

Okay, time to plug it in and play. The neck feels identical to the SB5000. Tonally, we're very much in the same zone, though I can hear the subtle difference an ash body makes. A little less low mid-bark, maybe a little more "open" to my ears. Possibly less in the lower-lows as well. First impression is that it is very sweet sounding and even throughout it's range.

Once a bass passes the "first 10-minute" test, it's time to get out the wrenches and screwdrivers and get the setup right. The neck had a slight bow, so that came first. The truss rod was so loose that I thought the rod was stripped, the allen wrench turned so easily. They must put almost zero tension on the truss rod at the factory because they don't know the climate the bass will ship to. Anyway, a half-turn later, the neck was in business, and time to intonate the bridge.

The bridge setup was really quite good, especially once the neck relief was set properly. The intonation was set very close, though I still had to make some adjustments. The tapered B string brings that saddle forward from it's normal position (typically furthest back of all the strings).

Okay, now I'm going to go play the thing and report back later. I'll be glad to answer any questions I can.

Hope this helps.
 
#278
KayCee said:
I then weighed the bass, which is not something I would typically do next with a new axe. 9.7 lbs.. Not bad, a half-pound less than the SB5000 that I had. That's pretty much in line with the weight difference shown in their specs. Whether the ash -vs- alder actually made some of that difference, I suppose I'll never know, especially since weights of wood pieces vary even within a species.
Click to expand...

I think I said this before but my theory is that they're quoting the 1/2 pound difference because of the rear route, pickguard and lack of control plate. I am interested that the ash didn't come out lighter because the sales rep told me it was appreciably lighter than the alder.
 
#279
i just ordered another SB-5000 only fretted...
Icon head stock
mahogany body/Spalted Maple top w/ sunburst edge
Ebony finger board w/no markers
tort p/guard
black hardware
vol/vol, a/p tone, treble bass stack

Now for the wait... @ notfrets5 beautiful instrument by the way!
 
#280
KayCee said:
Okay the UPS man arrived very shortly after my last post.

While this isn't a "B40/B50" thread, there seems to be a lot of interest here in this bass.

First impressions:
The bass looks beautiful. This isn't a big surprise, as Carvin has always impressed me with their finishes. This is a honeyburst with maple board, SB headstock, chrome, and cream-colored pickups. I shot a couple of photos that I'll upload later on.

I then weighed the bass, which is not something I would typically do next with a new axe. 9.7 lbs.. Not bad, a half-pound less than the SB5000 that I had. That's pretty much in line with the weight difference shown in their specs. Whether the ash -vs- alder actually made some of that difference, I suppose I'll never know, especially since weights of wood pieces vary even within a species.

Okay, time to plug it in and play. The neck feels identical to the SB5000. Tonally, we're very much in the same zone, though I can hear the subtle difference an ash body makes. A little less low mid-bark, maybe a little more "open" to my ears. Possibly less in the lower-lows as well. First impression is that it is very sweet sounding and even throughout it's range.

Once a bass passes the "first 10-minute" test, it's time to get out the wrenches and screwdrivers and get the setup right. The neck had a slight bow, so that came first. The truss rod was so loose that I thought the rod was stripped, the allen wrench turned so easily. They must put almost zero tension on the truss rod at the factory because they don't know the climate the bass will ship to. Anyway, a half-turn later, the neck was in business, and time to intonate the bridge.

The bridge setup was really quite good, especially once the neck relief was set properly. The intonation was set very close, though I still had to make some adjustments. The tapered B string brings that saddle forward from it's normal position (typically furthest back of all the strings).

Okay, now I'm going to go play the thing and report back later. I'll be glad to answer any questions I can.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Am I missing something here, but where's a pic of your bass? And isn't this a SB4000/5000 thread? I don't get it.:help: I'm a Carvin bass owner, infact I've got 2, but come on.:rolleyes:
 
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