Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call!

[Wilbyman]

That's kind of a switch for you, isn't it? You usually go for four stringers, I think.

Doc...yes, true...I invariably prefer 4 string when I'm playing jazz gigs but for funk/rock/fusion/reggae I must have a low B! (thanks for noticing my preference)

I actually have 2 5 strings right now (my STR and my Willis bass) but hopefully the SB5000 will be a good all purpose bolt-on.

W

 

[gjbassist]

There is a very favorable review of the SB series basses in the current issue of Bass Player. As is usually the case with Carvin products, they were blown away by the quality of the basses for the price.

 

[emjazz]

Doc...yes, true...I invariably prefer 4 string when I'm playing jazz gigs but for funk/rock/fusion/reggae I must have a low B! (thanks for noticing my preference)

I actually have 2 5 strings right now (my STR and my Willis bass) but hopefully the SB5000 will be a good all purpose bolt-on.

W

Will, let me know what you think.....they look great, although I couldn't do the 19mm spacing.

 

[Bassist30]

I have to get one. I have a good friend (yes even I have one) who is friends with someone which I won't mention who has one of these 4 string basses. He called the person who makes his basses and said the carvin model is as good as his. I mean most of the boutique basses are made from parts. I am gasing like crazy right now for one of these. When I heard who it was and the basses he plays and he thought this carvin 4 string was as good is amazing. I think if you are into a fender type tone these basses will sell faster than anything on the market.

 

[Wilbyman]

Will, let me know what you think.....they look great, although I couldn't do the 19mm spacing.

Andy.... yeah, I am not that finicky the bridge spacing, I am happy enough with the narrow nut spacing (1.75). I might do a slightly narrower hipshot bridge if I like the bass otherwise "ala Janek" (and Joe Duran)

In case anyone is interested, mine is platinum gold (shoreline sort of) with matching headstock, alder, ebony board w/MOP blocks, pearloid guard (probably not tasteful, oh well), chrome hardware. I also got the blend knob and 3-band pre with mid sweep (standard is 2 volumes w/ bass/treble/VTC).

It shipped Friday, I will get some pics and a review up of my own.

W

 

[JoeBelc]

yours is in the latest catalog, looks UBER-sweet, I must say.

Yes it is! I was really humbled by that.

That bass does have a bit of a back story. Earlier this year, my father passed away. After we had taken care of final expenses I decided that I was going to have a custom bass built with my share of the estate. I had it narrowed down to either a Sadowsky or a Lakland. I hadn't really made up my mind which one I was going to go with or what options I was wanting. Then Carvin came out with the SB4000. I really fell for the neo-retro look of that bass. I was still lost on what options I wanted to go with though.

While we (my aunt, my eldest sister, and I) were going through old photos, I stumbled across a picture of him leaning against his first car. A '55 Chevy Belair. I had my inspiration.

After talking with my aunt, whom remembered the car, and some online research on color schemes I went to the Carvin site started going through the options. I tried to model the bass after my dad's car. I had his initials and years of life put on the truss rod cover. Now I take "Dad", which is what I call the bass, to just about all my gigs with me.

I have one (5000) on the way to me right now, shipped out today. It is very much inspired by the blue one above.

 

[narud]

Andy.... yeah, I am not that finicky the bridge spacing, I am happy enough with the narrow nut spacing (1.75). I might do a slightly narrower hipshot bridge if I like the bass otherwise "ala Janek" (and Joe Duran)

In case anyone is interested, mine is platinum gold (shoreline sort of) with matching headstock, alder, ebony board w/MOP blocks, pearloid guard (probably not tasteful, oh well), chrome hardware. I also got the blend knob and 3-band pre with mid sweep (standard is 2 volumes w/ bass/treble/VTC).

It shipped Friday, I will get some pics and a review up of my own.

W

dude, i was just telling andy what i did to the f bass. check it out

-
just discovered something pretty cool by accident. i bought another badass 5 bridge for the vf5 that was supposed to be filed for narrow spacing. it wasnt, it was jacked up. the d to g spacing was 17mm, a to d was 18 and the rest was over 19mm. i had the bridge refiled and kept the 17mm between d and g, then 17.5 between a and d, 18 between e and a, and 18.25 between b and e. it resulted in exactly 16mm between each string so you get the tight feel for fingerstyle and have a little more room to thump. cool accident.

you end with the narrower/quicker feel, but without a ton of room on either side of the b and e string.

 

[Wilbyman]

i had the bridge refiled and kept the 17mm between d and g, then 17.5 between a and d, 18 between e and a, and 18.25 between b and e. it resulted in exactly 16mm between each string

:: passes out :: You guys are nerds.

 

[narud]

:: passes out :: You guys are nerds.

just be glad youre not my repair man dude has some patience!

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Yes it is! I was really humbled by that.

That bass does have a bit of a back story. Earlier this year, my father passed away. After we had taken care of final expenses I decided that I was going to have a custom bass built with my share of the estate. I had it narrowed down to either a Sadowsky or a Lakland. I hadn't really made up my mind which one I was going to go with or what options I was wanting. Then Carvin came out with the SB4000. I really fell for the neo-retro look of that bass. I was still lost on what options I wanted to go with though.

While we (my aunt, my eldest sister, and I) were going through old photos, I stumbled across a picture of him leaning against his first car. A '55 Chevy Belair. I had my inspiration.

After talking with my aunt, whom remembered the car, and some online research on color schemes I went to the Carvin site started going through the options. I tried to model the bass after my dad's car. I had his initials and years of life put on the truss rod cover. Now I take "Dad", which is what I call the bass, to just about all my gigs with me.

sorry about your dad, but that's an awesome way to keep the memories alive.

 

[WoodyG3]

After talking with my aunt, whom remembered the car, and some online research on color schemes I went to the Carvin site started going through the options. I tried to model the bass after my dad's car. I had his initials and years of life put on the truss rod cover. Now I take "Dad", which is what I call the bass, to just about all my gigs with me.

That's great. A cool tribute to your dad!

I remember bombing around in my friend's old Chevy in high school and it was close to that color. Good memories.

 

[emjazz]

:: passes out :: You guys are nerds.

....ahem....pot calling the kettle black......

 

[Thundar]

That birdseye maple and black hardware is amazing!

yours is in the latest catalog, looks UBER-sweet, I must say.
I think this one looks fantastic with the HB5 pickup. It is currently "in-stock" at Carvin. I like the black finish on the back of the neck, too.

 

[Wilbyman]

....ahem....pot calling the kettle black......

Guilty as charged, but that doesn't mean you guys AREN'T nerds.

 

[emjazz]

Guilty as charged, but that doesn't mean you guys AREN'T nerds.

I accept your compliment.

 

[Sterling_Bass]

eastcoasteddie, that one really looks awesome. Very cool vibe going on there.

 

[Wilbyman]

I accept your compliment.

I guess maybe that is a compliment at Berklee?

 

[peterbright]

I have 2 SB4000's & love them both J99a's in one & HB2 & J99a in the other.

 

[emjazz]

Will, did you get that bass yet?

 

[Melly Mel]

If you could only have one (SB5000 or IC5) which would it be and why?