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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call!

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#583
OK, Here it is -

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Specs:
Alder Body
Jet Black
Birds Eye neck
Birds eye Headstock
Tung Oil Neck
Icon Headstock.. That's pretty much it

A couple of early observations: Amazingly, this SB5000 weighs in at exactly 10lbs. I think i got lucky.

The neck is as smooth as silk to the touch. Fretwork - perfect.
Sounds out of my SWR at a low volume: Neck pickup rolled off a touch, VERY growly and defined. Everything full on, Super Funk Slap tones - At a low volume this bass seems to cover everything from Marcus to Jaco and beyond. LOVE the passive tone control mixed with the active bass and treble - it really allows you to warm up the tone while staying in that modern realm. Man, you really don't need much bass or treble boost to really make it sing too.. just a hair. I did notice that in active mode set flat it's quite a bit louder than passive, so i'll go in and adjust that little blue screw to turn down the pre a bit and even it out..

Now i just need to gig a couple of times and really put it to the test.. I'll be back after gigging..
 
#588
Really Starting to like my SB! It has tone for daaaaaaaaays! I mean - the fullest, baddest slap tone around!! and the finger tone is really exceptional.. On jazz basses i've had in the past, the really growly tone seemed to like to a few choice spots on the neck below the fifth fret (Bb, C, F etc...) The SB is so consistent with that warm growl from B to G string most of the way up the neck.

It takes me a while to really get to know a bass, so far I really really like it.

Still need to do some recording and i have a gig coming up saturday to test drive it on.

Reports to come...
 
#593
After reading all of the posts in this thread, I am almost ready to order an SB5000.
however I still have a couple of questions that I hope you can help me with.
The first question is about neck radius; I really don't care for a flat fingerboard. My reference is a Peavey GV which I sold recently, partly because of the flat finger board.
I see that only a 14" radius is available for the 5 string, but I cn't figure out what 14" translates to in feel.

Maybe someone could offer a comparison.

Secondly, after reading the whole thread I didn't see a whole lot about the B string. My reference here is a Dingwall AB2 and a Reverend Rumblefish 5. Both are long scale basses with exceptional B strings.
How is the tension on the B?

I have a pretty hard attack, slap and finger style.

Lastly does the B string speak as well as the other strings?
Listening to Sekou and others I love the tonal character of this instrument but I haven't heard anyone really lay into the B string.

Thanks, this thread is already helping me tremendously to choose before I lay out the hard earned $$.
 
#594
larryelwood said:
The tuners really don't seem crammed for space. I bet hipshot ultralite cloverleafs would work.
Click to expand...

Question for you, Larry: You chose alder over the more "popular" swamp ash... Why?

Also, how do you find it's playability? The few SB5000's I've played at the Carvin factory store were very impressive - - did you have a chance to play one before you ordered it?

And what was the total bill? Looks like you stayed pretty conservative, and so came in right around $1000 +tax - am I right?
 
#597
BigOldHarry said:
Question for you, Larry: You chose alder over the more "popular" swamp ash... Why?

Also, how do you find it's playability? The few SB5000's I've played at the Carvin factory store were very impressive - - did you have a chance to play one before you ordered it?

And what was the total bill? Looks like you stayed pretty conservative, and so came in right around $1000 +tax - am I right?
Click to expand...

Well, I Had a '75 reissue swamp ash jazz bass for a few years and it was Really Heavy for a 4 string. I've also had several alder basses, mostly jazz basses and they were always decent. I actually chose based on a hunch that the alder would be lighter. My SB is 10 lbs. Not light, but lighter than some other reports coming in. I did have a chance to play several 4's and a 5 at the Hollywood store back in April (the day i placed the order!). I actually went in prepared to order a 4 string. I've never even owned a 5 string before, not in 25 years of playing. It's incredibly inviting and easy to play. For a guy that has played Jazz basses almost exclusively for 1/4 century, it's a really easy transition to a 5. It feels waaaaay better than any 5 string fender i've ever played IMHO. Yeah, i didn't go too wild on options, the only adds were the birdsey, black pickguard and icon headstock - with shipping i think the total was $1078.
 
#598
I've not found alder to be any lighter than swamp ash... Certainly lighter than normal ash - - But the sound is different, for sure. For years and years, I only owned basses with swamp ash bodies - I got it in my head I needed that slight extra snap that swamp as gives...

Years later, I get a great deal on a Lakland 4-94 - - not a deluxe, but a standard with a black painted alder body. Man, does this bass sound *great*. Very warm, very big and great growl. I'm thinking I may be looking for Alder in my next bass, just for the sound.

And re. 4 vs 5 - - I didn't much care for ths SB4000 - I thought the neck was too chunky... but the 5000? GREAT neck. Very modern/thin feeling.

Hope your bass gigs well - let us know!
 
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