Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call!

[phillipkregg]

Jarrett,

I too have been on the fence as to whether or not send back the SB5000 - and i keep coming back to the same thing. What other bass out there will match the quality, versatility and tone in this price range? I can't think of another bass that has the active passive set up with the passive tone control in this price range. My bass is slowly growing on me though. The only other bass i would consider for my style would be a lakland Skyline Joe osborn, but then again you lose the active option... I have one day left to decide... But i think it's a keeper.

I love my Skyline Joe Osborn bass... but I would kill for one of those Carvin SB5000's ... LOL.

Seriously though, I'm looking at ordering an SB pretty soon - hopefully. One of the big selling points to me is that it not only sounds and looks awesome, but it's a 34" scale on a five string.

My Joe is a 35" scale - and to me it's quite a big difference. My hands aren't exactly gargantuan so 34 is easier to play on for me.

 

[Jarrett]

I'm definitely not on the fence anymore. I've fallen into Carvin's backyard and planning on camping out a while

I literally dig the bass more each time I pick it up. I'm transcribing Pino Palladino's bass line to Mayer's "Who did you think I was?" right now and thoroughly enjoying it much. The combo of the passive tone, bass, treble is allowing me to dial in a half way decent Pino tone even. KILLER bass.

 

[bottomzone]

The Carvin seem kinda on the heavy side. 9-10lbs. The $4000 Saowskys are like 7.5lbs I think.

$4000 for 7.5 lbs is very heavy to me!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

 

[Jarrett]

$4000 for 7.5 lbs is very heavy to me!!!

Me too, brother

 

[Wilbyman]

$4000 for 7.5 lbs is very heavy to me!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

Sadowsky gets those light weights by chambering the body. I think the chambering makes the basses sound and respond weirdly...at least the alder bodies. Just my .02. I will take a stout 9-10lbs axe before I will lay out that kind of money for a hollowed J.

W

 

[jzucker]

The metro I had wasn't the lightest but it sounded great. The low b was tighter than the carvin. Not sure why but it was.

 

[Jarrett]

The Metro I had didn't sound anywhere near as good as my SB5000. Maybe I had a bad one.

 

[jzucker]

The Metro I had didn't sound anywhere near as good as my SB5000. Maybe I had a bad one.

I've had several metros that just killed. Let's just say if you have the dough to spend on the sadowsky and it fits you ergonomically you can't go wrong.

 

[Jarrett]

I'm glad we don't have to spend that kinda cash to get that kinda quality anymore. Now if the SB would just come in 24 fret...

 

[jzucker]

I'm glad we don't have to spend that kinda cash to get that kinda quality anymore. Now if the SB would just come in 24 fret...

you get get a used metro for $1650. Not that big a difference. Maybe when the sb series starts showing up in the emporium...

One thing I noticed yesterday is single coil hum. I'm going to have to replace the pickups. I'll probably go with the dimarzio ultra jazz pickups unless carvin has a decent noiseless. Anyone know?

 

[Handyman]

One thing I noticed yesterday is single coil hum. I'm going to have to replace the pickups. I'll probably go with the dimarzio ultra jazz pickups unless carvin has a decent noiseless. Anyone know?

Carvin has the H50a pickups, which are more or less a stacked noiseless version of the J99a. JayCee recently posted audio clips of his bass with both. For my money, they sound pretty darn similar, though the H50a is has a bit less treble.

After hearing the clips, I swapped out the J99a in my BB75 with a H50a, and couldn't be happier. I'd always felt that the bass had a bit too much high end zing when using the neck pickup, and its now just about right to my ears with the H50a in there.

Your mileage may very depending on how much high end zing you like in your sound. They are dead quiet, though.

Here's the KayCee's youtube video:

 

[jzucker]

Thanks. I'll check them out. I appreciate the info!

Carvin has the H50a pickups, which are more or less a stacked noiseless version of the J99a. JayCee recently posted audio clips of his bass with both. For my money, they sound pretty darn similar, though the H50a is has a bit less treble.

After hearing the clips, I swapped out the J99a in my BB75 with a H50a, and couldn't be happier. I'd always felt that the bass had a bit too much high end zing when using the neck pickup, and its now just about right to my ears with the H50a in there.

Your mileage may very depending on how much high end zing you like in your sound. They are dead quiet, though.

Here's the KayCee's youtube video:

 

[jzucker]

do you know if it uses a rail instead of rod magnets? I'm just wondering about string spacing issues...

 

[tink9975]

I'm pretty sure that they use a rail

 

[Jarrett]

you get get a used metro for $1650. Not that big a difference. Maybe when the sb series starts showing up in the emporium...

Yeah/ I've noticed the SBs don't show up that often used and they go quick. Even if you can get an used Metro for $1650, that's high in my book for a used Japanese made bass. I enjoyed paying $1100 and being able to customize a brand new American-made bass to my specs. Again, even if the Metros were the same price, I'd pick the SB's based on my experience.

One thing I noticed yesterday is single coil hum. I'm going to have to replace the pickups. I'll probably go with the dimarzio ultra jazz pickups unless carvin has a decent noiseless. Anyone know?

What's causing the hum for you, Jack? My J99A's have been dead quiet so far on the gig and at home.

 

[Kwesi]

The temptation for me to order an SB5000 is really starting to get to me. I've spec'd out like 3 different ones! I've got a custom on the way so I've gotta at least wait till that gets here but I dunno if I can, lol.

 

[Handyman]

I'm pretty sure that they use a rail

Almost certainly a rail, as they use the same pickup for 4, 5, and 6 stringers, and for both the narrow and wide 5 string spacing options.

 

[jzucker]

Yeah/ I've noticed the SBs don't show up that often used and they go quick. Even if you can get an used Metro for $1650, that's high in my book for a used Japanese made bass. I enjoyed paying $1100 and being able to customize a brand new American-made bass to my specs. Again, even if the Metros were the same price, I'd pick the SB's based on my experience.
What's causing the hum for you, Jack? My J99A's have been dead quiet so far on the gig and at home.

Single coil pickups pick up RF hum from all sorts of sources. In my case it's the fluorescent lights but they also pickup hum from tvs, monitors and basically any electro-mechanical device. That's why humbucking pickups were invented!

The metro is still a much better sounding bass (better setup, lower action before it buzzes, zero issues, no hum, better preamp, better pickups, etc.) but for the price the SB is a no-brainer.

 

[Jarrett]

Single coil pickups pick up RF hum from all sorts of sources. In my case it's the fluorescent lights but they also pickup hum from tvs, monitors and basically any electro-mechanical device. That's why humbucking pickups were invented!

The metro is still a much better sounding bass (better setup, lower action before it buzzes, zero issues, no hum, better preamp, better pickups, etc.) but for the price the SB is a no-brainer.

Of course, I completely disagree, but it sounds like its time to find yourself a Metro

 

[pjchappy]

Single coil pickups pick up RF hum from all sorts of sources. In my case it's the fluorescent lights but they also pickup hum from tvs, monitors and basically any electro-mechanical device. That's why humbucking pickups were invented!

If properly wired and shielded, single coil pickups can and do exhibit very little/very reduced noise issues. My passive MIA Stratocaster is very quiet. Pickguard and cavity are shielded and the shield is connected to ground, too.


Paul