Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call!

[jzucker]

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

The only way to completely eliminate hum is to totally enclose the pickup with a grounded container like lipstick pickups. You can reduce hum with shielding but the open face of the pickup can and does still pickup hum. Again - That is why there are hundreds of hum canceling pickups available and why companies such as dimarzio, kinman, suhr and lots of other companies are making specialized products.

My lollar strat pickups are very quiet but they still pickup hum from a neon light. No single coil pickup can avoid that unless it's enclosed.

 

[pjchappy]

I never said completely eliminate.

My Strat is to the point that it really isn't an issue for me.


Paul

 

[Bass Viking]

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.

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.

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.

I've been trying to decide between getting an SB4000 or a 4 string Metro. You guys ain't making it any easier!

 

[dgce]

That we can even realistically compare the SBs to a $2,000 Sadowski Metro is a compliment to Carvin. At half the price of the Metro, Carvin can build a comparable bass with far more personalized options and do it all domestically. So if the Metro is only a slight notch better than the SB, its no shame to Carvin, its praise.

 

[jzucker]

well the metro is the best bass I've ever played for groove playing.

 

[jzucker]

I never said completely eliminate.

My Strat is to the point that it really isn't an issue for me.


Paul

OK, but I've got a strat that's incredibly well shielded. Conductive cavity paint, copper foil on the pickguard. It's very quiet BUT IT STILL HUMS and wouldn't be acceptable for recording or mic'ing in a large forum in some environments.

But heck, if you're playing blues or classic rock, who's going to notice.

 

[Jarrett]

I've been trying to decide between getting an SB4000 or a 4 string Metro. You guys ain't making it any easier!

Eh, get a Metro. There are only a couple of guys that seem to think the SBs are better. Might as well follow the majority.

 

[pjchappy]

OK, but I've got a strat that's incredibly well shielded. Conductive cavity paint, copper foil on the pickguard. It's very quiet BUT IT STILL HUMS and wouldn't be acceptable for recording or mic'ing in a large forum in some environments.

But heck, if you're playing blues or classic rock, who's going to notice.

Do you have the cavity shielding and pickguard shielding connected together and grounded?

Use a good noise gate/suppressor, then. Plenty of recordings out there using "noisy" single-coils. Gilmour, on his last solo recording and tour, went back to his non-active black Strat.

Regardless, I still can't wait for my SB5000!


Paul

 

[Jarrett]

You've heard all my recordings. That was done sitting about 18 inches away from 3 computer monitors, no hum I can hear. I gigged it last weekend sharing a strip with some lighting for the house, no hum. I haven't run into the hum issue yet thankfully.

 

[jzucker]

Do you have the cavity shielding and pickguard shielding connected together and grounded?

Yep.

No, i'm not going to use a noise gate. I put up with the noise on my strat because when I use it, i'm typically playing jimi/stevie or using positions 2 & 4. It's only the single pickups by themselves that hum.

Plenty of big-name fusion guitarists are using the suhr system which effectively turns the single coil into a humbucker by feeding back a 180 degree out of phase copy of the hum back into the pickup.

It's not *JUST* me. There's a huge industry out there for this problem and shielding does not solve it.

 

[L. L. Elwood]

Eh, get a Metro. There are only a couple of guys that seem to think the SBs are better. Might as well follow the majority.

Plus, if you get a used metro, if it turns out you still want to try a carvin, then you can relist it on ebay and go through the whole shipping, auction fee, paypal fee thing rather than that horrible 10 day no questions asked return policy that Carvin offers

 

[Handyman]

Plus, if you get a used metro, if it turns out you still want to try a carvin, then you can relist it on ebay and go through the whole shipping, auction fee, paypal fee thing rather than that horrible 10 day no questions asked return policy that Carvin offers

I know, isn't Carvin's customer service just awful?

 

[jzucker]

OTOH, if you get a used metro you can sell it for what you paid for it.

 

[Jarrett]

Strange statement. Pretty much the same for any used gear if you shop right. Sure, there are more Metros for sale used than SBs, but can't blame folks for wanting to dump the Metros once they get their SBs in

 

[phillipkregg]

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?

Pink Dimarzio's on a Carvin classic white or cream finish... mmmm SEXY!

 

[jzucker]

Strange statement. Pretty much the same for any used gear if you shop right. Sure, there are more Metros for sale used than SBs, but can't blame folks for wanting to dump the Metros once they get their SBs in

no, not a strange statement at all. Carvin's lose a huge amount of resale value, sadowsky's not that much. Look at the emporium for evidence. The sadowsky is a better investment if there's a chance you will not be keeping it. In fact, that's the reason I probably won't sell my willis and replace it with a sadowsky. The carvin SB5000 is a $750 bass on the used market. The Willis I bought for $1250 and i'll aways be able to get that out of it or maybe more. They appreciate in value. Carvin hasn't gotten to that point yet. Maybe some day if they keep making great instruments like their newest stuff.

 

[Jarrett]

Ok... The SB's sell new for between $800-$1100. Let's say they actually do sell for $750 used, which seems low as I've seen a couple of SBs go for more here, but we'll use your prices for fun. Price diff for used $50-$250.

Ok, now let's look at Metro's. Again you say they sell for $1650 used. There is a brand new (MIJ) Metro on the Sadowsky page for $2775. Price diff for used $1125.

Which one loses a huge amount of resale value, did you say?

 

[jzucker]

Ok... The SB's sell new for between $800-$1100. Let's say they actually do sell for $750 used, which seems low as I've seen a couple of SBs go for more here, but we'll use your prices for fun. Price diff for used $50-$250.

Ok, now let's look at Metro's. Again you say they sell for $1650 used. There is a brand new (MIJ) Metro on the Sadowsky page for $2775. Price diff for used $1125.

Which one loses a huge amount of resale value, did you say?

Point is that you can readily get a used metro for the same price as you can re-sell it for. Try that with an SB...Maybe in a few months but i've only seen a couple used.

 

[dgce]

When I buy an instrument, I’m looking to play it not to eventually sell it on eBay. I want it to sound good, play well, and preferably be easy on the eyes. It’s not a stock or a bond. Wanna invest, buy gold or waterfront property. But when it comes to a bass, unless it’s some vintage axe in amazing condition, I wouldn’t think of it in terms of value appreciation.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

OTOH, if you get a used metro you can sell it for what you paid for it.

Pretty much. Carvin... Not so much. Now, it is possible that the SB series might change that, at least somewhat. I know they've only been out a while, but it really IS just a matter of time before they start appearing on Ebay... The cheapskate in me REALLY wants to wait until then...

It would be an interesting experiment to see what a used SB would go for right now...