Carvin uses the same size pickup in both the Neck and Bridge Position, They are both the same size as the standard Fender Jazz Bridge pickup. just something to keep in mind when looking at replacements.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call!
- Thread starter phillm47
- Start date
- Status
Carvin uses the same size pickup in both the Neck and Bridge Position, They are both the same size as the standard Fender Jazz Bridge pickup. just something to keep in mind when looking at replacements.
Nice reminder - you buy a "set" of dimarzios/SDs and one of those p'ups won't fit...
I want to hear a clip of a SB5000 with the HB p'up in the bridge pos... I love the sound of that combination in my Lakland...
I haven't chimed in on this thread for a while, but now that i've received over 550 hits on my YouTube video comparing Carvin's pickups, I suppose it's about time for an update.
The main difference that I noticed in the two sets of pickups was the larger dynamic range of the single coils. This is probably the reason that many of you preferred the J99A's for slapping. Slap bass typically has louder peaks than fingerstyle, pick, or tap playing.
jzucker's mp3 of the single-coil noise is a nice illustration of how bad the buzz problem can be...it's not just a matter of opinion.
One of the H50A pickups that I installed had a ground problem not related to my installation (according to the Carvin tech), so they had me send them back to the factory.
I opted to get a refund on the H50A's and re-install the J99A pickups. I might decide to try another stacked pickup in the future, but I'm very skeptical that any humbucker can deliver the same quality of tone.
No matter what the audience is hearing, I have to love the sound I'm producing in order to play my best. Sub-par tone is like having a pebble in my shoe that nags me for the first hour and drives me crazy by the fourth hour.
Same goes for the weight and balance of an instrument. If it isn't right FOR ME, then over time I'll be looking to make a change.
If Talkbass teaches us anything, it's that there are a gazillion basses on the market out there, so there's no reason to settle for an instrument that's not meeting YOUR standards.
As for me, I'm quite happy with my B50 still. I have found the 19mm spacing to be a more difficult adjustment than I expected, though.
The main difference that I noticed in the two sets of pickups was the larger dynamic range of the single coils. This is probably the reason that many of you preferred the J99A's for slapping. Slap bass typically has louder peaks than fingerstyle, pick, or tap playing.
jzucker's mp3 of the single-coil noise is a nice illustration of how bad the buzz problem can be...it's not just a matter of opinion.
One of the H50A pickups that I installed had a ground problem not related to my installation (according to the Carvin tech), so they had me send them back to the factory.
I opted to get a refund on the H50A's and re-install the J99A pickups. I might decide to try another stacked pickup in the future, but I'm very skeptical that any humbucker can deliver the same quality of tone.
No matter what the audience is hearing, I have to love the sound I'm producing in order to play my best. Sub-par tone is like having a pebble in my shoe that nags me for the first hour and drives me crazy by the fourth hour.
Same goes for the weight and balance of an instrument. If it isn't right FOR ME, then over time I'll be looking to make a change.
If Talkbass teaches us anything, it's that there are a gazillion basses on the market out there, so there's no reason to settle for an instrument that's not meeting YOUR standards.
As for me, I'm quite happy with my B50 still. I have found the 19mm spacing to be a more difficult adjustment than I expected, though.
This is exactly why I like the J99As. I love the expressiveness they give me. If I play soft, it is soft. If I dig in, its a whole other tone. I can't get that out of the humbucking pickups I use on my other bass. It's just one normalized tone pretty much no matter how hard I play.
I play with both pickups full on or very near full on, so I doubt the hum will be as much of an issue with me personally.
Thanks again for you video, it was part of the process of realizing I didn't want the limited dynamics of the humbuckers on this bass.
Kaycee,
Man, I absolutely agree with this - I know this may sound selfish but, if i'm not digging the bass tone, I would almost just as well stay home. I know that's not fair to the band and audience, but there is not much worse than schlepping your gear somewhere setting up, playing for 3 hours, tearing down and having the tone be horrible. And thus far, that is why i Love my SB5000 - Those J99a's really seal the tonal deal.
You guy's are right on, playing with bad tone is a complete turn off. My SB5000 get the job done and make me smile by the end of the gig. I have the J99a neck and HB bridge which use the pan not the Vol/Vol. Playing passive most of the gig and on song were I need a deeper tone I switch to active.
No need change pickups on the SB's, I did add a S/P switch on the HB bridge pup.
No need change pickups on the SB's, I did add a S/P switch on the HB bridge pup.
Any sound clips? I'm real curious about the HB/J99A combination!
A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!
Any sound clips? I'm real curious about the HB/J99A combination!
A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!
I'll try to put one together.
You know what this thread needs? MORE PICTURES!
If I could pull the trigger on one of these, I already know all the options I would want.....
1. Flame maple or quilt top
2. green burst with white pearloid pickguard
3. Gold Hardware
4. Matching color, Icon-style headstock
5. Birds-eye maple fingerboard with abalone markers
6. 5 string
Basically this color:
http://www.wolfgangguitars.com/Greenburst quilt - top.jpg (apologies for the g*&tar picture)
Do ya feel me?
Link Removed
If I could pull the trigger on one of these, I already know all the options I would want.....
1. Flame maple or quilt top
2. green burst with white pearloid pickguard
3. Gold Hardware
4. Matching color, Icon-style headstock
5. Birds-eye maple fingerboard with abalone markers
6. 5 string
Basically this color:
http://www.wolfgangguitars.com/Greenburst quilt - top.jpg (apologies for the g*&tar picture)
Do ya feel me?
Link Removed
Just curious, could those of you with SB5000s post the weight of your basses? I'll probably be ordering one this week and I really don't want anything more than 9.5lbs but I'd like to hear from those of you who have them.
I don't have a super accurate scale right now, but mine is somewhere in the 9.5-10lb range. I specifically asked for a light piece of Alder when ordering. I think that is the key. Tell them you will send it back if it doesn't make the 9.5lb weight that they claim in the ads. I did and got what seems to be a fairly light one. Also, the B50s seem to be .5 lb lighter if that makes a diff.
Weight? I can't be hearing that, I gone thought cancer in my neck and shoulder, I weight less than 120 lbs and 62 years old and with back problems and can do two set with with my SB5000 (10 lbs ) with no sweat. Come on now.
Hehe, it's just a matter of preference in my case, I've been spoiled by my Fender FMT V which is probably one of the lightest 5s I've played (about 9lbs)
. Just to keep my "heavy lifters" club membership let the record show that I swung a 14lb Warwick Thumb BO 6 Broadneck for a few months, lol. Shame the tone was inversely proportional to the weight.
i also don't like heavy instruments but I like the tone of my sb5000 so i'll put up with an extra 1.5lbs.
If Carvin does in fact use the bridge pickup for both positions then the set that you ordered may not fit. The neck route will larger than the pickup that you ordered so there may be a gap. Also, the ears may not line up exactly with the routes.
Not sure I understand that. The dimarzios are both the same size but obviously, there's no ieee standard for pickup dimensions.
If they don't fit, I'll order the carvin stacks...
Usually, the bridge pickup is a little longer to account for the strings spacing being wider as it gets closer to the bridge and the neck pickup is a little shorter. If Carvin is using the same size pickup for both positions (I don't know this for sure as I don't have one here) then that where the issue would be. It'll be interesting to find out.
- Status
