I thought you lost passive tone with the mid option? That's what the salesperson told me. I thought you got a mid attenuation/frequency option? I assumed it was stacked like the bass/treble where you chose the frequency with one knob and cut/boost with the other. Anyone know for sure?
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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call!
- Thread starter phillm47
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Hmmm, that sounds interesting. But I rarely ever decrease mids so it probably wouldn't do much for me. Actually, it's probably just the passive tone roll-off at work.
I'll probably get the 2-band and if I don't like it find an Audere or something with 3-bands and a tone control.
You may be right, I too was told if I got the active/passive I would only have passive tone, but I guess it works in active mode too.
Just saw that one a couple hours ago and it was close enough to what I wanted that I strongly considered buying it but I figured I can stand to pay a few hundred more for exactly what I want. This bass di assure me of one thing however -- that my bass will be sexy as hell, lol! Can't wait to call it in.
Ok, here is a quick string compare. First clip is my Alder/Maple/J99A equipped SB5000 with a set of dead (to me) .40-.100 DR Hi-Beams on it:
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Second clip, everything is the same, but I put on a new set of the DR Marcus Miller Fat Beams (.40-.100):
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It's the first time I've tried the Fat Beams and so far I am really digging these strings. I've always wanted my .40-.100 Hi-Beams to sound a little thicker without being thicker or losing the elasticity. These strings seem to accomplish that.
For fun, here's one of my Warwick Streamer Stage I with dead DR Hi-Beams on it:
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After playing the SB for a couple of weeks, I feel much more restricted on the Warwick now and it comes through on the recording, imo.
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Second clip, everything is the same, but I put on a new set of the DR Marcus Miller Fat Beams (.40-.100):
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It's the first time I've tried the Fat Beams and so far I am really digging these strings. I've always wanted my .40-.100 Hi-Beams to sound a little thicker without being thicker or losing the elasticity. These strings seem to accomplish that.
For fun, here's one of my Warwick Streamer Stage I with dead DR Hi-Beams on it:
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After playing the SB for a couple of weeks, I feel much more restricted on the Warwick now and it comes through on the recording, imo.
I just realized something funny today. For considering myself a guy who doesn't chase Marcus Miller tones, I sure do have a lot of similar equipment as him. SB5000 which is basically a super Jazz/Sadowsky type bass, SWR Marcus Miller 4x10 cab, and now DR Marcus Miller strings 
I might as well trade in my Genz Benz for a SWR Marcus Miller preamp at this point, hehe.
I might as well trade in my Genz Benz for a SWR Marcus Miller preamp at this point, hehe.
Sounds great Jarrett! To my ears the Warwick really sounds congested and too hi-fi compared to the SB.
A bit off-topic, but for finger-style playing, do you find the main difference between the hi-beams and the fat-beams in the mids or the lows? Which one feels more mid-scooped to you?
A bit off-topic, but for finger-style playing, do you find the main difference between the hi-beams and the fat-beams in the mids or the lows? Which one feels more mid-scooped to you?
Thanks. I've only got a few minutes on them so far, so I don't think I really have a good grip on them yet. What I think I hear right now is more and rounder low end and a hair more mids with the Fat Beams, which I like. I'll put a few hours on them over the next couple of days with a couple of different bands and should have a better idea then.
I also was told via e-mail that getting the 3-band w/mid sweep will eliminate the passive/active option. If I decide to get an SB5000, I was going to choose the 3-band preamp any way.
A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!
I just called up to the Carvin sales to verify. If you go with the mid control option, you lose the tone control and the passive/active option. That single push/pull knob gets replaced with another stacked knob like the bass/treble control. The stacked mid knob has one dial for frequency sweep and one for cut/boost.
I agree, I wouldn't want an SB without it. Adjusting the mids is a non issue for me with this bass, it just sounds right out of the box to my ears. But having that tone control to tame the maple board and bring in those old school tones is sweet, imo. Not to mention, I'm starting to dig flipping over to passive now and then to get some real old school goodness when the song calls for it.
I tried my first set of Fatbeams on my Lakland 4-94 all of 3 weeks ago and I *love* them. Better feel than the LoRides I've been using for years, with just a bit more snap, but lots of low growl. And the recording sounded great!
I still want someone with the HB p'up to post some sounds...
If someone can tell me how to post pictures here, I'll put up my natural swamp ash/birdseye maple neck and headstock SB5000 that I just picked up yesterday (no pickguard). I'm not very technology oriented as you can tell.
I've been using FatBeams for a while. They have a "fullness" to them in the booty that doesn't want to quit and they also seem to keep their "new string bite" for a long time. Exceptional strings. I imagine they'll sound just thunderous on an SB.
check the link to the clips above to hear just that - sounds pretty darn good to me...!
Nice Playing Jarret! Love the tone you're getting, even with dead strings.. amazingly great tone comes out of that bass (and the player!)
I never would have thought to put these choices together---ME LIKEY!!
I agree, that is one sweet looking bass! Man, i'm getting a hankering for a 4 string now!! classic burst.. rosewood... tort guard....
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