Bass of the Week: Carvin SB4000

Carvin SB4000 QDO

In 2009, Carvin teamed up with Sekou Bunch to create the SB4000, a bass the company says was designed with “vintage vibe.” The U.S.-made bass is a 4-string, though a 5-string SB5000 is available with many of the same specs.

Standard features on the SB4000 include an alder body, eastern hard rock maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard, though they only begin as a jumping off point for hundreds of options ranging from finishes to woods to inlays. Another interesting option is to have the bass built with a chambered body, which reduces the weight by up to one pound.

The bass comes stock with passive electronics and a pair of Carvin’s J99A single coil pickups that feature alnico V magnets. Hardware includes a fully-adjustable bridge with lock-down saddles, Carvin premium tuners, and a graphite-teflon nut.

For more info, check out the Carvin website.

Carvin SB4000 Photo Gallery:

Carvin SB4000 Specs:

  • Construction: Bolt-On Neck
  • Scale Length: 34?
  • Body: Alder
  • Neck: Tung-Oiled Maple With Inline Headstock
  • Fingerboard: Rosewood, 12? Radius
  • Inlays: Standard White Dots
  • Neck Width: 1.53? Wide @ Nut, 2.5? Wide @ 20th Fret; .83? Thick @ 1st Fret
  • Hardware: Chrome
  • Bridge: Carvin Bridge With Lock-Down Saddles & Strings-Through-Body
  • String Spacing: .750? (19mm) on Center
  • Tuners: Carvin Premium Tuners, 20:1 Ratio
  • Frets: 20 Medium-Jumbo, .103 Wide X .048 Tall
  • Pickups: 2 J99A Alnico Single Coils
  • Electronics: Passive; 2 Volume, 1 Tone
  • Pickguard: White Multi-Laminate
  • Strings: Carvin Medium-Light Roundwounds
  • Dimensions: 21? Long Body, 13.5? Wide Body, 1.7? Thick Body
  • Average Weight: 9.25 Pounds

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Leave a Reply to Craig Harris Cancel reply

  1. These are amazing instruments. And I have to say, Carvin’s finishing work is second to none.

  2. This is definetly on my wishlist. For the price you get an amazing instrument on par with pretty much everything high end. Also, the customization options are pretty much endless, which makes this bass even more awesome. Amazing job from Carvin. And this is coming from a hardcore Jazz Bass & Fender fan.

  3. All I have been using for gigs and sessions for that last twenty five years is Carvin.

  4. Not usually a fan of Carvin basses, but this bass not only plays well, but has a great vintage Fender jazz sound. There’s nothing else that I found in this price range that is comparable IMHO.

  5. I dunno about this, but my Carvin LB76W is a good bass & great value.

  6. I’ve played several Carvin guitars and all I can say is “Damn I wish they were mine :(” This is no exception. Given the fact that the level of quality for the money you pay is outrageously high, it just amazes me that that fact is true. Every one feels like a custom because it is.

  7. Seriously-fine Bass could be an alternative for what “SB” stands for. If I was in the new bass market, I would spec one out in a heartbeat!

  8. I played the SB5000 at the Santa Ana store last year. Great feel, amazing tone and for the options and price, blows away most everything else. If you’ve never played one, it should be on your bucket list.

  9. I like the flame maple sunburst one :)

  10. After 12 years with a Jazz, I bought one of these with the MM style humbucker in the bridge and the Active J style in the neck. This thing is an absolute face-melter – clear as a bell with tons of shapeable tone. I’m now considering a matching fretless as well.