FS - Carvin SP soapbar humbucking pickups (2 sets)

MysticMichael · #1 07-27-2011, 12:54 AM

I have for sale two (2) matched sets of Carvin SP soapbar humbucking pickups. These are in mint condition, coming directly from a pair of Carvin Icon basses that I purchased several months ago - and never played - prior to retrofitting them each with a new set of SGDs.

Current new price @ Carvin.com is $59.99 per each pickup, or $119.98 for a set. My price: $80 for a matched set, plus $5.00 shipping via USPS Priority Mail, anywhere in the CONUS. Payable via PayPal only. Sold in sets only. No trades.

Specs:

Color: black
Dimensions: 4.25" x 1.25" x 0.75"
Bridge pickup resistance: 11.4k ohms (SPB)
Neck pickup resistance:8.5k ohms (SPN)
Designed to fit 4-string, 5-string or 6-string instruments

MM

dcr · #2 07-28-2011, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I have for sale two (2) matched sets of Carvin SP soapbar humbucking pickups. These are in mint condition, coming directly from a pair of Carvin Icon basses that I purchased several months ago - and never played - prior to retrofitting them each with a new set of SGDs.

Current new price @ Carvin.com is $59.99 per each pickup, or $119.98 for a set. My price: $80 for a matched set, plus $5.00 shipping via USPS Priority Mail, anywhere in the CONUS. Payable via PayPal only. Sold in sets only. No trades.

Specs:

Color: black
Dimensions: 4.25" x 1.25" x 0.75"
Bridge pickup resistance: 11.4k ohms (SPB)
Neck pickup resistance:8.5k ohms (SPN)
Designed to fit 4-string, 5-string or 6-string instruments

MM

Hmmm....I may need a set of these. Gotta finish a project up this weekend.dcr

woodsideh · #3 08-04-2011, 01:36 PM

Does Carvin make these pickups or are they made by someone else and branded for Carvin?

In your opinion, what pickup would you compare these to?

tubby.twins · #4 08-04-2011, 01:51 PM

Carvin makes the pickups in-house, as near as I can tell.

I've tested these and I would compare these to a cross between the Bartolini "deep tone" quad-coil pickups and SGD Lutherie's "ND3" dual-coil humbuckers.

The fundamentals and lower midrange are very strong. Upper midrange has a fairly low but hot resonant peak, then starts a gentle roll-off into the treble. It sounds like they already have a tone capacitor inside, rolling off the high end gently.

Internally, the SP pickups have ceramic magnets and are wound fairly hot for a humbucker. The coils are wired in series and you have 2 conductors (plus 1 shield wire) so you can't switch into parallel mode.

Update: I've only tested these in passive mode. I've heard reports from others that they perform differently when attached to an onboard Carvin Icon pre-amp, and apparently more of the treble is present. I will try to test these with a pre-amp to see if they brighten up. It's entirely possible that the Icon pre-amp is tuned to compensate for the reduced treble response of the pickups by boosting the treble.

MysticMichael · #5 08-04-2011, 01:58 PM

They're Carvin's own design. To the best of my knowledge, manufactured right at the Carvin factory.

Hard to say how to compare them. They're fairly hi-fi, so I would say the closest make would probably be EMG (in tone & output - not in design, as the SPs are passive and EMGs are active). But that's only a guess...

MM

Edit: I defer to TT's findings. He's done the research & testing. I have not.

woodsideh · #6 08-04-2011, 03:55 PM

I bought an ICON5 when they first came out. I really didn't play it that long. My problem was simply I'm not comfortable with a 5 string. Anyway, I seem to remember the highs were pretty decent. It was probably because of the pickups and the preamp match.

I am looking for a pickup to replace some Bart MK1's on a Lakland 44-01. It looks as if the Carvins are at least the same size. Frankly, I'm looking for a sound with more balls accross the neck than the MK1's have to offer.

**twocargar** · #7 09-03-2011, 08:25 PM

These, correct? I need some pickups for a project, so hopefully I can get some gear sold to buy these.

JacksonLando · #8 09-08-2011, 07:55 PM

octaedro7 · #9 10-09-2011, 12:36 PM

What´s the max string spacing admitted for a sixer?
Conus only?

MysticMichael · #10 10-09-2011, 12:57 PM

Will accommodate instruments with maximum string spacing of 3.4 inches:

Carvin Soapbars

If you wish to discuss matters of a transactional nature, let's do it via PM.

MM