Carvin strings saved my Lakland collection!

pickles · #1 08-01-2009, 06:34 PM

I had been on the verge of selling my USA Lakland 5s since LaBella quit making strings the way I like. I couldn't find another set that would make those basses really work for me. I was gravitating toward my 34" scale basses. After reading about them here I picked up a few sets of Carvin nickels. Mediums for the JO5 and Lights for the 55-94. These strings flat out kill. They're made by LaBella but feel and sound different than slappers, and the E is much better than the new non-tapered HRS or Slappers sets. Killer finger and pick strings in particular with a really nice fat sound.

Laklanders and other 35" 5 string players -- you need to try these. String through the bridge, the through body stuff does nothing anyway and you'd loose the taper on the B.

fretlessguy · #2 08-02-2009, 03:58 PM

I always liked Carvin strings for their sound and used them on my two Carvin Bolt 5 basses for a while. The only drawback I found was their short lifespan. Hopefully, they have this worked out now.

pickles · #3 08-02-2009, 04:33 PM

At $15 a set for 5 string, they don't have to last long

But so far so good for me.

Ryan Mohr · #4 08-02-2009, 10:22 PM

Pickes: great to hear that! Would you put these in the "warm and fat" category, or are they are brighter nickel like the Sadowsky blues? If they die quick, better for me.

Hector_G · #5 08-02-2009, 10:29 PM

Ever since I purchased my Carvin, I've used their strings. They sound perfect with that bass. I've tried other nickel strings like Boomers or D'Addarios... but I always go back to the Carvins. VERY inexpensive and perfect balance in sound.

I've yet to try them on my new Schecter, but I'll slap them on there as soon as these DR Sunbeams wear out. Not too much of a steel fan anyway.

pickles · #6 08-03-2009, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

Pickes: great to hear that! Would you put these in the "warm and fat" category, or are they are brighter nickel like the Sadowsky blues? If they die quick, better for me.

They have a brightness, but lots of warm and fat as well. Really nicely balanced with their own vibe. Not as fat as 7250s. A no brainier to try out at this price point especially if you need any other parts or accessories from them (they have flat rate shipping on string & accessory orders of any size).

Ryan Mohr · #7 08-03-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

They have a brightness, but lots of warm and fat as well. Really nicely balanced with their own vibe. Not as fat as 7250s. A no brainier to try out at this price point especially if you need any other parts or accessories from them (they have flat rate shipping on string & accessory orders of any size).

Sounds great! The 4-string nickels are only $12, so I will at least have to try a set on my SX. Might as well get a few sets because of the flat rate of $9.50.

I have heard they are re-packaged La Bella Slappers, but you said these were better so that must not be true. Are they taperwound?

Doug Parent · #8 08-03-2009, 03:54 PM

Being local to Carvin is a plus, and I have been using their La Bellas for quite some time now. I agree, they don't retain the really bright zing but I really like the overall tone and feel, and after losing their inherent brightness they maintain a very consistent good tone that is never lacking for snap or growl. Great value for $17 or whatever a 5 string set goes for. The options at Guitar Center are of no interest to me anymore.

Hector_G · #9 08-03-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonenazi

I agree, they don't retain the really bright zing but I really like the overall tone and feel, and after losing their inherent brightness they maintain a very consistent good tone that is never lacking for snap or growl.

Exactly! I love the way they sound brand new. But after they lose that initial zing... they settle into their own tone. Which is still fantastic.

I feel I don't have to change my strings for what seems forever because they DO retain that great tone for a very very long time.

Doug Parent · #10 08-04-2009, 12:48 AM

I was going to say the same thing.....I'm actually amazed (ashamed?) how long I go before I feel compelled to buy a new set. It's a ridiculously long time like 5-6 months. Or more. They just don't EVER go bad.

pickles · #11 08-04-2009, 08:21 AM

I used one set of hard rockin steels for well over a year. Labellas are kind of like DRs in that way, they just go and go once broken in as long as you're not going for zing.

Ryan -- they don't really feel or sound quite like slappers to me, especially the E string which on the last set of slappers I had was really thuddy. Only the B is tapered on the carvin set, but the E is still clean, clear, and flexible.

There has been some talk of breakage issues here with Carvin strings on 34" scale basses, since the wound part of the string is long enough for 35 1/2" it will wrap around the post. Anybody using them on 34" basses with success? I suppose since Carvin makes 34" basses they should work ...

Tone wise I think the best word for these is "round" like a good old school tone.

greenboy · #12 08-04-2009, 08:30 AM

I used 'em for ages on 34" scale. Absolutely no problems. The OEM Carvin/Labellas have in the past been my favorite roundwounds*, partly because I love their B strings, partly for the reasons others have mentioned.

* until I got into custom gauges/sets built from singles, and more recently, Circle K strings which were in the ballpark of my gauges

Doug Parent · #13 08-04-2009, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

There has been some talk of breakage issues here with Carvin strings on 34" scale basses, since the wound part of the string is long enough for 35 1/2" it will wrap around the post. Anybody using them on 34" basses with success? I suppose since Carvin makes 34" basses they should work ...

Tone wise I think the best word for these is "round" like a good old school tone.

No issues for me on 34" scale Fender 5's. Never had a string break on me.

Ryan Mohr · #14 08-04-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

I used one set of hard rockin steels for well over a year. Labellas are kind of like DRs in that way, they just go and go once broken in as long as you're not going for zing.

Ryan -- they don't really feel or sound quite like slappers to me, especially the E string which on the last set of slappers I had was really thuddy. Only the B is tapered on the carvin set, but the E is still clean, clear, and flexible.

There has been some talk of breakage issues here with Carvin strings on 34" scale basses, since the wound part of the string is long enough for 35 1/2" it will wrap around the post. Anybody using them on 34" basses with success? I suppose since Carvin makes 34" basses they should work ...

Tone wise I think the best word for these is "round" like a good old school tone.

Awesome! After playing hi-beams, which are now 4-months-old on my SX, I know what you mean about the life. They loose the zing and sizzle but still sound great. I'm definitely going to order these for my SX; I think I will like them a little more than hi-beams. "Round" sound good to me, usually means a solid low mid presence.

5StringPocket · #15 08-04-2009, 11:33 AM

Pickles, thanks for the heads up on the Carvin strings. I use Lakland nickel rounds on my ash/maple 55-94D but will give these a try. Nickel has more warmth than steel when played with that birdseye maple board and works well for me but the taperwound B-string is a must, otherwise that string is too big and boomy and unbalanced with the rest.

DavePlaysBass · #16 08-05-2009, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

There has been some talk of breakage issues here with Carvin strings on 34" scale basses, since the wound part of the string is long enough for 35 1/2" it will wrap around the post. Anybody using them on 34" basses with success? I suppose since Carvin makes 34" basses they should work ...

Tone wise I think the best word for these is "round" like a good old school tone.

I was popping the B strings on a 34" like pop corn.

Carvin B String too long, will not take tension

I added a spacer at the bridge and things are good now. I think the 34" Carvin basses have the tuner pretty far forward on the 3+2 headstock relative to the 4+1 on my Sadowsky. BTW I have noticed that the B is slightly louder than the other strings. Never had this issue on this bass. I wonder if the spacer is adding to the phenomena.

After all the head aches and a few calls and replacements from Carvin, I love the B string in this set. Best nickel B I have played. It is very focused up to the 10th fret. This is the first set of strings where I grab the 6th fret F at times because I prefer its tone to the 1st fret F.

When I first put them on, I was not crazy about the tone. A little to sizzly. But they have warmed up very nicely. And seem to be going strong after a couple months of on / off playing at church. I am playing gospel with a drums, piano, organ, and acoustic. I need something that is warm but still defined. These strings after the initial break in are fantastic for this application.

I was thinking about going for some Slappers to address the length issue. But from what your saying Dave, the Slappers have that thuddy E string that I have experienced with the HRS. And the Pedullas which still taper the E are pretty pricey. Maybe I will just keep using the spacer and be happy.

pickles · #17 08-05-2009, 08:11 AM

Yea, everybody should write to LaBella if they think the untapered 105 E on HRS and Slappers are thuddy and useless like I do. They must have gotten some feedback that people didn't want a tapered E ... but that's just crazy. They used to be my favorite strings, now I can't use them.

Slappers used to be tapered BEAD, those sets were great.

On the breakage, you could try bringing them up to pitch slowly (like a little at a time over a few hours) to see if the cores will come around smoothly given more time.

Ryan Mohr · #18 08-05-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass

I was popping the B strings on a 34" like pop corn.

Carvin B String too long, will not take tension

I added a spacer at the bridge and things are good now. I think the 34" Carvin basses have the tuner pretty far forward on the 3+2 headstock relative to the 4+1 on my Sadowsky. BTW I have noticed that the B is slightly louder than the other strings. Never had this issue on this bass. I wonder if the spacer is adding to the phenomena.

After all the head aches and a few calls and replacements from Carvin, I love the B string in this set. Best nickel B I have played. It is very focused up to the 10th fret. This is the first set of strings where I grab the 6th fret F at times because I prefer its tone to the 1st fret F.

When I first put them on, I was not crazy about the tone. A little to sizzly. But they have warmed up very nicely. And seem to be going strong after a couple months of on / off playing at church. I am playing gospel with a drums, piano, organ, and acoustic. I need something that is warm but still defined. These strings after the initial break in are fantastic for this application.

I was thinking about going for some Slappers to address the length issue. But from what your saying Dave, the Slappers have that thuddy E string that I have experienced with the HRS. And the Pedullas which still taper the E are pretty pricey. Maybe I will just keep using the spacer and be happy.

Did you like the tone better than the Sadowsky blue nickels?

DavePlaysBass · #19 08-05-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

Yea, everybody should write to LaBella if they think the untapered 105 E on HRS and Slappers are thuddy and useless like I do.

I should drop them an email.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

On the breakage, you could try bringing them up to pitch slowly (like a little at a time over a few hours) to see if the cores will come around smoothly given more time.

I tried to things slowly. The strings would never make it past maybe 20lbs of tension and the wrap and core just seperated. Maybe I hit a batch of bad ones but this happened with 3 or 4 strings before I went with the spacer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

Did you like the tone better than the Sadowsky blue nickels?

I think I liked the Blues on the E thru G but the B string just went thuddy pretty quick. The Carvins sound a bit sizzly for the band I am in at first. But they have warmed nicely. In fact they sound a lot better after 20 hours of playing than they did when they were new. At this point I would recommend the Carvins to a 5 string player over the Blue Nickels because you can actually use your B string with the Carvins and not worry about thud and mud.

pickles · #20 08-08-2009, 08:26 AM

I just popped a B trying to put these on my Sadowsky NYC

I emailed carvin to see if they'll replace it and if they have any ideas on what to do about it.

The string actually got up to tension, then I heard a little something and had to tune it up again but it held for a while and the string sounded GREAT. I decided to try to get the arc out and pressed lightly on the string by the post, and it just popped and came apart. I did that since I didn't want it to happen on the gig, I think it would have eventually.

I'm officially on the hunt for a set of strings that will sound like those but work on my Sadowsky (or maybe I'll try the spacer, what were the details on that?).