Will A Carvin Do the Job?

rick1949 · #1 03-13-2009, 01:24 PM

I am an older guy trying to start playing electric bass. I will be playing local with none professional types. They play old style to 80's country and western. I understand music theory and the layout of the neck on the bass. I know nashville number system, lead sheets, chord charts. So that part of playing doesn't bother me I can learn the basics fairly quick. My question is. Will a Carvin B-4 wound with thomastic jazz flats. Played thru a Carvin D-100 amp 12" Speaker with an extra external speaker matched 12" cab from Carvin sound like the famous P-bass? I have read thru a lot of the post here and the P-bass seems to have the sound that everyone is trying to get. I do not know yet what a bass played to older country should sound like. If y'all (Texas slang) would comment on the above set up I would be grateful. Thank you in advance. An Aspiring Bass Player

mrkreuzschlitz · #2 03-13-2009, 01:26 PM

If its got P-Bass pickups, then it'll get you close enough to the sound.

If you want the real sound, get the real thing (or an SX

)

BigOldHarry · #3 03-13-2009, 01:29 PM

Carvin's are fine basses - but if you want to sound like a P-bass, get a P-bass. Carvin's usually use J style pickups.

Ebay search for P-bass - if you want a US p-bass, it will cost somewhere over $500 used. If you can accept a MIM/MIC/MII P-bass, you can get one pretty cheap. If you are really trying to save a buck, SX is the way to go - $120 will get you going.

Lobster11 · #4 03-15-2009, 03:41 PM

Are you saying that you already have, or have access to, the particular bass, amp, etc. that you listed? If so, it sounds like a perfectly fine bunch of gear and I'd say go with that until you eventually get to a point (if you do) that you find yourself dissatisfied with it. You've gotta start with something, and you really won't know what works for you until you've spent some time playing with any particular setup, so you might as well start with what's already in your hand.

On the other hand, if you are starting from scratch and could choose anything, that's another story.... There are as many different opinions here at TB as there are members!

MysticMichael · #5 03-15-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick1949

My question is. Will a Carvin B-4 wound with thomastic jazz flats. Played thru a Carvin D-100 amp 12" Speaker with an extra external speaker matched 12" cab from Carvin sound like the famous P-bass?

No. It'll still sound like a Carvin. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I own a couple of Carvins (and at one time owned three), and think they're some of the best instruments out there at twice the price - or more...

Since you're into old school, I can see why you'd want a P-bass. If that's what you really want, then go get one. Try before you buy. It might take you awhile before you find "The One", but it'd probably be worth it.

If you're prepared to go ahead with the Carvin B4, I'd recommend getting it with two of the big HB humbuckers. Those plus a set of TI flats should yield a very powerful, phat, deep tone that could work very well for your kind of material.

MM

SlingBass4 · #6 03-15-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

No. It'll still sound like a Carvin. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I own a couple of Carvins (and at one time owned three), and think they're some of the best instruments out there at twice the price - or more...

Since you're into old school, I can see why you'd want a P-bass. If that's what you really want, then go get one. Try before you buy. It might take you awhile before you find "The One", but it'd probably be worth it.

If you're prepared to go ahead with the Carvin B4, I'd recommend getting it with two of the big HB humbuckers. Those plus a set of TI flats should yield a very powerful, phat, deep tone that could work very well for your kind of material.

MM

+1 - I've had Carvin (great bang for the buck) and American Fenders. I've swapped a couple pieces parts on some, and heavily modded others, and left some stock. If you can - try before you buy. You probably have the sound you're looking for in your head, yet you might be surprised what all is out there that may serve your needs as well - IF not better. Good fortune to you...

PhilMan99 · #7 03-16-2009, 05:37 AM

The TI Jazz Flats are not "old school" flats. They are good, but they have certain characteristics:
* Very low tension (felt like "wet noodles" to me...)
* Lots of mid-range, but not so much fundamental
* The low tension allows them to be very expressive

Personally, I prefer LaBella Deep Talkin' flats (medium), for the ol' time "thump".

I'd also wonder about the amp. If D-100 is 100W, that may be too low. 200-300W seems more the norm. Also, the 12" speaker may not have the "old-time" sound. You may consider 15", but be warned; a rig that is good for ol' time thump (real flat-wounds and 15" speaker) could easily get "muddy" in the mix depending on your EQ.

BTW, last I heard, Carvin's "house-brand" for flats were actually LaBellas.

ZiggyDude · #8 03-16-2009, 06:10 AM

Not everyone is trying to get a P bass sound. The large number of boutique and active basses out there pretty much show that. The P bass has its place and is considered by many a one sound bass. For what you are doing it will probably be fine - but so will the Carvin since the ones I have heard tend to have a more traditional sound. But I do agree with the other posters that you might want to examine the fact you are going through 12" speakers. Most of that old stuff was done on 15s - or even a reflex 18 (though you will never want to move the latter!).

Just my 2 cents..

- Ziggy -

Lobster11 · #9 03-16-2009, 10:08 AM

Most people seem to find the tone of Carvins, with stock pups and electronics, to be rather unremarkable. However, there's a plus side to this: Although they may not be the best at copping any particular kind of sound, their "middle-of-the-road" tone works fine for just about everything.

BigOldHarry · #10 03-16-2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobster11

Most people seem to find the tone of Carvins, with stock pups and electronics, to be rather unremarkable. However, there's a plus side to this: Although they may not be the best at copping any particular kind of sound, their "middle-of-the-road" tone works fine for just about everything.

AND - one can always replace electronics, right? Put some Barts or Nordstrands in a Carvin and I suspect it will fill the bill.

Martin Bormann · #11 03-17-2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick1949

I am an older guy trying to start playing electric bass. I will be playing local with none professional types. They play old style to 80's country and western. I understand music theory and the layout of the neck on the bass. I know nashville number system, lead sheets, chord charts. So that part of playing doesn't bother me I can learn the basics fairly quick. My question is. Will a Carvin B-4 wound with thomastic jazz flats. Played thru a Carvin D-100 amp 12" Speaker with an extra external speaker matched 12" cab from Carvin sound like the famous P-bass? I have read thru a lot of the post here and the P-bass seems to have the sound that everyone is trying to get. I do not know yet what a bass played to older country should sound like. If y'all (Texas slang) would comment on the above set up I would be grateful. Thank you in advance. An Aspiring Bass Player

No, that gear sucks. I tell you what I'll do, I'll trade you a brand new rogue bass (still in the factory box) for your carvin. and get rid of that amp system. I got a pignose that will make a decent trade.