Carvin fretless opinions?

[quiknilter]

I have an opportunity to buy an old Carvin fretless for pretty cheap. Is anyone experienced with these that might have opinions to offer? I'm looking at getting a fretless bass and seems like a killer opportunity. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

[jim777]

I had a Carvin fretless that sounded great and played like butter, but I let it go because it was both unlined and 35 1/4" scale. If it had been lined I would have kept it, no question. My opinion of Carvins in general though was high enough to give it a shot, knowing going in that the lack of lines would be an issue (It was sold to me as an LB and not an XB which it was, so that actually would have kept me from getting it)

[quiknilter]

Carvin seems like they make good stuff.

[IronSpatula]

I have an '04 BB76P. The neck on it is awesome. Carvin's fretless fingerboards are very nice. The preamp is the only thing that doesn't really excite me, but it is usable. Overall it's a very nice bass.

If you can get one for "cheap" I say go for it!

[quiknilter]

Hopefully I will own a new bass soon

[chucko58]

I bought a B5F with an unlined fingerboard from stock a few years back. It plays "like buttah". I gigged with it for a while. The pickups are the weak link IMHO, they sound OK but not stellar.

[XsSpeed]

this may be a dumb question but, why can't you use a silver fine-line sharpie and put lines on it yourself?

[MysticMichael]

I own three fretless Carvins - an LB70F, an Icon 5F and a B25PF (Bromberg). I love each one of them.

IMO, the precision construction that Carvin offers on a fretted bass becomes all the more crucial on a fretless, due to the extremely close tolerances of fretless that can either make or break your all-important set-up. For that reason, I feel that it is with their fretless instruments that Carvin build quality is probably the most impressive - and such a determining factor.

My advice: Go for it!

MM

[XsSpeed]

I jusrt scored this one today of craigslist. It's a bit of a project. The pickups are supposedly new but not hooked up. Does anyone know the model etc?

[Garmonbozia]

I freaking love my fretless carvin. Best bass I've ever owned and I will NEVER sell it. I got a great deal on it. The tone is fantastic and the overall feel is just as the others said, it's butter.

[DiabolusInMusic]

I believe that is an LB bass

[Crabby]

I had one and liked everything except the pre amp which is easily replaceable.

[kreider204]

I've had mine for about a year, love it.

my new Carvin

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by XsSpeed

this may be a dumb question but, why can't you use a silver fine-line sharpie and put lines on it yourself?

Because the strings will wear the lines off. in fact the strings will wear the FINGERBOARD off! "Real" fretlines are grooves cut in the fingerboard filled with contrasting epoxy, wood, or other such material. Thus, they can't be worn off like a marker. One can put "helper" lines on the EDGE of the fingerboard, however, which is all you can see standing anyway. That then gives you the cool look of a blank plank yet visible helper lines.

Personally, I did the opposite. My fretless Carvin was purchased lined and now I'm sorry I did. Yes, it was a help as it was my first fretless bass, but after a while, lines no longer make much difference and you start to want to "show class" with the blank fingerboard.

[DJ Bebop]

Originally Posted by XsSpeed

I jusrt scored this one today of craigslist. It's a bit of a project. The pickups are supposedly new but not hooked up. Does anyone know the model etc?

Originally Posted by DiabolusInMusic

I believe that is an LB bass

LB90F The Carvin Museum - 1987 Basses

[bass_lord_mutha]

To date, the best fretless bass I've ever played is a '90s LB76 fretless, like the one in the pic, only unlined.



Carvin is a highly underrated company IMO.

[Lackey]

Awesome fretlesses. I've had my customized B4 fretless for years now, and it is one of the finest fretless basses I've played or heard.

I've got DiMarzio Model J pickups in it, they supply a lot of lower midrange grunt which really helps. Now the new alnico pickups are sounding great as well.

Bass weighs 8 pounds, no more.

[DJ Bebop]

More LB90 The Carvin Museum - 1987 LB90 Bass Guitar

[Munjibunga]

The Carvin fretless speaks for itself here.

[DJ Bebop]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

The Carvin fretless speaks for itself here.

Yup! in a New York minute.