How come we all don't play Carvin instruments & amps/cabs?

[TheAngryPocket]

Reason#114 to hate Carvins

Not good basses for metal.
(i.e. no big time hrd rock/metal endorsing?)

[Jarrett]

502 posts. Crazy

[DJ Bebop]

I went the way of Carvin because I wanted a Hippy Sandwich
and all the Hippy Sandwich makers (Alembic, Ken Smith, etc.)
didn't have any dealers with stock in the area. Plus the times when I do get my hands on one, I sound the same on all of them.
Especially the neck through's.

Could I afford one, NO

Now FOR ME (notice I said, for me ) ALL neck through seem a little lifeless as some would call a Carvin but, I think it's the Nature of the beast, that is why some like neck through, some like the bolt on's on any bass.

Having said that neck through's are lifeless at the same time TO ME neck though's are Even sounding all through the neck whatever brand they are.

Now TO ME good wood is good wood. The wood of my Carvin sounds as good as somebodies else's wood.
Do their preamps pickups sound as good as someone else maybe, maybe not. But now I feel I do have some good wood I can recycle by maybe adding some Alembic filters and stuff to what I got but it still is goin' to sound like me I fear

[Solarmist]

I've been here 5 1/2 years, and my longest thread lasted 5 pages .....

[MCS4]

Just thought I'd stop by to say that Carvin is, indeed, the best bass for metal.

...Kidding?

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[ggvicviper]

Reason #42 for Hating Carvins:

The brand is a verb and a noun (name). That's just lame.

Guy: "They're carvin' my Carvin!"

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by unclejane

It happens - you should have sent it back and got it fixed or replaced. Your objections have been noted and continued whining and wrangling is not impressing anyone. Go away, or at least try to say something substantive.

Now, on the topic of the Carvin FL necks/fingerboards from those of us who _do_ own and play Carvin FL's. My two Bunnies are both unlined FL (one is a 4 string, the other is a 6). The boards on both are impeccable. The thickness of the board is pretty impressive also, especially on the 6 string; it has a huge slab of ebony.

The only thing I don't quite like with the Bunny is the bridge. This is actually a common problem on many mass-produced FL's. On both of mine, the saddles are fully bottomed out and the action is just a hair above where I'd like it. The Hipshot saddles, though, don't really permit filing down to fix this.

My next carvin may actually a B40 bolt-neck to supplement my G&L L2K. It has a different bridge that may allow getting around this problem.

But for the fretless player, Carvin is heaven; I think every bass they make can be ordered unlined FL for no extra cost...

LS

Why don't you read the thread title and figure out what this thread isn't about... people who use Carvins. Coming in here complaining about on topic posts is predictable. If you don't like the topic why not take your own advice and leave?

I already stated the resolution to my situation. It factored into my stance on Carvins. Why don't you quit whining about me and mind your own business... pretty sure I wasn't talking to you.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

I already stated the resolution to my situation. It factored into my stance on Carvins.

But you're not even a current Carvin owner or user, to my knowledge, so you're saying nothing informative or persuasive, especially not to those of us who are Carvin owner/ops.

Apparently you had one bass a long time ago with a problem that you were too negligent to fix. And yet you're still here, picking fights with people over this one incident, seemingly upset that your grievance against Carvin isn't being taken seriously despite your own do-lessness with your own instrument.

Your "stance on Carvins" is a sad and maudlin story, but not an informed position so it's not to be taken seriously. Like I said, your objection has been noted. We heard you the first time, move on.

LS

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by unclejane

Now, on the topic of the Carvin FL necks/fingerboards from those of us who _do_ own and play Carvin FL's. My two Bunnies are both unlined FL (one is a 4 string, the other is a 6). The boards on both are impeccable. The thickness of the board is pretty impressive also, especially on the 6 string; it has a huge slab of ebony.

I have the same experience with mine. An excellent ebony board.

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by unclejane

But you're not even a current Carvin owner or user, to my knowledge, so you're saying nothing informative or persuasive, especially not to those of us who are Carvin owner/ops.

Apparently you had one bass a long time ago with a problem that you were too negligent to fix. And yet you're still here, picking fights with people over this one incident, seemingly upset that your grievance against Carvin isn't being taken seriously despite your own do-lessness with your own instrument.

Your "stance on Carvins" is a sad and maudlin story, but not an informed position so it's not to be taken seriously. Like I said, your objection has been noted. We heard you the first time, move on.

LS

I guess I didn't realize CURRENT OWNERSHIP was a requirement for explaining why you don't play Carvins.


Are you really having this much trouble understanding the gist of this thread? Are you having this much difficulty reading what's already been written ?

I had my bass fixed. How do you continue to not understand that?

My Carvin experience neither began nor ended with my purchase. I've played them as recently as last week. It's not the only factor in why I don't play Carvins as apparently everyone should. And when Reggie mentioned Carvin's fretlesses that reminded me of how they advertised them at the time so I responded to his post, which I quoted. Which I'm allowed to do last I heard. I couldn't care less that that bothers you, not offending your tender sensibilities in a thread you have no reason to be in isn't my problem, it's yours.

Then again people like you who need to try to force your love of something over reality are at the core of this thread. Why doesn't everyone love what I love and use what I use is an obviously goofy sentiment that falls apart as soon as you look at it from outside your fanaticism. I know that should be obvious but in light of this thread...


The idea that you think I'm trying to persuade someone is paranoid... I'm giving my answer to the thread title. I don't expect someone like you to "learn" a damn thing from it. How could you when you can't read for content?

My name is clearly written before my posts. If you can't skip over them, again... that's your problem not mine. The idea that after over thirty years of playing Carvins my position is uninformed is just plain stupid. It's very much informed which is why I don't play them. Decent enough gear, I've found stuff I like better several other places. That hasn't precluded me from recommending them because I get that they may work fine for others.

Get it or not, that's my reasoning. So get back to badgering other non-believers, you're wasting my time here.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by unclejane

But you're not even a current Carvin owner or user, to my knowledge, so you're saying nothing informative or persuasive, especially not to those of us who are Carvin owner/ops.

Apparently you had one bass a long time ago with a problem that you were too negligent to fix. And yet you're still here, picking fights with people over this one incident, seemingly upset that your grievance against Carvin isn't being taken seriously despite your own do-lessness with your own instrument.

Your "stance on Carvins" is a sad and maudlin story, but not an informed position so it's not to be taken seriously. Like I said, your objection has been noted. We heard you the first time, move on.

LS

I live 12 miles from the Carvin factory (when I'm not at Groom). I used to live 3 miles from it, and spent a fair amount of time in their showroom, checking out and playing basses. I've always believed they built good quality basses with fine-looking tops, but I've never been fond of their electronics. I especially don't like the sound of their amps and cabs. Now, I've never owned a piece of Carvin gear and never will. Why? I want something of higher quality that holds its value a little better.

Not that I sell a lot of basses, but I just don't like the feeling of having a bass that lost a huge chunk of value the second I took it out of the store. Yes, I know all basses lose value at the time of sale, but Carvin is notorious for it. They are really tough to unload if for no other reason than lack of cachet. Maybe you don't need or want cachet, but some people do.

You don't have to own a bass to know you don't want it. Carvin basses are good basses. Some people want more than good. That's why we don't all play Carvins.

[Avezzano]

How come we all don't play Carvin instruments & amps/cabs?

I would add that the "toss a coin" factor is an additional no-go for Carvin. I mean: I live in Italy (other players live in Bangok, Brazil, Chile) etc. and personally I have plenty of instruments (basses and amps/cabs) around that I can check with my own hands-ears before deciding. (BTW: I live 50 miles from the Markbass factory, too, but I only bought a used LMII because I liked it!)

Why would I buy an instrument "in the blind" only based on a theoretical exceptional q/p ratio, maybe read on the forums or any other where?

Just adding another point to answer to the original question.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Not that I sell a lot of basses, but I just don't like the feeling of having a bass that lost a huge chunk of value the second I took it out of the store. Yes, I know all basses lose value at the time of sale, but Carvin is notorious for it. They are really tough to unload if for no other reason than lack of cachet. Maybe you don't need or want cachet, but some people do.

You don't have to own a bass to know you don't want it. Carvin basses are good basses. Some people want more than good. That's why we don't all play Carvins.

But it's better to have actual experience with their instruments and gear if you want your criticisms of them to be believable.

As for the resale value, that's good news/bad news too. The main reason Carvin has bad resale is they don't cost much to begin with. Also, you can get a new one with whatever options you want, making the used ones even less desirable.

But Carvins are players instruments, not really investments. You buy them to play, not to sell.

The good news part is that on the buying side, you can get a used Carvin for total chump change and basically play your whole career on it.

What I do is get the most plain-Jane configurations possible to keep the cost down. No tops, special finishes, etc. The 5-piece neck is the only extravagance I ever get. Since mine are all unlined FL I couldn't give them away if I wanted to, so may as well get the cheapest model possible

As for the electronics, I can't see how the electronics in my Bunnies could possibly be judged as ho-hum. They have the cleanest, clearest buzz/hum free pickups and active EQ in them that I've ever used. The only thing I've heard that could top them is maybe the Barts that were in my Gibson Tobias, and they weren't better by much... My Carvins just sound fantastic, no other words for it.

LS

[bmc]

I have limited experience with Carvin gear. I have played two or three basses and they were ok. Well made. Looked great. The are grossly over priced over here. There are better options.

[BassSurfer]

It's amazing that this thread has lasted this long. Many of us thought it would be dead within the first two pages. Way to go!

[Jarrett]

Originally Posted by unclejane

Carvins are players instruments, not investments. You buy them to play, not to sell.

This is a good point that lots of people miss I think. These aren't 1964 Jazz basses that you hide in a closet. Carvins are perfect for the folks that are out there playing and gigging frequently.

Sure I could afford a Fodera or any other high end bass, but would I want to take that out to every gig I play? I need a high quality, great sounding, great playing instrument that I wouldn't be terribly upset about if someone spilled something on or bumped into or even stole from me while I was not looking. My Carvin SBs fit the bill for that so well.

To me they are better basses than a Sadowsky Metro at a 1/3 of the price. And built in my home country which adds a little charm for me. They make a ton of sense of my applications.

[dougjwray]

I've been playing and gigging for 40 years, and in all of that time I've met exactly one person who owned a Carvin bass. I've never even seen a single used one in a music store.
As a typical New York City/Boston elitist , I've always assumed that Carvins were for hicks from other, less sophisticated, parts of the country.
Sorry.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

This is a good point that lots of people miss I think. These aren't 1964 Jazz basses that you hide in a closet. Carvins are perfect for the folks that are out there playing and gigging frequently.

Sure I could afford a Fodera or any other high end bass, but would I want to take that out to every gig I play? I need a high quality, great sounding, great playing instrument that I wouldn't be terribly upset about if someone spilled something on or bumped into or even stole from me while I was not looking. My Carvin SBs fit the bill for that so well.

To me they are better basses than a Sadowsky Metro at a 1/3 of the price. And built in my home country which adds a little charm for me. They make a ton of sense of my applications.

That's the other good thing about them not costing much new - you don't lose the entire farm if you break something or tear it up dragging it around to gigs.

My L2K, for instance, even though it's only 12 or 13 years old, is already, for me, a kind of relic'ed signature classic. I've been cutting on it for a decade to make it fit me and it's more or less irreplaceable. A new L2K custom ordered would cost about a leg and it wouldn't really be the same as mine. So I'm not real keen on dragging it around or if it got stolen, etc.

But my Bunny, meh... I don't care that much. It's worthless now anyway, so I'd only be out the pretty cheap purchase price. I mean, yeah it would suck if it got stolen or busted, but Carvin could make me a new one exactly like it if necessary...

I'd also be willing to bet thieves are aware of Carvin's poor resale/pawnability too and don't covet them as much. And with an unlined fingerboard on it and just a drab piece of maple with a gloss finish... they may turn their nose up at it even more. Hopefully I'll never have to test that theory but...
LS

[Jarrett]

Originally Posted by dougjwray

I've been playing and gigging for 40 years, and in all of that time I've met exactly one person who owned a Carvin bass. I've never even seen a single used one in a music store.
As a typical New York City/Boston elitist , I've always assumed that Carvins were for hicks from other, less sophisticated, parts of the country.
Sorry.

I guess it is regional. I don't think I've ever seen a Carvin bass on a gig aside from mine either. I've never seen a Fodera on a gig. Or a Roscoe or a Mike Lull. I've seen Tobias basses in the past, like 20 years ago, but never an MTD. A few Warwicks and Spectors. The only Alembics I've seen at gigs were mine. I think I've seen one Modulus aside from my own. I have seen one Sadowsky at a gig but the guy was such a pompous ass, he wouldn't even discuss it with me.

I can't count the number of Fender and Ibanez basses I've seen though. Thankfully, I don't consider the quality of a bass by the number of times I've seen it at a local gig.

What I have seen a number of times is other players, studio engineers and sound guys come up and ask me what I'm playing. When I say Carvin, they are surprised that it sounds so good and want to know more about it. After I let them play it, other players want to know if I can set their basses up to play as well as mine. I tell them I can try, but probably not unfortunately. They want to know if I have any tips on how to get that good of a sound through what they play. Kinda the same answer, not really. There is no magic, it's just a great sounding and playing bass.

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

.

Not that I sell a lot of basses, but I just don't like the feeling of having a bass that lost a huge chunk of value the second I took it out of the store.

That is why I bought my main Carvin used. Let the other guy take the loss, you can take advantage of it. I bought a Carvin Icon 6 in almost new condition for $700. I went through the Carvin catalog to see what it would have cost new and it would have been over $1800. I got it for less than half a new one and it was in excellent condition. Beautiful flame maple top, abalone block inlays, top of the line on everything. For $700. And with TI flats on it it just kills.

Carvin are a great value if you buy used.