A Rumor About Carvins

[vespasian1]

And I'm starting it.

About a year ago, I bought a Carvin LB20, which I'm very happy with. Likewise the 515N amp I bought a couple of months ago. I also sing the praises of their customer service. These people are first rate.

Every few months since I bought the bass, I send Carvin an email, asking when the hell they are going to make a P-Bassesque split coil humbucker. I figure, the LB20 with single coils sounds a lot like a Jazz Bass, thus the split coil should sound like P.

Yesterday, I got my first reply. The sales guy, who shall remain nameless, said there have been many requests for this very thing (who didn't know that?). He said he hadn't heard anything, but he guessed within the next year (claimed 'pure speculation' on his part), something could pop up. Carvin has a habit of giving zero advanced notice of anything new, so I offered to buy one of the first B40s they made with the P pup.

Ain't it about time Carvin made something with some slam?

Maybe I'll get a call.

[grifff]

Glad to hear that the company responded to your email! You don't get that very often nowadays.

[mellowgerman]

Oooo I like that!
B40 with P/MM pickups, BE maple fretboard, and an SB headstock

[christw]

I'm drooling...

Originally Posted by mellowgerman

Oooo I like that!
B40 with P/MM pickups, BE maple fretboard, and an SB headstock

[vespasian1]

Originally Posted by mellowgerman

Oooo I like that!
B40 with P/MM pickups, BE maple fretboard, and an SB headstock

The possibilities are endless.

I think, in the true spirit of the PBass, I would opt for the Ppup alone, and a 'Premium' alder body (same stuff they use on the back of the Icon), in clear gloss. There would be a slight upcharge, but at least it won't look like a canoe-paddle.

Either that or some kind of sick, 3-D Dragonburst.

[Raymeous]

I'm an active Carvin Forum member (same name) and the one thing I've noticed in the year and change I've been on that forum is that Carvin DOES pay attention to what's being requested. Several suggestions from the forums have made it into production items. White pickups, Dragon Burst as an available finish (was originally a one off for a customer), non rounded body edges on their 7 strings, micro bass amps, and the new SH445 model double cut-away hollow body has been photoshopped several times on the forum and low and behold there it is!

Their webmaster is on there all the time talking to forum members, and even Albert C. (head guitar / bass builder) posts on there from time to time. So yes it is quite possible that if we speak loud enough they will hear and make a P style pick-up.

[splitcoilsenior]

If they're taking suggestions...maybe we should start a "What you want from Carvin" Thread.

[Handyman]

Originally Posted by Raymeous

I'm an active Carvin Forum member (same name) and the one thing I've noticed in the year and change I've been on that forum is that Carvin DOES pay attention to what's being requested.

I've never seen another company (aside from tiny shops) so responsive to customer feedback. Its really cool.

I'll take a B50 or SB5000 with a P pickup, please.

[Moe Monsarrat]

They really do listen. I was very surprised because I was bugging them to make an extended scale bass & they did...the XB75. I'm sure I wasn't the only one, but they did it in response to customers & endorsers input.

[christw]

I just sent them an email inquiry because I like this idea. A blue trans SB4000 P-J with matched headstock, maple FB, white pearloid guard, pickup covers, abalone inlays, and metal knobs with pearl/abalone inlays.... Oh my gosh!!!!!!

[WaskoDS]

Fretless P/J SB4000?

[DerHoggz]

Looking through their catalog I was just thinking how awesome it would be if they offered P pickups, especially in the SB series. Maybe even a reversed P?

[Jason P Bass]

I love Carvin's options for their basses but simply cannot stand their pickup options. I'm sure they sound great, and obviously the company is successful, and if I tried out their pickups maybe maybe MAYBE I would like them. But I have to buy blind over the internet, and I do not like J pickups, and I do not care for MM pickups that much, and if I'm going to spent $1500 for a customized instrument, I don't want to compromise and get pickups that I doubt I will like.

I have gone through at least 2 buying cycles where I would have bought (or very, very seriously considered buying) a Carvin with a split-coil P pickup. I think I even sent them an email once asking if they would sell a bass with no pickup routes at all.. maybe my memory is fuzzy.

Anyway, if Carvin offers a P pickup, and the timing is right, I will very likely order one.

PS - I love my Carvin B2000.

[Raymeous]

Carvin does not offer a P-style pick up (yet). However nothing is stopping a creative bass player from picking up an SB or B series bass and installing a P pickup then using a pickguard to cover up the holes and make it look factory. Would be an easy job really.

As for their stock electronics, I happen to like 'em. I have the current 18v set up with dual MM style humbuckers with the split coils option. Pretty standard controls here: Volume, pickup pan, stacked bass/treble, and stacked mid/mid freq. Whats cool is that the volume is a push pull pot for active/passive mode.

The LB/XB/BB/Icon basses definitely have a more modern tone to them than say a Jazz or P, however thats because they are more modern in build and design. There is an undeniable clarity to my Carvin that's not too common in Fenders, more of a Hi Fi sound. That being said, it only took three seconds for me to come up with a good old school finger bass tone, so the tonal versatility is there.

For those looking for a more traditional bass the SB and B series basses are pretty cool. The standard controls are just like a Jazz bass: two volumes and a tone. You can get a few active set ups as well. By far the most common is the Jazz set up with an added stacked bass/treble control. Whats cool with this is that the tone control is a push / pull, active / passive switch, and the traditional tone knob works in both modes. You can still use the tone knob with the active EQ as well! Pretty sweet huh?! The other combo thats available is a master volume, pickup pan, stacked bass / treble, and a stacked mid / mid sweep. In the SB all of Carvins J style pick ups are available as is an MM style Hb in the bridge position. I think the B series has a little more options here, but you'd have to call them.

Finally you can order the B40 and B50 as a kit with or without options. Seems to me that if you called in and requested a kit without pick up routing they could probably hook you up. I don't work there but it seems like a reasonable request. There would be an upcharge of some kind but you could get what you want for very little money comparatively speaking. I think kits start below $500. All the holes are already drilled and all you have to do is finish sanding, stain it, paint it, or whatever, and install the electronics. Heck we've all torn apart our basses at one point or another why not assembling one for a change?

So there's my Carvinitus kicking in. I like 'em, but then again I'm not an uber brand snob either. I just like being able to get a bass the way I want it for less than other brands off the shelf stuff. But then again thats just me. BTW did any of you pick up on the fact that I'm researching for my next Carvin build?

I hope this helps in some odd way to answer your questions.

[peledog]

My experiences with Carvin service have always been excellent.

The SB4000s are schweeeeeeeeeet.

Pretty happy with my BR610

[djembe]

Hell yeah. SB4000 in natural, tort pg and creme P/J pups

[GM60466]

I believe that you could always order a bass with a PJ pickup setup. They just never advertised it.

[shwashwa]

Originally Posted by Raymeous

Carvin does not offer a P-style pick up (yet). However nothing is stopping a creative bass player from picking up an SB or B series bass and installing a P pickup then using a pickguard to cover up the holes and make it look factory. Would be an easy job really.

As for their stock electronics, I happen to like 'em. I have the current 18v set up with dual MM style humbuckers with the split coils option. Pretty standard controls here: Volume, pickup pan, stacked bass/treble, and stacked mid/mid freq. Whats cool is that the volume is a push pull pot for active/passive mode.

The LB/XB/BB/Icon basses definitely have a more modern tone to them than say a Jazz or P, however thats because they are more modern in build and design. There is an undeniable clarity to my Carvin that's not too common in Fenders, more of a Hi Fi sound. That being said, it only took three seconds for me to come up with a good old school finger bass tone, so the tonal versatility is there.

For those looking for a more traditional bass the SB and B series basses are pretty cool. The standard controls are just like a Jazz bass: two volumes and a tone. You can get a few active set ups as well. By far the most common is the Jazz set up with an added stacked bass/treble control. Whats cool with this is that the tone control is a push / pull, active / passive switch, and the traditional tone knob works in both modes. You can still use the tone knob with the active EQ as well! Pretty sweet huh?! The other combo thats available is a master volume, pickup pan, stacked bass / treble, and a stacked mid / mid sweep. In the SB all of Carvins J style pick ups are available as is an MM style Hb in the bridge position. I think the B series has a little more options here, but you'd have to call them.

Finally you can order the B40 and B50 as a kit with or without options. Seems to me that if you called in and requested a kit without pick up routing they could probably hook you up. I don't work there but it seems like a reasonable request. There would be an upcharge of some kind but you could get what you want for very little money comparatively speaking. I think kits start below $500. All the holes are already drilled and all you have to do is finish sanding, stain it, paint it, or whatever, and install the electronics. Heck we've all torn apart our basses at one point or another why not assembling one for a change?

So there's my Carvinitus kicking in. I like 'em, but then again I'm not an uber brand snob either. I just like being able to get a bass the way I want it for less than other brands off the shelf stuff. But then again thats just me. BTW did any of you pick up on the fact that I'm researching for my next Carvin build?

I hope this helps in some odd way to answer your questions.

what? you can get an active passive setup where the passive tone control works in both modes?? is this new?

[ThunderousFunk]

Originally Posted by splitcoilsenior

If they're taking suggestions...maybe we should start a "What you want from Carvin" Thread.

I've got a few ideasin the works myself.

[RNV]

Originally Posted by shwashwa

what? you can get an active passive setup where the passive tone control works in both modes?? is this new?

Yes they do, and for a few years now. It is an option.