Another Carvin model bites the dust.

[Clef_de_fa]

True. You'd be better off spending that $20,000 on a better car than on trying to improve a lesser model. Back in the '70's the stock pickups in some popular instrument brands were found to be "sonically wanting". This led to the birth of the aftermarket hotrod pickup industry. DiMarzio, Seymour Duncan, Bill Lawrence, etc. had no reason to exist back in the '50's and '60's. It's no big thing to slap on a new set of pickups, and if that's what is holding back a good bass from being a great bass, splurge. The best part is that there are so many to choose from, you can tailor your sound.

Yeah, but some brand actually have good electronics, pickup and the rest of the bass is build like a tank while Carvin to me feel a little flimsy and the electronics a lot to be desired and this part is quite frustrating when you spend near 2000$ and you have to spend more to have a decent tone/playability

I guess I outgrew them

 

[Mr_O'B]

I had an LB75 that was about 8 pounds. It was all koa - the body and the neck - and I do think I would have liked it better with a maple neck that would have been a bit heavier. But - it's possible to have a light one; it's the materials choices.

Over a year ago, a guy on Craigslist was selling a 100% new condition Koa body Bromberg Sig. for $700 that I estimate weighed less than 7 lbs.

The dude wouldn't allow me to play it, so I walked away. My gut feeling told me that it was lacking in bottom because it was too lightweight!

I think Carvin's Koa is extremely lightweight!

 

[Skokiaan]

Over a year ago, a guy on Craigslist was selling a 100% new condition Koa body Bromberg Sig. for $700 that I estimate weighed less than 7 lbs.

The dude wouldn't allow me to play it, so I walked away. My gut feeling told me that it was lacking in bottom because it was too lightweight!

I think Carvin's Koa is extremely lightweight!

Why would light weight cause bottom loss? My experience has not supported this. I've owned a Hofner Beatle bass and have a U-Bass. These basses are pretty much all bottom and are about as light as an instrument can get. (The U-Bass is about 2 pounds).

I just bought a used Carvin AC40F and brought it to rehearsal for the first time last night. It shook the room until I cut the lows. It's 6 pounds.

 

[G On Bass]

Why would light weight cause bottom loss? My experience has not supported this.

+1. My Wilkins PJ5 is a monster and weighs less than 8 pounds (Roasted Maple)

 

[Rugmaster]

I don't own a Carvin but I will someday, they look amazing especially for the price, and to have them made to your specs is great too... whats not to like?

 

[Toptube]

Yeah, but some brand actually have good electronics, pickup and the rest of the bass is build like a tank while Carvin to me feel a little flimsy and the electronics a lot to be desired and this part is quite frustrating when you spend near 2000$ and you have to spend more to have a decent tone/playability

I guess I outgrew them

A. flimsy? they use the same types of woods, which you see on other brands. Their general methods for drying their wood, seems good. All bass necks have dual carbon fiber rods in them. Bridges are hipshot. Other hardware is solid. ???
My Icon bass feels like a part of me and it is a 10 year old design.

B. the electronics are fine. They are very clean and noise free. If you are looking for something clean, I would even say you may find the pre-amps to be great.

their current range of pickups is very good. And actually, I would put the Radiused Single coil RAD-JVA, up against any high dollar P2 shaped single coil pickup. Aguilar, Nordstrand, etc.

 

[Showdown]

A. flimsy? they use the same types of woods, which you see on other brands. Their general methods for drying their wood, seems good. All bass necks have dual carbon fiber rods in them. Bridges are hipshot. Other hardware is solid. ???
My Icon bass feels like a part of me and it is a 10 year old design.

B. the electronics are fine. They are very clean and noise free. If you are looking for something clean, I would even say you may find the pre-amps to be great.

their current range of pickups is very good. And actually, I would put the Radiused Single coil RAD-JVA, up against any high dollar P2 shaped single coil pickup. Aguilar, Nordstrand, etc.

I agree with all of this. Their pickups may not have been that good 20 years ago, but the last 10 or so they have been excellent. But old viewpoints die hard. Lots of people complain about them that haven't tried any of the new pickups based on past reputation. And the woods and quality are top notch.

I unfortunately had to sell this beauty recently because my arthritic hands can't handle the wide neck anymore, but it was definitely built like a tank. That beautiful flame maple top was at least 1/8" thick, maybe more. It is not some thin veneer like so many use today. And the J99A pickups sound fantastic, great J pickups (in a soapbar case). Perfectly balanced, very comfortable neck. I love that bass, killed me to get rid of it, but it went to a good guy that will play it. Anyone who says Carvin basses feel cheap or flimsy or don't sound good never played this one.

 

[guy n. cognito]

y gut feeling told me that it was lacking in bottom because it was too lightweight!

Why would light weight cause bottom loss?

It wouldn't. Many bassists inaccurately assume weight=low end......

 

[Clef_de_fa]

A. flimsy? they use the same types of woods, which you see on other brands. Their general methods for drying their wood, seems good. All bass necks have dual carbon fiber rods in them. Bridges are hipshot. Other hardware is solid. ???
My Icon bass feels like a part of me and it is a 10 year old design.

B. the electronics are fine. They are very clean and noise free. If you are looking for something clean, I would even say you may find the pre-amps to be great.

their current range of pickups is very good. And actually, I would put the Radiused Single coil RAD-JVA, up against any high dollar P2 shaped single coil pickup. Aguilar, Nordstrand, etc.

Yes I feel like they aren't as solid as say EBMM which feel like they are build like a tank. Where I live, humidy is something and I have to reajust the neck at least 6 to 8 times, which isn't the case with my Yamaha.

The electronic is bland, it sure do the job and is noiseless but it doesn't have any caracter. You hear a Jazz bass, it has a caracter, a Stringray has a caracter etc. Carvin are pretty much a cameleon. It fits for sure but lack a little something for me.

I have a pair of LB76 ( one fretted and one fretless ) that I have since 2006/2007 and I got an Icon6 fretless in 2013. All sound fine but they have no balls.

Sure I do have J99 in radius case and they are fine, but still, it lacks a little something for me.

But like I said, I think I jusr outgrew them, they aren't for me anymore and my Icon wasn't what I should have bought.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I agree with all of this. Their pickups may not have been that good 20 years ago, but the last 10 or so they have been excellent. But old viewpoints die hard. Lots of people complain about them that haven't tried any of the new pickups based on past reputation. And the woods and quality are top notch.

I unfortunately had to sell this beauty recently because my arthritic hands can't handle the wide neck anymore, but it was definitely built like a tank. That beautiful flame maple top was at least 1/8" thick, maybe more. It is not some thin veneer like so many use today. And the J99A pickups sound fantastic, great J pickups (in a soapbar case). Perfectly balanced, very comfortable neck. I love that bass, killed me to get rid of it, but it went to a good guy that will play it. Anyone who says Carvin basses feel cheap or flimsy or don't sound good never played this one.

Here is my pair of LB76 bought in 2006/2007 and my Icon6 bought in 2013. I think I played them enough.

 

[G On Bass]

I don't own a Carvin but I will someday, they look amazing especially for the price, and to have them made to your specs is great too... whats not to like?

Your specs, chosen from a list of their specs. But still...

 

[UNICORN BASS]

For full disclosure i do not buy expensive basses let alone one that is sight unseen. To put this in perspective there are several basses on the market that are made in China and Indonesia that are flirting with the $1k price point. Think about that, i am not saying they are better or worse but it seems to me Carvin is doing about as good of a job as possible in a global market.

 

[HubbardsFate]

At the end of the day, Carvin can't be all things to all people. Like many others have mentioned, they are evolving, and as far as I can tell, they have made more smart decisions and forward progress than they have missteps. The simple fact that a relatively small, family-owned business that has not only managed to hang with the "big boys" (Fender, Gibson, et al.) all these years using a direct-sales model, especially in the pre-Internet days, speaks volumes in my opinion. Their gear gets consistently glowing reviews in professional publications...I currently own some of their stuff, and when and if the Canadian dollar gets back to par (or close to it) with the USD, I may look at buying some more. In the meantime, I always have my eyes open for used Carvins...

 

[Wolfhound32]

...To put this in perspective there are several basses on the market that are made in China and Indonesia that are flirting with the $1k price point...

Some are not simply flirting, they are... shall we say increasingly intimate with that price point. Here are just a few 4-strings from popular makers listed on Sweetwater:

Ibanez:
SR1300E Premium: $1099 (Indonesia)
SR1305E SR Premium: $1199 (Indonesia)
SR1400E SR Premium $1199 (Indonesia)
SR 1800ENTF SR Premium $1299 (Indonesia)
SR 1900ENTL SR Premium $1349 (Indonesia)
SR 1400TEVNF SR Premium $1349 (Indonesia)
SR5000: $2199 (Japan)

Lakland Skyline:
44-64 standard $1049 (Indonesia)
44-64 Custom $1124 (Indonesia)
44-AJ $1163 (Indonesia)
Decade $1199 (Indonesia)
Darryl Jones Sig. $1274 (Indonesia)
44-02 Standard $1349 (Indonesia)
44--02 Deluxe $1424 (Indonesia)
Hollowbody $1499 (Indonesia)

So many more are bumping right up agains the lower side of the $1k mark.

I would never criticize someone who decided to spend whatever that import cost-- if they like it, and have the money-- great! Rock on! However, that's simply not something I could justify ever doing as long as Kiesel continues doing such an incredible job meeting the needs of the regular Joe

(BTW, there are a ton of imports that are killer instruments for well under $1k-- many of which originate from the very same factory as the $1499 models )

 

[Showdown]

Some are not simply flirting, they are... shall we say increasingly intimate with that price point. Here are just a few 4-strings from popular makers listed on Sweetwater:

Ibanez:
SR1300E Premium: $1099 (Indonesia)
SR1305E SR Premium: $1199 (Indonesia)
SR1400E SR Premium $1199 (Indonesia)
SR 1800ENTF SR Premium $1299 (Indonesia)
SR 1900ENTL SR Premium $1349 (Indonesia)
SR 1400TEVNF SR Premium $1349 (Indonesia)
SR5000: $2199 (Japan)

Lakland Skyline:
44-64 standard $1049 (Indonesia)
44-64 Custom $1124 (Indonesia)
44-AJ $1163 (Indonesia)
Decade $1199 (Indonesia)
Darryl Jones Sig. $1274 (Indonesia)
44-02 Standard $1349 (Indonesia)
44--02 Deluxe $1424 (Indonesia)
Hollowbody $1499 (Indonesia)

So many more are bumping right up agains the lower side of the $1k mark.

I would never criticize someone who decided to spend whatever that import cost-- if they like it, and have the money-- great! Rock on! However, that's simply not something I could justify ever doing as long as Kiesel continues doing such an incredible job meeting the needs of the regular Joe

(BTW, there are a ton of imports that are killer instruments for well under $1k-- many of which originate from the very same factory as the $1499 models )

The Lakland 44-64 Custom is well worth that price IMO. I paid $200 more for my Fender MIA P and I like the Lakland better.

 

[Wolfhound32]

The Lakland 44-64 Custom is well worth that price IMO. I paid $200 more for my Fender MIA P and I like the Lakland better.

Fine instruments, no question. It's just the price point that I can't overcome. I would LOVE to have one myself, being a HUGE Duck Dunn fan... maybe one day my finances will coincide with a good deal on a used one

 

[Showdown]

Fine instruments, no question. It's just the price point that I can't overcome. I would LOVE to have one myself, being a HUGE Duck Dunn fan... maybe one day my finances will coincide with a good deal on a used one

It seems to me that a bass that is better than a $1300 bass is worth $1100 regardless of where it is made. It is the quality that matters to me, not the location.

 

[Showdown]

I just got an email from Fender. They seem to be taking a page out of the Carvin playbook with a "design your own bass" feature.

Invalid Link Removed

Not as many options as Carvin though. No fancy woods or finishes, but just choosing the color, pickguard, and neck type adds between $200 and $400 to the price of the bass. Doesn't seem like a good deal to me.

 

[Toptube]

Yes I feel like they aren't as solid as say EBMM which feel like they are build like a tank. Where I live, humidy is something and I have to reajust the neck at least 6 to 8 times, which isn't the case with my Yamaha.

The electronic is bland, it sure do the job and is noiseless but it doesn't have any caracter. You hear a Jazz bass, it has a caracter, a Stringray has a caracter etc. Carvin are pretty much a cameleon. It fits for sure but lack a little something for me.

I agree that their electronics don't really have much character. But as I said, they are clean and quiet. That's a valid thing to do. and if you want, you can certainly have them install something with character. I feel that passive, their pickups do have good character. Especially the newer stuff.

I have a pair of LB76 ( one fretted and one fretless ) that I have since 2006/2007 and I got an Icon6 fretless in 2013. All sound fine but they have no balls.

Sure I do have J99 in radius case and they are fine, but still, it lacks a little something for me.

Their newer pickups were designed to address complaints like this. I'm not saying that they are perfect for everyone. But, I have installed both the RAD-J (their first radiused single coil) and the RAD-JVA (debuted with the Vanquish bass) into my Icon. The RAD-JVA has a lot more fullness, more character, and it is easier to get different tones and character with varied styles of fingering and play. The RAD-HVA humbucker is also in my oppinion, a good improvement on the original RAD-H. (I also installed both of those.)

 

[Nick Thorpe]

Their simplest design is over a grand. The LB70 lists for $949. After you add the options and the mandatory case. Your in for well over a grand.

They have bunches of basses in the "guitars in stock" section for under $1k.