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Carvin Basses?

bordinco90

bordinco90

Dec 7, 2011
3,017
4,081
SW Louisiana
#1
So I checked out Carvin's website. I can build a Carvin JB5 with 2 MM Pickups and all my specifications for about the same price as I can get a MM Stingray 5 for. My question is would this be a good idea? I have never played a Carvin before, so I am skeptical about shelling out around $1800 for a bass that I have never played. Also does anyone have a newer Carvin bass? If so please state some pros and cons of the bass. Thanks everyone!
 
#3
Haji said:
Carvin's stuff has always been really, really good. If I'm not mistaken, you can return it if you're not happy with it. Other than the time it takes to make it, you really can't lose, in my mind.
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Yeah true, but is it going to be of better quality than a USA Musicman Stingray 5? I just really don't know about it. $1800 for your own "custom" bass almost seems too good to be true.
 
#6
You can't get the Musicman style pickups on the JB5 or any other bolt on Carvin - only available on certain neck through models - LB and BB. Their MM pickup sounds good - I have an LB70 w one in the bridge - but it doesn't sound exactly like a Stingray. If you want the Stingray sound, get a Stingray.
 
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#7
Man! The price on used basses here in Talk Bass is at an all time low! With some time and patience, you should be able to buy a used, in excellent condition 5HH 'Ray in the $1,000 to $1,200 range.

Money is tight right now and stuff is not moving, so selling prices are low! Great time to buy. Bad time to sell.

Carvin stuff is wonderfully made! Re-sell on Carvin is not so good. A more popular brand bass (Musicman, Fender, etc) might be a better way to go, IMHO.
 
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#8
bhunt1 said:
You can't get the Musicman style pickups on the JB5 or any other bolt on Carvin - only available on certain neck through models - LB and BB. Their MM pickup sounds good - I have an LB70 w one in the bridge - but it doesn't sound exactly like a Stingray. If you want the Stingray sound, get a Stingray.
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It says on their website as you are building the JB5 you can have the option on putting two MM Pickups in the bass.
PICKUP AND ELECTRONICS OPTIONS
Select your pickups and other electronics options here. For more information, see the Pickup Comparison Guide.
Bass Pickups
-JVA - JVA Single Coil Pickups (Standard)
$0.00
$0.00

H5A - H50A Alnico Stacked Humbuckers
$40.00
$20.00


Other Pickup and Electronics Options
60J - 60's Style Jazz Bass Bridge Pickup Position (.4" Closer to Neck)
$60.00
$30.00

MBS - Stacked Mid Sweep Replaces Tone Control (Must Order AC)
$30.00
$15.00

VC2 - Replace Master Volume/Blend with 2 Volume (2 Pickup Models)
$0.00
$0.00


Pickup Colors
Some models, such as the C66, DC727 and all basses, don't have mounting bezels. The pickup color on models without mounting bezels will be as described below, minus the bezel color. S22 metal covered pickups come standard with black bezels. For cream bezels, select 408 below.
-BLK - Black Pickups
$0.00
$0.00

409 - Cream H50, J9A or SCP Pickup(s)
$10.00
$5.00
 
#9
bassdude51 said:
Man! The price on used basses here in Talk Bass is at an all time low! With some time and patience, you should be able to buy a used, in excellent condition 5HH 'Ray in the $1,000 to $1,200 range.

Money is tight right now and stuff is not moving, so selling prices are low! Great time to buy. Bad time to sell.

Carvin stuff is wonderfully made! Re-sell on Carvin is not so good. A more popular brand bass (Musicman, Fender, etc) might be a better way to go, IMHO.
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Yeah that seems to be general consensus on the Re-Sell value of Carvin basses, but I do not plan on selling this bass when I purchase it.
 
#10
bordinco90 said:
Yeah that seems to be general consensus on the Re-Sell value of Carvin basses, but I do not plan on selling this bass when I purchase it.
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I think Carvin has a 10 return policy. Don't know if that applies to custom made guitars and basses. It's usually a good idea to try out a bass before buying and comparing different basses is even a better idea.

Best wishes on your USA made Carvin custom bass, bordinco90!
 
#11
H5A - H50A Alnico Stacked Humbuckers
$40.00
$20.00
Click to expand...
These are not the Musicman style hum buckers - Carvin's code for them is HB4/HB5. The question of putting the HB pickups in bolt neck basses has been discussed on the Carvin Forum. They do offer them in the bridge position only on the PB and B40/50. People have asked about 2 HBs in a bolt neck and Carvin had said no to that.
 
#12
bhunt1 said:
These are not the Musicman style hum buckers - Carvin's code for them is HB4/HB5. The question of putting the HB pickups in bolt neck basses has been discussed on the Carvin Forum. They do offer them in the bridge position only on the PB and B40/50. People have asked about 2 HBs in a bolt neck and Carvin had said no to that.
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Yeah my mistake, I just looked at the pickup chart. I thought it was a MM style pickup. I wonder why Carvin does not do that. Thats a deal breaker for me.
 
#13
I own an LB76 and a Musicman Stingray. While the Carvin is a great instrument, the Musicman is amazing. In my experience, anybody who hears both is picking the Musicman ten times out of ten. The Carvin is just too bland while the Musicman has character. I have radiused humbuckers with the piezo bridge, the piezo is the highlight of the electronics. Musicman's re-sale isn't that great either, just Carvin's is really bad. You could probably buy both used for slightly more than a new one. I will admit that I have never played an EBMM B string I enjoyed and the Carvin B string is spectacular.

Carvin may do odd things when production is slow but I think they are still at a 10 week wait. Doing odd things usually becomes an "option 50" and negates the 10-day return option.
 
#14
You can get the MM style humbuckers on the basses that don't have a pickguard. Like the B50. Codes HB2 and HB2N I think, certainly not option 50.

According to Carvin, the pickguard is the issue.

I have one, and it is amazing.

Carvin_Kit.jpg
 
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#16
From what I remember when trying to order a dual MM B50 from Carvin, the issue is that they absolutely will not put an MM-style pickup in the neck position of a bolt-neck bass, regardless of whether or not there is a pick guard. So the 'Dual-Humbucker option', as mentioned, is a MM-style in the back (option for coil-tap) with the H50A hum bucker in a Jazz-style shell for the front. It looks like the pic below. But this was before the 'new' lines of basses like the JB, PB and Vanquish. It's certainly worth a call to them. As many folks have mentioned many, many time: Use the online-tool to spec out what you want, then call Carvin and talk to a Human. They can do far more than the online tool...

"Dual humbucker" B50 (I miss this bass):

IMG_1521.jpg
 
#17
I ordered my bass directly from Carvin, with the dual MM routes. I also ordered a 4 string version with dual MM routes not long after, but sent it back because I'm not a skinny neck guy. So Carvin absolutely will do a dual MM route, as you can see from my pic.

That said, if you want a Musicman, get a Musicman. I've had several Stingray 5HH's over the years, but their gone while the Carvin stays. If you don't go nuts with the options, the Carvin won't be in the same zip code as the Stringray price-wise.



"From what I remember when trying to order a dual MM B50 from Carvin, the issue is that they absolutely will not put an MM-style pickup in the neck position of a bolt-neck bass, regardless of whether or not there is a pick guard. So the 'Dual-Humbucker option', as mentioned, is a MM-style in the back (option for coil-tap) with the H50A hum bucker in a Jazz-style shell for the front. It looks like the pic below. But this was before the 'new' lines of basses like the JB, PB and Vanquish. It's certainly worth a call to them. As many folks have mentioned many, many time: Use the online-tool to spec out what you want, then call Carvin and talk to a Human. They can do far more than the online tool.."
 
#18
Interesting that some people have had Carvin say no to dual HB4 or HB5 pickups on a bolt on. Mine was from a number of years back (and long since sold here on TB) but they told me yes without an issue.

carvin.jpg


It had a somewhat Stingray like tone but not exactly because (1) the bridge pickup is pushed further back than on a MM and (2) the Carvin preamp is obviously different than the MM pre.

I actually modded mine with Seymour Duncan MM pickups and their MM preamp which got it much closer to that sound.
 
#20
Jared Lash said:
Interesting that some people have had Carvin say no to dual HB4 or HB5 pickups on a bolt on. Mine was from a number of years back (and long since sold here on TB) but they told me yes without an issue.

carvin.jpg


It had a somewhat Stingray like tone but not exactly because (1) the bridge pickup is pushed further back than on a MM and (2) the Carvin preamp is obviously different than the MM pre.

I actually modded mine with Seymour Duncan MM pickups and their MM preamp which got it much closer to that sound.
Click to expand...

Is that an LB?
 

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