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Carvin Basses
- Thread starter vrussell
- Start date
Yrs ago I got a used fiver with one peice thru body neck. Id read reviews saying peeps had trouble with them for truss rod adjustment. So tested truss rod at the store before buying with owners permission. Seemed ok. But didnt realize at the time it had lt gauge strings on. Except for light tension 40-100 gauge strings I couldnt get as flat a neck as I wanted. Truss rod maxed out. This would have been a early 90's carvin. Since then those reviews & my experience tells me the five peice necks are a must if you want good strong neck carvin. Or expect to only use lighter then 45-105 strings. If you want lbest low action possible.
Isn't darkstorm the same person who had a bad experience with a bad neck, on an old Carvin bass model from like.....10 years ago?
He made the same comment in another thread and was told the new models/new necks are quite improved and much more solid and reliable than the old model he keeps harping on.
Once again, darkstar. The new necks are NOT the same as the old neck you had a problem with.
I live in North Carolina, where the temperatures and humidity are whacky beyond belief. Last winter was cold and dry, spring was warm and rollercoaster humindity, summer is hot and humid, fall can be hot, cold, humid or dry. And sometimes, all within a 24 hour period.
Every spring and fall we see anywhere between 20-30 degree wild swings in temperature; from early morning ...to noon, to afternoon, to evening, to late night. It's not unusual for temps to be 65-78 degrees during the afternoon.......then drop to 38 -48 degrees by late evening. And the mornings cold at 38-48 degrees.
Sometimes, even bigger swings than that.
My B40 (Cherry), which I've had for almost a year....has had no problems whatsoever with the neck, through all of it. And I play it quite often. Even did an out door gig in mid July of 2011. Hot and humid. Cherry suffered no ill-affects.
This myth that Carvin necks are some how weak and vulnerable, is exactly that ...a Myth.
Which isn't to say that on rare occassions, Carvin doesn't have a bad neck....here and there. Sure they do. As do all manufactors/brands.
But both my B40 have excellent necks, no issues.
He made the same comment in another thread and was told the new models/new necks are quite improved and much more solid and reliable than the old model he keeps harping on.
Once again, darkstar. The new necks are NOT the same as the old neck you had a problem with.
I live in North Carolina, where the temperatures and humidity are whacky beyond belief. Last winter was cold and dry, spring was warm and rollercoaster humindity, summer is hot and humid, fall can be hot, cold, humid or dry. And sometimes, all within a 24 hour period.
Every spring and fall we see anywhere between 20-30 degree wild swings in temperature; from early morning ...to noon, to afternoon, to evening, to late night. It's not unusual for temps to be 65-78 degrees during the afternoon.......then drop to 38 -48 degrees by late evening. And the mornings cold at 38-48 degrees.
Sometimes, even bigger swings than that.
My B40 (Cherry), which I've had for almost a year....has had no problems whatsoever with the neck, through all of it. And I play it quite often. Even did an out door gig in mid July of 2011. Hot and humid. Cherry suffered no ill-affects.
This myth that Carvin necks are some how weak and vulnerable, is exactly that ...a Myth.
Which isn't to say that on rare occassions, Carvin doesn't have a bad neck....here and there. Sure they do. As do all manufactors/brands.
But both my B40 have excellent necks, no issues.
I would respectfully disagree. I have 4 Carvin 5 strings: 3 bolt on, 2 neck through all with 1 piece necks. I use LaBella flats on one, Chromes on another. Both those strings are high/very high tension. I have Circle-K's with .136 and and .142 B strings on the others. All are rock solid and stay in tune. I notice no need to tune my Carvins any more or less than my custom 5 string w a 5 piece neck. That doesn't mean that people should avoid 5 string necks, but they are not required for low action, at least in my experience. Of course, I live in an area without big weather changes, so that may factor in for some folks.
Maybe there were some issues in the early '90's, but that would be judging the current, re-vamped line of basses by a 20 year old standard. They are 2 separate things
To be fair, Carvin didn't always have the great reputation it has now. In the last two years, I feel Carvin has improved a lot. In the old days, everyone bagged on the pups and electronics....now, they are just fine and don't need to be modded.
I live in a place where it is cold and rainy one day, hot and bone dry the next...and my new B50 with the one-piece neck is not changing at all.
I live in a place where it is cold and rainy one day, hot and bone dry the next...and my new B50 with the one-piece neck is not changing at all.
I have no doubt that Darkstorm had problems with his neck; a few people here and there have had problems with some of the old necks. The fact is, though, that the newer necks have a beefier truss rod, and also the neck profiles are stockier than the basses from the '80s into early '90s period. I also doubt that a five piece neck is all that much stronger, but that's a personal opinion and nothing I can offer proof for. 
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,617
- 18,677
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
I just want to add to the comments about the stability of the Carvin necks.
New England has some crazy temperature swings as well.
I have 2 Carvin SB5000s at the moment one with the gloss neck the other with the satin and they have been rock solid this winter/early spring. (Not all my basses have been like that).
New England has some crazy temperature swings as well.
I have 2 Carvin SB5000s at the moment one with the gloss neck the other with the satin and they have been rock solid this winter/early spring. (Not all my basses have been like that).
Have to agree with the quality of Carvin one-piece necks. I've had a B5 now for about a year and a half and haven't adjusted the truss rod one turn during that time period. It's right on par with the Lakland, Fender, Squier, MTD, and Ibanez basses I've owned. I'm in North Carolina, so we have our fair share of wild weather.
On that weather note, I've often wondered what the outside weather has to do with how basses respond to that. Is everyone storing their basses outside or do they not live in a climate-controlled environment? I know in my house, the temperature ranges from 68-74 year-round. Freezing cold winter nights? Nice comfortable 68 degrees inside. Blazing hot, humid 98 degrees outside? Cool, comfortable 74 inside where my basses live. Am I missing something here?
On that weather note, I've often wondered what the outside weather has to do with how basses respond to that. Is everyone storing their basses outside or do they not live in a climate-controlled environment? I know in my house, the temperature ranges from 68-74 year-round. Freezing cold winter nights? Nice comfortable 68 degrees inside. Blazing hot, humid 98 degrees outside? Cool, comfortable 74 inside where my basses live. Am I missing something here?
I wasn't trying to be rude to darkstorm.
It's just a fact that he has posted this exact same comment in several Carvin threads. Has been told by several Carvin owners that Carvin redesigned their necks (including a new truss rod system) and the new necks are not at all like the models from the 90's.
Yet, repeatedly darkstorm continues to repeat the same comment ( based on his own words), solety based on what appears to be a "1990's" Carvin bass, which could be a 15-20 year old model; without ever ever acknowledging the obvious.
The model he had is antiquated. The neck design is antiquated. Carvin addressed those neck problems and completely redesigned the neck ansd truss rod system.
It's just a fact that he has posted this exact same comment in several Carvin threads. Has been told by several Carvin owners that Carvin redesigned their necks (including a new truss rod system) and the new necks are not at all like the models from the 90's.
Yet, repeatedly darkstorm continues to repeat the same comment ( based on his own words), solety based on what appears to be a "1990's" Carvin bass, which could be a 15-20 year old model; without ever ever acknowledging the obvious.
The model he had is antiquated. The neck design is antiquated. Carvin addressed those neck problems and completely redesigned the neck ansd truss rod system.
I currently own and have owned both Carvins and Fender Americans. I love both. The Carvins are VERY well built. The only thing inferior about the Carvin is your trade-in or resale value if you're ever dumb enough to want to get rid of it.
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,617
- 18,677
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
Good point
My studio where my basses mostly live can be cold (50's thats cold inside a house IMHO) if we are away and then suddenly dry and warm if I put on the heat.
Also like a lot of basements in semi-costal ares there is that moisure factor as well.
Those factors affect wood. I have seen necks that needed weekly tweaks (not on cheap basses either) when the conditions are consistently changing (like this time of year). I'm just stating my Carvins have not needed that.
The humidity is the factor more than the temp. In Tennessee we have extremely high humidity in the summer, but it can be very dry in the winter.
I've not seen this have a profound effect on the necks of my basses.
I think if you're playing an outdoor gig, it would be a bigger issue.
I've not seen this have a profound effect on the necks of my basses.
I think if you're playing an outdoor gig, it would be a bigger issue.
Yes, S model, alder. I have Labella tape wound strings on it so it is a smooth tone. But I can make it bark I bit if needed.
My Carvins are easily my favorite and you can't go wrong with the 'bang for the buck' they provide. Every time I pick up my LB20, I fall in love with it. I also have an AC40 electric/acoustic that is great.
Being lefty and wanting decent equipment is somewhat of a daunting task. I can buy any amplification is easy, but as far as instruments go, you just can't find anything decent hanging on the wall of almost any music store if you are lefty. I took the leap of faith and ordered Carvin without ever having previously handling one, though I had been reading about them and keeping an eye on them for a few years. It's the best musical investment I have ever made.
Being lefty and wanting decent equipment is somewhat of a daunting task. I can buy any amplification is easy, but as far as instruments go, you just can't find anything decent hanging on the wall of almost any music store if you are lefty. I took the leap of faith and ordered Carvin without ever having previously handling one, though I had been reading about them and keeping an eye on them for a few years. It's the best musical investment I have ever made.
I own two 2010 Carvin LB basses, a LB70F (4 string fretless) and a LB76 (6 string fretted). I live in NH so the weather is crazy new england weather. (I also own several other basses) I play fairly low action with MED gage strings and honestly I need to make neck adjustments ever few months either loosening or tightning tension depending on the weather. I also have a 2011 American Standard Fender P bass which i bought a few months ago and a Sterling by MM Stingray (I think 2011) I bought used for cheap money and I've had to adjust both their necks the same as the Carvins. (BTW Sterling by MM basses are major great bang for the buck basses) My band detunes be a half step so even with heavier strings the tension isn't too much so I actually tend to loosen the truss rod more often than I tighten it. Point is though ... it doesn't matter if it's my 6 string Carvin bass of my 4 String 2011 American Standard Fender P bass I probably adjust the necks 3 or 4 times a year because of the change in temp and humidity in my part of the country. As long as the trus rod WORKS and does it's job this is nothing to be concerned about. I know some players who run to the music store when ever their instrument needs to be adjusted, IMO that's crazy. Unles something needs to really be rebuilt every player should know how to adjust their instruments so they can keep them in tip top shape, it's part of being a musician, especially if you're a working musician. Sooooooo my take on the whole neck adjustment issue is Carvin basses are every bit as stable ... or UNSTABLE depending how you look at it, as the next bass. If you don't want to deal with adjusting the neck buy a Modulus! ;-)
Absolute truth.
Knowing how to do your own setups should be musicianship 101.
Leave repair to the pros, but we should all know how to adjust to taste (and per the season/locale as needed). It's easy, and doesn't even require special tools. I would liken it to knowing how to adjust the seat, mirrors, and maybe the steering wheel in your car.
Thanks!
Yes, it was for promotional purposes, and it's done well for us. No, that's a Sadowsky NYC MV5/24-Fret. The bass in the backing track was a Sadowsky NYC MV5, but it was out for some fret work when we made the vid, so I just grabbed the closest thing to it that I had. I tried to keep the vid kinda' honest with what was heard.
