Did Bunny Brunel leave Carvin for ESP?

[Grand Moff Tim]

So, this was in a recent ESP newsletter email:

"Also new to the ESP roster, jazz/fusion great Bunny Brunel is introducing the LTD BB-1004/QM and LTD BB-1005FL/QM. Respective 4-string and 5-string fretless basses, the basses include neck-thru-body construction, quilted maple tops, a special Aguilar pickup set with OBP-3 active preamp, and ebony fingerboard."

And this pic is floating around:

I tried searching to see if there's already a thread about this here, so apologies if it is, but seriously, ***? I didn't see this coming at all. Was the Carvin not selling anymore? Anyone know the reasons behind this?

 

[hasbeen]

Yes, he did. I'm pretty close to the Sr. VP of marketing and sales at ESP. This happened a few months ago. I was quite interested since Bunny was my biggest influence in the early 80's.

 

[scourgeofgod]

Looks cool, kinda Conklin shaped but less stretched out, I like the headstock too.

 

[JimmyM]

Doesn't look much different from his Carvin bass, but I guess that's understandable. Neat bass, though.

 

[mmbongo]

The Bunny was always my favorite Carvin design. Looks like they are gone from Carvin's site.

 

[Inertialsky]

The Frank Bello model with the polished pick guard looks kinda sweet

 

[scourgeofgod]

The Frank Bello model with the polished pick guard looks kinda sweet

Totally, I had p-fever a while back and came close to buying the 204 a couple of times.

 

[Inertialsky]

I had this thread crossed over with another I was reading...(whoops) Here is a link some of the 2015 models.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Handyman]

The Bunny Brunel had been a Carvin endorser for what, 20 years? That's a heck of a long endorsement arrangement.

The ESP version of his bass looks pretty nice. Nearly the same as the Carvin, but with a nicer looking headstock.

 

[Inertialsky]

Bunny Brunel has been in the Carvin catalogs since I started playing

Not sure exactly how long.

 

[Bassconbeatz]

Kinda ironic since Carvin still has a double B initial endorser (Brian Bromberg).

 

[aproud1]

I've come close to ordering a fretless Bunny a few times. This might be cool. I think the electronics may be a step up from what Carvin offers.

I love my RB1005.

 

[G On Bass]

It looks like Carvin's doing a good job of running off their loyal, long-time endorsers and signature artists...

 

[Papazita]

Ya know, as influential as the guy has been in the instrument world (don't forget he's the "BB" in Yamaha's BB series, too), I don't think I've ever actually heard Bunny Brunel's music.

I know who he is, but do I know anything he played on? Not that I'm aware of.

This ESP looks nice; just like the Carvin but with a cooler headstock. I like it.

 

[G On Bass]

Ya know, as influential as the guy has been in the instrument world (don't forget he's the "BB" in Yamaha's BB series, too), I don't think I've ever actually heard Bunny Brunel's music.

I know who he is, but do I know anything he played on? Not that I'm aware of.

He's all over YouTube. Check out some of his stuff, especially with Chick Corea. He's a monster in the Jazz/Fusion world. He's also one of the nicest musicians I've ever met. Really open and down-to-earth.

This ESP looks nice; just like the Carvin but with a cooler headstock. I like it.

+1. Maybe instead of fancy colors (and often too many of them at once) maybe Carvin should revamp their headstocks!

 

[Jeff Scott]

Ya know, as influential as the guy has been in the instrument world (don't forget he's the "BB" in Yamaha's BB series, too), I don't think I've ever actually heard Bunny Brunel's music.

I know who he is, but do I know anything he played on? Not that I'm aware of.

I saw Bunny with Chick Corea on the Tap Step tour in the early '80s. I also have some CAB CDs.

 

[mmbongo]

The Bunny Brunel had been a Carvin endorser for what, 20 years? That's a heck of a long endorsement arrangement.

The ESP version of his bass looks pretty nice. Nearly the same as the Carvin, but with a nicer looking headstock.

Not a fan of the 5 inline headstock at all. I do like Carvin's headstock better on that bass.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Handyman]

Not a fan of the 5 inline headstock at all. I do like Carvin's headstock better on that bass.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Agreed, the 5 inline looks goofy. I'm liking the 4 string version, thought.

 

[Bob_Ross]

(don't forget he's the "BB" in Yamaha's BB series, too)

Wow, I did not know that.

[edit: ...and apparently for good reason: Not true, as per below.]

 

[jeff7bass]

Not a fan of the 5 inline headstock at all. I do like Carvin's headstock better on that bass.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The Carvin looks better, but Carvin's got the finish thing down.