How come we all don't play Carvin instruments & amps/cabs?

[Jarrett]

Here's something to think about.

I have a Carvin SB5000 fretted bass. It's essentially a 5 string active Jazz bass with 70's spacing. Right now I have a maple neck with maple fretboard with tall stainless steel frets on it.

Recently I was given a Carvin SB5001 fretless (5 string active, chambered Jazz bass) that has a Mahogany neck and Ebony fretboard. I've been really digging the feel of the tung oiled Mahagony neck versus the Maple neck on my fretted bass. Also, I've been digging the low action of the fretless compared to the tall SS frets.

All of that is kind of making me wish I had a Mahogany neck/Maple fretboard with low wide frets on my fretted bass. Since I have a Carvin SB5000, I can go onto their online neck building application and spec out a new neck with those specifications. Turns out it costs about $399 to build one like that. If I want, I can hit submit and have a new neck build to my specs for my SB5000 here in a few weeks so that I could swap necks if I wanted to.

Can you do that with your preferred brand?

 

[Batmensch]

Here's something to think about.

I have a Carvin SB5000 fretted bass. It's essentially a 5 string active Jazz bass with 70's spacing. Right now I have a maple neck with maple fretboard with tall stainless steel frets on it.

Recently I was given a Carvin SB5001 fretless (5 string active, chambered Jazz bass) that has a Mahogany neck and Ebony fretboard. I've been really digging the feel of the tung oiled Mahagony neck versus the Maple neck on my fretted bass. Also, I've been digging the low action of the fretless compared to the tall SS frets.

All of that is kind of making me wish I had a Mahogany neck/Maple fretboard with low wide frets on my fretted bass. Since I have a Carvin SB5000, I can go onto their online neck building application and spec out a new neck with those specifications. Turns out it costs about $399 to build one like that. If I want, I can hit submit and have a new neck build to my specs for my SB5000 here in a few weeks so that I could swap necks if I wanted to.

Can you do that with your preferred brand?

No, but then again, I don't really need to. What they do offer works perfectly fine for me.

 

[Jarrett]

I don't really need to either. The bass is great as it is. But being what it is, it can be customized as my desires change.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Here's something to think about.

I have a Carvin SB5000 fretted bass. It's essentially a 5 string active Jazz bass with 70's spacing. Right now I have a maple neck with maple fretboard with tall stainless steel frets on it.

Recently I was given a Carvin SB5001 fretless (5 string active, chambered Jazz bass) that has a Mahogany neck and Ebony fretboard. I've been really digging the feel of the tung oiled Mahagony neck versus the Maple neck on my fretted bass. Also, I've been digging the low action of the fretless compared to the tall SS frets.

All of that is kind of making me wish I had a Mahogany neck/Maple fretboard with low wide frets on my fretted bass. Since I have a Carvin SB5000, I can go onto their online neck building application and spec out a new neck with those specifications. Turns out it costs about $399 to build one like that. If I want, I can hit submit and have a new neck build to my specs for my SB5000 here in a few weeks so that I could swap necks if I wanted to.

Can you do that with your preferred brand?

Yeah... but since I'm completely happy with my basses as they are, it's of no use for me.


It's cool that this type of thing is available for people who want it. My problem with it is that even with a neck swap it wouldn't have fixed what wasn't pushing my buttons with my Carvin. Neither did an electronics swap. Some folks and basses simply don't click and I've since given up on trying to fix stuff that doesn't work for me when I've already found stuff that blows me away.

 

[Jarrett]

I've already found stuff that blows me away.

Some have not. Threads like this help point the way for others.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Can you do that with your preferred brand?

Ask them if they'll put in EMGs.

 

[Jarrett]

Ask them if they'll put in EMGs.

I don't want my basses to sound worse!

 

[Brad Johnson]

amen.The older I get the more I understand that the truly talented innovative guys have no interest in the technical nuances of things such as electronics, this and that - they are subsumed with expressing themselves be it on a broomstick, a wash tub, pencil and paper

Seems to be a waste of precious time to "major on the minors"

I'm sure that would make Anthony Jackson and Mike Pope smile.

While it's nice to think this is true, for a great many talented musicians it ain't. Many push the envelope equipment-wise and IME most have an idea on the "whys" about what works for them. The idea of the technically ignorant musical savant is largely romantic IMO IME. Most can still come across an instrument they don't care for.


And there are plenty of them who think they understand things they're clueless about. Heck, EQ is a mystery for some longtime players.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Some have not. Threads like this help point the way for others.

Context?

That wasn't my fundamental point. Threads like this asking a seriously flawed question definitely generate conversation.


ON PAPER Carvin "should" work for most people. The obvious problem being that often doesn't translate to real life. My initial Carvin was not a bad bass, it was a good one in a pretty generic sense. My point about being blown away is that you can definitely work with something that doesn't blow you away but given a choice...


I've played a lot of perfectly serviceable instruments. I have way more fun playing the stuff that pushes my buttons. I'd bet the same would be true for at least a handful of us.

 

[henry2513]

I don't play carvin because they don't make this:

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which is what I prefer to play.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Ask them if they'll put in EMGs.

Absolutely fair point. They are not without limitations themself.

 

[Avezzano]

so, my hat off to the best versatile brand on the planet! Yet a bass to be selected has to "speak" to the player. Personally, Carvin basses do not speak to me, even if buying one I could select dozens of options. They seem lacking some character (my opinion, obviously!). Simply... "different strokes".

 

[Jarrett]

Threads like this asking a seriously flawed question definitely generate conversation.

Yeah, the original premise wasn't a good one, but it served the purpose of getting many people that don't know of Carvin or maybe have bad information about Carvin to take a first or second look at them based on current, accurate info provided here.

Should we all play Carvin? No.
Is there a lot of misinformation out there about Carvin? Yes.
Do they provide a good product that would make some players content? Yes.
Are there players that would be blown away if they picked up one of the newer Carvin products? Yes.

Maybe this thread pointed some of them in the right direction.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Unless we are all wealthy (I am not), how come all of do not play Carvin? It would seem to make sense if you are willing to pay $3000 for a Sadowsky (or fill in "Sadowsky" with any other boutique co.) that we would be willing to pay half of that for something that is arguably equal or better.

I once wasted the better part of an entire weekend "virtual building" their basses. Whenever the final price appeared on the screen my jaw would drop because I couldn't believe how low the price is. Then I go thinking, if thats the case, how come all of us dont have one (or more).

And in other scenario's, it's even more obvious. If you are willing to pay say $1200 for a Korean made Zon, than you would be willing to pay $950 for a US made Carvin with better options, right?

Just a thought.

For many they simply aren't. There's no arguing that fundamental point. Your point doesn't really make sense.

The price in my case is not the problem. And the comparison to a Korean Zon is seriously and I'd think obviously flawed. If you like the Zon and don't like the Carvin (they clearly are not identical) why is it obvious you'd buy one because it costs less?


Bottom line, find what makes you happy, be it Carvin or whatever. What everyone else uses should be of no consequence to you and if they don't have the same great taste as you... oh well. Could you please pass the Guldens?

 

[ggvicviper]

Yeah, the original premise wasn't a good one, but it served the purpose of getting many people that don't know of Carvin or maybe have bad information about Carvin to take a first or second look at them based on current, accurate info provided here.

Should we all play Carvin? No.
Is there a lot of misinformation out there about Carvin? Yes.
Do they provide a good product that would make some players content? Yes.
Are there players that would be blown away if they picked up one of the newer Carvin products? Yes.

Maybe this thread pointed some of them in the right direction.

I've never thought anything bad about the way Carvins played or sounded. Judging by Ed Friedland's SB5000 review, I have positive things in my ears about them. Unfortunately, I've never played one, but certainly I never had a bad opinion of the quality of the instrument.

My gripe is with the way many of them look, that's all. Since I own instruments that have the sound I want, Carvin never appealed to me. However, given the chance that I could just pick one up in a store (used), I would definitely give a Carvin a try.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Yeah, the original premise wasn't a good one, but it served the purpose of getting many people that don't know of Carvin or maybe have bad information about Carvin to take a first or second look at them based on current, accurate info provided here.

Should we all play Carvin? No.
Is there a lot of misinformation out there about Carvin? Yes.
Do they provide a good product that would make some players content? Yes.
Are there players that would be blown away if they picked up one of the newer Carvin products? Yes.

Maybe this thread pointed some of them in the right direction.

I don't really see it serving that purpose. I just addressed my issues with the OP.

They're nice basses. The OP likes them. Why not simply suggest that others check them out and see if they like them too? Seems like that would accomplish more than tossing out the idea that boutique owners should be willing to buy Carvins because IN THE OP'S OPINION he'd argue they're equal or better for half the price.


I don't know the OP from Adam. He could be talking through his hat, having little to no experience with the boutiques he says are equaled or bettered by Carvin. That happens a lot here on Talkbass.

I'll interject that I'm just having a conversation here and this topic interests me.

People are comparing the SB basses to Fenders and IMO while it's a nice try and definitely more in that vein than early Carvins, they haven't equaled or bettered Fender as far as J basses go. And those aren't boutiques. Granted, most boutiques haven't managed to beat Fender at what they fundamentally do either.


"Carvin's an option. Here's what they offer, I like them and here's why. You might like them too. Check them out". This simple advice doesn't take a shot at anything else (usually a bad move IMO IME) and still draws attention to the brand.

This thread would be like me saying Brubakers are better than Gibsons, why don't people buy them instead?

Because for someone who really digs what Gibson does, they probably aren't better. That's why... and I know that.

 

[Jarrett]

I don't really see it serving that purpose.

After 417 posts, I'm betting the collective Carvin knowledge base just went up here a bit.

People are comparing the SB basses to Fenders and IMO while it's a nice try and definitely more in that vein than early Carvins, they haven't equaled or bettered Fender as far as J basses go. And those aren't boutiques. Granted, most boutiques haven't managed to beat Fender at what they fundamentally do either.

"Carvin's an option. Here's what they offer, I like them and here's why. You might like them too. Check them out". This simple advice doesn't take a shot at anything else (usually a bad move IMO IME) and still draws attention to the brand.

That's funny, you just took a shot at Carvin in the previous paragraph

 

[Brad Johnson]

After 417 posts, I'm betting the collective Carvin knowledge base just went up here a bit.

That's funny, you just took a shot at Carvin in the previous paragraph

Enlighten me. What was the shot, that IMO they haven't equaled Fenders as far as J basses? Because if you consider that a "shot"...

Seriously?


BTW hype doesn't really increase the knowledge base. Just saying.

 

[Raymeous]

Why don't we all play Carvin?

Well
1) People love them - like me
2) People hate them - not like me

As far as instruments go, they are VERY consistant. The problem with that is if you don't like the feel of one model, chances are you won't like any other version of that particular model. I went to our local "Bass Botique" and after spending some time with Zon's, Dingwalls, Sadowskies, Bergantinos and the rest, I left happy knowing that for me my Carvin bass and amp were just as good as the botique gear. I'm not saying the other stuff is crap by comparison, I'm just saying that the Carvin CAN compete with that market.

As much as I do love my Carvin stuff I still find time to play with my other toys as well. It's all about having options and I'm thankful that we all have those options available to us. Just remember some people still think that Fender and Gibson, Ampeg and Marshall, are the only things worth looking at. The rest of us know better.

To each their own and just be happy that you found Carvin and like their products. Just enjoy the little smile that all Carvinites share with being in the know of a great little secret: Carvin

 

[Brad Johnson]

Why don't we all play Carvin?

Well
1) People love them - like me
2) People hate them - not like me

As far as instruments go, they are VERY consistant. The problem with that is if you don't like the feel of one model, chances are you won't like any other version of that particular model. I went to our local "Bass Botique" and after spending some time with Zon's, Dingwalls, Sadowskies, Bergantinos and the rest, I left happy knowing that for me my Carvin bass and amp were just as good as the botique gear. I'm not saying the other stuff is crap by comparison, I'm just saying that the Carvin CAN compete with that market.

As much as I do love my Carvin stuff I still find time to play with my other toys as well. It's all about having options and I'm thankful that we all have those options available to us. Just remember some people still think that Fender and Gibson, Ampeg and Marshall, are the only things worth looking at. The rest of us know better.

To each their own and just be happy that you found Carvin and like their products. Just enjoy the little smile that all Carvinites share with being in the know of a great little secret: Carvin

3) They're okay.

Oops, is that a shot?


Seriously, the either/or thing again is seriously flawed. It's possible to neither love nor hate them.