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My New Carvin -- My Big Disappointment

Wallyworld

Wallyworld

Jul 19, 2010
95
0
#1
I know, I earned it....I ordered a Carvin Timothy B. Schmit 4 string signature model but with a couple of customizations. The pickups are the standards J99a's but I also ordered a two pots (one for each pup). I thought it would produce a blend like a G&L SB-2. Wrong. I will take it to my tech to make sure all the intonation and set-up stuff is ok, but it just doesn't have the feel or the sound like I had from my '62 Jazz Bass .....way different mojo. It is beautifully constructed, nice paint, hold tune, but....It just doesn't have that indescribable 'something.' I can't send it back for a refund because it was a 'custom order' with the two pots. The action has some buzz (I'll talk with my tech) but the overall sound just isn't there. Hard to explain! I've played for 45+ years and, while all the physical dimensions are right, I'm was really disappointed. I've built better myself. Ouch. After working with my tech, I'll either sell (and take quite a hit), start to substitute parts --- pickups, caps, pots, etc. I'm $1,200 out on this one! any suggestions from a brother in need? Thanks!!!!:hmm:
 
#2
Carvins are pretty good basses... save for the electronics.

The only bass from Carvin I played that I liked the sound of was one with the piezo bridge pickup. With the piezo full on, it sounded pretty good. With it turned off, it sounded lifeless.

FWIW ive played a B4 with J99's and a BB 4 with the J/MM and Piezo, and a couple other I think.

If you cant return it try throwing some Duncans or Dimarzios in it. Im sure EMG's would transform it too. Id do the pre amp if it were an active bass as well
 
#5
I didn't even know they still did the Timothy Schmit basses anymore. I don't think there's really any way you're going to get a neck-through bass to sound like a '62 Jazz. And there are a huge amount of differences between an SB-2 and a two-volume-knob neck through "jazz". I don't want to be too harsh, but I don't think your expectations were realistic from the start.
 
#6
WaskdoDS, I was surprised, too, but a call to their office and you can order anything you want, basically. You're right about my expectations being way off --- I'd had a couple of SB-2s, a '62 JB, a '64 JB, and I was building a toothpick bridge into my fantasy land about what this bass might be --- but it had all of the other things that were really attractive to me, i.e., an ultra-thin neck (my huge palms, but stubby fingers), tung-oiled neck as standard, plus I'm a fan of Schmit. So..... I've learned an expensive lesson. I will try a couple of pickup swaps, get my tech do his thing on it, etc. Thanks for your comments --- you're not harsh by any means.
 
#8
WaskoDS said:
I don't want to be too harsh, but I don't think your expectations were realistic from the start.
Click to expand...

As a long-time Carvin customer, I must concur... :hmm:

If you're the kind of player who has to be able to detect that certain intangible something, on an individual, instrument-by-instrument basis in order to justify buying it, then there's no way you should be buying sight unseen in the first place. :eyebrow:

FWIW, it works differently for me. I took a chance on my first Carvin nearly 20 years ago, loved the build quality, the look and feel - but realized it needed a better bridge and an electronics upgrade. That was in 1992 - and it made all the difference to me. Besides, I'm usually able to adapt my technique by the modest amount it takes for each new instrument - so that over time it feels perfectly comfortable and natural, and works just fine for my needs.

These days, I pretty much follow the same formula (check out my profile) - except that I rarely need to switch out hardware anymore, and even the pickups and preamps are becoming good enough so that leaving them stock is now a viable option (as it was with the new Bromberg fretless 5 I recently received). :cool:

If I were in your shoes, I'd consider swapping out the pickups for something more "Fender Jazzy" (maybe some Fralins, etc?), and see how that works. Otherwise, take your loss, learn your lesson...and confine your purchases from now on to music stores and private sellers - where you can put hands on the instrument before you fork over your cash. :hmm:

MM
 
#9
bassist4dalord said:
I thought Carvin had a trial period? No questions asked-style? Weird..
Click to expand...

They do have a 10 day trial period but....because I ordered a little 'deviation' from their standard order (my ordering two volume pots instead of the standard one volume pot on this model) they told me --after I ordered it--- that there would be no returns. I was surprised but still I was satisfied with my order. It all looked good on paper. I like what one person said above --- I may need some time to "bond" with it. He's right --- I only got it two days ago. But on the other hand, I can usually tell after running through a few songs/licks how 'we' are going to get along. Anyway, normally Carvin has a generous return policy, but not on a special order.
 
#10
JimiLL said:
Carvins are pretty good basses... save for the electronics.

The only bass from Carvin I played that I liked the sound of was one with the piezo bridge pickup. With the piezo full on, it sounded pretty good. With it turned off, it sounded lifeless.

FWIW ive played a B4 with J99's and a BB 4 with the J/MM and Piezo, and a couple other I think.

If you cant return it try throwing some Duncans or Dimarzios in it. Im sure EMG's would transform it too. Id do the pre amp if it were an active bass as well
Click to expand...

i will give it to them, they've been improving. and, their older models had (to me) nice pickups and nice preamps. they had a stretch between the late 90's and a year or so ago where the electronics were really weak. all the new carvins i've played have had nicer stuff.

i've never played the model you ordered, but i've owned 3 of them and played several more and always found the same thing. they're remarkably well made regardless of price, sound pretty good, and are the most reliable thing around.

sounds to me like its just not for you.
 
#12
If you just got it, I'd play it a while 1st. In my experience, new instruments need to be vibrated a while before the sound opens up. It my not end up sounding like a '62 Jazz but you may dig it!:bassist:
 
#13
MysticMichael, you've got it right on about my tastes commanding my having the bass in my hands before I buy 'long distance.' My logic on this one is, though, the build (the lumber, the through neck) are perfect. While I might prefer a 7.25" radius, I've had other Carvin's with the 12" radii before (LB-20, LB-60, LB-70). I think the electronics are my problems, not the woodworking. I've had Fralins, Nordstrands, Bartolinis, etc., and I can do a little tooling with those ----also I'll change the strings to flatwounds.
My first bass was a '64 Jazz which was a 'gift' in 1971 (just for graduating from high school) but I know that Carvins are infinitley better and more precisely built that Fenders ---especially the Fenders today. I'll take my knocks, be out a few more bucks, and keep enhancing what this TBS4 can do! Thanks!
 
#14
MM, you know your Carvin stuff--- the "Option 50" is on my sales receipt which basically translates into, 'you're on your own'. SJan3, I'll take your advice and play, play, play! I have to get into my patient-mode and work with it (and let it work with me) and see what happens as I get used to it. Good advice!
 
#16
Wallyworld said:
MysticMichael, you've got it right on about my tastes commanding my having the bass in my hands before I buy 'long distance.' My logic on this one is, though, the build (the lumber, the through neck) are perfect. While I might prefer a 7.25" radius, I've had other Carvin's with the 12" radii before (LB-20, LB-60, LB-70). I think the electronics are my problems, not the woodworking. I've had Fralins, Nordstrands, Bartolinis, etc., and I can do a little tooling with those ----also I'll change the strings to flatwounds.
My first bass was a '64 Jazz which was a 'gift' in 1971 (just for graduating from high school) but I know that Carvins are infinitley better and more precisely built that Fenders ---especially the Fenders today. I'll take my knocks, be out a few more bucks, and keep enhancing what this TBS4 can do! Thanks!
Click to expand...

OK, that sheds a greater light on things... :hmm:

I'm glad to learn this. If you like the design, the construction method, the materials and the build quality, and it's only the pickups you don't dig, you're still in a pretty excellent position (per my own preference for buying brand new custom Carvins - then upgrading with premium aftermarket pickups & preamps).

Though you probably won't get your TBS4 to sound like a '62 Jazz, you will likely find a vibe and a tone that complements the more vintage-style instruments you already own. :hmm:

I predict that, with some additional experimentation and some additional time, you'll soon find "the magic formula" for this instrument. And then you'll be glad you ordered it - and that you didn't sell it...

MM
 
#17
I reckon Carvins are really well built basses but the electronics sometimes leave you wanting a bit more.

I would go with a full new electronics package....maybe Aguilar or Nordstrand?

Merry Xmas to one and all.
 
#19
MM, I've taken off the back cover to see how much space I have in there to work with ....needless to say, plenty of room for a few addition hardware items (i.e., pre-amp, caps, perhaps replacing the pots with CTS concentric pots). Carvins are of a superior build. They take a lot of undeserved rap, but my history with them (which covers from '73 --B-2000 bass amp) has all been good. It's a beauty on the outside; now I have to do the alchemical work on the inside of it and of me!
 
#20
Wallyworld said:
I know, I earned it....I ordered a Carvin Timothy B. Schmit 4 string signature model but with a couple of customizations. The pickups are the standards J99a's but I also ordered a two pots (one for each pup). I thought it would produce a blend like a G&L SB-2. Wrong. I will take it to my tech to make sure all the intonation and set-up stuff is ok, but it just doesn't have the feel or the sound like I had from my '62 Jazz Bass .....way different mojo. It is beautifully constructed, nice paint, hold tune, but....It just doesn't have that indescribable 'something.' I can't send it back for a refund because it was a 'custom order' with the two pots. The action has some buzz (I'll talk with my tech) but the overall sound just isn't there. Hard to explain! I've played for 45+ years and, while all the physical dimensions are right, I'm was really disappointed. I've built better myself. Ouch. After working with my tech, I'll either sell (and take quite a hit), start to substitute parts --- pickups, caps, pots, etc. I'm $1,200 out on this one! any suggestions from a brother in need? Thanks!!!!:hmm:
Click to expand...

Hey it's the holidays and I hate to bum a fellow bass player out, but boy are you lost! You want a Carvin LB series to sound like a Fender or G&L? That thing in front of you is a computer. You can use it to search reviews before you spend a lot of (non-refundable) cash. For example:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/carvin-timothy-b-schmit-model-71886/

But done is done. And the final kick in the butt is Carvins have really bad resale and I'm sure the the ones with only volume controls have even less.

So what's a mother to do? Happiness is just how you look at things. Your only answer at this point is a radical change in your attitude. Forget Fender. Forget G&L. You are heading to NEW LANDS! This Carvin you've bought is one hell of a well-built instrument. Your tech can tweak it in to a degree that will be amazing. There will be nothing wrong with the playability of this bass.

So what you've got is "modern bass" lessons here. live with it for a time. Listen to the tone you get from it. Think about how that can fit the various music you play. And if it doesn't then think about what music you might play that it would support. Spend some money on various kinds of strings. Twiddle EQ knobs (on amp or preamp) and experiment. Remember this is a learning opportunity that came your way. Given the number of really great basses I own I can assure you that the world of Bass does not begin and end with Fender and G&L. (though they are a big part of it)

And if by some remote chance, at the end of all this you have found nothing that speaks to you, then you can sell and "pay" for the lessons but by then at least you will KNOW for sure what this kind of bass is all about. How much is that worth?

As owner of the rather oddball Carvin AC50 I can say it took me a while to figure out how to get what I wanted out of it, but now I'd never sell it (unless to buy another newer one just like it). But is it like my Fenders? Is it like one of my G&Ls? Sorry that bass lives on a completely different planet. Which is why I love it.

I say give the Carvin a chance.
 

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