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NBD Carvin AC40

Gorn

Gorn

Inactive
Dec 15, 2011
17,698
62,684
Queens, NY
#1
I had an AC40F that sounded amazing and was the most comfortable bass I had but I was awful at fretless so I moved on. Found this used from GC and picked it up today. It's in nearly flawless shape. It's super glossy jet black which wouldn't have been my choice had I ordered it new, but it works. They strung it with black beauties which was an odd and horrible choice. Not sure what strings I'm going to go with. Probably tapewounds. This is my only active bass. About 10 minutes into playing it suddenly went all distorted, which actually sounded kinda awesome for a second before it just died. Good job guitar center. But it's still great and once I get a new battery and a set of strings it'll be better.
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#5
Congrats,it looks great to me,especially the glossy black combined with that very black ebony fretboard. I am digging the heck out of my fretless ac40,(which has the 2+2 headstock) and am in negotiations to get a fretted ac50 in a few weeks. I haven't played it or seen it in person yet,but it has rotosound tapewounds on it,and the current owner says it cops an URB sound. (I'm betting not quite as well as a fretless...)
I am real curious to see how a fretted one sounds!
 
#6
I've been keeping an eye out froma fretless one, but it's gotta have a 2+2 headstock. Seems all I kept seeing are inline headsock ones on the used market.
Click to expand...

Like mine:

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It has a very nice woody, bwaaa sound. Great for everything from jazz to bluegrass.
 
#8
Shortest new bass day ever. I got a new battery. The bass sounded fantastic .....till there was a horrendous pop followed by silence. I took it back to GC and told them about it. In walks the "tech". Eyes bloodshot. Reeking of the devils lettuce. I said no thanks, I'll just take the return.
 
#10
While it played it sounded fantastic. The black beauties on it aren't ideal. But even so it sounded good. It's pretty much right between the sound of an electric and an acoustic. That doesn't tell you much, but it sounds good.
 
#13
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Sorry the AC didn't work for ya, they are fantastic basses, especially fretless. I've had this baby since '96 and it's never needed anything. I've got tapes on her and it just adds som much warmth and mwah. But I gotta admit it sounds better plugged in than it does unplugged.
 
#16
I haven't tried either of mine in a band setting yet,but am looking forward to it. I have a FL ac40 with the labella tapes on it,which is perfection to my ears. I just got a fretted ac50,which i am gonna replace the rotosound tapes with a new set of Labella white tapewounds,as soon as they arrive. I like the thomastic acousticores too,used to have a set on a Tacoma thunderchief bass. I agree these are great basses,period,and at the prices i picked mine up for,a steal.
 

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