NBD Claro walnut fretless with birdseye board

[gumbynotpokey]

My first fretless! I play a jet black 2004 Carvin LB70P, so I went with a wood look and eased my transition to no lines/no dots with a fretless version of the same model. So, it's a 2012 Carvin LB70PF.

This is a 3 piece body (walnut, maple, Claro top), 5 piece neck (walnut with 2 maple stripes), a birdseye maple board with no lines/no dots and "Hard As Nails" epoxy finish, and J99A single coils, piezos in the bridge saddles. Plays and sounds GREAT.

Hope you all like it.

 

[odie]

Nice!!!

 

[jlepre]

Beautiful..Congrats!

 

[Huge]

Very nice, I love the look of Walnut!

 

[mikeswals]

Wow, very cool. A very striking looking bass.
Did Carvin apply that epoxy board finish?

 

[bassRunner]

Wow! I didn't know you could get a fretless maple neck from Carvin. What a beauty.

 

[Munjibunga]

Wow. Very nice. I use to live a mile from the Carvin factory (when I wasn't at Groom) and would go over and drool on their basses all the time. That one is spectacular.

 

[Corey Y]

Wow, that's a beauty! The whole thing looks great, but I really like the natural binding look of the maple layer in the body.

 

[gumbynotpokey]

Very nice, I love the look of Walnut!

Yeah, man. Claro figuring is so variable, I was really nervous with anticipation. It can be marbled, striped, flamey, etc. I decided to NOT send them a picture and just roll the dice! In short, I am VERY VERY happy!

 

[Roy Vogt]

What a beautiful bass! I've had my Claro Walnut LB76F since 2002 and absolutely love it! It's my go-to fretless.

 

[gumbynotpokey]

Wow! I didn't know you could get a fretless maple neck from Carvin. What a beauty.

Well, the maple board would be a total non-starter for a fretless because it's so soft.

But in my mind I imagined a walnut/maple overall look and it seemed a big ole birdseye board was just the thing. I didn't get flamed, cause I wanted a mottled look to contrast possible stripes on the Claro top (rather than stripes on stripes). I DEFINITELY wanted the epoxy, so there you go! I called and they said "YES" to the epoxy on a birdseye board. HOORAY!

 

[gumbynotpokey]

Wow, that's a beauty! The whole thing looks great, but I really like the natural binding look of the maple layer in the body.

Yeah! Typically a 3 piece inner layer from them is alder. A guy on their Forum who is a furniture guy (hooray!) suggested I ask them if they would be willing to do a MAPLE inner layer to help stick with the look of the board and maple stripes in the neck. They said "YES". Hooray! It sure sets it all off for sure. I'm LOVING this thing.

 

[gumbynotpokey]

Wow, very cool. A very striking looking bass.
Did Carvin apply that epoxy board finish?

Yes, sir.

 

[spade2you]

Interesting. Didn't know they'd do either of those options.

Makes ya wonder if a P pickup is around the corner.

 

[Bass_Thumper]

That's a great looking bass and the maple board looks fantastic.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

That is a killer bass, I have been thinking about getting a fretless birdseye board, with the HFC option as well.

For those that are curious, the Hard As Nails Finish (HFC) option is an option 50, it means you can get it but you cannot return it. Check out their option 50 colours, some are very cool. The blank birds eye maple fretless might also be an option 50 but I don't know for sure.

How do you like the hipshot Piezo, I got one on my LB76, what a killer tone. It almost thumps too much. Was just gushing over it last night at practice with my guitar player.

 

[gumbynotpokey]

The blank birds eye maple fretless might also be an option 50 but I don't know for sure.

How do you like the hipshot Piezo, I got one on my LB76, what a killer tone. It almost thumps too much. Was just gushing over it last night at practice with my guitar player.

Well, on a bass the birdseye board required the epoxy (the maple being so soft) but I wanted both, so that was good regardless. They do offer birdseye maple on other models and it's a choice, not an Option 50. For mine, the epoxy made it non-returnable.

The piezos are great. They are on a pan pot, so I can dial in as much or little or none by taste.

 

[jim777]

I couldn't play that to save my life but it sure is good lookling!

 

[gumbynotpokey]

I couldn't play that to save my life but it sure is good lookling!

You know what, the side dots are much more help than I thought. Also, it's a fretless version of what I play now, so I'm rather at home on the neck in spite of it all!

 

[millsbass5]

Jesus. Carvin just does some amazing things for the money. Unreal. Try to get the same thing from another maker and see what you'll pay. Very, very nice.