New Carvin P bass, about time?

[Bassist4Eris]

One of the guys on the Carvin Forums put up a post in the announcement thread for the new PB-4 and PB-5 bass that said this:

"The new PB line in the P/J configuration should be called the Carvin PB & J."

I laughed. And thought some of you might, so there you go....

I hope this nickname catches on.

 

[Jarrett]

Just curious if anyone here has heard the PB4?

I'll be hearing it first hand in 8-10 weeks

 

[tlm550]

I suppose this would be a different thing altogether from what I'm reading on several boards, including this one. I love P-basses... but I hate the looks of a pickguards. I despise them. I'm entitled to my opinion, so let it go!

Anyway, I'd like to see the P pickups available on other Carvin models, such as the B40. I'd order one of those today with only a passive P-style pickup and without any sort of pick guard.

yes, I understand that the electronics are mounted to the pickguard on the PB4 & PB5, just like a Fender Precision Bass and a Fender Strat... but I want a P-bass with the pickups mounted into the body like so many manufacturers have done over the years. I've owned three different ones in the past. Sold two of them and one was stolen.

I was all excited when I got the e-mail from Carvin announcing these basses. I've looked at them online every day. I almost ordered one right away. I even got the Carvin credit card approval and was ready to go. I just couldn't come up with a color selection and pickguard selection that I could deal with. No matter the quality and no matter the great sound, but I'm not going to pay $1000 for a bass that isn't exactly how I want it.

 

[Mvilmany]

I want that...

 

[Searay]

Using the bass builder, mine would be $1470 so I might as well get an American Fender.

 

[Bassmunnky]

I but I'm not going to pay $1000 for a bass that isn't exactly how I want it.

Where does a custom bass with EVERYTHING you want on is exist for $1000? I'll buy one.

 

[Handyman]

Using the bass builder, mine would be $1470 so I might as well get an American Fender.

If you put enough options on it to be almost $1500, I'm thinking it has WAY more on it than you'd get on the Fender.

 

[Jarrett]

Yeah I'd love to see the build quote and the Fender that matches it

 

[G On Bass]

I was all excited when I got the e-mail from Carvin announcing these basses. I've looked at them online every day. I almost ordered one right away. I even got the Carvin credit card approval and was ready to go. I just couldn't come up with a color selection and pickguard selection that I could deal with. No matter the quality and no matter the great sound, but I'm not going to pay $1000 for a bass that isn't exactly how I want it.

Have you called Carvin to see if they will make one without a pickguard (though I'm not sure what the routs are underneath that guard). If not, I know for a fact (since I have one) that you can order a bass unrouted and drop in whatever you want.

Carvin's online bass builder represents just a portion of what's possible....

Using the bass builder, mine would be $1470 so I might as well get an American Fender.

So your ideal, custom configured bass would be the same price as a mass produced bass with zero customization options?

FWIW, I did the American Fender P5 thing about 9 months ago or so, when I thought I needed one. It didn't last 6 weeks in my stable compared to my little B50 w/a P pickup. Playability (and B string) was night and day.

 

[Sid the Kid]

I opened up the bass builder for the PB4 and there is a new alder neck option

I have a LB76F with an alder neck through an alder body. It is the lightest bass I've ever lifted, lighter than most guitars, but the tone is thin and leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[fcoda]

I wonder why Carvin doesn't/isn't building a couple of each model to put up on the in stock page.

 

[Freddels]

I love my SB4000, was really looking forward to a split coil p bass pickup in one of these but . . . I really don't like the look of it. Not sure if it's the pickguard or what. The pickguard just doesn't seem to flow in a way that I would like. I think I'd still opt for a B50/40 with the option 50 and have it routed for a P pickup. I just like the look better.

 

[troy mcclure]

Mine priced out at $976. I tried to keep it simple, specs seem cool. Seems like a good deal. Not sure how the resale would be, and I flip lots of stuff so yes that is a concern. I rarely buy new for that reason. I let someone else pay for the depreciation.

 

[Handyman]

I love my SB4000, was really looking forward to a split coil p bass pickup in one of these but . . . I really don't like the look of it. Not sure if it's the pickguard or what. The pickguard just doesn't seem to flow in a way that I would like. I think I'd still opt for a B50/40 with the option 50 and have it routed for a P pickup. I just like the look better.

If anyone else manages to get them to do the new pickup on a B40/B50, I may just push the button.

 

[Freddels]

If anyone else manages to get them to do the new pickup on a B40/B50, I may just push the button.

They just might do that since it's not a signature model. I guess we'd just have to ask. I'm not in the market for a new bass at the moment.

 

[skidmarkbass]

These look great to me... Does anyone know if Carvin's 4 string necks have normal string spacing or narrow. I like Fender pbass string spacing.

 

[Searay]

So your ideal, custom configured bass would be the same price as a mass produced bass with zero customization options?

No, I'd skip Carvin and go right to Sadowsky

I'm not knocking Carvin, they have very low resale, I've been that route. Just saying and perhaps to clarify I would spend $1500 on a mass produced Fender, but not on a custom Carvin.

 

[Jarrett]

I'm not knocking Carvin, they have very low resale, I've been that route.

Might want to check and see what SB's are going for on TB and Ebay lately.

 

[plong123]

Jarrett's right, used sale prices have been trending upwards for months.

 

[swspiers]

Jarrett's right, used sale prices have been trending upwards for months.

Yeah. I got my last SB4000 with spalted maple top for about $650 a little less than two years ago. Nothing even close to that range that I can find, even on basic builds.

Jarrett quit flooding the market, so they're getting scarce