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New Carvin P bass, about time?

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#501
CapnSev said:
I'm seriously, seriously tempted by ordering a fretless 5 string P. However, I'm hesitant after reading about necks shifting and Carvin improperly crafting a fretless (not differentiating for the lack of frets, causing high action and misplaced side dots). If that's the case, this bass is out for me. Anybody have these troubles with their SB basses?
Click to expand...

I had a Carvin fretless B5, and there was nothing wrong with the neck or the neck pocket. The side dots were right, the ebony fingerboard was perfectly planed, and I could get the action very low. I have heard a lot of people praise Carvin fretlesses, but you are the first I've heard say this stuff. At any rate, they have a good return policy if there is a problem.
 
#502
CapnSev said:
I'm seriously, seriously tempted by ordering a fretless 5 string P.
Click to expand...

I'll just leave this here then - came across their FB wall a few days ago.

P5_FL.gif
 
#503
CapnSev said:
I'm seriously, seriously tempted by ordering a fretless 5 string P. However, I'm hesitant after reading about necks shifting and Carvin improperly crafting a fretless (not differentiating for the lack of frets, causing high action and misplaced side dots). If that's the case, this bass is out for me. Anybody have these troubles with their SB basses?
Click to expand...

I had an unlined B50 fretless (same neck as SB), and the dots were offset. The neck was rock solid.

Actually, here are some pics showing the dots where the frets should be.

DSC00172.jpg

DSC00173.jpg
 
#507
I am terrible at 5-string (even though I own an SB5001) and even worse at fretless, but this honeyburst beauty has got me jonesin' for a Carvin honeyburst P and drastically changed my opinions on burst finishes and black pickguards (neither of which I ever cared for but they look amazing on this bass.)

I think this is the same one posted above:

122070b.jpg


I was thinking about a new G&L SB-1 but the Carvin "P" seems to be at a similar price point and has an active option.

Concerns I have are:

1) I don't like Gotoh GB7 tuners - have been meaning to replace the tuners on my SB5001 with "shiny chrome" Hipshot Y-key HB6Ys but those buggers are expensive.

2) I am not crazy about Carvin headstocks. I was thinking carved top for a 4-string "P" bass since I already have the 5-string banana shape on my SB5001

3) Active is an option which is a huge plus, but it doesn't appear the circuit is defeatable (no active/passive "panic" switch?) which is a bummer :(

4) I like wide chunky necks and these Carvin Ps are only 1.55" - though having "meat" to the back of the neck is more important than the width to me.
 
#511
I'm trying to figure out if Hipshot 3/8 "Clover leaf" Ultra-lights will fit on the SB-style (4-string) headstock.

Or at least the Y key Hipshots but prefer the Cloverleafs on a 4-in-line.

Anyone try this?
 
#513
A little off topic but: it's incredibly interesting to me how partial people seem to be to Fender-esque headstocks. I mean, Carvin has headstock options that cover just about every other type-----yet every other page in a Carvin thread, I see complaints about their headstocks.

Really, this is just me talking out loud about something. I wonder if some sort of survey could possibly quantify the reasons and net more accepted design variations?
 
#515
I admit I prefer the Fender headstock but I can live with the SB headstock.

Anyone have any thoughts on the necks of the 4-string Carvin P-bass?
If I prefer a wider chunkier "feeling" neck should I maybe get something other than the standard 14 inch radius?
 
#516
nofrets5 said:
Toptube, I have wondered this myself; I think people are just so used the Fender headstocks, anything different seems to alarm a large percentage of players.
Click to expand...

i think the truss rod cover along with the angled headstock and no string tree make it a tad off-putting as well. i think if it was a straight headstock with a string tree it might be a bit more inviting to the fender purists.
 
#517
dedpool1052 said:
i think the truss rod cover along with the angled headstock and no string tree make it a tad off-putting as well. i think if it was a straight headstock with a string tree it might be a bit more inviting to the fender purists.
Click to expand...

Angled headstocks make more practical sense to me. No need for string trees. I'd also rather have the truss rod adjustment at the headstock, it's just easier to get at. Although the spoke wheel truss rod adjustment at the heel is great, on the few basses that employ that option.

Anyway, Carvin has something like seven headstocks to pick from. Pick one and be happy. :D
 
#518
Toptube said:
A little off topic but: it's incredibly interesting to me how partial people seem to be to Fender-esque headstocks. I mean, Carvin has headstock options that cover just about every other type-----yet every other page in a Carvin thread, I see complaints about their headstocks.

Really, this is just me talking out loud about something. I wonder if some sort of survey could possibly quantify the reasons and net more accepted design variations?
Click to expand...

I like Fender headstocks but I like some of the other ones like Sadowsky & I absolutely love the headstocks on the old Peavey Fury. The SB headstock just doesn't do it for me though and I'm not a fan of the 4 +1 setup on 5-strings. Good thing Carvin offers other headstock options.
 
#519
Here's a quick clip from my new PBJ:

Link Removed

Here's a similar setting from my SB5000:

Link Removed

The build specs are pretty much exact. Alder body, maple neck/fretboard, stock electronics. The one diff I can think of is the SB has stainless jumbo frets and the PBJ has low wide frets. That seems more like a feel diff. The PBJ has stock Carvin strings, the SB has some DR Fatbeams on it. The SB weighs 9.5 lbs and the PBJ weighs 8.4 lbs.

Here are the two basses in question:
PB-SB.jpg
 
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