Did a gig with the PBJ last night and just couldn't get the sound dialed in. I really dig all other aspects of the bass, but in a live mix I'm having some trouble getting good cut and clarity to it. Got another gig tonight, going to try it again with a diff amp and settings.
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New Carvin P bass, about time?
- Thread starter aproud1
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I appreciate this statement. I quit using P basses live for a long time because I couldn't get them to sit in the mix where I wanted. I dont have that problem with J or T basses. Lately, my P has been one of my best live basses, and I haven't really changed anything. I don't know if it fits better with the music I've been playing or if I am just listening differently that I used to.
Don't give up too soon. One day, you just might find the magic in that P pickup.
I did another gig last night with a diff band. This one was with acoustic guitar instead of electric on an outside stage. I did the whole gig with the PBJ through my MB800 and Carvin Neo BRX 10.2 cab and it sounded fine. I just nooned up all of the tone controls on the GK head and ran the PBJ wide open on vol/vol/tone and kept treble at noon and bass I bumped a hair. I kept the volume pretty low and still had no problem hearing the bass in the mix. Not sure what changed, but it all worked well last night. I might have been struggling with an acoustics issue at the first gig.
The bass is certainly a pleasure to play. At 8.4lbs, it feels light on me. I really like the neck profile. It's the best 4 string neck profile I've played from Carvin. It's smaller sort of like a J-bass profile versus the chunkier SB4000. I wish we could order this exact bass with a pair of J99A's. I might try figuring out if its possible to do that if keep it. Or maybe the PJ sound will grow on me as I go.
The bass is certainly a pleasure to play. At 8.4lbs, it feels light on me. I really like the neck profile. It's the best 4 string neck profile I've played from Carvin. It's smaller sort of like a J-bass profile versus the chunkier SB4000. I wish we could order this exact bass with a pair of J99A's. I might try figuring out if its possible to do that if keep it. Or maybe the PJ sound will grow on me as I go.
That's funny because I feel that exact same way about J basses. Now matter how hard I try, I disappear I'm a mix with a Jazz every single time.
I think it is interesting - how we all look/listen for something a little different.
We could start a whole useless thread about the difference between P/J setups and other pickup configurations and throw a bunch of pseudo-technical garbage around with no ultimate purpose. 
But the simplest answer may be that your ears are used to another kind of tone and it will take a while to get used to the PJ tone.
But the simplest answer may be that your ears are used to another kind of tone and it will take a while to get used to the PJ tone.
After years of juggling basses, I finally determined that I am a P-guy, as the tone I hear in my head comes from P pickups. My main bass is a P/J w/flats. But I rarely if ever, run it as a pure 50/50 P/J. For me, the main use of the Jazz pickup is to 'brighten' or punch the P tone a hair when needed, while still being characteristically a P tone overall. That's what it does for me, anyway.
I placed my order for my LB75 (it's a neck-thru, mind you), with the 1-piece maple neck option (Koa wings) in June of '97. I live in WV, and the weather here goes from one extreme, to the other. With the humidity ALWAYS AT 90-95%+, no matter the time of year. And, I've just had to make minimal trussrod adjustments since '97. Hell, to be honest, most of 'em was out of sheer boredom, just wantin' something to tinker around on.
Back when I ordered that bass, I wasn't all into the technical, structural particulars of the instrument. Hell, back then, I thought the 5-piece neck option was just for looks.......
Check my profile, my Carvin is my main player, hands down. And, if I must say so myself, I have a pretty nice stable of instruments.I think I wish I would have done a master vol + blend on this bass for that reason. I don't think going pure 50/50 has the wow factor on this bass as it does on the SB's.
Will Carvin do that if you ask them? I was going to check and see if they would do a master volume, master tone, and 3-way switch.
I prefer Vol/Blend, but you can make quick adjustments with vol/vol once you get used to it. It really shouldn't limit you too much, IMO.
Glad to hear you got good tone in your second gig. How are you adjusting to 4 strings?
I dont see why they wouldn't
I've been using it on my SB's for a few years now.
Going well. Really digging the neck profile. I need to get my strings on it and really give it a good setup and I suspect I will enjoy it more. If it just had a pair of J99A's in, I would be pretty fired up about it.
Just placed an order. Thought about putting an HH in there, but decided to just go passive P; 4-string; rosewood board; otherwise standard. Excited for it to be 6 weeks (or so) from now.
They charged $29 shipping. Was that everyone else's experience? It's a small cost compared to the cost of the bass, but I was ever so slightly twerked that I was spending that much on an instrument and I still got hit for shipping. Don't most places ship for free when you spend so much with them? Did everyone else get hit for $29 shipping as well?
They charged $29 shipping. Was that everyone else's experience? It's a small cost compared to the cost of the bass, but I was ever so slightly twerked that I was spending that much on an instrument and I still got hit for shipping. Don't most places ship for free when you spend so much with them? Did everyone else get hit for $29 shipping as well?
- Jul 3, 2004
- 1,300
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball MusicMan Guitars
That's their standard shipping rate whether you're up the street or across the country. And in the big scheme of things, these aren't big money basses.
I think $29 is a fair price. They are oversized boxes.
I wish I could get one shipped for $29......Carvin's shipping to Hawaii is 3X standard, so it would be nearly $90 for me.
Wow. After watching that video I may be sold on a P/J after all, as opposed to just a P.
I was thinking just the opposite! I wanted a fretless PJ, but now I'm thinking straight fretted P.
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