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New Carvin P bass, about time?

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#721
Played a PB4 today at the Santa Ana store. Typical Carvin build, everything is precisely built with nice woods and finish. I was a bit disappointed to see a cheap "$20 ebay" style chrome bridge on it. No big deal, but I expect mostly Hipshot quality hardware on Carvins. Bass was light weight and had a good P bass tone to it.
I picked up a nice Icon 4 string next to it, which felt a bit more substantial and had more of a solid feel. I left with a ho hum impression of the P4, but probably worth the $900.
 
#726
wyleeboxer said:
Played a PB4 today at the Santa Ana store. Typical Carvin build, everything is precisely built with nice woods and finish. I was a bit disappointed to see a cheap "$20 ebay" style chrome bridge on it. No big deal, but I expect mostly Hipshot quality hardware on Carvins. Bass was light weight and had a good P bass tone to it.
I picked up a nice Icon 4 string next to it, which felt a bit more substantial and had more of a solid feel. I left with a ho hum impression of the P4, but probably worth the $900.
Click to expand...

I cant imagine what bridge was on the unit you tried. I am absolutely satisfied with the big thick hunk of metal on the back of mine.....
 
#727
wyleeboxer said:
Played a PB4 today at the Santa Ana store. Typical Carvin build, everything is precisely built with nice woods and finish. I was a bit disappointed to see a cheap "$20 ebay" style chrome bridge on it. No big deal, but I expect mostly Hipshot quality hardware on Carvins. Bass was light weight and had a good P bass tone to it.
I picked up a nice Icon 4 string next to it, which felt a bit more substantial and had more of a solid feel. I left with a ho hum impression of the P4, but probably worth the $900.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting your review. I like the Hipshot A bridge a little better, but I think the Carvin bridge (not sure who makes it for them) is a very good, solid bridge. I can understand that you'd rather have the Hipshot, though. It's a great bridge.

I'm curious as to what you mean when you said that the Icon felt more solid and substantial. Were there loose knobs or did the pickguard feel flimsy or something along those lines? Was it just the general feel of the instrument?

Good to hear that you felt the tone was a good P Bass tone,and that the fit and finish was good. I've still yet to see one in person.
 
#728
Haven't read the entire thread, but...

Anyone know if there are plans to have the 4 stringer available with a proper p-width neck? Ideally 1.75 but even 1 and 11/16, or 1.65 could work? I clicked through the build-a-bass and didn't see any options for a wider neck. That would be a major disappointment as all my main-play 4 strings have that width and I know that a jazz-width p-bass just wouldn't work for me.

I know Carvin likes to "refine" things, but it seems like a major oversight to make a P-style bass without an option to have one of the most iconic p-bass features. If they had a proper p-bass neck width available my LB75f (Great bass, but hasn't been played in years) would be on the block ASAP.

IF I could get a 5-er as a kit though, that would be something I'd take a chance on.
 
#729
Eilif said:
Haven't read the entire thread, but...

Anyone know if there are plans to have the 4 stringer available with a proper p-width neck? Ideally 1.75 but even 1 and 11/16, or 1.65 could work? I clicked through the build-a-bass and didn't see any options for a wider neck. That would be a major disappointment as all my main-play 4 strings have that width and I know that a jazz-width p-bass just wouldn't work for me.

I know Carvin likes to "refine" things, but it seems like a major oversight to make a P-style bass without an option to have one of the most iconic p-bass features. If they had a proper p-bass neck width available my LB75f (Great bass, but hasn't been played in years) would be on the block ASAP.

IF I could get a 5-er as a kit though, that would be something I'd take a chance on.
Click to expand...

There are often many things available that are not listed in the online builder. Give them a call...
 
#730
The date on my Carvin post card reads 01/07/14!

:bassist:

Base Price: $ 769.00
PB4 - 4-String Classic Bolt Neck Bass
Left Handed
$ 80.00 - PJP - Add J Bridge Pickup and Passive Electronics
$ 0.00 - WW - White/White
$ 0.00 - -CG - Clear Gloss Finish (Standard)
$ 0.00 - -MA - Maple Neck/Alder Body (Standard)
$ 0.00 - -TN - Tung Oil Finish Back Of Neck (Standard)
$ 0.00 - -SBH - SB-Style Headstock (Standard)
$ 0.00 - MF - Maple Fingerboard (Tung-Oiled)
$ 0.00 - -DI - Dot Inlays (Standard)
$ 0.00 - -FR - Med-Jumbo Frets .048" H .103" W (Standard)
$ 0.00 - -R14 - 14in Fretboard Radius (Standard)
$ 30.00 - BC - Black Hardware
$ 0.00 - -BLK - Black Pickups
$ 0.00 - BLL2 - Large Black Logo (no charge)
$ 0.00 - -4011 - Nickel Roundwound .040 .060 .080 .100
$ 15.00 - WP - White Pearloid Pickguard
$ 59.00 - SC8 - Black Ultimate Soft Bass Case
 
#731
CharlieC said:
The date on my Carvin post card reads 01/07/14!

:bassist:

Base Price: $ 769.00
PB4 - 4-String Classic Bolt Neck Bass
Left Handed
$ 80.00 - PJP - Add J Bridge Pickup and Passive Electronics
$ 0.00 - WW - White/White
$ 0.00 - -CG - Clear Gloss Finish (Standard)
$ 0.00 - -MA - Maple Neck/Alder Body (Standard)
$ 0.00 - -TN - Tung Oil Finish Back Of Neck (Standard)
$ 0.00 - -SBH - SB-Style Headstock (Standard)
$ 0.00 - MF - Maple Fingerboard (Tung-Oiled)
$ 0.00 - -DI - Dot Inlays (Standard)
$ 0.00 - -FR - Med-Jumbo Frets .048" H .103" W (Standard)
$ 0.00 - -R14 - 14in Fretboard Radius (Standard)
$ 30.00 - BC - Black Hardware
$ 0.00 - -BLK - Black Pickups
$ 0.00 - BLL2 - Large Black Logo (no charge)
$ 0.00 - -4011 - Nickel Roundwound .040 .060 .080 .100
$ 15.00 - WP - White Pearloid Pickguard
$ 59.00 - SC8 - Black Ultimate Soft Bass Case
Click to expand...

Welcome........now you get to wait! Enjoy that.
 
#734
Jarrett said:
I was curious about that comment as well :)
Click to expand...

The bridge used on the Carvin bolt on models is a generic-ish model made by some anonymous company in the far east. You actually can find them unbranded on EBay in the $20 ballpark if you spend some time searching for them.

Here's a guy from China selling the five string version, in gold, for $22.58 including shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Design-...590?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item5d38fc131e

I think they're a perfectly fine design, and I'm quite happy with the one on my SB5000. I can see why Carvin went with them - they're a nice bridge, and probably cost the MUCH less than the Hipshot A styles that go on many of their other basses. They don't, however, have any snob appeal.
 
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#735
WoodyG3 said:
Thanks for posting your review. I like the Hipshot A bridge a little better, but I think the Carvin bridge (not sure who makes it for them) is a very good, solid bridge. I can understand that you'd rather have the Hipshot, though. It's a great bridge.

I'm curious as to what you mean when you said that the Icon felt more solid and substantial. Were there loose knobs or did the pickguard feel flimsy or something along those lines? Was it just the general feel of the instrument?

Good to hear that you felt the tone was a good P Bass tone,and that the fit and finish was good. I've still yet to see one in person.
Click to expand...

It was really the general feel of the instrument, the neck to me is the most important, and the Icon felt like it had a more boutique builder or custom made feel with that little extra attention to the details. Maybe it was the choice of woods and the way the frets were dressed and rounded?

As for the bridge... I bought that exact bridge, in black, off ebay for around $20 a few years ago. Not sure who makes them either? Not that its bad, but you can look at the finish alone on it and see that its not what you should be getting on a $900 sold "direct" bass, especially when they put Hipshot or even their own good quality in house brand bridge on the majority of their other basses. Its not what I'm used to seeing from Carvin. Although my MIA Jazz's and P's sound better with their Ol' OE bridges, its not a sound issue in my opinion.
 
#740
Coming 1/9....my bun in the oven
 

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