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New model from Carvin - retro
- Thread starter WoodyG3
- Start date
Your bass looks great. I'll look forward to reading your review after you've used it live.
As for the pickup cover, I would remove it as well. They just get in my way. It does look cool, though.
I was thinking about getting one with a nice top wood and no pickguard, but the control plate sitting on its own looks a bit out-of-place. Called to ask if they would make one without a control plate, but it's top routed 
Time to reconsider the options.
Time to reconsider the options.
Ooooh! I don't think I'm man enough to rock a purple bass, but that purple and pearloid combo is Bee-u-tee-ful!
I tried taking more photos but the purple keeps coming out looking very dark in the photographs. I just thought the the purple/white pearl combo would look great, and it does. Though I regret a little skimping on the top wood, this would have looked even nicer with a flamed maple top. I don't mind rockin' the purple myself. I have another bass, a 5-stringer, an ESP http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/ESP-LTD-F155DX-5String-Bass-Guitar?sku=516184 with a beautiful flamed purple top. And very good quality for the price. I get many compliments on that bass, especially from girls. Anyway, I thought I'd add to my purple bass collection with the Carvin. Though I can see how much nicer the flame would have made it look.
Why the second? As a backup or did you order it with completely different options in order to have distinctive sounds or looks?
I would like to play one, but there isnt any Carvin stores in Texas I know off. I think there cool but how do they play and sound.
They sound great, Gary. Quite a bit like a Jazz, but more.
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The only Carvin stores are in Kalifawnia, but they play great. They might just have the nicest action you ever played.
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The only Carvin stores are in Kalifawnia, but they play great. They might just have the nicest action you ever played.
Cheer up and rejoice in the fact that he will end up having to clean the hamster cage!
I like purple, but I would never have considered it on a bass for myself until now. That is one of the slickest looking basses I've seen in a long time. Beautiful. I want one.
And keep the pup cover! It makes a dandy thumbrest, and it looks great on there. I'm trying to think of a graceful way to put one on a LB20, but there is no pickguard.
Well done!
PS- Nice fingerboard too.
It is a bit like a "Big Al" - but hopefully a better neck. EBMM gets all but irrationally emotional when you try to talk to them about making the neck wider at the nut. They are fine at the bridge but get really cluttered at the nut area. Maybe they have too much guitar player in them - I dunno.
I have a Carvin 75P - I think about 2005 vintage. The build quality is excellent. It took a while to coax a sound out of the electrics - but it is there for most traditional tones.
You got to give them credit for a quality product at a great price and made in the USA. Maybe Ampeg should take note!
I have a Carvin 75P - I think about 2005 vintage. The build quality is excellent. It took a while to coax a sound out of the electrics - but it is there for most traditional tones.
You got to give them credit for a quality product at a great price and made in the USA. Maybe Ampeg should take note!
Well, I had an out of town gig both Friday and Saturday and used my new bass. Very nice. I won't try to describe the tone since that is so subjective and totally depends on your style, amp, effects and etc. But the tone was great for me, it did what I needed it to do. I had to get used to the two volumes, one for each pickup. I'm used to one volume and a blend knob. In this case you blend with the individual pickup volume controls. Not a problem, just takes time to get used too. Oh yeah, this bass has the active electronics, otherwise with the passive instrument this is the way it always is. I'm just used to active basses that typically have one volume and a blend.
Feel was very nice and similar to a typical Jazz. One of the most comfortable neck heels I've ever felt. I don't play up high much but it just felt nice at the joint, very smooth. One heavy sucker though. This is a 100% Alder body. I did not weigh it but I must have received a very heavy piece of wood. Someone else may order Alder and get a lighter instrument. Mine is quite heavy. That's OK, I'll just deal with that part of it.
One slight problem that was probably my fault. This is a new bridge for Carvin and not detailed in the owner's manual (couple of sheets). Not that I need a manual, but I have not seen this kind of bridge before and did not notice the screw that locks the saddles into place. To adjust the saddle height and raise or lower the two saddle screws, you need to first loosen a larger black screw enabling the other two to turn. I didn't know this, and just cranked on the small saddle height screws trying to make them turn. I stripped one out, one of the two A string saddle screws. I had to take the entire saddle off the bass and use plyers to turn that stripped screw and set it in the right place. Serves me right in trying to give the bass a setup before I let myself become familiar with this new bridge. By the way the little allen wrench included was not the right size to make this adjustment but luckily I had another one lying around that was.
Feel was very nice and similar to a typical Jazz. One of the most comfortable neck heels I've ever felt. I don't play up high much but it just felt nice at the joint, very smooth. One heavy sucker though. This is a 100% Alder body. I did not weigh it but I must have received a very heavy piece of wood. Someone else may order Alder and get a lighter instrument. Mine is quite heavy. That's OK, I'll just deal with that part of it.
One slight problem that was probably my fault. This is a new bridge for Carvin and not detailed in the owner's manual (couple of sheets). Not that I need a manual, but I have not seen this kind of bridge before and did not notice the screw that locks the saddles into place. To adjust the saddle height and raise or lower the two saddle screws, you need to first loosen a larger black screw enabling the other two to turn. I didn't know this, and just cranked on the small saddle height screws trying to make them turn. I stripped one out, one of the two A string saddle screws. I had to take the entire saddle off the bass and use plyers to turn that stripped screw and set it in the right place. Serves me right in trying to give the bass a setup before I let myself become familiar with this new bridge. By the way the little allen wrench included was not the right size to make this adjustment but luckily I had another one lying around that was.
