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"Official" Carvin Club - Part 2

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#641
Here's another pic of the headstock, I was mainly trying to narrow down the year by the logo they were using then. So yeah, probably '86 or '87.
After owning several other fretless basses (and even converting some fretted to fretless) I finally have one I'm totally happy with. Just had to go back 25+ years to find it.
 

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#645
Here's my Carvin collection, with a new addition on the left! It's a used LB75PF that was delivered Wednesday. Thank you tax return! :D

5ASIqqK.jpg


I'm still in the process of getting it set up to my tastes. I've noticed the piezo pickup is quite a bit quieter than the magnetic pups (j99 and hb5). I've lowered the pickups a bit but the issue remains. Does anyone have a recommended string height over the pickups that alleviates this problem? Currently, when "fretting" at the last "fret," the B string is 1/8 in. above the pickups, and the G-string is 3/32 in. above the pickups.

Also, I just dropped in two new 9-volts, so this shouldn't be an issue. I didn't realize the piezo pickup wouldn't work in passive mode.
 
#646
bassRunner said:
I'm still in the process of getting it set up to my tastes. I've noticed the piezo pickup is quite a bit quieter than the magnetic pups (j99 and hb5). I've lowered the pickups a bit but the issue remains. Does anyone have a recommended string height over the pickups that alleviates this problem? Currently, when "fretting" at the last "fret," the B string is 1/8 in. above the pickups, and the G-string is 3/32 in. above the pickups.

Also, I just dropped in two new 9-volts, so this shouldn't be an issue. I didn't realize the piezo pickup wouldn't work in passive mode.
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There is a trim pot for the piezo volume in the control cavity. Look at the bottom of this linked page to show you where it is:

Invalid Link Removed

There are also trim pots for each individual string to fine tune things.

Hope that helps.

Also, cool bass you have there! :bassist:
 
#648
mark beem said:
Sweet bass!! I have its big brother!
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Haha, nice! I decided 6 strings was probably too big a jump for my fretless abilities, but I remember seeing yours on ebay. I'm pleasantly surprised by the vintage white color.

Didn't you post earlier that you were having some issues getting it to mwah? I haven't gotten mine quite to the level of my Fender Jazz fretless. I'm still working on the set up, and I'm really interested in your experience. Thanks!
 
#649
bassRunner said:
Haha, nice! I decided 6 strings was probably too big a jump for my fretless abilities, but I remember seeing yours on ebay. I'm pleasantly surprised by the vintage white color.

Didn't you post earlier that you were having some issues getting it to mwah? I haven't gotten mine quite to the level of my Fender Jazz fretless. I'm still working on the set up, and I'm really interested in your experience. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Yeah when I first got the bass the action was horridly high. Way too much relief and completely unplayable. After much cranking and adjusting I'm finally getting it dialed in. Still haven't gotten it fully to where I want it but it's much improved.
 
#650
Emmaporkchop said:
Just got this LB60, probably an '86 I'm guessing. I had ordered a fretless from Carvin back in '95 or '96 and loved it but had to sell it shortly after. This one is in great shape for being over 25 yrs old. Plays and sounds like I had hoped. The neck isn't too thin and I'm able to get a huge range of sounds out of it for a passive bass.
Click to expand...

That's a gorgeous bass, and I totally agree with the old logo looking great :) That said, I can't recall ever hearing anyone complain that any Carvin instrument had a neck that was too thin :) I have heard the opposite a lot though, especially from guitarists.
 
#651
WoodyG3 said:
There is a trim pot for the piezo volume in the control cavity. Look at the bottom of this linked page to show you where it is:

Invalid Link Removed

There are also trim pots for each individual string to fine tune things.

Hope that helps.

Also, cool bass you have there! :bassist:
Click to expand...

Thanks, Woody! Sorry I missed your post there for a minute, tucked away between two with giant images. I'll check this out when I get home from work.

Gotta love the Carvin club! :bassist:
 
#652
mark beem said:
Yeah when I first got the bass the action was horridly high. Way too much relief and completely unplayable. After much cranking and adjusting I'm finally getting it dialed in. Still haven't gotten it fully to where I want it but it's much improved.
Click to expand...

Same, my bass took a cold trip from North Carolina to Illinois. Anyway, I'll keep you updated with my experiments. I'm really looking forward to "getting it there."

Also, your unlined board is making me salivate all over the place. Really fine looker you've got there!
 
#653
I figured down the road that I might get a fretless mostly to mess around with at home (too chicken to take it to a gig). As I’m not a real fretless guy, I’d likely go with a B40 or B50. For one, it would be good quality without breaking the bank. But also I presumed that a bolt-on would be less temperamental if there’s an abrupt climate change. And if really in a pinch, the neck could be replaced.

Question, is there any truth in that a bolt-on neck can handle climate changes more readily than a neck through?
 
#654
dgce said:
Question, is there any truth in that a bolt-on neck can handle climate changes more readily than a neck through?
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The bass I posted above is my first neck-through as well as my first Carvin, so I can't really speak to the relative stabilities with climate variation. I can say that I had to go with neck-through because I wanted the piezo pickup, and I think Carvin will only put it on neck-through basses.

Below is a thread about a recent article from Bass Gear Magazine. They interviewed several big name luthiers, and a good number prefer bolt-ons.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/bolt-versus-neck-through-what-do-experts-say-946834/
 
#655
Has anyone ever seen a Carvin Bass with the logo: CS Custom Guitars? The bass has Carvin tuners, the body looks like a B50 with Active J99a's, even has a Carvin case...But I've NEVER seen a Carvin headstock with THAT logo! Oh, I cannot find a serial number either. I'm wondering if this is a kit?!!

I checked out the Carvin Museum and didn't see any logo like that used.

Anyone have an opinion? Thanks...Trippin'
 

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#657
TrippinOnIt said:
Has anyone ever seen a Carvin Bass with the logo: CS Custom Guitars? The bass has Carvin tuners, the body looks like a B50 with Active J99a's, even has a Carvin case...But I've NEVER seen a Carvin headstock with THAT logo! Oh, I cannot find a serial number either. I'm wondering if this is a kit?!!

I checked out the Carvin Museum and didn't see any logo like that used.

Anyone have an opinion? Thanks...Trippin'
Click to expand...

This was probably built from a kit, which doesn't come with a logo, then had a logo added by the owner.
 
#659
bassRunner said:
The bass I posted above is my first neck-through as well as my first Carvin, so I can't really speak to the relative stabilities with climate variation. I can say that I had to go with neck-through because I wanted the piezo pickup, and I think Carvin will only put it on neck-through basses.

Below is a thread about a recent article from Bass Gear Magazine. They interviewed several big name luthiers, and a good number prefer bolt-ons.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/bolt-versus-neck-through-what-do-experts-say-946834/
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link! As for the bolt-on vs. neck-thru argument, even the pros can't seem to decide which is preferable. For my purposes, I think bolt-on is the way to go given the B40/50’s bang for buck. If it turns out fretless isn't for me, at least I wouldn't have paid too much for it. And if I really take to it, I'll still have a great instrument because despite the low price, the B40s/50s are great.
 
#660
jim777 said:
That's a gorgeous bass, and I totally agree with the old logo looking great :) That said, I can't recall ever hearing anyone complain that any Carvin instrument had a neck that was too thin :) I have heard the opposite a lot though, especially from guitarists.
Click to expand...

I'm always suspect of a neck's stability that's too thin, especially a neck through. I just had a good feeling when I saw this one of GC's Used site. Really amazed at the range of sounds I'm getting out of this bass.
Now if GC could've remembered to deliver the case with it....(should be on it's way soon)
 
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