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"Official" Carvin Club - Part 2

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#743
Curious if one would classify the Carvin tone as a "modern" tone or a "classic" tone. specifically in terms of MusicMan styled pickups but obviously any other feedback would be helpful as well

when I say modern vs classic I'm thinking in terms of Ibanez vs Fender

also how do Carvin's MM pups stack up to actual MM pups?
 
#746
LLendrum said:
My natural finish swamp ash BB75.

It's getting on a bit. I'd love to replace the electronics... any recommendations from fellow Carvin owners?

Also, requesting number. :)
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Do you want to swap out the preamp or the pickups? There are plenty of preamps that would work, but I'm not sure if there are any pickups that match the size of the Carvin wide spaced 5 string MM pickups. :(

I recently swapped out a Carvin J style pickup with a Nordstrand NJ5S (their linear split coil J pickup), and am loving it.
 
#748
LLendrum said:
I don't know... I feel that the acoustic tone of the instrument is better than what the electronics are delivering.

How do other Carvin owners find their stock pickups and preamp?
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I used to own a BB75 with the same pickups/preamp as yours. I though the preamp's bass and treble controls were fine, but the Q of the mid control was too wide to be especially useful. I usually just set the preamp flat and used the tone controls on my amp.

Despite the reputation that the old Carvin 9V preamp has, I really don't think there's anything wrong with it.

I really liked the big MM style pickup, and I though the old J99 pickup was fine, but nothing to write home about about. The newer J99A pickups, in my opinion, are awesome if you're OK with a non-hum canceling pickup.

I really, really, dislike the Carvin stacked humbucker J style pickups. Of course, I've never met a stacked J pickup that's agreed with me. :)
 
#749
Well the really bizarre thing with the 9V preamp is that only certain brands of 9V battery will even fit in it... which I find patently ludicrous as they're supposed to be a standard size but evidently there is some very slight variance between brands and certain ones won't fit in the casing of my Carvin.
 
#751
Carvin owners!!! I am in a pickle!! I need advice!!

So for the past nine months I had basically made my mind up that I was going to do another kit. 4 string, passive, the MM humbucker with the J99, maple neck with abalone blocks, swamp ash body, was gonna dye it green.

But I've been listening to some SB4000 sound clips. And now I want one of them! A walnut bodied one to be precise, standard options, all passive.

I have a walnut B40 kit already and I love it. What do I pick? Money isn't really a huge factor, its more of who has both and what do you prefer? It will be a while before I can order so there will be a good mulling over period. Help me!
 
#753
LLendrum said:
I'd love to replace the electronics... any recommendations from fellow Carvin owners?
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Audere. Very open and neutral sounding, lets the character of the pickups shine through better than the Carvin pre IME. I prefer passive mode on my BB76F but I have the same HB pickup with the 3ZB in another bass and it kills. Even with EQ and Z-mode adjustments, it still has an open, organic sound.

I bet an ACG EQ-01 would be a lot of fun, too.
 
#758
I bought my LB70 back in the early 90's and it has been an extension of my arms and hands ever since then. Losing or selling my LB70 would be like losing one of my arms! I have never wanted another bass since purchasing this.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366983678.591376.jpg
 
#760
WoodyG3 said:
IMO, Carvin MM pickups are very mellow and smooth, nothing like MM pickups from MM.

For hifi tone I'd say the soapbars and radiused humbuckers would be the choice.

For an aggressive sort of Jazz bass tone, I'd go with the J99As.
The H50A pickups are pretty much a "well mannered, " humbucking version of the J99A.
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hmm that makes me slightly disappointed. not a fan of the hifi tone. prefer a precision or musicman tone, behind that a jazz but i already have a good jazz. they are indeed beautiful instruments and the options carvin allows (and the prices) are nothing short of awesome.
 
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