Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
- Status
Welcome new members:
twocargar - 107
J. Montgomery - 108
Two very different and nice basses.
As Jeff noted, the new Carvin SB4000 is worth checking our if you haven't seen it yet. There is a thread here that I started about it a few days ago, too.
twocargar - 107
J. Montgomery - 108
Two very different and nice basses.
As Jeff noted, the new Carvin SB4000 is worth checking our if you haven't seen it yet. There is a thread here that I started about it a few days ago, too.
- Jul 30, 2006
- 2,315
- 453
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist:Regenerate Guitar Works Carvin, Micheal Kelly Guitars
I guess I need to figure out how to post pics of my LB75F (& amps.) Soon Come. Anyway, I'm an endorser of Carvin gear & use it all the time. They have always listened to what we have to say about their stuff & even incorporated some of it. I use their bass amps exclusively & have a Redline 1000w & an 800w mono block amp & a BR 4X10 cab. We also use a lot of Carvin PA gear....cabs, crossovers & power amps(very sturdy & a great value). They have been very good to us over the years.
Engine207
Losing faith in humanity...one call at a time.
IC5WP with abalone block inlays and stainless steel frets.
That's absolutely beautiful. I have never actually heard a Carvin (that I know of), but I'm looking for a fiver and as I search threads, people seem to not like them.
Obviously, every brand has their devotees - and lots of folks do love them, but why do these nice-looking, American-made basses get such a lukewarm reception on TB? Unless they don't sound very good, 
they seem to be pretty killer. And based on my CL and eBay searches, why is their resale less than I would expect?Could one of you CarvinHeads please summarize the pros/cons, as you see it?
For pros, I think value is the big one for me: American made quality for the money. I have a guitar and bass as well as a small bass amp and 1x15 and they have never let me down (although I just got the bass).
As for cons, unless you visit a Carvin showroom or use someone's Carvin instrument or gear, you probably won't find one in a music shop unless it's used (unlike Fender, Gibson, etc., which are in almost every shop). Most people buy their stuff from the Carvin catalog and have it shipped to them. They do offer a 10-day money back guarantee, but for some people that's not enough. I was fortunate to live near the Carvin HQ in San Diego, so I was able to test drive a lot of their stuff before buying it.
Resale values suffer because the brand is not very well known, IMO. Because of this, I was able to get a screaming deal on my '85 LB50, so it's a double-edged sword.
Anyone else want to chime in?
-TCG
Obviously, every brand has their devotees - and lots of folks do love them, but why do these nice-looking, American-made basses get such a lukewarm reception on TB? Unless they don't sound very good,
I might not be the best person to answer this since I'm the originator of this club and obviously have a bias toward Carvin instruments. I'll just say that my two LB70s are extremely well constructed, have terrific necks and fretwork, and sound great.
Tone is a matter of personal preference, of course, but I will say that I think there are a fair number of people who simply parrot the negative comments they have read other people post when they write here on Talk Bass.
Also, Carvin has a large range of electronics options, so it's impossible to generalize about a "Carvin tone" since there are many different possibilities. For example, I don't particularly like the MM sized humbuckers that Carvin uses, but others love them. I think Carvin's J99 is the best single coil pickup I've ever heard. Other people obviously have their own favorite.
Resale value is complex, but look at the low prices on Peavey American made basses and you'll see they lose resale value at about the same rate as Carvins. I think it has something to do with the semi-custom nature of Carvin's instruments. Why pay 80% of the new price on a used instrument when, for a little more, you can get one made just exactly the way you want it? People will pay much less for someone else's custom instrument, I think.
Engine207
Losing faith in humanity...one call at a time.
Great stuff TwoCar and Woody. I'm really smitten by these instruments. So far, just from looking through their latest catalog, I'm really liking the IC5WP, like the one Rcubed has. I don't have anything real to go on, other than the following:
𝄢 I want (not need) a fiver
𝄢 I don't currently have an active bass
𝄢 The hardware is obviously quality
𝄢 Piezos sound interesting (for what...I dunno)
𝄢 It's made in the USA
𝄢 One thing people do seem to agree on is that Carvin has good customer service.
I'm also looking at Ibby BTB-575 and SR-505 and ESP (LTD) B-415, but before I get too GASsed, I need to compare them side-by-side and dollar-for-dollar.
These smiley options need to be taken away from me...
𝄢 I want (not need) a fiver
𝄢 I don't currently have an active bass
𝄢 The hardware is obviously quality
𝄢 Piezos sound interesting (for what...I dunno)
𝄢 It's made in the USA
𝄢 One thing people do seem to agree on is that Carvin has good customer service.
I'm also looking at Ibby BTB-575 and SR-505 and ESP (LTD) B-415, but before I get too GASsed, I need to compare them side-by-side and dollar-for-dollar.
These smiley options need to be taken away from me...
I have never actually heard a Carvin (that I know of), but I'm looking for a fiver and as I search threads, people seem to not like them.
Could one of you CarvinHeads please summarize the pros/cons, as you see it?
I own 2 Carvins, a 2007 LB75AP Anniversary which is drop dead gorgeous, but I struggle with the tone and a 09' Icon 5'er that I love the soapbar pups. Both basses I bought brand new. I tried to return the LB75AP 3 weeks after I bought it, because I couldn't get a sound that I liked out of it for live band purposes, though it sounded great in the store. I eventually ended up buying a 08' MIA Fender Jazz V to take it's place. Recently, I purchased the Icon, because I liked the sound of the soapbar pups, plus the Icon plays immaculately - I really like it.
One thing that is important to note about Carvin resales of basses and that is you really don't see alot of Carvin's for sale on E-Bay or Craigslist, people like myself like to keep them. They are really great basses for the money, USA made you can't beat it.
I plan on getting my LB75AP more playing time here in the near future, but right now I'm digging the sounds of my IC5.
With the coming out of Carvin's new SB5000, I'm probably going to end up with a nice custom shop model of that bass too, I'm just waiting to hear the first reviews though.
I've played Carvin basses and amps for years.(B4 & XB75PF) I did send an AC50 back that I bought from their showroom...It was BEAUTIFUL,but just didn't have "the sound" I was looking for. (I know lots of people play the AC40s and 50s but I get a different and "better" sound from the peizo on the XB75PF.)
Sound is a thing you need to acquire over the years.
YES they are QUALITY...A LOT of bass for the dollar.
I don't know WHY you can't get a decent resale from them...To me they are as good as ANY name brand.(Again that's my feelings on the subject.)
LOL...I know when they come up for sale on the board I have to work hard not to buy one. My problem is I'm not playing enough to justify more basses.
Kent
Sound is a thing you need to acquire over the years.
YES they are QUALITY...A LOT of bass for the dollar.
I don't know WHY you can't get a decent resale from them...To me they are as good as ANY name brand.(Again that's my feelings on the subject.)
LOL...I know when they come up for sale on the board I have to work hard not to buy one. My problem is I'm not playing enough to justify more basses.
Kent
In regards to Engine207's inquiry, I have played several different nice basses (Warwick, US Fender, Lakland, Sadowsky, Ritter, Elrick, Pedulla, Mike Lull, Nash, Music Man, etc.) and have owned a few different brands of basses myself (Jackson, Washburn, Peavey, and now Carvin). IMHO, Carvin has been one of the most well-constructed, dependable basses I have played.
More importantly to me, my Carvin has been the one that cuts through the mix the best in a band setting, and it has the best fretboard from high to low that I have ever played on. It is impeccable. With my pickup setup (A H50S/HB setup, as shown earlier in this thread), I can get a plethora of tonal options. I really don't understand when TB'ers talk negatively about Carvin's preamps. My preamp is powerful and versatile and not in any way "thin-sounding" or lacking in the lows or mids.
What's really cool is that recently I've been playing out with my band with my B5 in switchable passive mode. It is so close to the active mode in tone that I don't even think I need to consistently use the bass in active mode. That excites me! Carvin's tone is so clean and clear and realy cuts through the mix of a full band.
I hope this helps in regards to your bass search.
Also, I'm excited about the new SB5000. Gassssss!
More importantly to me, my Carvin has been the one that cuts through the mix the best in a band setting, and it has the best fretboard from high to low that I have ever played on. It is impeccable. With my pickup setup (A H50S/HB setup, as shown earlier in this thread), I can get a plethora of tonal options. I really don't understand when TB'ers talk negatively about Carvin's preamps. My preamp is powerful and versatile and not in any way "thin-sounding" or lacking in the lows or mids.
What's really cool is that recently I've been playing out with my band with my B5 in switchable passive mode. It is so close to the active mode in tone that I don't even think I need to consistently use the bass in active mode. That excites me! Carvin's tone is so clean and clear and realy cuts through the mix of a full band.
I hope this helps in regards to your bass search.
Also, I'm excited about the new SB5000. Gassssss!
Engine207
Losing faith in humanity...one call at a time.
Hey Vinx! Did you get that new or used? What might an off duty fireman expect to pay for such a fine American 5-string bass? Perhaps in a walnut finish...
When I started to play bass I was seriously considering a carvin as my 2nd bass and just never ended up getting a second bass (well I've had many just mostly inexpensive starter type basses).
I've been reconsidering getting a carvin but now I know a bit more of an opinion on what type of pickups I prefer. Are the carvin soapbars bart size or emg size? They look like they are bartolini size from the pictures but if they are EMG size that will surely help my decision.
thanks
I've been reconsidering getting a carvin but now I know a bit more of an opinion on what type of pickups I prefer. Are the carvin soapbars bart size or emg size? They look like they are bartolini size from the pictures but if they are EMG size that will surely help my decision.
thanks
I know that Bart makes a pickup in that size, but I don't know if EMG does. I don't think so, but I'm not 100% sure.
- Status
