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Thoughts on a Custom Carvin 6 string with aftermarket pickups and preamp.

V

Vibhas Patil

Sep 9, 2010
199
37
#1
Hey.

I am looking at getting a new 6 string bass. What do you guys think of Carvin ? I'm talking in terms of build quality. I intend to change the pickups and preamp when I get the bass. I'll go in for a Bunny Brunnel 6 string or maybe a standard LB 6 string.

Thanks.
 
#2
Don't own a Carvin (yet) but am looking hard at the SB series and the Icon. I have played several used LBs and while the styling was not for me (too pointy) they used beautiful woods, seemed very well built, and played very nicely.

Just a question because I am curious: Carvin offers so many pickup options, why would you buy the bass intending to gut and replace the electronics? Not that you are alone - I see that a lot on TB, but I'm always curious why folks are biased against OEM electronics.
 
#4
I have a Carvin I bought 2nd hand a few years ago, its a '92 neck thru LB75. The body shape is that slightly pointy-er late 80's style that took awhile to grow on me, but the Koa wood is beautiful and the build quality seems super tight to me. Its one of those basses I will never be able to part with, the wood looks and feels like a classic piece of furniture. Just super nice.
 
#5
I am modifying a mid 90's fretless 5er as I type! Great build quality. Couldn't be happier. They get a bum rap, but that is probably related to how they market/sell, rather than how they actually play/sound.

Honestly though, buy used. Let someone else shell out full price!
 
#9
Can't comment on B strings, but the build quality on my Icon was outstanding, and this is coming from someone who has owned a couple of Alembics.

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#10
I absolutely love my Carvin Bunny Brunel 6.

But for the life of me I can't figure why in the world someone would want to swap out the pups and pre? You can order pretty much what you want. I think the electronics are great- not quite the 'growl' of my SB4000, but with the sweepable mids it's a swiss army knife.

The bass certainly benefits from the Cirlce K strings I have on it. The B is pretty darn good. Over the years, I've decided that how a bass handle the B is mostly a matter of the string more than anything else.

anyway- best bass I've ever owned over all, followed very closely by my SB4000.
 
#11
Ok. So here's what I think I'm gonna do. Order that bass. Wait till it ships. Play it and if then I don't like anything, I'll change things.

One more question, any thoughts on the new Carvin Radiused alnico pickups ? I'll probably go for the humbuckers not the single coils.
 
#13
I own two, and have owned four throughout my life. The build for all of them has always be superior, great wood selections, beautiful craftsmanship. On the electronics, I get it, the Carvins, to me, are a bit bright. That said, the newer models with the J99A Pickups and newer Pre are much better. The SB series however, has a fantastic Pre it can be bright but easily adjusted to growl. My BB75 is still a bit bright for me, it has ICON electronics in it. There are trim pots in the pre (not sure what they do yet) but I assume you can adjust the frequencies a bit. Anyway, I have a call in to Carvin on Monday.

My old BB75 (1993) had an OBP3 and Sadowsky pups....OMG! that was it. Long story about what happened to it (another day), but I wish I still had it...

All this to say, Carvin makes great stuff, best bang for the buck (IMHO)
 

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