carvin bass owners...

[johnny6644]

 

Originally posted by johnny6644 I like the playablity of my new Carvin (built from a kit). I have had one problem which you wouldn't get from a factory bass: the saddle for the E string is wrong. It's the wrong saddle. The adjustment screw is too small, it simply slides in and out of the hole (Lug, you're on). I called Carvin for a new screw and they promptly (!) sent one. This one is too small too... so it's got to be the saddle, right? So, I guess I hit the phone again this morning. Anybody else have this problem?

 

 

Talked to Albert, tech at Carvin, and a new saddle is on the way.

[Pindy]

I had a BB75 for a while (took lessons from BB for a year back in 92, so he talked me into it). I liked all the options to choose from and the finish was to my specs. When it came, the fit and finish was excellent and it seemed a very well put together bass.

 

The problem was the sound. I just hated the sound. no matter what I did, I couldn't get it to sound like I wanted, so I sold it to a guy I was going to school with who seemed to get much more out of it that I ever did. Just not my thing, I guess.

[lug]

 

Originally posted by Pindy I had a BB75 for a while (took lessons from BB for a year back in 92, so he talked me into it). I liked all the options to choose from and the finish was to my specs. When it came, the fit and finish was excellent and it seemed a very well put together bass. The problem was the sound. I just hated the sound. no matter what I did, I couldn't get it to sound like I wanted, so I sold it to a guy I was going to school with who seemed to get much more out of it that I ever did. Just not my thing, I guess.

 

 

mine:

http://users3.ev1.net/~woodd/huntforexposure.mp3

I have the humbucker in the bridge position.

[Pindy]

 

Originally posted by lug mine: http://users3.ev1.net/~woodd/huntforexposure.mp3 I have the humbucker in the bridge position.

 

 

I think mine was 2x Jazz single coils. Those humbuckers sound a lot better.

[lug]

 

Originally posted by Pindy I think mine was 2x Jazz single coils. Those humbuckers sound a lot better.

 

 

I have heard a lot of people say the newer carvins were a bit bland so I was plseantly suprised at the sounds I could get out of this particular bass. Lot of variations with the bucker, it's coil tap (basically turns into a single coil), midsweep, and active/passive mode. It's gonna take me a while to figure it all out.

[T. Alan Smith]

I might order another BB75, IF I could order it w/o the pups-n-pre.

[Billy-B]

 

Originally posted by johnny6644 Talked to Albert, tech at Carvin, and a new saddle is on the way.

 

 

 

Albert is the Head Tech and a heck of a great guy. Great guitard, too:thu:

 

 

 

Billy-B

[Mind Riot]

Originally posted by JC Bass Thanks!! It's my main bass for everything I do, and I absolutely love it. Ordered all the options I wanted and it turned out to be better than I ever dreamed.

 

You don't see block inlays on too many basses. Those things look really classy on there, I dig it.

[xdamagexx]

Originally posted by SatansEnemy

 

dude i got your GAS also... i want a Carvin..... Next year hopefully ya'll be seeing my pictures of my custom LB75.... Grrrrr

 

 

m/

[johnny6644]

 

Originally posted by Billy-B Albert is the Head Tech and a heck of a great guy. Great guitard, too:thu: Billy-B

 

 

So you know him?

 

He's been sort of nonplussed when I called him about my problem, which discussed earlier. But he's always been cool about fixing the problem.

[Billy-B]

 

Originally posted by johnny6644 So you know him? He's been sort of nonplussed when I called him about my problem, which discussed earlier. But he's always been cool about fixing the problem.

 

 

 

Albert is a pretty mello guy. He has been at Carvin a long time, and is totally into everything that is Carvin. Being the head tech chingon, he is always very busy and hard to get a minute with. I'd be shocked if he did not take care of your problem.

 

He is a guitard, tho...

 

 

Billy-B

[johnny6644]

 

Originally posted by Billy-B Albert is a pretty mello guy. He has been at Carvin a long time, and is totally into everything that is Carvin. Being the head tech chingon, he is always very busy and hard to get a minute with. I'd be shocked if he did not take care of your problem. He is a guitard, tho... Billy-B

 

 

He's been cool. It's just kind of an odd problem, required two calls to carvin, two trips to the guitar tech here, etc.

 

It's left the E string slightly sharp at the 12th fret. Live with it!

[L-1329]

Carvin- definetly a mixed feelings company. On one hand my LB75 is a bass that just falls into my hands better than any other. I also really have liked it's tone over the years I've had it. I also have a DC200 guitar that has served me very well for a few years now. I don't think I'd ever order from them again though.

 

Albert- this guy is the main reason I am so down on Carvin now. My bass' truss rod cap stripped on me a year or so ago, and I had to deal with him with a rebuild. He NEVER, and I mean NEVER once returned an email, phone call, or anything. I even had a letter spelling out Exactly how I wanted the bass rebuilt, in the case TAPED to the bass, and he never even saw it much less read it. I had to call those *&^*%'s about 20 times to ensure that they were not going to screw up the bass. Even after the last of several calls to ensure they had all the details right, I called back once more. The thing was being finished and they still had the neck inlays wrong. If I didn't have to hound their ass so much there is no way that would have ever came out as I specified. I don't know what their problem is out there, but I've never seen such inattentive customer service anywhere. And they still use the same weak, stupid truss rod system as before. It is only a matter of time I fear until it happens again, and then the bass is going in the dumpster.

 

It really can be a good bass, but they are unconcerned with too many customer details to make me ever want to give them my business. I am tempted by the thought of getting another guitar from them, but won't because of principle. There are too many builders and manufacturers out there who go out of their way for their buyers for me to justify giving the money to these clowns who could care less.

[Billy-B]

L, if your bass is still screwed up and you want to send it back to Carvin, I will personally make a trip to Carvin and bring the problem to Albert's attention. He is a friend, and will take care of it. Not making any excuses for him or for Carvin, but he is a good guy.

 

Billy-B

[L-1329]

 

Originally posted by Billy-B L, if your bass is still screwed up and you want to send it back to Carvin, I will personally make a trip to Carvin and bring the problem to Albert's attention. He is a friend, and will take care of it. Not making any excuses for him or for Carvin, but he is a good guy. Billy-B

 

 

Well, I do appreciate that but this bass was finished up a while ago now, and in the end it was built as I wanted. Not bagging on him personally, but it just irk's me to no end when a business just doesn't care at all about my business to even return a message. They really need to get more help, or put a much bigger priority on paying attention to their customers. Their stuff is not as good a bargain today as it was a few years back, and there are a lot of valid alternatives to Carvin. Hopefully they can figure it out, because as a bass I really do like the LB...

[Billy-B]

Glad you finally got it sorted out, L. Your points are well taken and voiced by many, so something is not right at Carvin.

 

 

Billy-B

[SatansEnemy]

 

Originally posted by bassplayer7770 I've owned 3 Carvins. The first I ordered was a B5 with the HB/J99 pickup configuration. I was never crazy about the tone, but, after I traded it for an LB75, I found out the neck was warped. Carvin replaced the neck for the new owner after I confirmed that he was the rightful new owner of the bass. My LB75 and LB70 both had the H50N pickups, and I liked those. They had solid, usable tone that seemed to sit fairly well in a mix, but it wasn't very distinct to my ears. Overall, they're built quite well and sound good. Are you considering new, used, or both?

 

 

 

i am considering new...

swamp ash body

maple neck if i can get block inlays on it...

p-series with an HB at the neck position also

[SatansEnemy]

ok i keep hearing about the "weak truss rod system"

what is wrong with their truss rods?

 

i just want all the info i can get before i throw down $1200+ on a bass.

 

thanks

Jeremy

[L-1329]

 

Originally posted by SatansEnemy ok i keep hearing about the "weak truss rod system" what is wrong with their truss rods? i just want all the info i can get before i throw down $1200+ on a bass. thanks Jeremy

 

 

Here is what happened to mine, and when it did I looked into it a little. I found that I wasn't the only one to have it happen, if he still posts here I think JPO259 had it happen as well.

 

The truss rod end that you adjust is a threaded on cap, not the actual rod. The rod itself is fairly thin and weak compared to other basses. I needed to flatten the neck a bit once, and when I tried to turn the rod it was so stiff it felt locked in place. I put more force into it until I heard the snap, whereby the rod nut just spun freely. The threads stripped and the rod was then unadjustable. Death blow for a bass. There was no economical or practical fix either, other than to send the bass back for a rebuild (new bass, same old hardware). Now, I have adjusted many basses for a lot of years and did nothing out of the ordinary, and I am not alone. The system is weak, and very prone to failure. The bass itself is a very good, well made bass, and I can't for the life of me see why they can get so much right and screw up something so important. When I got my new rebuilt bass I have a fresh 5 year warranty on the neck, and if it happens again in this time period they build me a new one. After that if it happens the bass is junk, I've spent all I can on it. The rebuild cost me $400. This is why I am so mixed on Carvin's. I really like playing it, I like how it sounds, and looks, and the finish is very nice quality. It just has such a weakness in it, and the position that they set the bridge makes it all but impossible to use anything but their taperwound strings, as the bridge is too close to the neck for normal wrapped strings. For $1200, there are a number of other basses out there. If you opt for a Carvin you may get a great bass, but just know that you have to be EXTRA carefull when you adjust the neck.

[JC Bass]

 

Originally posted by SatansEnemy i am considering new... swamp ash body maple neck if i can get block inlays on it... p-series with an HB at the neck position also

 

 

Can't get block inlays on a maple neck...only on the ebony.

[SatansEnemy]

Originally posted by L-1329 It just has such a weakness in it, and the position that they set the bridge makes it all but impossible to use anything but their taperwound strings, as the bridge is too close to the neck for normal wrapped strings.

 

are you saying that normal string sets like ernie ball/boomers...strings like that will not work on their basses?

 

 

 

oh and a maple neck with abalone block inlays would be so beautiful...

and you say i cant get them...that my friend is gay...if they can inlay an ebony fretboard why cant they inlay a maple one?

 

and since id be getting it custom made, would there be anyway to get them make it for a custom tuning....cgcf?

fatter strings more tension...

 

thanks again

[JC Bass]

Originally posted by SatansEnemy =are you saying that normal string sets like ernie ball/boomers...strings like that will not work on their basses? oh and a maple neck with abalone block inlays would be so beautiful... and you say i cant get them...that my friend is gay...if they can inlay an ebony fretboard why cant they inlay a maple one? and since id be getting it custom made, would there be anyway to get them make it for a custom tuning....cgcf? fatter strings more tension... thanks again

 

Their catalog states that inlays are not available on maple...

 

As for the strings question, I use SIT strings on my bass and have never had a problem. The bridge is a Hipshot 'B' bridge...but they are switching to Hipshot 'A' bridges right now...