Carvin Basses

[MacDaddy]

2 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Cool! No question, a rock / metal look for the band - your hair was defo longer then! 😁

 

And stomach flatter! 😆

[Al Krow]

3 minutes ago, MacDaddy said:

And stomach flatter! 😆

 

Yeah...know what you mean! Still there's 2022 to get that sorted 😁

[AvgJ]

On 01/02/2021 at 03:11, LeftyJ said:

I've owned a couple of them, and still have two. Three of them have been very impressive, especially for the price I paid used. One was a dud, but then again it was modified by the previous owner (lacquer on the back of the neck removed and replaced with tung oil, and the profile shaved down by a couple mm) so I can't tell for sure if it always was. It looked fantastic though, it was an LB75 with a hidden two-piece maple neck through body, walnut wings and a flamed walnut top, ebony fingerboard, and it looked really well-made. I didn't get on with the neck, and it didn't sound as lively and not nearly as loud as the other LB75 that I had (and bought back last summer after 10 years). 

I think used Carvins are incredible value for money, because they hold their value very poorly. You can often find high-spec Carvin instruments for really low prices. I paid only 250 GBP for my black LB75 here on Basschat because of wear to the finish, and I paid roughly the same for a lovely B4 in perfect shape (bolt-on, natural gloss alder body, one-piece maple neck, birdseye maple fingerboard, passive electronics). My 7-string DC727 guitar cost me 600 GBP and it's like new, almost untouched. The 7-string and my black LB75 are the ones I still own, and not going anywhere soon 😎

I actually have a LB75P neckthrough I was looking to either repair or replace the electronics on. The pots are sticking and long in the tooth. I tried getting info on getting replacement parts but they no longer support these.. I have to do some research because I've never upgraded especially with pezio puckups..

[haimesy]

I’ve had a couple of SB004s 

still got the Fretless , had it built through Bass Gear 8 or 9 years ago 

Great basses imo 

[Schnozzalee]

That's stunning @haimesy

 

I have an SB5000 fretless (unlined) and it's flawless - Killer electronics too!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MDJfA-uSe4

[Cosmo Valdemar]

I remember Carvin were always in Bass Player magazine back in the 90s, but they always seemed like a US brand - I never saw them over here. I always loved the look of them though, especially Chris Squire's, probably the only 6 string I've seen that looks completely natural and not an expanded 4 string.

 

It's a pity they were taken over by that colossal anchor Kiesel.

 

 

[LeftyJ]

8 hours ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

It's a pity they were taken over by that colossal anchor Kiesel.

Yep, Jeff Kiesel is a bit of a tool. I don’t really like where their design direction went after the name change either, with all the bevels and bland headstock shapes. I kinda liked the LB shape (now out of production) and love the old rounded DC guitar shape. They're very comfortable to play and just have a classic look to them. 

 

 

[BetaFunk]

19 hours ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

I remember Carvin were always in Bass Player magazine back in the 90s, but they always seemed like a US brand - I never saw them over here. 

 

 

 

I seem to remember that ABC Music who had a few shops at the time were UK agents/importers for Carvin in the late 80s early 90s and you could choose and order what spec guitar or bass you wanted through them. 

[LeftyJ]

There used to be a Carvin Music Store near me, in The Hague (Netherlands). I always thought they were built-to-order only, but I guess back then they made some standard models too.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

17 hours ago, BetaFunk said:

I seem to remember that ABC Music who had a few shops at the time were UK agents/importers for Carvin in the late 80s early 90s and you could choose and order what spec guitar or bass you wanted through them. 

Before my time 😄

[BetaFunk]

Well it was around the time of those Carvins you saw in Bass Player magazine in the 90s

[Cosmo Valdemar]

1 hour ago, BetaFunk said:

Well it was around the time of those Carvins you saw in Bass Player magazine in the 90s

I didn't start playing until late '95 as a penniless teenager so probably missed them. Not that I would have been in any position to try or order one for a good few years!

[BetaFunk]

58 minutes ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

I didn't start playing until late '95 as a penniless teenager so probably missed them. Not that I would have been in any position to try or order one for a good few years!

Yes I understand. I was older and had more money but they were always out of my price range too! I think at the time one of their main selling points was that you were buying an American built custom bass or guitar built to your spec. 

[Mikey D]

Posted elsewhere on other threads...but here is a SB5000 I bought used from this forum a while ago. Love it. Always now keep an eye out for other SB Carvins as I love the shape.

 

[BassBunny]

Weren't Bass Gear in Twyford agents for Carvin? Not sure they are still going. I think they went online only after closing the shop down.

[haimesy]

Yeah .. I ordered my fretless through Barrie (Molan) there if I remember correctly ..loving the matching green cabs 👍🏻👍🏻