07/16/08

[bassist_25]

To celebrate my transition from being a po' college student to being a po' graduate student, I did what any financially sensible person would do: I dropped some coin on a new bass (and did my patriotic duty and utilized my coming stimulus check, instead of saving it, which of course, would be unpatriotic).

I ordered a Carvin Icon 5 and just recieved my card today with the completition date of July 16th. I'm pretty excited *air guitar strum*.

I've been playing an LB75 for the past two and half years. Like a lot of Carvinites, I was hipped to the brand when I saw Timothy B. Schmidt playing his LB20s on the Eagles Hell Freezes Over tour. Then when I was 15, I saw this awesome jazz cat in Clearfield playing a natural LB76 and it had The Tone (plus the dude playing it was like a skinny white Marcus Miller). I finally bought the LB75 used off of Ebay from a really nice cat in Lancaster. Here's a photo of me playing it at a gig this past fall.



I've estimated the year of it to be around 2000. It's going to be cool having another one that was built to my specs here in two months. Don't mean to brag, but I likes to talks bass geetars.

Anyone else here, guitar players or bass players, using Carvins?

[Banned]

I've been drooling over the Icons ever since they came out. But I have a hard time shelling out those bucks on something that you can't hold in your hands before you hand over the cash. They should open a Carvin store here in PA. I bought my bass rig from Carvin and have had zero problems but, a guitar is a little different. Kind of like marrying a blind date. I wanna hear your thoughts and see the pics when she comes in a couple of months!

[bassist_25]

Dan, I definitely don't think I would have laid down the cash for a brand new Carvin if I already didn't have experience by first buying a used one. Luckily, Carvin's resale value isn't all that great, so it's not hard to find one on the used market to try out before making the big commitment on one ordered straight from the company. If you shop smart, you may be able to even find an instrument used that you could flip at no loss if it isn't your thing. Carvin also has a 10 day return policy, no questions asked. The downside, of course, is you still have to wait for something that you may not end up digging.

Even so, the price of a brand new Carvin is still a drop in the bucket compared to some of the real high-end boutiques out there. If I didn't order the Icon, I was considering a real cool Benevente, which costs almost as much used as what I paid for the Icon new.

I'm real excited about the new 18v preamp and soapbar pickups, which I understand are a huge step up from Carvin's old preamp and J99 pickups.

[Banned]

I'm real excited about the new 18v preamp and soapbar pickups, which I understand are a huge step up from Carvin's old preamp and J99 pickups.

I've heard that they are awesome!

[sunsetbass]

hell i thought i was weird for wanting a carvin. i dont really see many bass players arround here playing on carvin. i know kent plays through a sweet carvin rig. but thats the only one i've seen with carvin. then again i dont get to go out much. i have always wanted a carvin. i like the look and i got to play one about 5 years ago but that was in new jersey.

[metalchurch]

Paul,
That's awesome brother!! An equally impressive is the use of the words "Jazz cats" and "Carvinites" in the same post! Sweetness!

Carvin as a company are unsung compared to alot of the bigger name brands, but you know that's what I always admired about them, is the fact that they didn't sell out.

Whitedevilone's Ultra V was way better than I expected it to be in terms of quality and craftsmanship.

Did you get the engraved truss rod cover also?

I bet you can't wait for that little bitch to arrive at your doorstep!

You are a Carvinite indeed, you Jazz cat!

[bassist_25]

Thanks, Joe! People tell me that I have my own lexicon of words that I use. I suppose that I'm just transcultural like that (transcultural? There's another sweet bassist_25-invented word). Noam Chomsky should just spend like a week following me around to see what cool words and phrases I say.

I totally agree with Carvin staying with their vision. They've shyed away from jumping on trends for the past 50 years without being left in the dust either. They just put out some really solid instruments. I do wish they had more selection with pickups, though. It would be pretty bangin' to have a Carvin shipped to you with a set of Bartolinis or EMGs in it.

I've really enjoyed playing the LB75. After getting it, I've played some other instruments, many in the $1000 - $1500 range, and I still keep going back to the Carvin. Perhaps it's familiarity, but I feel it's the instrument that allows me to communicate music the most effectively. As my fellow bass comrade, Kent, has said, picking an instrument is one of the most personal statements a player can make about himself or herself. I feel that there's no objectively right or wrong answer with picking an instrument. Rather, you need to play an instrument that allows you to communicate music to the best of your abilities. For Hendrix, that was a Strat. For Brian Setzer, it's a Gretsch. For Victor Wooten, it's a Fodera. For old sKool, it's a Jackson or Charvel. For me, it's been the Carvin.

I thought about the personalized truss rod cover, but I just couldn't get my name on it. That'd be too pretentious. LOL I'd have to put something funny or ironic on it, like "Bad Motherfucker" in tribute of Samuel L. Jackson from Pulp Fiction.

...on the other hand, a personalize truss rod cover may make people more leary of stealing it, which would be a big + when playing gigs in Altoona.

[sunsetbass]

OUCH MY BRAIN TOO MANY BIG WORDS. MUST WATCH CARTOON!!!!!!!!!!

[ToonaRockGuy]

Congrats on the purchase, Paul. It's always awesome to get an instrument made to your specs! I was really excited when I got my custom-made Saludas, and I know that feeling well! Make sure that you get another bad-ass hat to rock with the new Carvin.

Oh, and I saw a Carvinite once:

[bassist_25]

Two more days (if everything is going according to schedule)! I can't wait!

[lonewolf]

To celebrate my transition from being a po' college student to being a po' graduate student, I did what any financially sensible person would do: I dropped some coin on a new bass (and did my patriotic duty and utilized my coming stimulus check, instead of saving it, which of course, would be unpatriotic).

I got my stimulus check last week. I deposited it in my checking account and sent it back to the US Treasury this morning to help pay my quarterly taxes.

[Hawk]

Cool Paul. Enjoy!!!!!!

[VENTGtr]

Paul,

Cool on the new gear. I watch out for Carvin amp heads a good bit. They're
well built and their "MosFet-y" technology is great. Don't NEED anything else,
but am always on the verge of getting either a Carvin head or another H&K of
some flavour.

[JackANSI]

I'm certain some UPS/FedEx guy is going to get a big hug when he/she delivers a very long and wide box in the next few days...





The suspense of waiting for that thing would be killing me.





Its enough to drive someone crazy.





Like, really really crazy...

[VENTGtr]

I'm certain some UPS/FedEx guy is going to get a big
hug when he/she delivers a very long and wide box in the next few days...

YES! KNEW IT WAS GOIN' TO HAPPEN! Hope it arrives before Sunday.
Man, we've been piling up on the new stuff.

[JackANSI]

I'm certain some UPS/FedEx guy is going to get a big
hug when he/she delivers a very long and wide box in the next few days...

YES! KNEW IT WAS GOIN' TO HAPPEN! Hope it arrives before Sunday.
Man, we've been piling up on the new stuff.

I was poking at Paul and having to wait soooooooooooo long..

I mean it has been a really long time to just be waiting for something you desire so much...

the torture...

anticipation...

[metalchurch]

I always hate waiting on shit myself. Nothing worse to me.
I had Rick from the Emporium order me a new Jackson DK2 and I'm expecting it anytime now actually.

Paul are you gonna do a review and post pictures of this thing when you get it?

Is this the Bass that you were gonna swap the pickups out?

[bassist_25]

Hey Joe, yeah I'm going to do a mini Paulview on it after I play a gig with it. The bass I want to swap pickups on is a Squier Jazz I bought last October (I still have plans on doing that, just haven't gotten around to it yet).

The anticipation is killing me. I ordered it about ten weeks ago.

[metalchurch]

Hey Joe, yeah I'm going to do a mini Paulview on it after I play a gig with it. The bass I want to swap pickups on is a Squier Jazz I bought last October (I still have plans on doing that, just haven't gotten around to it yet).

The anticipation is killing me. I ordered it about ten weeks ago.

A mini Paulview, does that mean less than 1,000 words? That's generic.
hahaha!
I couldn't remember which bass you wanted to re pup, I was pretty messed up at the RP Jam.
I'm glad I didn't have to drive, oh wait yes I did.

Did you recieve any updates from Carvin on the buildup or do they just pretty much give you a due date so to speak?

[bassist_25]

After you place an order, they send a postcard with your order number and the expected completition date. From what I understand, they send you a tracking number then when it ships. If I don't hear anything by Friday, I'll give them a ring to check on the status of the bass.

They use to have a thing called Guitar Traq that let you see exactly where in the build process your instrument was at (e.g., neck-construction, finishing, etc.). For some reason, they discontinued using it in like April or something like that.

[Killjingle]

I think I will order a custom made marshall and hope it arrives by 2050. LOL!!!

Cool deal Paul. Ive been thinkin about a custom shop ESP for myself.

[metalchurch]

After you place an order, they send a postcard with your order number and the expected completition date. From what I understand, they send you a tracking number then when it ships. If I don't hear anything by Friday, I'll give them a ring to check on the status of the bass.

They use to have a thing called Guitar Traq that let you see exactly where in the build process your instrument was at (e.g., neck-construction, finishing, etc.). For some reason, they discontinued using it in like April or something like that.

It figures they discontinue that right before you place your order. That would be my luck also man.
I was just thinking if you will like the 'factory' setup or not. Most guitars whether custom shop or not always require some kind of tweak to get your desired taste.
Most likely it will be an action/ trussrod issue if any.

Did you also get a hardshell case?
If you don't minde me asking, how much was this?

[skipisode]

I just recently ordered and received a Carvin California Carved Top Custom shop guitar (6 string) and so far it is great! Say what you will about Carvin, but my experiences with them have been favorable over the years. Good luck with yours Paul.

[Ron]

I used to have a Carvin DC100. If I remember right, I only paid $400 for it in '84. I loved that guitar.
Good luck Paul. Carvin is definitely a reputable company.

[metalchurch]

Paul today is he 16th, I suppose that you have it and are Bass Licking at the moment.

Hopefully it arrived unhurt and you are having "fun" with it, whatever that may entail. Hahaha!!