Carvin Bass Guitar Kit

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timboZ

timboZ

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Carvin Bass Kit

Anyone have anything good or bad to say about the Carvin bass kits.

APL, what can you tell me about them.

I am thinking about getting myself one for Christmas.
I am planning on going with the BK4A - with active/passive electronic (#BK4A)
And add the Bridge humbucker and coil tap option.
 
Sorry, man, I didn't see this earlier. I've got a very vanilla B4, and the bass players who try it like it. That's the model that's made from the same parts as the kit. I use it for any recording that needs a bass.

They've got a very nice bbs, and if you go to the bass forum and ask, people will post pix of their kits. Some are very nice. There are also lots of options that aren't listed, like fretwires, fingerboard woods, body woods, neck woods, inlays or not, maybe headstocks, too. You should phone your order in. They've been having computer problems of late.
 
I just ordered my Carvin Bass guitar kit.

I got 5% off by using the code on this page. :D :D :D :D
carvin.com/dv75
 
timboZ said:
I just ordered my Carvin Bass guitar kit.

I got 5% off by using the code on this page. :D :D :D :D
carvin.com/dv75
Click to expand...

What options did you get? Did you get an ebony, maple, birdseye maple, or rosewood fingerboard? Fretless? Lefty? No inlays, mother-of-pearl dots, mother of pearl blocks, abolone dots, or abolone blocks? Is the body alder, swamp ash, mahogany, claro walnut, or with a quilted maple top? Are the frets stainless steel, medium jumbo, or jumbo? Active or passive electronics? Reverse headstock? Maple neck, or mahogany, or stripes?
 
You will love the Carvin. i have only had one for a half a year and im never going back! But im not crazy or anything i just like it a lot.
 
Im not a bass player (or guitar) yet so I kept it basic.

Adler body 4 string
Active/passive electronic
Bridge humbucker and coil tap option

I think the total was $418.

Its going to take up to 5 weeks to get. :( :( :(
Then a week for me to build it.
 
Sonds good to me post a pic when your done it should be awsome
 
I bought the B5 kit from Carvin and had a ball putting the thing together. It looks and sounds great. I used a light finish, followed by tung oil and people can not believe something this nice was put together by me!!
 
timboZ said:
It has not shipprd yet. :( :(
Click to expand...

Make sure you call my friend in shipping, and tell him I sent you...

BTW- I was in their store on Sunset recently- I had about an hour to kill while the guy wrote up a repair ticket. They do have some incredibly beautiful instruments for the money.

I have heard, though, that when they hit about 25 years old, they may be considered junk by some who post here... but I like them nonetheless. If they offer a variable impedance rolloff instead of a tone control, that would definitely increase your tonal range. Since your building it yourself, you may want to look around before you assemble to add that feature. I worked for and directly with Bill Lawrence for a short time, and he was making those for some of his new pickups at the time. Check with customer service at C-Town first to see if it's an option- they may even build it for you.

Right apl?
 
Call the factory and ask for Paul Keisel (part owner). He's the one in charge of guitars (or, at least he used to be).

There are TONS of extra parts there, and they'll discount anything (except the harware, because they don't make it).

They have outstanding equipment, unsurpassed by any in the industry. There are other labels that make parallel-quality equipment, but none can surpass Carvin. They are top quality. Don't be fooled by the "no retail" aspect of their business. It just means they don't F around.

I've known the owners for years.
 
Maybe I'll get one of these and carve a Bart Simpson out of wood to attach to it.

NT41.jpg
 
I've been eyeing the B4 kit for some time now. I've had friends who owned Carvins through the years and though they all eventually passed them on, seemed to love them. I've emailed Carvin a few times with questions about options without responses. I would imagine a phone call might get a more direct response.

The only problem I would have with Carvin would be wading through the likes of bitter wannabe pros like this mge80...If you work for Carvin, moron, you're giving a good product a really bad name....Go climb back into that bottle of bravado old man, and learn a communication skill...

Eric
 
stetto said:
I've been eyeing the B4 kit for some time now. I've had friends who owned Carvins through the years and though they all eventually passed them on, seemed to love them. I've emailed Carvin a few times with questions about options without responses. I would imagine a phone call might get a more direct response.
Click to expand...

They have a useful discussion board where you can ask all kinds of questions. Browse a little and you'll find answers to questions you wouldn't have thought to ask.

stetto said:
The only problem I would have with Carvin would be wading through the likes of bitter wannabe pros like this mge80...If you work for Carvin, moron, you're giving a good product a really bad name....Go climb back into that bottle of bravado old man, and learn a communication skill...

Eric
Click to expand...

I don't think he does. His location is Seattle.
 
Yeah thanks apl, I keep forgetting the Carvin forum. I was a member there a few years back, but they had a pretty anal attitude towards off-Carvin topics. Good place to find Carvin specific info, but easy to forget about unless your life revolves around their gear...

I bought the X-100 it's first year out, an amazing (and amazingly complex to operate) valve amp...I've had a healthy regard for Carvin, just wish they were a little more accessable, without living in CA...

Eric
 
Go to www.carvinmuseum.com if you want straight shot answers about all guitars and basses...a lot of good information on that site.

The B4 kit is a blast to put together...and when you are done, you will be surprised (well...not anymore in a second) to find that it plays better than just about anything on a Guitar Center wall...and the looks will depend on how good you are at finishing guitars...

At any rate...I believe I spoke with you about your B4 at some point in the past few days...if you want, PM or call me and I can check again.
 
I am having the urge to get the 6 string kit, I can put it beside my 5 string bass kit.
 
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