Author Topic: End of the world as we know it? (Read 235 times)

keith_h · « **on:** May 23, 2005, 04:48:22 PM »

I just received a Carvin catalog in the mail and what do I see on the first page? Bunnie Brunell and Stanley with Stanley holding a BB-70 and a statement to the effect of, I liked Bunnies so much in the studio I had to have my own.

What's next cats and dogs living together? :-)

Keith

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2005, 08:25:03 PM »

Several years ago I was on the Carvin mailing list, and if I recall correctly, Stanley had an endorsement of one of the bass amps in their catalog.

88persuader · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2005, 09:53:04 PM »

I have to say ... I've owned Carvin custom built basses back when they would really customize orders and for low $$$$ (Usually under a grand) you can't knock them. Needless to say they aren't close to Alembics in workmanship or sound but they are also 1/4 the price. And considering most people can't afford Alembics I for one think it's great that a company like Carvin exist. At least it gives kids and people with low cash reserves a chance to get something other than Mexican Fenders and the lower end Ibanezes. Now as far as Stanley is concerned ... I think he's just a smart business man. Check out what basses he ACTUALLY plays live and on recordings to see if cats and dogs actually are living together! ;-)

Ray

keith_h · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2005, 06:26:05 AM »

Yes, Stanley used Carvin amps at one time. I even recall seeing him live with them. However the bass guitar was always an Alembic.

I am not trying to impune Carvin's guitars. Overall I think they have very good products for the price. As a matter of fact I am currently using one of their combos and have been pretty happy with it. It was just strange to see Stanley endorsing another brand of bass and my comment was meant to be taken tongue in cheek.

Keith

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2005, 02:23:09 PM »

The really surprising thing is that nobody's posted any pics of dogs and cats living together .

90k6259 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2005, 10:26:31 PM »

As both an Alembic and Carvin owner... I have to say that when it comes to neck (trust rod) construction,and electronics, Alembic rules..However the ebony fretboards that Carvin offers is alot of bang for the buck. We all know Brass rules right gang

88persuader · « **Reply #6 on:** May 25, 2005, 12:23:44 AM »

This is a little off the main subject but I thought it may be of interest because we're kind of compairing cheaper instruments to our beloved Alembics. Sometimes a cheap off the shelf guitar company get's lucky too. Last week I bought an Ibanez Sound Gear 5 string bass. I needed a new 6 string guitar amp so traded my Epic 5 string for a VOX guitar amp and picked up the Ibanez 5 string because I need a low B string on 3 tunes on my gig and and i was able to get the amp and bass for an even swap for the Epic. (Plus I have a Stanley Clark Standard 4 string, my main ax, and almost never played the Epic except for those 3 tunes ... it was a waste of a great bass.) Anyway ... I have to say I was totally shocked because this Ibanez rocks. I've owned Sound Gear basses in the past that played and sounded like the $500 basses that they are but this one plays and sounds like a high end bass. As far as I'm concerned a cheap Ibanez bass playing and sounding as good as this one does IS like cats and dogs living together. ... One in a million. And generally my opinion is Carvin is a bit higher end than Ibanez. At least most Carvin's are neck through construction. But do they compair with alembics? ... PLEASE give me a break!!! And Keith ... I understood you were being tongue in cheek. I don't think anyone could ever claim a Carvin is on the level of an Alembic and the day one is could be the 1st sign of the end of the world! :-) All I was saying is they aren't crap and Stanley is probably getting a nice penny putting his good name on them.

jet_powers · « **Reply #7 on:** May 26, 2005, 07:07:37 AM »

I've never owned a Carvin guitar but the ones I've seen seemed nice enough... still not Alembic.

I did, however, reload my 6-12 cab with Carvins and my Alembics sound great through them. The bang for the buck is definately there.

JP

rraymond · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2005, 04:07:13 PM »

Several years ago I had a Carvin B-5 fretless. It was the bolt-on model with a MM humbucker at the bridge and a J pup at the neck. I couldn't, for the life of me, get a sound out of it that was useable. I just bought an Excel fretless with a Fatboy at the bridge and an MXY mid-ships and the thing absolutely rocks! I love it! I do have three Carvin power amps, and an R600 bass amp that are great amps. Having said that, I am playing through an Eden head these days! DOH!

90k6259 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2005, 08:23:10 PM »

I just scored a Carvin B-5 on ebay for a few hundred bucks. The neck is going to need shimming to get the action low enough and then dress out the board. Its got two J99 pups and the Mwah is awesome and I haven,t even droped the action yet. So I guess sometimes you win.

rraymond · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2005, 09:19:11 PM »

Hey Roy, sometimes you do win! As a matter of fact, the guy that bought my B-5 ranted and raved about how wonderful it sounded! I was glad for him, but I knew I couldn't get anything out of it that I liked, so off it went. That's the breaks! :-)

bigredbass · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2005, 11:29:34 PM »

Living here in Nashville, I know quite a few players for major touring artists who routinely have endorsement guitars thrown at them like beads at MardiGras. I have no idea what Carvin's policy is. But believe me, 'Endorsement Deals' run the gamut from Brand X sending you a dozen axes just to list your name (no pictures, contracts, appearances, ANYTHING) all the way to a handful of companies like ALEMBIC who just don't do it at all. I always laughed that Gibson sent all of their garden variety endorsers factory seconds (though not stamped as such as Gibson once did), and only the biggest names (Clapton, Joe Perry, Billy Gibbons, etc.) got real one-offs.

So I always take 'endorsers' with a BIG grain of salt . . . and belive me, if SC wished to become a real 'endorsement prostitute', he could make a quick trip around the NAMM show and he'd need a warehouse for all the freebies. The Bunny Carvins are a nice enough axe, and I applaud Carvin for keeping with neck-thrus all these years.

And musicians are hopelessly fickle about axes! I would love to hear Mica and Susan talk 'Emperor's New Clothes' tales out of school one day !

J o e y

88persuader · « **Reply #12 on:** May 27, 2005, 12:22:38 AM »

In regard to endorcements ... I have a friend who plays bass and 6 string guitar ... neither very well I'm afraid. But he was in an all original band back in the 80's in Southern Cal (glam rock) and they worked up tons of endorcements! Here in New England he can't secure a cover gig (God i hope he never reads this, he's a great guy!) but he's kept his endorcements alive. He has a Warrior guitar endorcement, Washburn guitars, some string manufacturer who sends him free strings by the case and some pick-up manufacturer (I don't remember which) who sells him pick-ups at cost. Apparently there are different levels of endorsements. Some are very minor and more or less just give you a factory direct discount for a photo and bio. And there are the kind of endorsements SC would get receiving 1st line free stuff and maybe even cash too. From what my friend tells me anyone who plays for a living (even if it's part time) or records in their basement can get some kind of endorsement. Heck I'd be more than happy with free strings! :-) Oh ... he also gets invited to the NAMM show in So. Cal. every Feb. Not bad for a guy who hasn't been on stage for 15 years!!!

The moral of this story is you really don't need to be anyone special for an endorsement. You just need a good promo package and have the ability to sling the bull!