loading
reading
writing
saving
searching
Custom Koa Neck Through Fretless Bass by Keisel/Carvin Gold Active - $1,250 (scotts valley)
Estrella Dr near Caliente
condition:
like new
make / manufacturer:
Keisel/Carvin
model name / number:
Custom with Tune headstock
QR Code Link to This Post
This is a full custom *solid* Koa wood neck though fretless bass. Very rare, collectable and sounds amazing. I saw this sitting in the factory in the early 90s in LA and asked about it. Some 'rich famous person' (musician? they wouldn't tell me who) had ordered it with the tune-style headstock, neck-through Koa wood and the highest end hardware, and hadn't come to pick it up. The custom shop at Carvin held it for several months and I happened to be there when they were free to sell it to someone else. It is one of a kind (Carvin rarely made full solid wood instruments like this) so I don't see any model number associated with it. It has what looks like a serial number 33002 on the gold input plate. Made in USA of course. Apparently the serials were somewhat decided by what jack cover rather than any sequence.
I can't find any flaws or scratches on it, but then my vision isn't getting any better. It's probably been on stage a total of three hours (photo included from the early 90s) and in its case the rest of its life. Case included. Oh - cool thing about the active electronics: The bass and treble adjustments do not change the volume - nice feature. The knobs glide fluidly. Carvin was building their own electronics in-house (or very closely specced) at that time, and this was part of their "American-made, direct-from-factory" quality pitch Boutique builders like Alembic and high-end Tobias were doing similar things with electronics in the pre-amp, at much higher price points.
$1250 firm Venmo or cash. Feel free to try it out through my Eden amp/SWR cab.