Dad's Blog

September 22, 2006

FRI 22 SEP 2006

Playing my fret-less in public By Robert

The Carvin is more work to play than my Warwick. That's partly due to the larger 5-string neck, but it is also because the Carvin isn't as lively and responsive as the Warwick. It has less attack so you have to work harder to get it to respond. I definitely felt more tired after the gig. It wasn't a huge problem...I mean I wasn't dripping sweat or icing my forearms or anything...it's just something I remember noticing.

The problems were with my tone. The Carvin just doesn't sound near as good as the Warwick. It's a little tinny. There's no mid range growl. The Warwick sounds great and the Carvin sounds sterile. My band members also noticed the tone deficiency...they politely asked if could bring my Warwick to the next gig.

The Carvin is like a Camero Z28...fast, good caftsmanship, but its really a speed appliance. The Warwick is like a Ferrari...a little bit faster, a lot more expensive, loaded with personality, highly responsive with a kind of organic feminine feel.

This weekend I'm bringing my Warwick...I know, I was supposed to have two weeks off, but I'll be playing this Sunday. Go ahead a call me a sissy for using just four strings and tell me that frets are training wheels for people not good enough to play an upright bass...I'll be the guy up on stage keeping everybody on the dance floor with funky fretted four string grooves.