Basses

2005 ended on a high note for bassists, with the introduction of the Elite Series and the Cobalt bass.  But those new additions were just the beginning of big changes for the Carvin-playing bassist.
 

2006 Guitars 2006 Guitar Amps 2006 Bass Amps

Notably, and shown on the catalog cover, an entirely new model, the Icon.  This was the first entirely new solid-body bass (not based on an existing model) since the Bunny Brunel basses were introduced in 1992.  But the new model was just the beginning.  With the new model, and available on other models, were new pickups.  Once again, not redesigned pickups, but entirely new ones.  These are soapbar humbucking pickups, dubbed the SPN (neck) and SPB (bridge), and were designed for use with active or passive electronics.

Carvin also replaced the Hipshot bridge that had been used since 1998.  The new bridge was also a Hipshot; the A-Style.  This was a heavier bridge that the previous one, and was available with chrome, gold or black saddles.

Click each picture for a larger version.

 

This is the new Icon bass, available as the IC4, IC5 or IC6.  Everything about this bass was totally new.  It has a completely new headstock shape, with the tuners angled slightly rearward.  The body was somewhere in between the LB and BB basses, with a longer upper horn than an LB, but shorter than a BB, with an offset rear bout, giving the overall body an unusual and interesting shape.  A figured walnut or flamed maple top was standard, which was 5mm thick.  The top being thinner than other models was a deliberate design cue, so that the top was outlined by the alder body.  Like the Elite Series, the top and body were separated by a thin black layer, furthering outlining the top.  The Icon also used the new Hipshot A bridge.

In addition to the new design, the Icon came standard with Carvin's new soapbar pickups and electronics package.  The electronics are an 18V system, active/passive modes controlled by a push/pull volume control.  The rear large knob is the pickup blend, and the lower knobs are stacked concentric bass and high frequency, and stacked concentric mid frequency and sweep.

The IC4, with standard flamed maple or figured walnut and matching headstock, is priced at $1199.  The IC5 is $1269, and the IC6 is $1349.

Late in 2006, several months after the introduction of the Icon, the S Series was added to the Icon's available options.  This model was the same as the other Icon basses, but didn't have a standard flamed maple or figured walnut top; it was available in any solid or translucent color that Carvin offered.

The Bolt-neck B4 and B5 basses were unchanged for 2006, except for one thing - the new H50S pickups were standard, replacing the single-coil J99s that had been standard for years.  The catalog photos showed the old-style Hipshot bridge, but presumably, the A-Style was standard on new orders. From left to right, the catalog showed a B4 in tobacco sunburst, a B4L in blueburst, a B5 in walnut with a black painted headstock, and a B5 with a figured walnut top and blackburst edges.

With the introduction of the SP2 soapbar pickups, many of the basses in the winter catalog were shown loaded with them.  The H50S pickups were standard, and the HB2 humbuckers were optional, as were the SB2s, however, all LB series basses were now equipped with 18V electronics, with improved bass mid and treble controls.  Although the walnut LB70P and Timothy B. Schmit signature model TBS4 were shown with the old Hipshot bridge, these were old photos that had been used in previous catalogs. Shown, from left the right, an LB70 in blueburst with SP2 pickups, an LB70P in walnut, an LB20 in greenburst with SP2 pickups, and a TBS4 in Ruby Red stain on quilted maple.

Like the LB70, the LB and XB75 and LB and XB76 had H50S pickups standard, but could be ordered with SP2 pickups.  They also had 18V electronics, as well as the new Hipshot bridge. From left to right, the catalog showed an LB75 in mahogany with Birdseye maple fingerboard and SP2 pickups, an XB75P in Classic Sunburst on quilt, and LB76 in Umber Stain on quilt with SP2 pickups, and an XB76P in Greenburst on flamed maple with dual HB2 pickups and Birdseye maple fingerboard.

The Anniversary Series and Claro Walnut series were unchanged, but like other basses, the H50S pickups were standard, and SP2 pickups could also be ordered. The catalog showed an LB75AP in clear gloss on quilted maple, and an LB76W with SP2 pickups. Interestingly, Carvin's other high-end bass, teh Elite Series was not shown in the winter catalog - probably to make room for the 2-page Icon spread.

The Bunny Brunel series basses also came standard with H50S pickups and the new A-Style bridge, and as the catalog showed, the SB2 soapbar pickups could be ordered for an additional $60.00.  The catalog showed, from left to right, a BB75 in walnut with SP2 pickups, a BB70 in Tobacco Sunburst on swamp ash with SP2 pickups, a BB75 in figured walnut with rosewood fingerboard, and a BB76P in clear gloss on quilt.

The AC40 and AC50 basses were unchanged from the previous year.  From left to right, the catalog showed an AC40F in figured walnut, and AC40 in Sunsetburst on quilt, and AC50F in black, and an AC50F in flamed koa.