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Peter Anderson's
IC4
Carvin BBS ID: Bass Viking
Carvin introduced the Icon in 2006, and this is the first one to appear
on the Museum. It's an IC4, finished in clear gloss on flamed
maple, with a 5-piece maple/walnut neck, alder body, and chrome
hardware. It's also equipped with Carvin's new soapbar pickups and
18V electronics, and new Hipshot A-Series bridge. |
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The Webmaster's
IC4 Here
is the first official Icon bass ordered. It was ordered on
December 30th, 2005, and received on March 22nd, 2006. It's got a
maple body and maple neck, with a flamed maple top finished in deep
triple-step purple. Other features include a Birdseye maple
fingerboard with black dots, black chrome hardware, soapbar pickups and
the new A-style bridge. |
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Joe Belcher's IC4P
Carvin
BBS ID: JoeBelc
WWW:
http://www.bestundercover.com
Here's the first production-model
P Series IC4 made by Carvin. It's an interesting hybrid of old and new,
with the new soapbar pickups and preamp, and the old piezo bridge with the extra
pan control. It's finished in sapphire blue on flamed maple with matching
headstock. Other features include an ebony fingerboard, MOP block inlays,
gold hardware, and a Hipshot detuner. |
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Moot's IC5
Carvin
BBS ID: Moot
This is the first
IC5 to hit the Player's Gallery, and it's a nice one. Moot
received it in April of 2006, so it was one of the first
5-string models made.
Features include
Sapphire Blue finish on flamed maple with matching headstock and
no-show top, no inlays on the fingerboard, black hardware, and
an asymmetrical wide neck.
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Blake
Graham's IC6
Carvin
BBS ID:
Scheater5
And this is the first
IC6 to appear in the Player's Gallery. It's a real beauty,
with a gorgeous figured walnut top and matching headstock.
Other features include a 5-piece maple/walnut neck, abalone dot
inlays, alder body, and chrome hardware. Blake says:
"The only word
that comes to mind is "amazed." I am still in absolute awe. I've
been playing a bass that was, essentially, one of the first
mass-production six string guitars made. Definitely one of the
first to gain popularity. And to jump from that trailblazer
(which, like all trailblazers, had problems) to this marvelous
instrument is absolutely breathtaking. I set everything to the
center indent, pushed the pot in for active, and turned the amp
on. Immediately I was amazed at the clarity of tone. The strings
that came on the guitar are a bit bright for my tastes, but
nothing a bit of EQ'ing can't fix until time to change strings.
Speaking of EQ - the active EQ on the Icon is pretty extreme.
You can pretty much get any tone you've ever dreamed of. The
mid-sweep is so extreme that you can get a fairly decent wah
tone by sweeping back and forth. The feel powered up is
wonderful, and the notes just sing effortlessly from the guitar.
It's much, much easier to tap than my old Ibanez. I do alot of
chordal, "solo bass" arrangements for my lessons with Bailey,
and the Ibanez was impossible to balance. Anything tapped
in the low register would either not sound, or sound entirely
too loud. But, with the Carvin, I have complete control over the
dynamics - even in passive mode. I attribute this low tension.
It doesn't take nearly as much pressure to tap notes. And with
the right EQ'ing (a little push in the mids, with the sweep just
below the center indent, and then turn down the volume to
compensate) that metallic sound so associated with tapped bass
can be virtually eliminated." |
Jim
Alkire's IC6
Carvin BBS ID: boogie5strg
WWW: http://www.galleryofsouls.com
This
was the first IC6 ordered from Carvin, and Jim received it on 3/28/06.
It's finished in umber stain on quilted maple with matching headstock, alder
body, and 5-piece maple/koa neck. Other features include a Birdseye maple
fingerboard with abalone dot inlays and stainless steel frets. Electronics
consist of Carvin's new soapbar pickups and new 18V preamp.
Jim
says:
"All I can say is, Carvin has out done themselves. This is by far
the best bass I have played. it just smokes my other Carvins in how
it sounds. These new Soapbar pup's along with the new 18volt
electronics are outstanding. It is the first bass I've ever played
that after 5 minutes of playing it for the first time I was wanting
another. They are that nice."
Jim has
an impressive collection of Carvin basses and guitars - see the rest of
them right here.

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Jeff Aurigemma's IC6P
This is an
amazing Icon bass. Pretty much every thing about it is
unique - more so than most Carvins. The most obvious
feature is the finish - it's deep triple-step clear gloss
with a sapphire blue burst. And although technically
not an "Elite", it has a flamed maple top and back, as well
as front and back of the headstock. The body is swamp
ash, and the neck is maple and koa, with a tung-oil finish.
It has a birdseye maple fingerboard with abalone dot inlays.
The hardware is black chrome. Electronics consist of
Carvins new 18V preamp with soapbar pickups and piezo
bridge.
You can click
the below left photo for a larger version. |
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Flaggus' IC6
Carvin BBS
ID: flaggus
Here's another
very cool Icon bass - in this case, a six-string model
finished in Carvin's unique
Dragonburst finish on
quilted maple with a matching headstock. In addition
to the stunning finish, it has abalone block inlays on
ebony, a 5-piece maple/walnut neck and black chrome
hardware. |

Jason Milligan's IC6L
WWW:
http://www.myspace.com/jbassnj
The is the first
left-handed Icon to show up on the Museum, and it's a real
beauty. It has a figured walnut top with blackburst edges
and matching headstock. Other features include a 5-piece
maple/walnut neck, alder body and gold hardware. Jason
says:
"After owning an
LB75L for the last 10 years I've turned to Carvin again for my
new 6 string. This bass is incredible! The choice of sound is
great and this bass plays like a similarly equipped bass costing
thousands more. I'll definitely be buying from Carvin again in
the future."

Jeff's IC5
Carvin Museum Forums ID: jandc
Here's
another beautiful Icon bass finished in Dragonburst.
Unlike the IC6 above, this one is finished with deep
triple-step, which gives a darker tint to the color.
Other features include a five-piece walnut/maple
neck with tung-oil finish, rosewood fingerboard
chrome hardware. |
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Rocketpriest's
IC4
Carvin BBS ID:
rocketpriest
This is a 2006 model, finished in
a custom turquoise/blue stain on flamed maple. The body is mahogany, and
it has a 5-piece maple/koa neck. Other features include abalone dot inlays
on ebony, soapbar pickups and black hardware.
Rick's
IC5S
Carvin BBS ID:
surfnorthwest
WWW:
http://www.surfnorthwest.com
Here's a unique IC5S, and probably
the first one finished in Carvin's new Toner White (or White White) finish,
which is a bright, very white color (just like the name implies). In
addition to the finish, it's got black hardware that really stands out against
the white body and headstock. Other features include an asymmetrical wide
5-string neck, soapbar pickups, Dunlop straplocks, and an engraved truss rod
cover. Very sharp!
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