• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Carvin Icon or Vanquish, which one?

nyangsw

nyangsw

Apr 26, 2012
112
18
#1
I'm wondering to get a 5 string bass.
These two model both have carbon-reinforced neck, so I think it is very stable.
And both are 2 humbuckers pickup configuration.
But I don't know the difference between these two.(tonewise, balance, low B...etc)
What do you think?
 
  • Like
Reactions: dkelley
#2
As far as I can tell here are the differences:
  • The Icon is available with narrow string spacing, or the same spacing as the Vanquish, which just has one spacing option
  • The Icon is neck-through, rather than a bolt-on like the Vanquish
  • The Vanquish's body is beveled, while the Icon's is not
  • The Vanquish's neck is slightly thinner (back-to-front), while wider (side-to-side)
Both have the same electronics and bridge. I'll let someone else start the tonewood debate, and compare the B-string, but I would guess they're similar. I just ordered a new Icon, so I might be biased. The new Icon hits all of the marks for what I want.

Expect a NBD post when I get my Icon, hopefully in the next two-to-four weeks.
 
#3
Between the two, I think I would still prefer an Icon...
I love how the Vanquish sounds with Humbuckers (not the singles) - this great, fat n' dirty tone...the singles sound too "clean" for my tastes. But I like the Icon's body shape.
Problem is that, even to this day with all the Icon owners out there and on this forum, I have yet to see a YouTube video that demonstrates how one sounds. There are a few here and there....but none that demonstrate it like the Carvin-produced one on the Vanquish. If both basses share the same pickups and electronics, they should sound similar....or not...

Will someone please make a video on an Icon 5 or 6?
 
  • Like
Reactions: dkelley
#5
eightyearsapril said:
I'll try to, when I get my IC6 in a few weeks. It'll be a fretless with piezo, an option they've stopped selling now.
Click to expand...

I have the piezo in my 2012 LB76 and it is by far the highlight of the electronics package, you made the right call.

I have two LB76s but no Icon and no Vanquish (wasn't an option when I ordered.) I can vouch for the RAD-J humbuckers that BB had input on but I think they changed the specs since I bought my LB76. Nice pickups but very safe, which makes them versatile but boring. I had the older J99s in my LB76F, which did sound pretty good, but I pulled them for Lane Poors, now those pickups sound fantastic!

I never found much info on the Icon when I was looking either OP. I found the LB was far more common followed by the XB.
 
#9
eastcoasteddie said:
Problem is that, even to this day with all the Icon owners out there and on this forum, I have yet to see a YouTube video that demonstrates how one sounds. There are a few here and there....but none that demonstrate it like the Carvin-produced one on the Vanquish.
Click to expand...

Very true, I've noticed that as well.

eastcoasteddie said:
Will someone please make a video on an Icon 5 or 6?
Click to expand...

I have some Icon 4 string videos on Youtube but unfortunately can't help you with the 5 or 6.
 
#10
I have a neck through Carvin LB 70 with a one piece walnut neck and it is very stable - I had there bass built for me in 2009 and never have touched the truss rod - nice low action, no fret buzz. I also have a 2014 SB4000 one piece maple neck - same low action, no buzz, never had to adjust it. I don't understand where the idea that Carvins have bad necks comes from.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dkelley
#11
bhunt1 said:
I have a neck through Carvin LB 70 with a one piece walnut neck and it is very stable - I had there bass built for me in 2009 and never have touched the truss rod - nice low action, no fret buzz. I also have a 2014 SB4000 one piece maple neck - same low action, no buzz, never had to adjust it. I don't understand where the idea that Carvins have bad necks comes from.
Click to expand...

How about the weather in your place?
The humidity in my region vary greatly, so I'm wondering getting a 5-piece neck or not.
 
#12
I have 5 carvins including 2 76's made in 1992 (one fretless and one fretted). No neck issues. I have a pb5 on the way. I did have to adjust the neck on a bolt neck 5 string after stupidly leaving it in the car overnight and next day when the temps got over 100.

Carvin is a great company. Build quality is excellent. B strings are pretty good. Pickups and preamps getting better all the time.

For the money...they are kind of hard to beat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dkelley
#15
Anxious to try the 2.0 but it's not like you can just go to a store and play one (unless you live in Cali!). Does anyone know what they did to the pickup spacing? From the pics, it looks like the bridge pickup has moved closer to the neck, like more of a '60s jazz than a '70s. It's hard to tell though. I do like the new control layout, looks more upscale than mines.

As far as the Vanquish/Icon difference, if they are built with the same woods, the difference will be down to the difference between bolt-on and neck-thru. Has anyone ever really quantified the exact difference between the two construction types?!?! Seems most say Bolts have a different/better attack and bite while neck-thrus have a smoother response with more sustain. Who knows. But anyway, I like neck-thrus, not that there was a Vanquish around when I got my Icon.

Either way, I'd say both are better than what Carvin offered 5 years ago. I never liked the original Soapbars on the Icon. Both now offer improved radius'd pick-ups and newer pre-amp. So pick based on what you know about bolts vs thru-necks.
 
Last edited:
#16
I just bought a new Icon 5.
The Low B is tight and solid.
The feel is great.
But the balance is just OK, not good.

The next bass it would be Carvin B25.
I think the balance is better than IC5.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back