ICON 6 - pix - quasi review

[Frank Martin]

Secondly, I thought Piccolo basses required a shorter scale neck and not a full sized one? Maybe I'm misinformed!

You just need lighter gauge strings for the higher-pitch tuning.
As for scale, you need long scale for low notes to sound good. With higher notes, such a long scale is not necessary.

 

[DaveCustomMade]

I had contemplated an Icon 6 for a while, but wasn't all that excited about "non-expert" pickups.

I wonder if Carvin would forego the main pickups, and just make a bass with the Piezo bridge. It sounds like you prefered JUST the Piezo, or was I misunderstanding?

But anyway, a nice looking bass and excellent playing, sir!

 

[BluesBrian]

hmmm. any idea on why would the piezo pan works the opposite way?

I did notice that you were rolling the pan from the bottom.. toward the bridge, to increase the bridge pickup... but yeah, it does seem to be "reverse idiot logic".

Very nice review, Jeff.. watch it, you'll get a new gig doing that! I like the fact that you explain your bias.. rather than just blurt out an "ho". ("humble opinion" .. with some reviewers.. not so humble!)

Nice Video.. nice bit of playing!

// Brian

 

[frstr8dmusician]

Awesome Review Mr Schmidt! Maybe you should talk to Bass Player Magazine and do some reviews on BAss Player TV. Think about it Bro'!

Here is another very nice icon sound sample: http://www.carvin.com/jamroom/rooms/IC6.mp3

And Welcome to the 6 Strings world!

 

[Tony G]

I don't understand the point of stringing the bass "upside-down".....

 

[BassikLee]

More than a few left handed players do that. I'd bet many of them started playing on a borrowed right handed bass/gtr, and once they got comfy with the strings upside down, that's where they stayed.

 

[Tony G]

That makes sense. But if you are just going to string the bass right handed, but play it left handed, what is the point of purchasing a bass constructed to be played left handed to begin with? Eh, nevermind. I can see where it would be advantagous, such as in body comfort and control layout.

 

[MikeBass]

Jeff, watched the videos.
You are amazing.

Keep it up!!!

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Easier to play inversions? heheh

Wow, watched the other vids and you are amazing. Very cool technique. Is your MTD also strung piccolo?

 

[Jay Terrien]

With the recent technical advancements of mini digital camcorders as well as free web hosting video services like YouTube.com, etc., I think that everyone should be demoing and illustrating their chosen bass gear via video. Well-in Schmidty.......

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

With the recent technical advancements of mini digital camcorders as well as free web hosting video services like YouTube.com, etc., I think that everyone should be demoing and illustrating their chosen bass gear via video. Well-in Schmidty.......

So where's yours then, Jay? I'd be scared to look for a video on your own website- I'm sure it would have everything EXCEPT bass playing on it.......

 

[jeff schmidt]

I'd love to see Jay's video tour - catching B and C lister celebs in LA night club restrooms.

 

[werbo1]

Looks like a great bass Jeff.

Dig your sound - really bright and clear, oerfect for solo playing

 

[QU!CK]

More than a few left handed players do that. I'd bet many of them started playing on a borrowed right handed bass/gtr, and once they got comfy with the strings upside down, that's where they stayed.

I did this exact thing. I was given a right handed bass guitar as a gift from a family member only to discover that I was a natural "lefty".

I played the bass upside-down for a few years but switched to "true lefty" basses after much debate and some complications in trying to learn some new techniques.


-J

 

[QU!CK]

Excellent write up Jeff. The wanking at the end sounded kind've like a "Vic Wooten meets Bluegrass at Funkfest" feel. lol


-J

 

[Dave Grossman]

I think that everyone should be demoing and illustrating their chosen bass gear via video.

... or, their favorite blow-up doll.



By the way Jay, I never told you how much I loved your CD. I thought it was amazing. That's the CD I wish I made. I listened to nothing but that CD for at least a week. I think it's due for another listen. That's some of the most original and interesting music I've heard in a long time.

It was good to meet you last May and thanks again for the CD!

- Dave

 

[jeff schmidt]

By the way Jay, I never told you how much I loved your CD. I thought it was amazing. That's the CD I wish I made.

Ha! That's exactly how I felt when I heard it!

I went thru a huge king crimson phase in 1999 and made a prog-rock type track with lots of overdubbed basses.

I probably still have it on my site somewhere - it doesn't hold a candle to Jay's stuff - but same prog-rock with multiple basses idea.

 

[Jay Terrien]

You guys rule.

Link Removed

That pic came from the Transit Nightclub party in Chi-Town with Shane and Seymour Butts. Class acts all around! A ghoulish night of free Bud bottles (gagging, can't stand them), awkward pimp and ho attire, and my pal Joel, 6'6" from Winnipeg dressed up as "Howard Stern"....Oh yeah, that's my brother and I dressed up as a "mattress".

Back to the videos....Schmidty's time-consuming effort to document that bass should not go unnoticed in our community. I think it even makes sense for Talk Bass or another similar bass-centric website to create a "bass demo" videos page (yeah, I understand there will be bandwidth limitations, so maybe just have users submit text/descriptions of their gear and then have the live demo videos hosted at YouTube.com, etc.) so that visitors can simply query a particular brand of gear and hear/see what it "feels" like. This is especially important if you want to check out an unknown custom builder.

Prog is for wizards......................

Ha! That's exactly how I felt when I heard it!

I went thru a huge king crimson phase in 1999 and made a prog-rock type track with lots of overdubbed basses.

I probably still have it on my site somewhere - it doesn't hold a candle to Jay's stuff - but same prog-rock with multiple basses idea.

 

[jeff schmidt]

well Jay - if you wanna send your Status Fretless 6 up my way for a bit I'll knock out another video!

 

[Ian Perge]

Jeff - wonderful review in execution as well as concept, and a lovely bass as well. Since the Icons were introduced there's been a nagging spot in the back of my head saying "These look like already marketed design!" until your pictures hit it for me - they're a little close to F Basses. Not enough for any type of action, but to my eyes...

As for the "Obligatory Wanking" section, all it's done it made me want to string a spare instrument piccolo as an experiment.