What should be a wonderful and glorious day is stuck in turmoil. After coveting for years, I'm finally gonna order an Icon from Carvin's custom shop. But I'm really torn between Koa and Walnut. I know I'm going with a tung-oiled finish, no top, so beauty is the deciding factor here (I think...) since both have great tone. Please help me make my decision, my money is burning a hole in my pocket... I haven't bought a new bass since 1999 (took a bit of a break from the instrument), so I really want to get this ordered!
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New bass time
- Thread starter ncdms1833
- Start date
definitely a touch choice, but i would choose koa based off appearance alone. no idea how they compare tonally though
See, walnut is what I fell in love with first (I've literally been coveting this bass for half a decade). But when I got on their site to build it today, I couldn't pull the trigger. I'm trying to picture myself with each, and that's where I've been having trouble. DEFINITELY never pictured myself having TROUBLE buying this thing when the time came... :scowl:
I think it would depend on the two pieces of wood. I'd want to see them first. Both are very pretty woods when they've got nice figuring. And congrats on the new bass. I've always wanted an Icon. Sweet basses.
I agree, the piece of wood can make or break which to choose. If you can see the wood before hand that would probably help a ton.
I say go with the walnut. Sounds like what you've been wanting for a long time.
Personally i prefer the looks of walnut over koa anyway, so i guess im biased.
Just ordered it in walnut! I called to ask about pics, and ended up just ordering the thing. Now I just have to wait until the end of October...
Congrats! I think youll love it. Sounds like you've wanted this particular bass for a long time.
What are the specs. 4,5, or 6 string. PUP config?
4 String P-series, 5 piece maple neck w/ 2 walnut stripes, tung-oiled finish, ebony fingerboard, standard dot inlays, stainless steel frets, 2 alnico humbuckers in soapbars, black hardware and logo, straplocks and a hipshot detuner... 
thanks everyone for your help. best. day. ever.
thanks everyone for your help. best. day. ever.
I just came back from ordering my Carvin SB4000 at the Santa Ana store. I opted for a Tung oiled Figured Claro Walnut top/Ash body with the Icon headstock 
. The sales guy Chris was very cool and put in the notes to: Please choose wide unique grain. He said most of the time they do follow the notes and that way you don't have to pay the extra $100 for a handpicked piece. 
Now I just have to wait for 7-8 weeks to see it
. The sales guy Chris was very cool and put in the notes to: Please choose wide unique grain. He said most of the time they do follow the notes and that way you don't have to pay the extra $100 for a handpicked piece. Now I just have to wait for 7-8 weeks to see it
Yeah, Steve told me the same thing. You can even email them a picture of a bass you want it to look like, and they'll try to find a piece of wood that matches or at least comes close. I ended up not even saying what I wanted, I kinda wanted to just be surprised. I know it'll be badass!
They are normally alder with a walnut top. Did you pay extra for all walnut? I know they offer claro on claro for other models so i wasnt sure if they offered it on all of them.
