bongomania
Commercial User
I like it. Nice lines, and just different enough to not be "one more dang J clone". I hope they offer a 5er in the future.
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New model from Carvin - retro
- Thread starter WoodyG3
- Start date
Two thumbs up.
Of course, I ordered a LB20 two weeks ago, so I'm trying not to like it too much.
Of course, I ordered a LB20 two weeks ago, so I'm trying not to like it too much.
Not interested... 
I currently own two LB70s, a (discontinued) RSP rackmount preamp, and a bunch of Carvin accessories. I've previously owned yet another LB70, plus a primitive solid-state Carvin head that was part of my very first rig in 1977. So Carvin and I go back more than three decades.
They took a big step forward when they released the Icon, IMO. But this is going totally in the wrong direction as far as I'm concerned...
MM
I currently own two LB70s, a (discontinued) RSP rackmount preamp, and a bunch of Carvin accessories. I've previously owned yet another LB70, plus a primitive solid-state Carvin head that was part of my very first rig in 1977. So Carvin and I go back more than three decades.
They took a big step forward when they released the Icon, IMO. But this is going totally in the wrong direction as far as I'm concerned...
MM
I just bought an Icon 2 days ago. I'm curious though, why do you feel it's going in the wrong direction?
I just bought an Icon 2 days ago. I'm curious though, why do you feel it's going in the wrong direction?
I guess it's really a personal taste issue. I dig slick, modern design and cool technology. There are very few builders producing instruments of that type, of the caliber and quality of the Icon, at the Icon's price point. So in some ways, Carvin has really pushed the envelope - and certainly in terms of quality for price.
Retro-styled, bolt-on instruments, on the other hand, have just been done ad nauseum - and especially in the low-to-mid-priced category. Many of them are just Fender knock-offs, but even the semi-original designs have been overdone and are generally lacking inspiration, i.e. Fernandes, Peavey, Washburn, etc.
That said, I have played some lower-end Fernandes and Washburn instruments that were MUCH better than I ever expected. But not particularly innovative.
Having launched the Icon, I just hoped Carvin might want to keep going in a more progressive direction, that's all...
MM
- Aug 25, 2007
- 835
- 6
- Disclosures
- I manufacture for several companies including but not limited to: Bridge City Sound, Catalinbread, more.
At least give Carvin credit for trying. They're not content to simply rehash existing models. I don't know what I'd do if I found myself staring at a "Road Worn" Bunny Brunel fiver. Or a "Highway One" LB70.
Nevertheless, this is not a strong design from a visual standpoint, IMO. Just doesn't work. The body is overstated in a way that is not pleasing. There's a way to make something overstated so that it works visually. Some companies know how to do it and some don't.
I'm surprised they went down to a J-Bass approved 20 fret neck. I figured they'd do at least a 21 or 22.
The headstock is definitely based on the old Ibanez Blazer headstock, which looked like one of Aladdin's cross training running slippers with an up-do pointy toe. This version looks more like a wooden shoe. I never really liked the Blazer design and I don't like this take-off on it very much.
As the late Johnnie Cochrane would say:
"If you don't dig the head
Grind the tip off the toe
What you get instead
Is Alleva-Coppolo
Nevertheless, this is not a strong design from a visual standpoint, IMO. Just doesn't work. The body is overstated in a way that is not pleasing. There's a way to make something overstated so that it works visually. Some companies know how to do it and some don't.
I'm surprised they went down to a J-Bass approved 20 fret neck. I figured they'd do at least a 21 or 22.
The headstock is definitely based on the old Ibanez Blazer headstock, which looked like one of Aladdin's cross training running slippers with an up-do pointy toe. This version looks more like a wooden shoe. I never really liked the Blazer design and I don't like this take-off on it very much.
As the late Johnnie Cochrane would say:
"If you don't dig the head
Grind the tip off the toe
What you get instead
Is Alleva-Coppolo
I thought "Warwick" as soon as I saw the upper horn.
But that particular comparison ends right there.
Nice and retro-looking. I'm not all that much of a traditionalist but I like it. Maybe thats WHY I like it. Its sort of traditional without being another Jazz-clone.
For haha's, I priced one out with some of my personal preferences. Without going utterly nuts on optional woods and such, my test-run bass would've run me a little over $1100. If I stuck to stock electronics and pickups and the standard one piece maple neck, I would've stayed just under a grand.
Not a bad price when you know you're getting an extremely well-made instrument with some nice options to personalize it for yourself.
I think this will prove to be a winner for Carvin in the long run.
But that particular comparison ends right there.
Nice and retro-looking. I'm not all that much of a traditionalist but I like it. Maybe thats WHY I like it. Its sort of traditional without being another Jazz-clone.
For haha's, I priced one out with some of my personal preferences. Without going utterly nuts on optional woods and such, my test-run bass would've run me a little over $1100. If I stuck to stock electronics and pickups and the standard one piece maple neck, I would've stayed just under a grand.
Not a bad price when you know you're getting an extremely well-made instrument with some nice options to personalize it for yourself.
I think this will prove to be a winner for Carvin in the long run.
