Carvin - who's gottem? What's the deal?

[zeegler]

One day very soon I have to get myself something like this:

http://www.carvin.com/guitars-in-stock/big/87860b.jpg

..but, I've never actually seen a Carvin in person, or had a chance to try one out. What are the necks like? Are they as nice in person as they look in pics like the one above?

[data187]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

i was also interested in checking these out. they seem like a nice lower cost alternative to a prs. however, i'm always concerned about carvin's historically low resale value and their non standard pickup routing.

also can anyone compare these to a usa hamer? i would love to see a compariosn and a tone report .

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

I've never owned a Carvin guitar, but I use their necks to build my own guitars with. They are incredible, and highly underrated! Really nice feel to them! Also, their fretwork is impeccable! In the 6 or so years I've been dealing with them, and literally about 100 or so necks later, I've never had a bad one from them!

[toejam]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

Carvins rock! My white SC90 is the first one I got from them in 2002 off their In-Stock section. It now sports creme DiMarzios (Super Distortion & Super 2), and the two coil split switches are now an extra volume and tone, and the toggle switch is now a DiMarzio Petrucci switch so I can get the pups' inner coils working together in the middle position. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I also had a ruby redstain DC400 I got off ebay, then I wound up trading that to Jgcable for his DC120 12-string, then I eventually sold that on ebay. LOL The SC90 will be staying with me, as will my DC150 power amp. Carvin gear rocks!! [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[jgcable]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

Carvins kill. I have had almost every model. You can now get the 1988-89 vintage Jackson style pointy headstock too. A DC145 with a pointy headstock is really killer.

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

Toejam, any additional pickup routing involved when putting in your DiMarzios?

[ChickenScratch]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

I've got 2 Carvins with the old 80's pointy headstock. 1 old and one 1 I got made last year. Just amazing in every way, I've never been more pleased with a guitar in my life, everything about it is top notch and the neck plays like a dream (oh, and an ebony board too).

[jgcable]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

I have owned several models of most of these:
DC125
DC127
DC135
DC145
DC400
DC120
CL450
X220
V220
DN612 (double neck 6/12)
TL60
DC727
DC747

At one time I owned 2 guitars formerly owned by Tony Macalpine. A black Carvin 1989 DC145 loaded with EMG's and a BC Rich Assassin in that green crackle graphic with the lavender fades in it.
The DC145 was the flagship of the Carvin metal guitars until the DC400 came out. The DC400 is basically a fully tricked and optioned out DC145.
Many DC125's have 1 hum. The 2 hum version of the DC125 was also known as the DC127 but it is actually a DC125 with the added neck humbucker option. I know alot about Carvin guitars and amps. So does Toejam.

[Endrik]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

can't see any pointy head pics or options on carvin's site [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[toejam]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

[ QUOTE ]
You can now get the 1988-89 vintage Jackson style pointy headstock too.

[/ QUOTE ]
Since when? They'll get sued by Jackson. They did do a return of the other pointy one that came after that (ChickenScratch ordered one last year like that), but not the Jackson style... unless they somehow recently got permission from Jackson.

[toejam]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

Carvin also has a lot of old and hidden options that they don't list on their website or catalog... such as the DC145 which is H/S/H, the DC125 which is just one humbucker, the Holdsworth models are also still available with only one humbucker, too. I believe most models now can be ordered H, H/H, H/S/H, H/S/S and even H/S now. You can also order without a tone control, have different wiring options, etc. for "Option 50" where you pay an extra $50 and they'll do something not standard for you... like a five-way blade switch for guitars with two humbuckers so you can get those in-between coil tapped sounds like some Ibanez and Fender guitars. They'll also paint the guitar just about any color you want as long as they can mix it with whatever existing paint they have in stock. And if you want metallic paint, they'll spray Pearl Silver first with any transparent color over it. Most of their guitars now also have the option of a Fender-type hardtail bridge, TOM/stoptail, TOM/string-thru, Floyd or Wilkinson. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

Goddamn! Now that's service! Very 80's like. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[MBreinin]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

So, what is the opinion on the DC-127? I am interested in a used one. Biggest problem is that I really don't care for the looks...but if it is awesome and rocks, I guess I could get past the looks.

Mike

[shreddermon]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

I've got one of their acoustic/electrics. Real nice guitars, great prices. The only bad thing I could say - and this is purely a matter of taste - is occassionally their styling (body shapes, etc.) does not appeal to me.

Those California Carved Tops are drop dead gorgeous, though. I've never really been interested in a PRS-style guitar at all. I'm definitely more of a "super strat" person. But those CCTs have really changed my mind. [img]/images/graemlins/drool2.gif[/img] I could definitely see myself buying one of those. And, IMHO, they're way more attractive than a PRS.

[agquake]

Re: Carvin - who\'s gottem? What\'s the deal?

I've got a Cobalt 750 Acoustic. Real easy playing..