Carvin and Ibanez 7 strings

[pagemalicious]

Hey guys, i've just got a new job which is paying a hell of a lot more than my last job, which means i can finally get the gear that i want. I would want another 7 string to use in my band and other things as my current 7 string isn't being played (i don't like it).

I'm considering a Custom Carvin 7 string or an Ibanez Prestige 7 string. I got to play a Ibanez 7 today, Sound was pretty cool and the neck felt similar to my RG.

Thing is, how do Carvin 7 strings compare (if at all) to Ibanez in terms of feel of the necks and sound?

[pro-fusion]

Re: Carvin and Ibanez 7 strings

Congrats on the job!

If you already like the RG-style neck and sound, I would go for the Ibanez Prestige 7. Is it an RG-1527 you are looking at, or one of the fancier Japanese-market Prestige 7's? I've only tried one 1527, and it seemed pretty nice, if not as polished as the older "real" Prestige Ibanezes--nowadays, any Japanese Ibanez is automatically designated a Prestige, even though the 1527, for example, isn't really any nicer than the old RG7620 was.

As far as Carvins go, I had a DC747 briefly, and it was 'ok'. Mine had a Koa neck and body and had pretty nice sound, and the neck shape is good. But I have found that Carvin does crappy fret jobs nowadays compared to their old '80s-early '90s work, and the guitar just didn't feel all that solid or really 'sing' in the way that I like. I admit, I was disappointed. Ibanez isn't perfect, but I was much happier with the 7620 that I used to own than I was with the Carvin. Currently, I play a Schecter C-7 Blackjack as my main seven.

If you are looking for a trem, I would definitely go with the Ibanez. Carvin uses the cheapo TRS trem on its 7-string guitars, and the Edge Pro is a better trem than the TRS.

[jgcable]

Re: Carvin and Ibanez 7 strings

Carvin necks have a fatter profile than the Ibanez. The neck width is similar though. Personally, I like the fit and finish of the Carvin over the Ibanez but I like the playability and the tone of the Ibanez more. Also, Carvin 7 string pickups aren't the greatest and if you have to replace them you might have to route the pickup cavities a little.
Check out the Ibanez Universe models and of course the RG7620/RG7621.
I would take a Prestige over a Carvin any day of the week.. and I am a big fan of Carvin.

[pagemalicious]

Re: Carvin and Ibanez 7 strings

Well i don't have a chance in hell of trying out a Carvin as they're very very hard to come by here in the UK and i wouldn't want to take risks with things such as fret work etc. I was also looking at the nwe Schecters too, they seem pretty nice but i would like a trem, maybe i could modify it with one.

On the subject of Universes, i recently saw a green one going for about £1799, which to me seems stupidly expensive, since it was used and have dings etc. I've always like the White universes and the current model. I'll have to try every possible maker really and see what i like, but thanks for the heads up about Carvin [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[pro-fusion]

Re: Carvin and Ibanez 7 strings

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On the subject of Universes, i recently saw a green one going for about £1799, which to me seems stupidly expensive, since it was used and have dings etc. I've always like the White universes and the current model. I'll have to try every possible maker really and see what i like, but thanks for the heads up about Carvin [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

That green Universe is a collector's item, hence the high price. That was the rarest model of the original run of Universes, I believe. I think that's way too much money for it, but then I know that guitar prices are generally higher in the UK than here in the USA. Over here, I've seen that Universe model sell on eBay for close to $2000 when they come up for sale, which isn't very often. Other used Universes here tend to sell for more like $1000-1200 in good condition.

As far as Carvins go, like I said, I was really unhappy with the fretwork, but I know there are people out there who seem to have no problem with them. To me, Carvin doesn't do much dressing on their frets anymore after installation--seems like they cut corners now, which they didn't use to do. Their frets are very rough and square and have sharp ends, even though they are usually perfectly level. My Schecter was inexpensive, but it has MUCH smoother frets than the Carvin did. I've always been impressed with the fretwork on the Japanese Ibanezes, though they seem to use soft fret material that wears out pretty quickly.

[noodlesatf]

Re: Carvin and Ibanez 7 strings

First off, this would be an excellent question for the guys over at the Seven String forums. Several of us here already hang out there.

Honestly, if those are your two choices, I'd ignore them both an go with a Schecter. They offer them with Floyds, I've seen them in their ads in Guitar World.

[pro-fusion]

Re: Carvin and Ibanez 7 strings

[ QUOTE ]
Honestly, if those are your two choices, I'd ignore them both an go with a Schecter. They offer them with Floyds, I've seen them in their ads in Guitar World.

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Only the ultra-cheapies, though, and that with a TRS bridge. Even as a Schecter fan, I'd still go with Ibanez in that situation. Now if Schecter would get with the program and start producing that C-7 Hellraiser w/OFR trem that Loomis has been seen playing, that would be a different matter.