Carvin CT3M

[the_drip]

i'm considering placing an order for one of these california carved top guitars from Carvin..they look nice and I'm looking for a more regular looking guitar that's versatile enough for me to bring into a classroom setting and give some lessons as well as play my usual brand of black/death metal on the weekends. I'm probably gonna change out the strings and pickups when I get it..I have a set of Duncans I might try stickign in it (took them out of my brother's RR-1).

can anyone give me some feedback on Carvin and specifically the CT models?

[lerxstcat]

Hey Drip, long time! Good to "see" you!

I haven't played a CT series guitar, but I own and have owned Carvins for over 20 years and their playability is tops. Of course, buy it to keep because resale value is not the best. The CTs may have better resale though, they seem to be getting a lot of attention. Personally, I wish they had 24 frets...

[LesPaulCustom]

I think I saw/read a review on the guitar in either Guitar or something like that...it was ranked very high, with few (if any) issues or concerns.

I think they were targeting the PRS/Suhr/Anderson player/market with that guitar...

I don't currently own a Carvin..but I used to have a one..and they are great guitars...regardless of price.

I played HippieTim's Holdsworth model Carvin and it was a kick ass guitar, sounded great, and played very well.

[Adam]

I am a CT-series user and lover.

I purchased a CT4C several months ago and now it's my main gigging guitar. I did perform a lot of mods to it, but it's solid as a rock, not too heavy, plays great (low action) and stays in tune like it's hanging on for dear life.

Mods performed are:
Stripped and tung-oiled neck
DiMarzio pickups (had to modify the p-up rings to get them in there)
direct-thru switch next to jackplate
RS Guitarworks electronics upgrade
Tremol-no

[danastas]

Carvin does an outstanding job with the necks and fret work. It's good that you're getting a set neck because the neck throughs have noticeable layers where the body paint meets the unfinished neck.

Consider a maple neck & fretboard (I'm not sure if maple is an option on the Californians) because Carvins are very light and always seem to be brighter than other guitars. I'd avoid the stainless steel frets as well because that tends to brighten things up too much as well.

I just ordered one 3 months ago. It came back in 6 weeks, and it was an excellent work of craftsmanship. I bought it for 950, sold it in 4 weeks on EBAY for 795. I had ordered some specs on it that I wasn't happy with (steel frets, ebony with swamp ash, flat radius). I plan on ordering a Bolt-on with better specs in the future. Live and learn. That was a $150 lesson.

[Boxcar Willie 84]

I played one that someone brought into the store to sell once, I was impressed. It reminded a good deal of a PRS.

[MountainDog]

CT4T owner here. I saw the Eagles a while back and Joe Walsh played a CT, and of all the guitars he played that night, the CT was a stand out as the best sounding. Within a week, I had my own CT. I didn't like the stock C22 bridge pickup (not enough 'gain'/'grind'/'oomph'), went to the Carvin factory store and they had a CT with M22SD in the bridge hanging on the wall, tried that, sounded awesome, and bought that pickup (in matching cream as my C22) for like $54 and installed it.

The CT plays excellent, has a very comfortable neck, sounds excellent, balances well, looks great. I have several USA Jacksons and Charvels, yet when I had a Sunday afternoon gig at BB Kings at Universal Citywalk, I took the CT4T, so that should tell you something.

[PoisonGodmachine]

cool beans, thanks I just basically wanted some confirmation that these guitars are a wise choice.

[the_drip]

oops tha twas me ^^^ not my brother, rofl. damn cookies.

[slayer]

I have been jonesing for one of thse for a while now, they sure are sweet Jack.

[HuntinDoug]

I have been jonesing for one of thse for a while now, they sure are sweet Jack.

+1!

If anyone has stock (black) Carvin pups in new cond., I may be interested in them.

Also, the Carvin DVD is cool. It shows a CNC routing out a CCT. Plus it has an interview with Steve Vai & others.

[Adam]

+1!

If anyone has stock (black) Carvin pups in new cond., I may be interested in them.

Also, the Carvin DVD is cool. It shows a CNC routing out a CCT. Plus it has an interview with Steve Vai & others.

I have a black C22N and C22B that I took out of my Carvin when I bought it. I pulled the back plate off one of them for another project (I needed the tabs) and I'm not sure which one, but a new backplate would glue right on. The bobbins and windings on both are perfect, and they both have their full leads left.

PM me if you'd be interested and I'll dig them out.