Help me pick a Carvin

[dk1ben]

So I have been tossing the idea around about buying a Les Paul. But my god the prices are crazy. Not saying they are not worth it, just want to way my options here before I pull the trigger.

I have been looking at some Carvin guitars. But I guess I dont know enough about either guitars to pick a Carvin that will give me similar sound and style as a LP. More sound than appearance of coarse.

Anyone have knowledge on Carvins and suggest one with specifications that will give me something close if not dead on LP sound?

Thanks for any input.

[beachjammer]

I suggest a Carvin California Carved Top. I have a CT3 ,which is the all mahogany body and set neck and a buddy of mine has the CT6. I've owned a few Les Pauls, a PRS and have played tons of Les Paul and Les Paul type guitars. The Carvin is just as good or better than all of them at a fraction of the cost. I personally like my Carvin better than the PRS I used to have and all the Les Pauls except for maybe the 78' standard I had long ago. I highly recommend the Carvins. I'm actually wanting to get the single cut Carvin when I graduate college as a graduation present. I'm 36 and just now going back to college because my job went to Mexico. A new Carvin to look forward to gives me loads of motivation! HA HA! Let me know what you decide.

[beachjammer]

Here's a pic of mine:



I got it shipped and paypal'd from the bay for $799. I would have ordered it without the floyd but I don't mind it having it. It had alot of other options that I wanted like the 14" radius fretboard , block inlays and tweed case. We compared my all mahagony CT3 to my buddy's CT6 which also has a floyd but has the quilted maple top and there was no difference in tone. Here's a link to some more pics of it.

http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa317/beachjammer/Carvin%20pics/

[scotty]

I have played a few Carvins and have liked them a lot. If I Could pick a new one it would be this one. https://www.carvinguitars.com/catalo....php?model=cs6

[SeventhSon]

i like the holdsworth fatboy. apart from digging the way it plays/sounds, a novelty feature that i *really* like are those 2 strap buttons on the butt of the guitar. it allows you to lean it on anything without fear of it falling down. you don't have to bring a guitar stand to gigs.

[Robert Burns]

The most important thing about Carvins...is their terrrible resale value.
That's only bad if your the selller... Almost anything you could order
made at the factory for say $1600.00, you can pick up clean used for
around $900.00 or less! Ive seen insane deals on Carvins. Missed a AAAA
quilt DC400 once for $575.00! That thing probably cost $1700.00 to have made. They are great guitars...just find a used one imo. Save 60%!

[sonicsamurai]

as long as its mahogany with plenty of wood behind the bridge you should be fine. In fact i think carvin pretty much make their own take on an lp now anyway. Just have a look on the website coz they have tonnes of options. It's crazy!

[Flatpicker]

So I have been tossing the idea around about buying a Les Paul. But my god the prices are crazy. Not saying they are not worth it, just want to way my options here before I pull the trigger.

I have been looking at some Carvin guitars. But I guess I dont know enough about either guitars to pick a Carvin that will give me similar sound and style as a LP. More sound than appearance of coarse.

Anyone have knowledge on Carvins and suggest one with specifications that will give me something close if not dead on LP sound?

Thanks for any input.

You are not going to get a dead on LP sound with a Carvin because of the scale differences.
Carvin are good guitars but don't think it's going to be an LP tonewise.
Look at the California Singlecuts if you want the LP look though.
or a PRS 245.

[DonP]

except for maybe the 78' standard I had long ago.

That's because the '78 had a three piece maple neck. I have a 77 Custom and it sounds way different than my other 3 Les Pauls with the mahogany 1 piece neck.

IMO, a 750XL (with real mahogany) is a very good alternative to a Les Paul. Comes with a maple neck as well.

[DonP]

You are not going to get a dead on LP sound with a Carvin because of the scale differences.
Carvin are good guitars but don't think it's going to be an LP tonewise.
Look at the California Singlecuts if you want the LP look though.
or a PRS 245.

I agree. My 750XL (fixed bridge) is close, but still not the same.

[blindmuddy]

The most important thing about Carvins...is their terrrible resale value.
That's only bad if your the selller... Almost anything you could order
made at the factory for say $1600.00, you can pick up clean used for
around $900.00 or less! Ive seen insane deals on Carvins. Missed a AAAA
quilt DC400 once for $575.00! That thing probably cost $1700.00 to have made. They are great guitars...just find a used one imo. Save 60%!

I sold my first CT6 for $100 less than I paid for it. Now I'm on my second CT6 and I love it.

[toejam]

You are not going to get a dead on LP sound with a Carvin because of the scale differences.
Carvin are good guitars but don't think it's going to be an LP tonewise.
Look at the California Singlecuts if you want the LP look though.
or a PRS 245.

Not to mention, a Carvin body is not as thick as a Les Paul either.

[beachjammer]

You are not going to get a dead on LP sound with a Carvin because of the scale differences.
Carvin are good guitars but don't think it's going to be an LP tonewise.
Look at the California Singlecuts if you want the LP look though.
or a PRS 245.

I think that you will get the LP tone as long as the Carvin is one of the California Carved top models and has the fixed bridge. I had a buddy of mine bring his les paul up a few weeks ago and we played them back to back. There wasn't a big enough difference to mention and the difference was probably from my Carvin having a floyd. I'd buy a Carvin hands down before I would buy a Les Paul unless I had the money to invest in an older Les Paul because Carvin's quality kills Gibson's these days IMO...

[beachjammer]

Not to mention, a Carvin body is not as thick as a Les Paul either.

They are thicker than you think. The belly cut makes it appear a little thinner but I think they are as thick as an LP in the middle.

[dk1ben]

Thanks for the input. What pickups do you suggest getting in a carvin?