Carvin Ultra V or V220?

[Fix_Metal]

I'm looking to get one of those great guitars.
Any hints concerning where to get one (both ) ?

[TommyD]

Carvin Ultra V or V220?

> I saw on their site just a couple weeks ago that they are now making both again. Tommy D.

[Snoogans]

I have an '89 Ultra V, which is as good as anything I've ever played. However, I did own a similarly-aged V220, which I bought to make up the pair. It wasn't anything like as good - weighed a ton, and while it was certainly ballsy, it just had no tone.

[Accept2]

The newer V220 is better than the old one, and is more like the old X220..........

[lerxstcat]

I had a 1984 V220 which I loved but had to sell. I felt good that the lady who bought it got it for her husband, who'd had one in the 80s, had to sell it, and missed it ever since. Very bright in tone due to the all-maple body and the M22SD, which is a bright pickup for a distortion humbucker. I liked the tone but not for everything.

I also have an early Ultra V, don't know the year but it's set neck, not neckthrough, round horns and the small Vee headstock, so it looks more Gibsony than Rhoadsy. It has a thicker tone but that's probably because it has a Duncan (I believe) in the bridge. I've never pulled the pickup to see what exactly it is because it sounds good and I'm lazy that way. I never take a guitar apart unless something's wrong with it.

The newer ones will be neck-through and 25" scale instead of set-neck and 24.75" scale like the old ones. However, you'll get a used one for less than half the price, I believe, so consider that. The set-necks are no problem other than the fact that finish cracks at the neck/body joint are common. My V220 had that, but I owned it from 1988 to 2004 and it was definitely in the paint only. They must have been in a hurry to put them out because I've seen that on a lot of them.

[fr0sty]

I too have an old rounded style carvin v. Mine is an 87. The new ones, as said above will be different. I would choose a V because the style is more classic/timeless.