PBBPaul Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I get to Southern California periodically and try to stop at Carvin if I'm in the area. I was in San Diego today with some time to kill and stopped in. I played their new SH550 model and damn! They've got a winner in this one. I've always found Carvins to be nearly perfectly built but generally sterile in tone. This guitar is as well-built as any and sounds fantastic. I wish I could justify the 2 grand... I also played the C980T12 and renewed my lust for one. Great guitar for the money. Our new and improved website Today's sample tune: Lonesome One Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluesape Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Yup - the quilt model pushes my buttons! Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg B. Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I was there about a month ago and I would concur with you on the SH550. I personally like the Contour 66 myself, but I'd gladly take one of each! Did you play a Holdsworth model, the one with the chambered body? That thing sounds great even unplugged. I have a Carvin amp and love it. Great gear and great prices. Did you grab a copy of their free DVD? If you didn't you can have one sent to you from their website. Its pretty cool. Avoid playing the amplifier at a volume setting high enough to produce a distorted sound through the speaker-Fender Guitar Course-1966 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Yeah... Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stamplicker Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Breath taking quilt! MagicStomp Soundbites Soundclick Rambles Haunted Art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBBPaul Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share Posted June 19, 2008 I was there about a month ago and I would concur with you on the SH550. I personally like the Contour 66 myself, but I'd gladly take one of each! Did you play a Holdsworth model, the one with the chambered body? That thing sounds great even unplugged. I have a Carvin amp and love it. Great gear and great prices. Did you grab a copy of their free DVD? If you didn't you can have one sent to you from their website. Its pretty cool. I've played the Holdsworth before. I liked it a lot but still wasn't crazy about the tone. The SH550 seems to have more - I dunno - "bloom" to it. I was also very impressed with the amount of sustain. I ordered a DVD to be sent to me. Our new and improved website Today's sample tune: Lonesome One Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar Slinger Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Those are just gorgeous guitars. It's so cool that Carvin will let you stop by the factory and check it out. I've driven by the Fender factory before but they don't allow visitors. Boo Fender! Yay Carvin! My Blog about playing in a live band My MySpace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg B. Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Guitar Slinger, sorry to let you down, but Carvin actually has a store at the factory. When I went there I was hoping that they had factory tours, but they don't. But still, it was worth the trip (I even went there twice over the course of 3 days )even tho the store was smaller than I expected it to be. But it was jam packed with stuff. I bought a cover for my amp, and it was even cheaper there than in the catalog. Avoid playing the amplifier at a volume setting high enough to produce a distorted sound through the speaker-Fender Guitar Course-1966 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar Slinger Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Still, at least the Carvin Factory has a store you can visit. Fender sends you down the street to the local guitar shop (can't remember the name...) and they don't have a very good selection of Fenders. I was let down, so again, good for Carvin! My Blog about playing in a live band My MySpace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Red 67 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Guitar Slinger, sorry to let you down, but Carvin actually has a store at the factory. When I went there I was hoping that they had factory tours, but they don't. But still, it was worth the trip (I even went there twice over the course of 3 days )even tho the store was smaller than I expected it to be. But it was jam packed with stuff. I bought a cover for my amp, and it was even cheaper there than in the catalog. The DVD is a great "tour". Big Red's Ride Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg B. Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 It sure is, Red. Avoid playing the amplifier at a volume setting high enough to produce a distorted sound through the speaker-Fender Guitar Course-1966 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggs Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 PBBPaul, I have been touting the merits of the C980T-12 for years. I think folks just don't believe me... Biggest steal in guitardom so far as I am concerned... Check out my Rock Beach Guitars page showing guitars I have built and repaired... http://www.rockbeachguitars.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBBPaul Posted June 21, 2008 Author Share Posted June 21, 2008 PBBPaul, I have been touting the merits of the C980T-12 for years. I think folks just don't believe me... Biggest steal in guitardom so far as I am concerned... Hey Boggs! I remember that you have one of these. It really is an excellent guitar for the money. Especially since it's on sale this month. I don't know why they're not better recognized. I don't do any acoustic gigs these days so I can't justify buying one. That doesn't stop my lust for one though. Our new and improved website Today's sample tune: Lonesome One Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MILLO Posted June 21, 2008 Share Posted June 21, 2008 Have you tried any of their other 6-string acoustics? Do they compare favorably to Seagulls, the lower-level Martins? "Without music, life would be a mistake." --from 'Beyond Good and Evil', by Friedrich Nietzsche My MySpace Space Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarzan6000 Posted June 21, 2008 Share Posted June 21, 2008 Carvin is one of the most under-rated guitars out there. I think they are a great value and an excellent guitar. Cool that you got to tour the factory!!! ROCK ON!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBBPaul Posted June 23, 2008 Author Share Posted June 23, 2008 Have you tried any of their other 6-string acoustics? Do they compare favorably to Seagulls, the lower-level Martins? I don't know much about Seagulls. I know I've played them before but they must not have made much of an impression. I believe that the Carvin acoustics are far better for the money than equivalent Martins. YMMV. Our new and improved website Today's sample tune: Lonesome One Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBBPaul Posted June 23, 2008 Author Share Posted June 23, 2008 Carvin is one of the most under-rated guitars out there. I think they are a great value and an excellent guitar. Cool that you got to tour the factory!!! ROCK ON!!! I didn't get to tour the factory. I just went to the factory store. I agree with their being underrated though. Their construction quality is flawless. I'm not crazy about the tone of most of their electrics though. Our new and improved website Today's sample tune: Lonesome One Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MILLO Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Check this out: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f124/Millo_77/koa_SH550.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f124/Millo_77/koa_SH550_2.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f124/Millo_77/koa_SH550_3.jpg Not mine, from a guy at the Carvin forum. I kept the pics to show them to Carvin to use as a model in case I decide I want one in the not-too-near future, but mine would have to have two volume pots. "Without music, life would be a mistake." --from 'Beyond Good and Evil', by Friedrich Nietzsche My MySpace Space Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MILLO Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 here's an old pic of mine, a solidbody from a kit: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f124/Millo_77/057b1aef.jpg Those pickups aren't there anymore, plus there's another knob added (two volume pots). "Without music, life would be a mistake." --from 'Beyond Good and Evil', by Friedrich Nietzsche My MySpace Space Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Iverson Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I definitely have always wanted the Holdsworth model Carvin, but was hesitant to order one without having a chance to play it and hear it through a good amp. Thanks for the reviews, guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bytored Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I definitely have always wanted the Holdsworth model Carvin, but was hesitant to order one without having a chance to play it and hear it through a good amp. Thanks for the reviews, guys! Ok I'll chime in after lurking for a few days on this thread. I have never played a Holdworth but I do have 2 CT's, A CT6M and a CT3M, the 3 being my absolute favorite, at least at this point in time . Point being is that I would pretty much guarantee you will be happy with the instrument if you were to order. Just my 2 cents. What can this strange device be? When I touch it, it gives forth a sound It's got wires that vibrate, and give music What can this thing be that I found? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorSilver Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I have a Holdsworth Fatboy, single pickup version. It's as resonant as you would expect from a fully hollow guitar. Some people find the pickup on the bright side. A bigger potential concern is that the pickup is unpotted. Some people address this by replacing the pickup and the 500k pots with 250k-280k pots. The guitar is a little neck heavy because of the weight of the neck. You can compensate a little by using the bottom strap pin (not the top) on the back side. I'll eventually try replacing the tuners with Hipshot Junior Lites or something of similarly light weight. It's not my main guitar but I keep it around because it can do that one type of lead sound really well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBBPaul Posted June 27, 2008 Author Share Posted June 27, 2008 This video with Steve Oliver is pretty cool. I didn't try out any of the midi capabilities while I was there. Our new and improved website Today's sample tune: Lonesome One Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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