Carvin Goodness

[mattski_dup1]

Hey fellas, Im thinkin about gettin one of those Carvin 7-strings (either dc727 or dc747), and I was wonderin if anyone knew about their playability and quality. Thanks

[Caevan O’Shite]

Overall, their playability and quality is very, very good; it's all down to being a matter of personal taste.

 

Guitar Player magazine did a very favorable review of a Carvin 7-string a while back, and cited its tight, deep, sustaining tone as being, if I recall correctly, "Hi-Fi, in a good way."

 

I have played a few Carvin guitars over the years, and they were all good instruments.

 

Maybe it would almost get you in the ballpark as thinking of it as a seven-string piccolo-bass made for guitarists. Sort of. Or maybe the solidbodied electric seven-string cousin of a Taylor flat-top acoustic. Extended low-end, somewhat "sucked" mids, bright highs, lots of sustain. "Piano-like" also comes to my mind. Less "vintage", more sustain and articulation.

 

If you like modern sounding solidbodies like Jackson and Ibanez, then you'll likely love one of the Carvin 7's.

 

The tone and response can be quite tailored to the individual by choice of woods and other options. Oh, yeah, options... they've got'em, and out the wazoo!

 

I want to add that I have a couple of used Carvin amps, a small 1x12 combo "Vintage 33" and a rack-mount all-tube stereo power-amp (the pwr-amp was pretty abused by its former owner), and Carvin treated me better than some companies treat their customers that buy brand-new, still-under-warranty products! Great folks to do business with.

 

If I was going to buy a new production-model seven-string, a Carvin would be one of my top choices to consider. I'd probably wind up ordering one.

[telepaul]

Carvin necks hold a high rep. I'd love a Carvin myself.

[Mike Gug]

I've got one coat of Crimson Red stain on my Carvin Bolt Kit hanging in my garage right now. I put it together to make sure the electronics worked. Long story short, nice axe when it was put together. Even without set up, straight out of the box, from 30 pieces to one. Man, I'm nervous. If it turns out nicely, and I can figure out how to post, I'll put up pics.

[Guitar Geezer]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mike Gug:

I've got one coat of Crimson Red stain on my Carvin Bolt Kit hanging in my garage right now. I put it together to make sure the electronics worked. Long story short, nice axe when it was put together. Even without set up, straight out of the box, from 30 pieces to one.

 

Re; Pics - If need be, email em to me and i can post'em

 

LynnG

[flagshipmile354]

I think if your going to buy a guitar you should first be able to try it and play it first. Otherwise you are making a potential big mistake. I wouldn't go on what you read or heresay from others. That is one main problem with Carvin I think. I live in Michigan, there are no Carvin dealers here so I would have to read a review and order based on words not sound and playability. Just a thought.

[flagshipmile354]

I think if your going to buy a guitar you should first be able to try it and play it first. Otherwise you are making a potential big mistake. I wouldn't go on what you read or heresay from others. That is one main problem with Carvin I think. I live in Michigan, there are no Carvin dealers here so I would have to read a review and order based on words not sound and playability. Just a thought.

[Mike Gug]

I think if your going to buy a guitar you should first be able to try it and play it first. Otherwise you are making a potential big mistake.

I agree with you. Carvin does have a 10-day money back guarantee though. With all that has been said/raved about these guitars, and my experience with one (only one), I took the plunge. At most, it would cost me $7.99 S/H coming to me and $10, or so, going back.

 

Once I get it set up, I suspect it will out play my Mexican Strat by leaps and bounds for the same money plus $25 in finish materials. Graphite nut, ebony fret board and killer PUPs too. I find the PUP's to be higher output, but also I think they have more range to them than the Mexican OEM PUP's.

 

Everyone has said that putting together their kits has been a good education. I agree. It's been fun and educational. A solid body guitar doesn't look as daunting as it did three days ago. This wait for the finishing process is a bummer though. Ah, pros and cons.

 

Here's another con, I hear that they don't have the resale value.

 

Ah, but the finish will be KILLER, if it comes out as planned. So far, so good. Sanding and second coat tonight... after I work out. It appears as though I'm putting on a second coat myself! Oh, the holiday foods!!!

 

OK Lynn G, I'll take you up on that!

[Boggs]

Originally posted by flagshipmile354:

I think if your going to buy a guitar you should first be able to try it and play it first. Otherwise you are making a potential big mistake. I wouldn't go on what you read or heresay from others. That is one main problem with Carvin I think. I live in Michigan, there are no Carvin dealers here so I would have to read a review and order based on words not sound and playability. Just a thought.

You can. Think of the sales price as a security deposit for a custom made guitar. Take the very guitar you had built for you (not just the floor model) and take it for 10 days to as many shops as you want and play it on as much gear as you want comparing it head-to-head against anything on as many showroom floors as you want to. If you find something better or that just floats your boat more, put the custom-built guitar back in the box and call them and have it picked up. All it costs you is the shipping which you should consider a small 10-day rental fee again for a brand new custom built to your specs guitar. How is that not being able to try it out before buying it? Does anyone else do it like that or offer you so many options to build it for you? Pretty good deal if you ask me... keep it OR ship it back! Boggs

[telepaul]

still tryin out the avatar

[promark2]

Originally posted by Mike Gug:

I think if your going to buy a guitar you should first be able to try it and play it first. Otherwise you are making a potential big mistake.

I agree with you. Carvin does have a 10-day money back guarantee though. With all that has been said/raved about these guitars, and my experience with one (only one), I took the plunge. At most, it would cost me $7.99 S/H coming to me and $10, or so, going back.

 

Once I get it set up, I suspect it will out play my Mexican Strat by leaps and bounds for the same money plus $25 in finish materials. Graphite nut, ebony fret board and killer PUPs too. I find the PUP's to be higher output, but also I think they have more range to them than the Mexican OEM PUP's.

 

Everyone has said that putting together their kits has been a good education. I agree. It's been fun and educational. A solid body guitar doesn't look as daunting as it did three days ago. This wait for the finishing process is a bummer though. Ah, pros and cons.

 

Here's another con, I hear that they don't have the resale value.

 

Ah, but the finish will be KILLER, if it comes out as planned. So far, so good. Sanding and second coat tonight... after I work out. It appears as though I'm putting on a second coat myself! Oh, the holiday foods!!!

 

OK Lynn G, I'll take you up on that!

I'd like to see pics of how it turns out. I completed my Bolt kit about 6 months ago but used the standard tung oil. I was curious how it would come out using a diff stain.

I love this guitar, excellent playing, excellent tone with the killer humbucker and very solid. I think you can drag it from a car bumper and it'll still perform.

I recently picked up a Wolfie Special and the Carvin is compatible with the neck feel and tone.

Good Luck!

[Mike Gug]

Hey promark2, welcome to the forum!

 

Be sure to stick around. TONS of knowledgeable people here.

 

Yeah, without a proper set up, I already liked my Carvin Kit. Great PUP's.

 

I used a gel stain from Olympic. I'd try a regular stain next time. I don't think the gel got into the hard wood as well as a regular liquid stain. That's OK, I thinkit'll be fine though.

 

After a quick preview before work today, it looked ready for the tung oil. The stain is so dull, it almost hurts to look at it .

 

I've been promised that the wood would really come to life after the oil. Very much looking forward to that!

[Caevan O’Shite]

Hey, promark2, did you use a stain before applying the tung-oil? If so, what kind, how did it go?

 

Here, from another post: some of you might be interested in this stuff (Mike Gugg, perhaps?), I plan on trying it out sometime, myself.

 

http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/icons/icon2.gif For finishing necks, "Bastid E" of the Low Down Lowdown Bass Forum recommends Sutherland Welles Wiping Varnish polymerized tung-oil (sold here by Garrett Wade) . Probably best for woods that don't require filling, like maple and koa.

[promark2]

Originally posted by Caevan New Year's Baby O'Shite:

Hey, promark2, did you use a stain before applying the tung-oil? If so, what kind, how did it go?

 

Here, from another post: some of you might be interested in this stuff (Mike Gugg, perhaps?), I plan on trying it out sometime, myself.

 

http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/icons/icon2.gif For finishing necks, "Bastid E" of the Low Down Lowdown Bass Forum recommends Sutherland Welles Wiping Varnish polymerized tung-oil (sold here by Garrett Wade) . Probably best for woods that don't require filling, like maple and koa.

Nope, applied the tung oil on bare wood after sanding. I have the swamp ash body and the oil darkened it just a tad. It almost matches the shade on a Fender 70's natural wood. Came out pretty nice looking along with the black pearloid pickguard...

lader -M