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I ordered the free Carvin DVD from their site and watched it last night and I really must say that their California carved top model is one hot guitar!!! I ordered a Carvin about two years ago a DC127T with the active electronics and sent it back because I HATED it. It was my fault though....I should have gone simpler. Mine as you can see in these pics had every electronic option. 4 switches and 4 knobs and 2 outputs. It was more than my simple guitar mind could handle. It was a work of art though perfect in every aspect from a build quality aspect. I think one of the newer CT models would be killer!!!

If you don't mind having to rip-out the crap pups amp; toss em in the trash, deal with their under-size pup route and their tone-dead neck design, Crapvins might be for you


Originally Posted by Gary LaddIf you don't mind having to rip-out the crap pups amp; toss em in the trash, deal with their under-size pup route and their tone-dead neck design, Crapvins might be for you

As compared to the overpriced Gibsons with lack of quality control?

Not all Carvins require the pickup cavity to be rerouted.
Depends on the after market pickup.
I know EMGS will require it. But, that can be said for a lot of guitars out there.
I haven't heard of too many problems with Duncans or Dimarzios on the 6's.
On the 7's I know some have had to file down the pickup base plate edge to fit the pickup in the smaller route. EMGs again needed routing.

As for Carvin pickups. I really like the Holdsworth H22n and the C22b.
I think their just as nice of a pickup as the Duncan Jazz and JB in my Fenandes Ravelle.
Definitely better than the Dimarzios in my Parker, Duncan Designs in my Schecter, and the Gotohs that were in my Diodati.
As for the M22 series I can't comment on the recent ones.
My Carvins have the older M22n and M22SD from the '80s and early '90s.
I've never felt a need to swap them out. They've always worked fine. I was able to get tones I wanted, and never had any microphonic issues.
Those were designed for when Carvin was pretty much doing all maple guitars.
I know many have said the latest versions are different from the originals.
Especially the M22sd.
The C26 7 string pickups were redesigned this year.
Now feature Alnico 5 magnets and more output than the original ceramic ones.
I did notice a volume difference between my '02 and '05. I did have to drop the pickups down a little more away from the strings in my '05 .

I have a Carvin Ct6 in tiger eye finish with a flame top gold hardware abalone block inlays and zebra pickups u can see one's like it here from : localhost/carvinmuseum.com/playersgallery/carvedtop.html
Mine didnt need to be re-routed for diffrent pickups. the pickups in it were not great, but the guitar play's so amazing and just completly better then anything i have ever played. I have the 12'inch radius fretboard and it plays wonderfly. Best guitar i have ever played

I'd kill for a custom DC727, that's for sure

If only you could get normal body edges with their 7s.


Originally Posted by D-EJ915If only you could get normal body edges with their 7s.
Just call them up. Alot of times they will change things for you or do something that isn'nt on their list. I second the H22s. I have them in my dc127 and love them!

I emailed them about it and whether I could get a tele style with a floyd, and they said no to both Maybe calling would be more persuasive but I wasn't really interested in buying one, just wanting to know for future reference.


Originally Posted by Gary LaddIf you don't mind having to rip-out the crap pups amp; toss em in the trash, deal with their under-size pup route and their tone-dead neck design, Crapvins might be for you The pickups are pretty mediocre, but I never had any of the other problems that you've described. Both of mine are pretty much perfet form the factory.


Originally Posted by D-EJ915I emailed them about it and whether I could get a tele style with a floyd, and they said no to both Maybe calling would be more persuasive but I wasn't really interested in buying one, just wanting to know for future reference.They dicontinued the TL-60C? When I ordered my maple DC127T I was kind of looking at the TL60C as an alternative. Call them up and ask them.

kherman, how can you have so many badass guitars, yet have such a girly, flowered couch?

Speaking of carvin...I didn't think they still made the Jackson-esque headstock...


Originally Posted by Lee_Lkherman, how can you have so many badass guitars, yet have such a girly, flowered couch?

It's called being married.

I'm King of the Castle.
Until the wife gets home.


Originally Posted by D-EJ915Speaking of carvin...I didn't think they still made the Jackson-esque headstock...Yes, they brought it back as an option last year.
$100 option.
It's the '90-'91 headstock.

Kent

I wander if they will let you order them with a no pickup option? If so would they deduct any $$ from the purchase? I gotta say that blue on in the link that fusion101 posted is AWESOME!! I am really gassin for a guitar that color!!!


Originally Posted by B BentI wander if they will let you order them with a no pickup option? If so would they deduct any $$ from the purchase? I gotta say that blue on in the link that fusion101 posted is AWESOME!! I am really gassin for a guitar that color!!!No they will not.
But, you can always pull them yourself and stick them on Ebay.

Kent

A couple of years ago there were rumors of Carvin considering using SD's as stock pickups.

I wish that were one rumor that had materialized.


Originally Posted by Benjy_26A couple of years ago there were rumors of Carvin considering using SD's as stock pickups.

I wish that were one rumor that had materialized.

I guess I just don't get the big deal.
People will buy their Gibsons, Fenders, IBANEZs, PRSs, Etc... with stock pickups.
Think nothing of it, and just swap them out to their prefered brand and models.
But, because Carvin doesn't offer a brand name pickup, they get criticized on it. Or people will pass on them for that reason only.
Why?
Why doesn't it matter that the others don't offer brand name pickups like Duncans, Fralins, Lawrance, Dimarzios, etc..?

Besides, companies that do offer brand pickups like Jackson and ESP, it's only certain pickup models on certain guitar models. So, it wouldn't necessarilly be the pickup models someone prefers. Might not even be the correct brand for that person.

Yes, I know Carvin calls itself a Customshop.
But, we know that's it's not a full blown custom shop where the only limitation is your imagination. Of course those type of shops usually cost above $3000 for a guitar.

Again if you don't like em, just swap them out for your prefered pickup choice and throw the Carvin pickups on ebay and get a few of your bucks back.

To me swapping pickups is no bigger a deal than switching string brand and guage.

Kent

Pickups are such an easy change. I choose my guitars by first gettin to know them unplugged.Carvin pickups take a lot of abuse from ppl. Like Kent said its not like they cant be swapped out.