software

Finally got round to checking out the local Carvin importer. They had three of the new California Carved tops in stock. I demo'd a trans black quilt top with a hardtail into a Legacy 2x12 combo (okay) and the small combo with tthe 5w switch (quite good).

Overall, the build quality was impressive. The finish was top notch, and the fit was excellent. the only construction flaw was a slightly roughly cut nut, in terms of the look of the slots. Aside from that, I'd put them on a par with PRS, and above Gibson, considering that the three guitars in stock were identical in terms of build quality.

The neck had tall, pointy frets and a shallow 70s fender/musicman fingerboard width, which I like. The backshape was a tad over medium, leaning to a more vintage feel, but unfortunately they flattened the back off a bit throught the middle, giving it a 'D' shape. I guess they couldn't totally get over all those years of making shredders.

The guitar was lightweight, and had similar proportions to my CU22. Unplugged, it sounded very similar.

Plugged in, it sounded quite good. The neck pickup was not bad at all, though the coil tap was typically a bit weak (as it is with my CU22's 59s). The bridge pickup wasn't my cup of tea, though it was far from terrible. At least they didn't go over the top with output, leaving the guitar's tones a bit more open and dynamic.

Overall, I really liked the CCT. It's perhaps a tiny step backward from the PRS custom range, but I'm sure would be a great deal if you got one secondhand. The only thing I didn't like was the neck profile and the bridge pickup, and these are very much personal taste things.

I liked mine aside from the QC issues, alas I had to send it back twice.

Hmm,

Interesting that they had the D shape.
Carvin had switched to a C shape neck around 2003.
Though I do believe the D shape is a hidden option.
Standard fretboard is 12quot; radius.
10quot; and 14quot; are also available.

So maybe these were ordered with the 10quot; radius and D shape neck options.

Kent

The D was pretty subtle. Maybe they think it's a C shape. Compared to the Carvin shred-o guitars I tried years ago they're definitely less D-shaped.

I have a carvin ct6 and I believe they are the absolute best guitars for your money aside from the pickups.