Carvin 980 vs. Martin D-15 Limited Rosewood

[hottoddy]

Both cost about $799 (with case). I'm leaning toward the D-15 LE Rosewood and seek your thoughts. I've had a Sigma DM-4 (laminate spruce and mahagony) for decades and would love to get the real thing.

 

Carvin 980: jumbo cutaway, solid spruce top, laminate rosewood sides and back, lots of fancy extras like abalone inlays, body binding, gold plated tuners.

 

cons: Korean made (possibly same as Sammick/Cort), laminate back and sides, pricey for import.

pros: Fishman Prefix plus, looks very nice, love jumbo cutaway feel

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Martin D-15 LE special from MF: classic dreadnaught, 14 fret access

 

cons: no pickup, vanilla shape and styling, no upper fret access

pros: ALL solid wood spruce top & rosewood back and sides, US made, classic name that will hold value

[Fstpicker]

I would think those are two very different guitars tonally. While I would expect the Martin to lean towards the woody, darker tonal palette, I would also expect the Carvin to sound more "Tayloresque" in tone with clearer highs and sounding really great plugged in. From what I've heard, the Carvins are very well made and are an excellent value for the money. The same can be said of that particular model Martin also. It really depends on what style of playing you intend to use it for and what kind of tone you are looking for in a guitar.

 

I hope Greg B. will chime in here as he is the best judge of what a Carvin sounds like as he actually has one!

 

Jeff

[hottoddy]

Thanks for the great comments. Something else for me to think about. Another thing I've heard about the Carvins is that they have chunkier necks (back profile). I've tried the Martin D series, and think their necks feel great - definitely not what I'd call chunky.

[Pedro]

Well, I own a couple of carvins, but not a jumbo. I really like the feels of the neck and carvins have great action. I don't think that I have heard someone say that carvins have a chuncky neck, but I guess it depends who you ask .

I have also played some of the 15 series martins and I liked them too. I don't really know about the one you mentioned, but I don't think the 15 series comes with a gloss finish, but that not a big deal. One thing that I would consider is if you are buying a 800 dollar martin, it is made to compete with other 800 dollar guitars, so I wouldn't expect a lot more from the martin than from the carvin.

The laminate back and sides on the carivn would be the biggest drawback for me, but the mahogany models have a solid back.

I think the biggest plus for the martin would be the all solid wood construction.

I wouldn't worry about who built it, both ought to be good quality. I wouldn't worry about where it was built either, because myself and boggs ( along with other) can tell you that the carvins are built very well, and you know from first hand experience how well the martins are built. So both ought to be good regardless of where they were built.

Carvin sells factory direct so you might get more for your money. But do you want all solid wood?

I guess it depends on what you want. They are both good, but very difference guitars.

Ok, I think that I'm done now. Hope this helps.

[franchelB]

As much as I think Carvin is a great value. Martin is made in the U.S.A. The D-15 will appreciate in value moreso than the 980.

[hottoddy]

Thanks again for the comments. I ordered the D-15 Limited Edition with Rosewood back and sides last night. The US made solid wood Martin was too tempting to pass up. I can always add a pickup down the line if I wish.

[Pedro]

great, let us know how you like it. Congrats

 

BTW, who did you order it from? i couldn't find that specific model online.

[hottoddy]

 

Originally posted by Pedro ... BTW, who did you order it from? i couldn't find that specific model online.

 

 

I heard about it though a Martin board. Apparantly they have a special relationship with MF right now. The D-15 LE Rosewood lists at $899 in their catalog but is showing up at $799 online (free shipping). The mahagony version is only $699.

 

MF link

 

a Martin discussion

[Pedro]

Thanks. For some reason, i don't ever think to check MF. I'll have to go there to look at the martins.

[Singin' Dave]

I think you made the right call. I just received my Carvin 980, which I bought used for $580 shipped, and it's OK, but I'm not blown away by it at first glance (and play last night). The neck is indeed pretty beefy, as big if not bigger than my '94 Martin D-1R, which has a pretty deep and round neck. Caused ma a bit of discomfort last night when I played it for a while with my band.

 

Unplugged tone of the 980 was average I'd say. Pretty bright and metallic sounding to my ears, but I am used to my Martin's tone (I also have a 000C-16RGTE which has a much smaller/ thinner neck)

 

Plugged in the Carvin was deinfatley nice sounding though again pretty brassy. I think I'm going to have to get used to it and play with some string combos. I usually use D'addario PB's on my other guitars which are pretty mellow sounding after a wekk or so.

 

I think if I was to do it again, I would seriously look at those Martin D-15ltds, and install a Baggs M1 or something.

 

Enjoy!