I'm a classic rock guy would I like a Carvin?

[newmaxnew]

I have been looking at possibly having a new Carvin guitar built. However I have not played one before and I am not sure about the neck size and feel and if those Carvin guitars are good for more than Hard Rock/Heavy Metal.

 

I like the feel of my early 80s Gibson SG and I also love the feel of the Warmoth standard necks. What I don't like are the really thin Ibanez Wizard style necks. For some reason really thin necks make my hand cramp up.

 

I play classic rock from the 60s an 70s, I don't use a lot of gain and I like my pickups to be medium or lower output.

 

So Carvin guys, Will something like a DC135 put a smile on this old classic rockers face?

 

Max

[snowaie]

Carvin could do what you need. A lot of people on the forum know a lot about Carvin.

[Bloozcat]

I don't know....

What do ya' think?

[jbear555]

Seems to make Joe Walsh happy.

[Guitar Heel]

CARVIN!!!!!!!

The necks are kinda wide like Ibbys, but not nearly as thin. I'd say it's the depth of Fender's modern C. Super comfy.

I have 2 135s, and I play at least one of them every day.

[Harvester1199]

yes you would like carvin for sure, i say go for it

[ieso]

I've owned a few Carvins and have one now. I don't think you'd like the neck profile. Wider and thinner than you're used to (Gibson and Warmoth). If you can keep your thumb behind the neck 100% of the time you might get used to it. My thumb comes over the fretboard sometimes and it's really uncomfortable. And you'd probably want to swap out the pups. Carvin pups are either airy fairy or either just lack any sense of definition.

[BoneNut]

Never played a Carvin guitar but I have tried their amps and found them disappointing. Too many cool guitars out on the market I can play and decide if I like, instead of having one made by mail order.

There are plenty of Carvin fans here but I'd pass on one.

[billybilly]

I find the necks too thin but I like chunkier necks. I find them thinner than an american standard strat, and that's as thin as I would possible ever go.

[Guitar Heel]

I find the necks too thin but I like chunkier necks. I find them thinner than an american standard strat, and that's as thin as I would possible ever go.

 

 

Depends on the year though. The older ones are super thin. I've got an 89, and it's WAY thin. Newer models feel much more substantial to me, but it's all subjective. If you like the 50's shape, then it's certainly a little thinner either way.

[newmaxnew]

Hmmm so far it sounds like the necks are probably too thin for my taste. I don't keep my thumg on the back of the neck all the time, I have the habit of letting my thumb come up to the edge of the fretboard.

Max

[GCDEF]

If you don't like smaller necks, you probably won't like Carvin DCs. Carvin DCs and their necks are on the smaller side. I doubt you'd find it an improvement over your SG. I've heard the CT and SCs are chunkier, but I've never played one.

[SDshirtman]

I dig carvins but have never likes their pickups.

[newmaxnew]

If the necks are thinner than a Warmoth Standard or the neck on my SG, I don't think I would find the guitar very confortable to play.

Bummer, too bad they don't offer more neck options other than radius.

Max

[GCDEF]

If the necks are thinner than a Warmoth Standard or the neck on my SG, I don't think I would find the guitar very confortable to play. Bummer, too bad they don't offer more neck options other than radius. Max

 

 

They offer options on the radius, not the thickness. An SG standard has a pretty chunky neck.

[steve_man]

Not a huge fan of their neck shape. Kinda thin for me. When I think of Carvin tone...guys like Vai come to mind...more "shredder-esqu" imo...

[Guitar Heel]

If the necks are thinner than a Warmoth Standard or the neck on my SG, I don't think I would find the guitar very confortable to play. Bummer, too bad they don't offer more neck options other than radius. Max

 

 

The necks on my Carvins are definitely thinner than the neck of my SG Classic (but that's a 50's Gibson neck, so it's pretty beefy). And yes, the necks of the CT series are beefier than the DC series. I've got one of those as well, also very comfortable to play.

[kherman]

First off, the older Carvins (pre '03?) have the thin d shape neck. (Not Ibby thin though). (the '90-'92 being the thinnest).

The current neck are a medium C shape. Not 50's fat. But, not 60's thin either. I'd say somewhere in between.

My '09 ST300 neck is thicker than any of my other Carvins.
And thicker than my Gibby Explorer Pro.

If you like your SG and want to stick with a flat top, I would suggest the SC90 in all mahogany, rosewood board, SS frets, S22 pickups, 4 control layout, coils splits, CT headstock.

[MichaelSaulnier]

I don't think the Carvin necks pose any problems at all... if anything, they are perhaps the best thing about them. Not Ibby thin... don't believe the people who say they are.

Obviously there are different models, with different features and neck shapes.

I would think that the new PRS / LP influenced guitars are a better match for a "classic rock" vibe than one of the superstrat models.

I also would suggest the Holdsworth model. It's perhaps the most "unique" guitar they make... and you can't find a fatter neck than on that guitar. They are super light weight, sound huge, and have a warm, semi-hollow vibe that works for clean or overdriven tones.

M

[bigconig]

If you're talking about Warmoth's standard thin profile, new Carvins are bigger (I have a few of both). Not as deep as a Gibson 50s neck but definitely wider than a Warmoth. Not sure about an 80s SG, but the profile is very similar to my 84 Les Paul.

[triton76]

I love Carvin's neck thru guitars. The neck is the best thing about them. They definitely can get great classic rock sounds. Maybe you'd like their Bolt better if you like the Warmoth neck. That's a bolt on right?

[Metalrulez]

You are asking here weather a semi to expensive guitar will fit your needs? Get real man buy a Agile,SX or insertcheapguitarofthedayhere. YMMV XTTTDP

[Rockpix]

I would check www.jarrettguitars.com , before ordering a Carvin. Both great guitars, most Carvin's are still USA made, all Jarrett's are. Just a suggestion.
I've never cared for Carvin stock pickups, but I have never seen a Carvin that wasn't very well made either (great Guitars). Just shootin Ya an option.

[Mesa/Kramer]

If the necks are thinner than a Warmoth Standard or the neck on my SG, I don't think I would find the guitar very confortable to play. Bummer, too bad they don't offer more neck options other than radius. Max

 

 

The Holdsworth Model has the Fattest neck of any guitar I have ever played.

[Eddie]

...I am not sure...if those Carvin guitars are good for more than Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. So Carvin guys, Will something like a DC135 put a smile on this old classic rockers face? Max

 

 

Max,

I had a DC-400 Koa in the 90s and used it in a band that played covers (Whitesnake, Led Zepellin, Queen, Dire Straits, Gary Moore, etc.). Sound-wise it was my most versatile guitar. It had Coil Splitting and Phase Switch, and was very comfortable. The neck was not as thin as some Ibanez I played.

 

I would check out the DC-145. "The DC145 comes equipped with a Classic Series C22B humbucker in the bridge position and a Classic Series C22J humbucker in the neck position. The Classic Series pickups are custom wound with vintage plain enamel wire that brings out the harmonically rich tone and sustain of the guitar. In the center position is a Carvin AP11 single-coil pickup. The AP11 pickup is almost identical to Carvin's vintage AP6 pickups from the 1950's and 1960's..."