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wwhhhaatt « My #1 »
Published on 06/22/11 at 10:35Alder body with mahogany wings
solid maple neck
24 fret ebony fret board
jumbo frets
original Floyd rose
1 volume/ 1 tone
coil taps on each pickup
3 way selector
Sperzel locking tuners
unfinished neck
Made in U.S.A.
UTILIZATION
For me this guitar is just about perfect. The fret board feels great and there is absolutely no heel at the neck joint which makes access to all 24 frets a breeze. The unfinished neck is much more comfortable than a painted one especially since I live in Florida and mixing the humidity with a painted neck can sometimes get a nasty sticky feeling. The placement of the controls are good for me because I tend to strum pretty wildly and these stay out of the way although I would like the selector just about closer to the bridge. The weight is also great as it's not too heavy but not so light that it feels like a toy and it resonates really well even with a Floyd rose on it. The Floyd rose also retains tuning incredibly well.
SOUNDS
My main amp is a Framus cobra 100 watt tube amp and I also sometimes use a H&K Triamp or Peavey 5150. I use lots of effects and play a mix of metal/rock/prog
When I first bought this guitar I figured I would be replacing the pickups. I figured right. The pickups were not terrible for rock tones or clean sounds but they did not give me what I wanted for the majority of the stuff I play. As of now it has a set of Bare knuckles in it with a nail bomb bridge and cold sweat neck. I have tried the Duncan invader (flubby and shrill) EMG 81/85 (one trick pony) the Dimarzio tone zone ( good for rock) and some others I can't think of right now.
With the Bare knuckles I get exactly what I want in a guitar. On the bridge the bass is tight but not completely unforgiving, the top end is just right so it cuts through without getting shrill, chords are well defined even under distortion, and single note runs have a thick sound. I only use the neck pickup for clean and the occasional lead which also sound great. Clean chords are thick with a nice top end and lead work on the distortion channel has that nice fluid sound. I could go for a little more high end on the neck pickup but after all the pickups I've tried I think I'll settle here.
OVERALL OPINION
I bought this guitar almost ten years ago without ever trying one which was probably kind of silly but it turned out great. there have been times where I thought a knew guitar would takes it's spot as number one but as soon as I pick the Carvin back up it's like being home again. The only thing I sometimes wish it had was a 25 1/2" scale length because I love that about my ESPSc6. Who knows how that would actually feel on this guitar though. My only real beefs with the guitar were the electronics seemed a little cheap (they did not fail before I changed them) and the pickup mounting rings do not work with other manufacturers pickups. I bought it knowing I would swap the electronics anyways so it's not a big deal and I know other people who have bought Carvins on my recommendation and love the pickups. It's all personal preference. I'm contemplating buying a California carved now too since they make them with 24 frets now.
solid maple neck
24 fret ebony fret board
jumbo frets
original Floyd rose
1 volume/ 1 tone
coil taps on each pickup
3 way selector
Sperzel locking tuners
unfinished neck
Made in U.S.A.
UTILIZATION
For me this guitar is just about perfect. The fret board feels great and there is absolutely no heel at the neck joint which makes access to all 24 frets a breeze. The unfinished neck is much more comfortable than a painted one especially since I live in Florida and mixing the humidity with a painted neck can sometimes get a nasty sticky feeling. The placement of the controls are good for me because I tend to strum pretty wildly and these stay out of the way although I would like the selector just about closer to the bridge. The weight is also great as it's not too heavy but not so light that it feels like a toy and it resonates really well even with a Floyd rose on it. The Floyd rose also retains tuning incredibly well.
SOUNDS
My main amp is a Framus cobra 100 watt tube amp and I also sometimes use a H&K Triamp or Peavey 5150. I use lots of effects and play a mix of metal/rock/prog
When I first bought this guitar I figured I would be replacing the pickups. I figured right. The pickups were not terrible for rock tones or clean sounds but they did not give me what I wanted for the majority of the stuff I play. As of now it has a set of Bare knuckles in it with a nail bomb bridge and cold sweat neck. I have tried the Duncan invader (flubby and shrill) EMG 81/85 (one trick pony) the Dimarzio tone zone ( good for rock) and some others I can't think of right now.
With the Bare knuckles I get exactly what I want in a guitar. On the bridge the bass is tight but not completely unforgiving, the top end is just right so it cuts through without getting shrill, chords are well defined even under distortion, and single note runs have a thick sound. I only use the neck pickup for clean and the occasional lead which also sound great. Clean chords are thick with a nice top end and lead work on the distortion channel has that nice fluid sound. I could go for a little more high end on the neck pickup but after all the pickups I've tried I think I'll settle here.
OVERALL OPINION
I bought this guitar almost ten years ago without ever trying one which was probably kind of silly but it turned out great. there have been times where I thought a knew guitar would takes it's spot as number one but as soon as I pick the Carvin back up it's like being home again. The only thing I sometimes wish it had was a 25 1/2" scale length because I love that about my ESPSc6. Who knows how that would actually feel on this guitar though. My only real beefs with the guitar were the electronics seemed a little cheap (they did not fail before I changed them) and the pickup mounting rings do not work with other manufacturers pickups. I bought it knowing I would swap the electronics anyways so it's not a big deal and I know other people who have bought Carvins on my recommendation and love the pickups. It's all personal preference. I'm contemplating buying a California carved now too since they make them with 24 frets now.