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MGR/Tim « Carvin Bolt »
Published on 12/04/02 at 15:00$683.99 from Carvin direct. I bought it sight unseen after playing 20-30 American and Mexican Strats in various area music stores and being appalled at their "play-ability" for the money. Also, Carvin was willing to make one to MY specification, including a custom finish. No more, "well, I SORTA like the color on that one."
The neck was beautiful. It was set down to 1/16", with no buzzing and no dead spots. The pick-ups were solid-I ordered a hot humbucker in the bridge position, and it was fat, fat, FAT. The single coils in the center and neck positions were very good. Warm tone, minimal noise.
It had 3 problems-a bad volume pot (it would not turn all the way down), a loose switch, and a rattle behind the truss rod cover (probably a rogue screw). I also didn't fall in love with the finish. I ordered a flamed maple top with what Carvin calls a "blueburst," but it had far more black than blue. So, I sent it back-and they took it (even paid for the shipping), no questions asked. They cheerfully filled my order for a new one, this time in a lighter shade of blue.
The wood was gorgeous-and the neck, including the joint, was first rate. The guitar felt very solid and had "singing" sustain. The combination of a hard rock maple neck, alder under-body, and 1/2" flamed maple cap was very musical. It's unfortunate that the electronics were not inspected completely, and that is something that should have been caught before it left the factory.
After playing the Carvin, there is no way I'd pay a grand (or more) for an American Fender Stratocaster. Without exception, all the Strats I played were much less musical, much less "playable," and, in some cases depending on options (the "Fat Strat," for example), a total rip-off. In fact, I might argue that there is very little difference between the fit, finish, and feel of a modern strat and the Yamaha P112 I let me son abuse (in my opinion, the only thing that sets them apart from the Asian copies are the electronics). The Carvin, on the other hand, was a gorgeously crafted instrument. It looked amazing, felt musical, and had the best neck I have ever played (and I've owned at least 50 guitars in my lifetime). I hope they get the quality control issues right on the next one. For this review, given that I had to send it back, it gets only 4 stars (I'd have given most of the Strats I played 1 or 2 stars). With no build issues, this is undoubtably, given its price to performance ration, a 5 star guitar.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
The neck was beautiful. It was set down to 1/16", with no buzzing and no dead spots. The pick-ups were solid-I ordered a hot humbucker in the bridge position, and it was fat, fat, FAT. The single coils in the center and neck positions were very good. Warm tone, minimal noise.
It had 3 problems-a bad volume pot (it would not turn all the way down), a loose switch, and a rattle behind the truss rod cover (probably a rogue screw). I also didn't fall in love with the finish. I ordered a flamed maple top with what Carvin calls a "blueburst," but it had far more black than blue. So, I sent it back-and they took it (even paid for the shipping), no questions asked. They cheerfully filled my order for a new one, this time in a lighter shade of blue.
The wood was gorgeous-and the neck, including the joint, was first rate. The guitar felt very solid and had "singing" sustain. The combination of a hard rock maple neck, alder under-body, and 1/2" flamed maple cap was very musical. It's unfortunate that the electronics were not inspected completely, and that is something that should have been caught before it left the factory.
After playing the Carvin, there is no way I'd pay a grand (or more) for an American Fender Stratocaster. Without exception, all the Strats I played were much less musical, much less "playable," and, in some cases depending on options (the "Fat Strat," for example), a total rip-off. In fact, I might argue that there is very little difference between the fit, finish, and feel of a modern strat and the Yamaha P112 I let me son abuse (in my opinion, the only thing that sets them apart from the Asian copies are the electronics). The Carvin, on the other hand, was a gorgeously crafted instrument. It looked amazing, felt musical, and had the best neck I have ever played (and I've owned at least 50 guitars in my lifetime). I hope they get the quality control issues right on the next one. For this review, given that I had to send it back, it gets only 4 stars (I'd have given most of the Strats I played 1 or 2 stars). With no build issues, this is undoubtably, given its price to performance ration, a 5 star guitar.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com