what do you guys think of carvins?

rich2k4 · #1 03-19-2006, 03:04 PM

i am thinking of buying a Ibanez PGM301 but dfo you think the carvin would be better for the money, as it is custom to my specs and all

ibanezcollector · #2 03-19-2006, 03:36 PM

I have had my Carvin for over 15 years and its still my number 1..

I think for the money there fantastic.. and everyone seems to rave about them as well on other forums..

Its your call though.. Id say Carvin just cause out of all the PGMs I think the 301 is the

shredfreak · #3 03-19-2006, 04:17 PM

Carvins are just great!

I fell in love with California Carved Top and now I'm ordering Bolt model. They are more than worth it.

JESTER700 · #4 03-19-2006, 08:50 PM

My 2 favorite guitars (Ibanez Radius models) sport Carvin necks now. And a third that I just bought soon will, as well. I have the neck; I just need to polish & install.

vette6600 · #5 03-20-2006, 12:51 AM

i think going from specs, prices, looks, etc, carvins are excellent. on the other hand, i've never tried one in person so thats why i've never picked one up. i would hate to have aa awesome guitar that doesn't feel right to me

TongueShredder · #6 03-20-2006, 03:20 AM

I would go for Carvin CT6M. Good value for the money and Carvin guitars have quality finish.

Axeslinger · #7 03-20-2006, 07:51 AM

The finish fretwork is probably the highest quality aspect of my Carvin.. That and the Birdseye Maple fretboard. I would suggest everyone should try one at some point in time.. If it turns out not to be your thing,,then simply send it back.

tTz · #8 03-20-2006, 12:09 PM

Don't you think that buying a guitar before you play it (pretty much a requisite of a custom design) is a little risky though? Fair enough, you *can* send it back if you don't like it, but personally, I'd rather play something similar to the model I wanted to order beforehand. Which is difficult, since no one really stocks Carvins of any sort.

**jim777** · #9 03-20-2006, 01:30 PM

I have a DC 400 and a 727 on the way. If you can play a profile a little thicker than a wizard they are great guitars. If they ever bring back their 335 style guitar (mostly made by Hofner, anyway) I'll definitely buy one of those as well. The only thing they don't do that I like is fretboard binding.

C.Thep · #10 03-20-2006, 02:40 PM

I think they are kinda of ugly, exept the CTs.

How would the pickups stand against some duncans?

red5 · #11 03-20-2006, 05:25 PM

I bought a Carvin DC127 for a little over $400 not counting tax and strings....

Best $400 I have ever spent. At the new price it still would have been a steal - very low action and great sounding guitar.

The pickups are fairly clean but they have a sort of fusion fuzz when they overdrive. Very good sounding pickups, and definitely put many duncans to shame.

**jim777** · #12 03-20-2006, 06:12 PM

Carvin makes great 6 string pickups, both hums and singles. The 7's need replacing, IMHO.

rich2k4 · #13 03-20-2006, 06:34 PM

so i guess carvins are worth it over the PGM. i thought carvins were more for the money anyways.

i am looking into the DC127

red5 · #14 03-20-2006, 06:47 PM

I must admit I loved the way the PGM played and sounded. The PAF Pros are a little smoother where the DC127 has a vintage clean humbucker sound to it. I think the best sound out of my DC127 is an overdriven fusion tone, or a Tony Macalpine sort of tone.

The Carvin would be cheaper but the overall quality of the guitars is about the same. You can get a Carvin custom taylored to your needs - block or triangle inlays and whatever color you want, but the biggest selling point to me is that I can get a Floyd on the Carvin if you want a Floyd, but PGMs will have a fixed bridge. You should try to play both and see what you like better.

If it helps, I find that the neck on the Carvin is a little fatter than my Jem neck, but the shape of the neck makes it feel thinner so it feels about the same.