Carvin DC727/747 Owners...

[Dee]

My desire to have a custom DC727 built has finally taken over me completely. I can't stop thinking about Carvin! I am planning on buying one as soon as I can afford it (which, unfortunately, won't be for a while), but first I need info. I am even considering selling all my guitars to raise the cash, but then I wonder if I'm just being stupid.

Anyway... I really would like a H-S pickup config. Do you think Carvin would be do this?

I don't want a tone knob. Are they cool with non-standard electronics?

What is the neck profile like? I know it's fatter than a Wizard 7 (which is what I'm currently using on the RG7421). Does anyone know the actual measurements?


And just for the sake of it, my spec so far is this:

DC727 7-String

Fixed bridge w/ String Saver saddles
5-piece mahogany and maple neck (2 maple stripes)
Tung oil finish on neck
Cherry sunburst gloss finish over a deep tiger eye quilt maple top
Ebony board (or possibly birdseye maple) with no inlays
Stainless frets
Black hardware

Not sure about the body. I would go for mahogany but the weight annoys me. Something lighter would be preferable. What are your thoughts?

[FloridaNative]

I agree with you that Carvins are the bomb!!! I'd love to get one too someday, but PLEASE don't sell off your guitars to get one, Dee!! GAS is brutal I know, but I think you would regret selling your RG. I know it's hard to save money, I've been saving all year for the 20th anny RG as you know, but I'm so close now! Patience and perseverance will get you a Carvin someday without having to sacrifice your other guitars. Just my humble 2 cents to take for what their worth.

[jim777]

The mahogany body is light, no big deal. It's not a very thick guitar, really. I have the two piece mahogany neck as well, very nice stuff The medium jumbo frets are the way to go if you aren't already sold on the straight up jumbos.
They have lots of options, so you really need to call and talk to someone about all that's available. I don't know if they'll make one for you, but I wouldn't personally go with a S/H config, because what good 7 string single is available? Get the coil taps and put whatever hum you want in it in both spots. I don't have calipers or anything to measure the neck, but it's bigger than an Ibanez (by a bit) and smaller than a Schecter. It's really nice

[Dee]

Originally Posted by FloridaNative

I agree with you that Carvins are the bomb!!! I'd love to get one too someday, but PLEASE don't sell off your guitars to get one, Dee!! GAS is brutal I know, but I think you would regret selling your RG. I know it's hard to save money, I've been saving all year for the 20th anny RG as you know, but I'm so close now! Patience and perseverance will get you a Carvin someday without having to sacrifice your other guitars. Just my humble 2 cents to take for what their worth.

Me getting money it's a lot harder than you might think! Unfortunately, something like this does require the sale of personal possessions I'd rather not part with, but what can you do...

Ibanez are not really ticking the right boxes for me nowadays.

Originally Posted by jim777

The mahogany body is light, no big deal. It's not a very thick guitar, really. I have the two piece mahogany neck as well, very nice stuff The medium jumbo frets are the way to go if you aren't already sold on the straight up jumbos.
They have lots of options, so you really need to call and talk to someone about all that's available. I don't know if they'll make one for you, but I wouldn't personally go with a S/H config, because what good 7 string single is available? Get the coil taps and put whatever hum you want in it in both spots. I don't have calipers or anything to measure the neck, but it's bigger than an Ibanez (by a bit) and smaller than a Schecter. It's really nice

I think I am sold on the jumbo frets, they are what I'm used to. As for single coils, I'm not sure. I wonder what the single is like on the 747? the Dimarzio Blaze would be my other choice. I agree with the idea of coil taps but I really like the amount of picking space you get with a H-S pickup config, plus I like the look of it.

[FloridaNative]

Well... you gotta do what you gotta do. I wish you all the best.

[Dee]

To be honest, I wish I'd saved my money on the 20th and put it towards a Carvin. I think they offer a lot more guitar for the money. As much as I love the RG, I can't see it getting used as much as it deserves since I bought a 7-string.

[jim777]

Everyone changes out the single on the 747, and nearly everyone changes out the humbuckers on both Tom Anderson used to make great singles, but they're all long gone now. I believe Rio Grande makes a Muy Grande 7 string single, but I haven't heard that one. Anyway, call up the 800 number and ask, they might not even do S/H.

[FloridaNative]

Originally Posted by Dee

To be honest, I wish I'd saved my money on the 20th and put it towards a Carvin. I think they offer a lot more guitar for the money. As much as I love the RG, I can't see it getting used as much as it deserves since I bought a 7-string.

If that's the case then maybe it is best to sell it to someone who will play it and love it the way it deserves. I know you take very good care of your guitars so I'm sure your RG is in perfect condition. You'll probably get a good price for it there in the UK. But ay! It breaks my heart to think about it! hehehehe But it's not my guitar it's yours hehehe and you have to do what's best for you. Good luck sweetheart!

[Aris_T]

Hey Dee! I don't know either about the H/S setup. I haven't seen any option about pickup routing in their site. The best thing is to call/email them.

Have you considered the price? I know first-hand that the charge to import a Carvin (in Greece) is huge. When I was looking for my 7-string I took a quote from the dealer here and it was twice the internet price, so I went with the RG1527. I don't know if you already had a quote, but it seems to me that only in the US you can get the right guitar for the right price. Maybe this goes just for Greece, but check how it works for the UK.

Have you considered installing a piezo system?

[Dee]

I'll get someone in the US to order it and take delivery, then send it over. Problem solved.

I haven't thought about a piezo.

[kmanick]

My 727 is all mahogany with a maple top. The weight is a non
issue, my GMW 6 string with a bolt neck is way heavier (same body woods but bolt on neck).

BareKnuckle will make you a single coil 7 string pickup, call Tim and tell him what you're looking for.
I have stainless steel 6100 fret wire on mine and I love it.
One thing I would do differently if I could order this again would be to just go all Mahogany with
out the maple top and have the body tung oiled as well as the neck (my neck is tung oiled).
The Poly they use on the body is really thick and I wonder if it
"squashes" any of the natural tone of the guitars.
Mine sounds great now that it has BK pickups in it, but that thought is always
floating around in the back of my head when I look at the finish on mine.

anyways congrats, my DC727 is my favorite guitar to play (and I have some beauties)

[Dee]

Thanks man, I appreciate the input!

[jim777]

Originally Posted by kmanick

My 727 is all mahogany with a maple top. The weight is a non
issue, my GMW 6 string with a bolt neck is way heavier (same body woods but bolt on neck).

BareKnuckle will make you a single coil 7 string pickup, call Tim and tell him what you're looking for.
I have stainless steel 6100 fret wire on mine and I love it.
One thing I would do differently if I could order this again would be to just go all Mahogany with
out the maple top and have the body tung oiled as well as the neck (my neck is tung oiled).
The Poly they use on the bodys is really thick and I wonder if it
"squashes" any of the natural tone of the guitars.
Mine sounds great now that it has BK pickups in it, but that thought is always
floating around in the back of my head when I look at the finish on mine.

anyways congrats, my DC727 is my favorite guitar to play (and I have some beauties)

Your 7 is mighty, no question. It's simply a beautiful instrument. Maple board on mahogany neck....killer combination.

[Dee]

What do you guys think of swamp ash for the body? I quite like swamp.

[Passion_and_Warfare]

I really love swamp ash, especially this example. Have a look, Dee.