I really like the later line of Carvin Guitars. Today, I use 3 different ones regularly. A 1998 Bolt, 1993 TL60 and a 2001 DC 127. These guitars stay in rock-solid tune, are very, very well made, and have tones very close to the popular guitar tones of today. I find the Carvin DC 127 similar to an SG or LP. The pickups deliver a bit clearer tone (not quite as muddy) as a solid Gibson. The TL60 sounds extremly close to a Tele, but with a silkier, sexier neck. The Bolt is close enough to a Strat with a flatter (15"radius) fretboard and 24 frets. I do have 3 Gibsons and an American Fender Strat that I use interchangeably with the Carvins. But, the DC 127 can actually sound like ALL of the above guitars and is the DEFAULT guitar in my arsenal. Whenever things are touchy at a gig, or a guitar won't stay in tune, etc., I grab the DC 127 and it ALWAYS works. Mine's a solid mahogany guitar and I believe that this helps to give the heavier tone. Carvin's fixed bridges are built so well that I've NEVER broken and E string using them. I break them all of the time using the Gibson's.
Anyone else out there use Carvins?
[This message has been edited by mesadude (edited 04-25-2002).]
Posts: 597 | Location: Santa Rosa, Ca, USA | Registered: February 20, 2002
Yeah, a DC 400T which is beautiful, but doesn't get much use these days, and a customized tung oiled koa DC135T which is almost my alter ego (among a TexMex Strat and a Gibson ES335).
Brett
Posts: 152 | Location: NYC | Registered: May 06, 2002
1986 DC-125 two pickup all maple guitar 1984 LB-40 all maple bass 1985 X60 amp 1978 VTR 2800 head All purchased new and workin' fine Good equipment, great price.
Posts: 9 | Location: Batesville, Arkansas USA | Registered: December 20, 2001
I also have a DC135T and I just love it. I've owned a strat, LP and I curently have a Lag (awesome quality French company) with P-90's. I try very hard to want to bring the Lag into my live set up, but when ever I switch back to the Carvin my tone comes so much more alive. I paid $735 for it about 8 years ago and it's one of my best purchases
A friend of mine just got a Carvin Alan Holdsworth Fatboy and swears that it's the best guitar ever. They look very cool. I only have a Quad X Preamp, very high quality stuff and I'd like to pick up a guitar one day from them. I mainly play a Strat and a Tele.
Posts: 22 | Location: Atlanta | Registered: December 31, 2002
quote:The TL60 sounds extremly close to a Tele, but with a silkier, sexier neck.
I've heard that Carvin doesn't have any pickups that really rival a Tele's. I guess what I heard was wrong? I'd love to pick one up sometime as an alternative to a Tele, but what I'd heard about the pickups kind of scared me off. Am I wrong?
quote:The TL60 sounds extremly close to a Tele, but with a silkier, sexier neck.
I've heard that Carvin doesn't have any pickups that really rival a Tele's. I guess what I heard was wrong? I'd love to pick one up sometime as an alternative to a Tele, but what I'd heard about the pickups kind of scared me off. Am I wrong?
My TL60 is from 1993. Back then they were using their S60T-B and S60N-B blade-style pickups. For what it's worth, I love this guitar, and its sound. It's close enough in sound (to me, anyway) to a Tele that the guitar easily substitutes for the original; but plays and feels so much better. I've had 7 Carvin guitars so far since 1984, and have another one on the way as I write this. One of the things I like about Carvin guitars is the sound of the pickups. They build their own. And Carvin craftsmanship is 2nd to none in the business, in my opinion. Mesadude Tung 'n' Gruve
I guess worst-case scenario, I could always just slap a pair replacement Tele-ish pickups (such as rio Rio Grande's, Seymore Duncans, etc.) in there. I'd absolutely LOOOOOOOOOVE to pick up a Carvin as the possibilities of materials/finishes/component choices are so seemingly endless... I just have to have that Tele tone though...
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