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syrnett
Newbie
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 20
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 Posted:
Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:37 pm |
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Carvin DC127C Review
Background:
I've never owned a Carvin. I've seen and played one maybe 3 times for a total of under 15 minutes in nearly two decades of playing. For most of my 17 years playing I have been playing professional level bolt-on Ibanez guitars (RG550, RG1550, RG3120, JEM, RG1570, RG2550) with an occasional Charvel Model 4, Fender American Delux Strat and Dean USA Hardtail thrown in for good measure. I have always preferred mahogany bodies, maple fretboards and recessed floyds and got sick and tired of waiting for Ibanez to release a new model with these features after waiting 3 years. I also wanted an instument this time, not simply a guitar.
I had placed my order in October 2005 to my exact specifications. Unfortunatley 4 weeks later I canceled the order for a variety of reasons. In early January 2006, I happened to browse the Carvin web sites In Stock section, and was shocked to see my exact guitar for sale. Even though I canceled the order, for some reason they went ahead and built the exact guitar anyways. I jumped on the chance once I saw how gorgeous it looked and bought the guitar. But looks alone wont cut it with me... it has to play and sound great.
Six days later it arrived. As excited as I was to have my guitar waiting for me when I got home today, there was a big part of me that was extremely tenative. I knew it was gorgeous since I was fortunate to have Carvin provide a professional level photo of the actual guitar via the In Stock section where I ordered the guitar, but how would it feel and sound? I opened the box knowing very well that this guitar may be getting shipped back the next day no matter how it looked. I did my homework before ordering this guitar and heard all the horror stories. I read all the posts on multiple sites from the Carvin bashers and the fanboys alike. I read every review on Harmony Central. I was prepared and expected the worst when I opened the box.
This would not only be my first experience with a Carvin, but the first time with stainless steel frets, a neck through design, sperzel tuners, and the first time in 15 years with an OFR as oppesed to some from of the Ibanez Edge.
As I kept telling myself, worst case scenario, all I am out is some time waiting and shipping charges...
Specs:
DC127C
Chrome Hardware
Umber Stain
Neck Though Design
Rounded Body
Original Floyd Rose
Birdseye Maple Fretboard
Abalone Dot Inlays
Solid Mahogony Neck and Body
Quilted Maple Top and Headstock Overlay
Stainless Steel Jumbo Frets
Sperzel Locking Tuners
C22N/C22B Pickups
Cost:
$1300 shipped with case
Appearance:
Absolutely gorgeous. I went over this guitar inch by inch and do not so much as see a single dust spec under the finish. The quilted maple top is beautifully bookmatched and very deep. The mahogany grain of the neck and wings is wonderfully tight, even and runs evenly up and down. No filler around the inlays. The fret job is second to none I have ever owned and is 100% smooth on the edges as I run my hand up and down the neck with no catches. The figure in the birdseye maple fretboard would bring a tear of joy to a cabinet makers eye.
Feel:
Extremely comfortable with the rounded sides. I was a bit aprehensive about not getting the tung oil neck, but 10 minutes of playing with the finished neck eased any doubts from my mind, smooth and fast. I absolutely love the tone controls tension. Extremely smooth and require a slight bit of effort to turn which I definitely prefer. My cables clicked into place very securely in the jack and required a good tug to pull it out. The 3 way toggles and mini toggles felt normal and time will tell how they hold up. The figured birdseye maple fretboard has the feel that instantly reminded me why I prefer this fretboard material heads and shoulders above ebony and rosewood. The stainless steel frets and amazingly smooth and liquid feeling and can easily see them being addicting. The neck is slightly thicker and not as wide an an Ibanez Wizard. It will be a very easy transition to this neck and its width is actually much more comfortable to my surprise... easier on my wrists by far.
Action:
While I needed to tune the guitar slightly out of the box, the intonation was dead on on all strings for the first time ever in buying a guitar. The action is insanely low. Lower then I have ever had on a guitar either from the factory or after performing a setup myself. Even with the action this low , I can do full 2.5 step bends in all positions without any buzzing or fretting out. The original floyd rose was perfectly level with the guitars body and fit in the recessed route with a surgeons percision. Even with extreme whammy abuse, it is coming back in perfect tune... including both dives and pull ups. There is no need for the sometimes present quick pull up to snap the strings back in tune at all I have experienced on occasion in the past. I am able to pull up 1.5 steps in all positions on the floyd before any buzzing or fretting out starts appearing.
Sound - Unplugged:
Very acoustic and resonant. If I hold the guitar up in the air by the head stock between my index and middle fingers like a wall hanger and pluck the B string, I can feel a strong vibration all over the guitar. As a side note, I'm not sure if I care for the Elixir 10's they ship it set up with.
Sound - Plugged In:
Simply a shred machine. The mahogony neck and body give a thick warm base tone while the quilted maple top and figured birdseye maple fretboard adds a very slight touch of chewyness and bite that I prefer. I was expecting the absolute worst with regards ot the pickups to be honest. I just dont like stocks and have almost always switched out to either a DiMarzio Tone Zone/Air Norton set or a Duncan JB/59 set depending on the guitar. With that said, I dont know if I will change these out. The C22B is very similar to my ear of a JB with a slightly less output but great clarity. The C22N is a fat killer neck pickup and I am having a hard time seeing why so many people hate this one with a passion. I will need more time to play with the pickups in their split setting but the fact that I can split them on demand will be great for more tonal possiblities. If an Ibanez V7/V8 is a 0 and a SD JB/59 is a 10, the C22B/C22N is a solid 8.5 for output and a 9 for tone.
Overall:
The configuration as I have it on the guitar is great for hard rock, 80's shred, heavy blues. I would go with higher output pickups and a rosewood fretboard with no maple top on the body for metal but still stick with the mahogony neck and body or possibly koa. Getting exaclty what you want in a custom option guitar for $1300 is a bargin.
I may have gotten lucky with a "good one", but based on this guitar so far, where I went in expecting the worst, I am having a real hard time seeing where in the hell the bashers are even remotely coming from. On the other hand, its not the Suhr or Anderson killer some fanboys make it out to be either. What it is, in my opinion, is probably the best bang for the buck new shredder guitar Ive played in the $500 - $1800 range. Its not going back unless some problem develops in the next 10 days.
My fiancee asked me "What's the verdict?" as she knows how anal and OCD I am about my guitars... I replied "The only question I have is when can I order another one!"
-Erik
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Antero
Regular Contributor
Joined: 11 Mar 2005
Posts: 142
Location: Los Angeles or Chicago
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| Posted:
Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:16 am |
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jim777
Occasional Visitor
Joined: 15 Jul 2005
Posts: 65
Location: South Jersey, USA
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| Posted:
Fri Jan 27, 2006 12:27 pm |
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It's certainly good looking; that fretboard is gorgeous!
Good Luck with her!
jim |
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Congrats