I've owned 4 Carvin' guitars since 1984 .
They are overall great guitars. I have experience with their M22,C22,AP11 pickup designs and in a word I would call them "versatile", they will handle many applications quite well. They also have lots of pickups to choose from, and you can always give them a jingle to discuss exactly what your looking for your pickups if you like.
But of course if you have some certain preference then by all means change it up if you like. But you may just dig-em after-all, I'm just sayinnn....try-em out.
I do love other guitars also and and stumbled upon one of my dream guitars Gibson Les Paul custom in black with gold hardware and she was a beauty, I found that guitar while the DC400 was on order and decided to do a comparison ,and again latter with a American Fender Strat when I bought the Carvin Bolt. The Paul and Strat were used but in excellent condition and I had my guitar smith set them up. I did a play off in both cases and ended up selling them because I personally didn't think either was as good as the Carvin for my needs. That doesn't mean they weren't cool but I had limited funds and had to make a choice (That means I needed more Mesa gear ) I liked the neck and the neck through feel on the carvin DC400 better, it was more ergonomic than the Paul and kept in tune better as well. The bolt was more comfortable for a variety of playing styles and still had a nice fenderish jangle with the AP11 pickups
Now don't get me wrong Gibson Les Paul and Fender Strat are still awesome axes in my book. I mean if you think of the word guitar and rocknroll you pretty much envision either of those two but when I AB'd them in my hands against the Carvin the choice was simple. At the time of my testing each of the new guitars was about the same price as the used guitars.
I play a variety music from hard rock/metal to strumming pop finger picking etc.
I've had the following Carvin guitar models
DC150 black found it used at guitar center 1984 set neck, my first electric a real nice guitar, the necks were a little narrower back then. It rocked. I still have it but prefer the newer ones.
AE185 Purchased from Carvin in the early 90's Koa neck through body with flamed koa top,semi holo, body binding, gold hardware, acoustic bridge, two humbuckers, I'd have to find my reciept somewhere to verify the buckers.
active electronics, the F-hole breathes on your wrist while you play, it was light weight yet had great sustain. The neck through design has a amazing feel to it. I swear you could never tire of playing this guitar and It will rock and rock hard if you tell it to. Drop tuned no problem and you could switch over to the acoustic bridge and mix in some flavor on your cleans also. The acoustic bridge will not replace a real acoustic guitar but it has some real nice hybrid tones. That one was stollen.
DC400 Flamed Koa top, koa neck through body 5 piece neck with two dark stripes visible from back side, active or passive electronics. A great solid body guitar,C22T in the bridge this ones perfect for rock rhythm chunk high gain and C22N in the neck. After playing it all these years I may switch up the neck pickup It's fat and sings but maybe a little to fat.
Carvin Bolt in Blueburst, got this one with one bucker and two ap11 single coils white pearloid pick guard maple neck passive electronics and wilkinson trem. Great cleans from the single coil pickups and some meat from the bucker. This was my first trem equipped guitar and I can say now I prefer the fixed bridge that's just me. I still love to play it.
I have played these guitars though my various mesa rigs through the years,
Mesa DC-5 Combo,
Tremoverb/Recto 4x12,
Triaxis 2:90/Recto 4x12.
Carvins got the goods and they are made right here in California in the good ol USA,
They may not be for everyone, but they are for me.
I just don't think you can find a better value in a high quality electric guitar. If your ever near one of their factory stores you just have to go in and try them out for yourself to know if they are for you. I checked out the Sacramento store recently and they had some beautiful guitars in stock as well as few leftys. Those California carved tops are not only gorgeous but play great too.
Here's a couple pics of the gals
"Lady Katherine" DC400 Anniversary Flamed Koa
"Foxy Megan" Bolt in Blueburst
