Carvin DC 125

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I speced out a Carvin DC 125 months ago and never ordered it. Well, my wife ordered it for a christmas present because she rocks :rock:

It's meant to be a total 80's shredder. 24 fret, single humbucker, floyd, 1 volume control. It's maple neck and fretboard, mahogany body. I had them put 2 Koa strips in the neck because I heard neck through guitars tend to sound like whatever the neck is made of and I was afraid it would be too bright with all maple. Guitar is black with reverse pointy headstock. She ordered in early November, so I got an IOU my stocking. Should be ready in January sometime. I'm totally excited.

What's everybody's thoughts on Carvin guitars in general and the stock pickups specifically? I've heard mixed reviews on the pickups. It's coming with the c22B in it. I tend to favor medium to medium high output passive pickups. I like the Dimarzio PAF Pro, FRED, stuff like that. Thanks for your opinions. Just wanted to share my excitement. Pics will follow.
 
The DC series are great playing guitars. The neck isn't as thin as something like an Ibby Wizard, but it's really quick. Easy guitars to play. If you got stainless steel frets you'll dig it even more.

The carvin pickups are an acquired taste. They have the output you're looking for but they seem to compress a bit early to me. I've swapped out every carvin humbucker to something else.
 
Yes, I got the stainless frets. First stainless fret guitar I've had as well.
 
They come with super low action if you're into that. I just wished they did their neck throughs in 25.5" scale.
 
i really like them alot my dc127 is my main axe, the pickups are ok for rock or blues or jazz for hi gain stuff they just werent my thang. other then that, gorgeous guitar all around.

just ordered a 24 fret cs6 !
 
chumbucket":2wiv16mq said:
They come with super low action if you're into that. I just wished they did their neck throughs in 25.5" scale.
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YES ! I actually had one in 1992 they were available then and I had a very fat sounding H-S-H 25.5" scale neck through Carvin called an LS175.

Extremely versatile, not sterile, great sustain - a very bad seller for Carvin.

Trying to convince them to do a six string version of their 7 strings which ARE neck through 25.5" scale.

I think the longer scale opens up the sound of neck throughs and they can sound like a Bolt On OR a neck through but with great sustain and resonance rarely seen in Bolt Ons.
 
I own three Carvin's (one Alder Bolt+T and 2NTs (one all Koa and one all Mahogany). They are damn good guitars for the price and do shred, but I prefer my Bolt+ over the NTs. Hell I prefer my Carvin Bolt over all of my guitars. You definitely should change the pickups especially for high gain. I only have aftermarket pickups in the Bolt T+ (MCP underwound Afwayu's and had BKP Holy Divers) and had EMGs in the Mahogany DC NT, but took them out and put the stock Carvin's in until I can figure out what to put in that one (BKP Cold Sweat or MCP Angel Dust). The M22SD bridge/M22N sounds pretty good in the Koa DC 127. I also wish they made a 25.5" NT, but I ordered an ESP Horizon NTII to replace my Carvin NTs.
 
I used to have an all mahogany Carvin flying V, but sold it because I didn't jive with the neck shape. I'd put it right along a Suhr or Anderson or a CS Jackson as far as quality goes. I rather liked the carvin pups. I don't understand why they get such a bad rap????
 
I'm taking a shot on carvin myself. Just ordered a 22 fret cs6 in deep tigers eye with blackburst edges, string thru body, stainless steel med-jumbo frets, and an ebony fretboard. I'm a little nervous about it but almost everyone says they are great so I decided to take a chance.
 
snakeman1986":1lrnjod2 said:
I'm taking a shot on carvin myself. Just ordered a 22 fret cs6 in deep tigers eye with blackburst edges, string thru body, stainless steel med-jumbo frets, and an ebony fretboard. I'm a little nervous about it but almost everyone says they are great so I decided to take a chance.
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And you can return it if you don't like it. Carvin is very solid. I've ordered from them twice and been happy both time.
 
Thanks for all of the replies. Can someone explain to me what difference the scale length makes in terms of tone. I didn't realize the 1/2 inch made that much difference. I thought it was all a playability thing (shorter stretches vs having to cram your fingers into a small space in the upper register). Does it change the way the harmonics stack up or something like that?
 
Ive owned several and still own 6-- bolt, cs4, cs6, holdsworth, dc400 anniversary and sc90. I really like their guitars. When compared to my other guitars, Suhr, Gibson and Fender, they are on par or better in build quality. The only "weak spot" is the electronics IMO. I've never really got into their pickups 100%.
That said, I think their guitars are excellent. I've never played one I didn't like.
 
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