[Counterstriker]

I'm really interested in the Carvin dc400 (or similar models) I'm so used to playing a strat that nothing else feels.. right, I bought a vantage thinking I would like it, but the scale was to small, and the neck was to thin and extremely neck heavy, and I didn't like tone I was getting out of it. But I've wanted a neck though guitar for a while - I play alot in the upper registers and the bulky heel of the strat can get in the way sometimes - I've played a Strat and I like the tone but the neck was to fat for me (I hear they have fat and thin neck models, maybe I had the fat one?)

But I really have been wanting a carvin for a pretty long time - I really love the look - I hear good reviews too, but I never go to play one, hopefully that will change sometime soon but I do have some questions

Is it anyway feel like a strat? It has a strat -esque body.

how confortable does it feel? I know comfort is all in the actual player but I'd like to hear some thoughts


Thanks!

[unnbrokenchain]

I don't own a Dc400 but will soon. I'm going to order just a plain quilted maple dc400 without electronics and do the rest myself for a tiger inside schematic with midi. I have a sh65 with a 14" neck radius and it is best thing ever. Neck wise, it is the same as the Dc400 except with a Tele body and different electronics. Carvins necks are all the same if your going to get a neck through body model. Holdsworth models are the only models I believe that have the "fat necks" I think. Every part of the neck is very playable. Mine has a Tuneomatic bridge so it is very easy to fix intonation and the action, beats having to deal with a cheap bridge or worse, having to work around a bigsby. The neck size is small, nothing like a fat vintage fender neck, C shape V shape U shape, whatever there's are. The main benefit to Carvin's is the neck through body design. Pickups and electronics? Ok. But, you can always gut them out like how I do. They are the best guitars in that price range, and cool too. They come with some low action, but if you prefer a high action feel on the neck like how Jerry did, with the tuneomatic bridge and the truss rod up top, it's a breeze. If you don't prefer tuneomatic bridges they have pretty much any other option available too.

[Pete B.]

I had a DC127 that had a great feeling neck, thin/comfortable.
I currently have a DC727 which was originally ordered as a 7-string version of a DC400W.
It also has a nice neck but it's beefier than the DC127. I like it.
Niether of the Carvin necks remind me of a Strat because they are both Ebony and in my case both are Satin finish, however I don't have any neck/playability issue switching between Carvins or Strats.
I think the DC127 Carvin had a thiner. slightly wider/flatter feel than a Strat neck, as i recall.

[Counterstriker]

I actually sent a message To John kadlecik about his carvin and he told me it reminded him of a classic nylon string guitar neck just not as flat, do you feel the same?

[unnbrokenchain]

yeah that is a pretty good comparison on how the neck feels

[brutusbuck45]

But I've wanted a neck though guitar for a while - I play alot in the upper registers and the bulky heel of the strat can get in the way sometimes - I've played a Strat and I like the tone but the neck was to fat for me (I hear they have fat and thin neck models, maybe I had the fat one?)

Sorry that I don't have a lot of time to go into great detail at the moment. I will offer that the Carvin DC and Strat or most bolt necks are comparing "apples and oranges". Carvin? heel? What heel?

You be the judge:

IMG00232-20100724-1631.jpg

[unnbrokenchain]

sweet new pic of the Wolf Dc400, right? I'm getting one soon with the same intentions. You've had it for a while now, how is it? You plan on doing any extra work to it? Buffer? Pickups? How is the Walnut body and neck? I see you added the stickers too

[brutusbuck45]

sweet new pic of the Wolf Dc400, right? I'm getting one soon with the same intentions. You've had it for a while now, how is it? You plan on doing any extra work to it? Buffer? Pickups? How is the Walnut body and neck? I see you added the stickers too

Its a DC-145 (H-S-H pickup up config). I have had it for about 3 months now. I can't put it down. It is, by far, the best sounding and playing guitar that I have ever had in my hands. That said, I have not played any hand-made customs. This is only MY experience. It is all stock electronics- for now. I had the phase switch installed in the factory, as well as two coil split switches. If I decide to do any modifications down the road, I would likely just rewire the pickups to eliminate the phase wiring and reuse the switch by adding the Waldo buffer instead. I know some have complained about the Carvin pickups, but honestly, I like them. I have the AP-11 single coil in the middle position and I love it. So, I don't really foresee making any major pickup modifications. The walnut body is heavy! It really provides that feeling of density that maybe what the other Tiger and Wolf clone owners may feel. I have the 5 piece maple/walnut neck, walnut body and the quilt maple top. There is some brightness in tone, but the resonance from the overall build is what I always feel when you really hit a sweet note. I like having the larger headstock also, because I think that extra mass on the neck-thru build contributes to its resonance. And, yes, I did pickup some Wolf stickers on eBay to complete "the look." I contemplated whether or not I should.. but its only stickers. I know the die hard Carvinites on the Carvin forum would probably strip me of my wares for such blasphemy- stickering a Carvin! HA! Guess they wouldn't fit in on the Bozo bus, anyway.

[unnbrokenchain]

My bad I know it's a Dc145, it's just all this talk about Dc400's. Sounds pretty sweet I have the Sh65 set the same way sort of. Walnut body and neck but with a spalted maple top. I know what you mean about hitting those sweeting spots. The clarity and sustain on these guitars are great. I believe that was Irwin's same reasoning for going with large headstocks. I threw in a TCP1 buffer in mine which was very easy to do. It just goes between the pickup selector and volume pot and throw in a stereo output jack too. I get a real nice 1975/1976 (Travis Bean era) tone with the covered humbuckers.

[Duhigg]

Hey guys. It just so happens I have a Carvin DC400a up for sale on my local Craigs list right now. I already have it outfitted with two Dimarzio Super two's, waldo's buffer, 2 coil tap switches and a kill switch. I even had the regular 3 way pick up selector upgraded to a three way blade style with an old Jack of Roses tiger pick up selector cover. The guitar is in fantastic shape and really is sharp looking.

My original intension was to have a third pick up routed for the middle but since the guitar has a floyd rose trem it would have messed with the structural integ. of the guitar. It still nails a ton of great jerry tones and my luthier said a single coil would be ok for routing if that's really what you want. If you want some pics...you can shoot me a pm with your email and I'll send them out. I'm asking 900 but we can talk since your part of the fam here.

Duhigg.

The below link will give you an idea of what the guitar looks like. Mine is the natural flammed clear finish. 3rd one to the right.
http://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/gu ... del=dc400a

[gr8fulbluz]

To Me, I would say my Carvin neck is nuthin like a strat neck. I never thought of the nylon guitar as a comparison but Yea sort o' like that. To Me again, my Carvin is a 2002-3 build and the neck radius if pretty flat. It forced me to play lightly or lighter than i used to. Which is a good thing. I think it helps me when i go back to my acoustic, i dunno. To me a strat neck is thick. And I do like a strat neck, but am used to the ol'Carvin thinness now. A neck-thru is just a different animal to a bolt.

I have coil splitters with active electronics and a piezo in the bridge it will get a lot of different tonal outputs. Maybe strat like sound but not a strat sound to my ears. Not to me or maybe just not for me.
FWIW, Mine has a lot of Maple, maple neck and top with an ash body so it has crystal clear snapy tones. Especially in the high register. After I had it a while I kind of wished I had gotten a Walnut or Koa one but I am happy with the Ash and maple top now that i have settled down in my old age. I still have my eye on a Walnut or Koa Ae185 style.


It would prolly sound better if i knew how to play it worth a dam.

Good luck

[Pete B.]

I personally can't reccomend a Koa body Carvin for Jerry guy usage. I had one (the DC127 I had) and the inherent tone was too dark for a good Jerry tone (once known as "Hawaiian mahogany", Koa and mahogany are both hardwoods and members of the acacia family.).
But yeah, concerning the neck, when playing up high, you don't even notice a heel where the neck meets the body. They do a nice job of that.