[Rusty the Scoob]

Adding active electronics is way easier than routing for a middle pickup IMHO.

[brutusbuck45]

Your input and advice has been accepted... I reconsidered my order, contacted Carvin, and I discovered that I could have them restart the build for the same order change charge. I expressed to them that I was sorry for my indecisiveness and making a change a week in, and the rep acted as if it were nothing and happens all the time. He went on to say that my original build will be completed and just placed on their Guitars in Stock section of the website or in one of their stores. So... I adjusted my order accordingly! A DC-145 is now on order... and 8 to 10 weeks away. The image shows the active electronics (from my DC-127 illustration). I added two coil splits and a phase switch. It will have a master volume and tone knob, also. I can sleep better now.

Thanks again for everybody's interest and input!

[Rusty the Scoob]

That's going to be sweet! I love those 6+6 headstocks and the Wolf color scheme.

[rugger]

Brutus,

Just received my 400W last week. Originally debated the wolf look thing, but I fell in love with the walnut. I've decided I'm going to build my own wolf inspired guitar to make up for the "loss!" The stainless steel frets play very smoothly. Bends are almost too easy, it took me a bit to adjust, but I love the feel of the neck and fretboard. The neck is a tad wider (too lazy to look up the specs) than my Tele or Ibanez, but again, I like the feel.

Saw your posts on the Carvin board. Not much of a Dead contingent over there, but there are some knowledgable and helpful folks.

Congrats on the purchase!

John in San Diego

[Pete B.]

Hey I might have misunderstood your post, but did you get it with the Active electronics?
If not, that might be worth a phone call to confirm.
That is something that is really nice about Carvins (the active electronics option, which can be either on or off at any time).
If you have it, you can either use it or not use it (allowing for a greater choice of tonal options).
That Axe looks great!... (I'll post a pic of mine later, but it looks like a 7-string version of a DC400W)
pete b.

[brutusbuck45]

That's going to be sweet! I love those 6+6 headstocks and the Wolf color scheme.

Thanks, Rusty. I love the 6/6 Traditional headstocks too. They have a carved option that looks like its corsetted or something squeezing the middle. I went trad with it. I thought it good as well. I did the black painted headstock as well. The back side is unpainted and the 5 piece neck is visible.

[keirweir]

SWEET!!!!

[brutusbuck45]

Brutus,

Just received my 400W last week. Originally debated the wolf look thing, but I fell in love with the walnut. I've decided I'm going to build my own wolf inspired guitar to make up for the "loss!" The stainless steel frets play very smoothly. Bends are almost too easy, it took me a bit to adjust, but I love the feel of the neck and fretboard. The neck is a tad wider (too lazy to look up the specs) than my Tele or Ibanez, but again, I like the feel.

Saw your posts on the Carvin board. Not much of a Dead contingent over there, but there are some knowledgable and helpful folks.

Congrats on the purchase!

John in San Diego

rugger-

Does that nick mean just what it seems... rugger=rugby player? If so, I played in college in upstate NY. I played scrum half (or at least tried pretty hard).

Anyway, beautiful choice.... the 400W. Was very tempting to me as well. In fact, I was trying to save some dough and went walnut on the body but did not do the Claro top upgrade. The decision ate at me all week- that I was selling myself short. Afterall, its a custom guitar, you should get it as close to what you want or can afford. And for an extra $200-300, it wasn't that much more to make the right decision.

I am happy to hear you got yours and love it. Can you post a few pics either here or over on the Carvin site (or maybe you already did)? I would love to see it. I love that figured walnut. We'll have to compare them in eight to ten weeks. BTW... how are the active electronics? I read mixed reviews. Some say kinda thin. Some love the tonal variation.

You say you saw my few posts over there? Yea, only a few like-minded Dead/Gearheads over there. : )

Thanks!

~Brutus

[Rusty the Scoob]

That's going to be sweet! I love those 6+6 headstocks and the Wolf color scheme.

Thanks, Rusty. I love the 6/6 Traditional headstocks too. They have a carved option that looks like its corsetted or something squeezing the middle. I went trad with it. I thought it good as well. I did the black painted headstock as well. The back side is unpainted and the 5 piece neck is visible.

I think I know the shape you mean.. I ended up with a 3+2 headstock that's squeezed in the middle like you describe too... it was all that Warmoth made. I justified mine by echoing the curve in a stretched-out Irwin-shaped upper horn, but would have preferred a more traditional rectangular shape like you're getting.

[brutusbuck45]

Hey I might have misunderstood your post, but did you get it with the Active electronics?
If not, that might be worth a phone call to confirm.
That is something that is really nice about Carvins (the active electronics option, which can be either on or off at any time).
If you have it, you can either use it or not use it (allowing for a greater choice of tonal options).
That Axe looks great!... (I'll post a pic of mine later, but it looks like a 7-string version of a DC400W)
pete b.

Hey Pete,

Yea, the 127 had the Active Option ordered. The 145 does not have the option for it because Carvin electronics are said (by Carvin) to only be available
in 2 HB configurations. Now, that is either the case or they don't want to get overly complex in their electronics customization. Whatever the case,
I now have H-S-H configuration on order. The HB will be coil split and there will be a phase switch. There will certainly be tonal variety.

Thanks about the guitar... I am really excited about it. Would love to see your DC400W pics. Do you post in the gallery at the Carvin site?

[brutusbuck45]

That's going to be sweet! I love those 6+6 headstocks and the Wolf color scheme.

Thanks, Rusty. I love the 6/6 Traditional headstocks too. They have a carved option that looks like its corsetted or something squeezing the middle. I went trad with it. I thought it good as well. I did the black painted headstock as well. The back side is unpainted and the 5 piece neck is visible.

I think I know the shape you mean.. I ended up with a 3+2 headstock that's squeezed in the middle like you describe too... it was all that Warmoth made. I justified mine by echoing the curve in a stretched-out Irwin-shaped upper horn, but would have preferred a more traditional rectangular shape like you're getting.

Seems kind of limited that Warmoth didn't offer a rectangular headstock. Is that because its a bass neck/headstock or that it was 3+2? Warmoth does a Gibson style headstock; that's not available for a bass neck, huh? That sucks... although when I was looking at Warmoth before I eventually chose Carvin, I thought their headstocks had a generally pretty well-rounded (no pun intented) selection for guitars. No so for basses or just too much heavy metal pointiness?

[Rusty the Scoob]

They do offer Gibson style headstocks in 4-string - both LP/SG and Flying V style. On the 5-string necks all you get are 5-inline Fender, 4+1 Fender, 5 inline Tele, or 3+2 pointy-ish, angled backward. I didn't like it at first but it's grown on me.

[brutusbuck45]

They do offer Gibson style headstocks in 4-string - both LP/SG and Flying V style. On the 5-string necks all you get are 5-inline Fender, 4+1 Fender, 5 inline Tele, or 3+2 pointy-ish, angled backward. I didn't like it at first but it's grown on me.

Ahhhh... I think I know what you mean. I'll have to go look at Warmoth site. I suppose that makes sense for the Gibby to be 4. I wonder if that 3+2 is like a reverse Holdsworth that Carvin makes. I'll have to check it out. I know what you mean about growing on you. I used to have a Ovation Collector's Series AE, it had weird, pointy headstock- like a Jackson. I don't why I bought it in 1989... maybe just that- it was 1989. But I recently sold it on eBay and this Carvin is mostly funded by it. So... Yay! pointy headstock Ovation!

[rugger]

Does that nick mean just what it seems... rugger=rugby player? If so, I played in college in upstate NY. I played scrum half (or at least tried pretty hard).

Funny you ask--that's the second time I've gotten that question. No, I didn't play, but I got the nickname "rugger" back in Jr. High because I often wore a rugby shirt brand, Rugger. I do have a brother that "played" rugby at USC, or as you say, "Tried pretty hard."

Can you post a few pics either here or over on the Carvin site (or maybe you already did)?

Are the links broken? I see the pictures on my screen. If they're not showing up, I'll repost some better ones in a day or two.

BTW... how are the active electronics? I read mixed reviews. Some say kinda thin. Some love the tonal variation.

Jury is still out. Unfortunately, I don't get a lot of opportunity to plug in, so I haven't really put the guitar through it's paces. Additionally, I'm not much of a gear head so I wouldn't be able to speak authoritatively on them. If thin means trebley, I would think there are enough tone controls to compensate, both on the guitar and the amp.

john in san diego

[brutusbuck45]

They do offer Gibson style headstocks in 4-string - both LP/SG and Flying V style. On the 5-string necks all you get are 5-inline Fender, 4+1 Fender, 5 inline Tele, or 3+2 pointy-ish, angled backward. I didn't like it at first but it's grown on me.

I don't know if I just missed seeing the image you posted or I had to refresh... anyways I just noticed it. Duh!
So its the Gecko you have... I like that one, actually. I was set on the guitar version (reversed), when I went through the neck builder. Incidentally, they had a really smokin' hot, WGD with the Nalls Mod ready to order. I priced it out and it just couldnt come close to the neck thru that I could get with Carvin.