I Got My First "Carvin USA" ! | 2010 Ultra V

[@randall9000]

I used to get Carvin catalogs in the mail and write down all my dream builds

[@gunsofsteele]

Boy that brings back a memory of a strat style brown wood with darker, almost black, neck through with black hardware ad seared into my brain! Thanks for the reminder!! ✌️

[@randall9000]

@@gunsofsteele the Carvin image seared into my mind is the cover of a catalog with an amber and a ruby red guitar, both with flame maple tops/ dark necks/ black humbuckers. To a 13/14 year old me they were the most beautiful guitars I had ever seen

[@futureprimitive7465]

Same

[@dcamnc1]

Yep, never actually got one, but looked constantly at those little catalogs.

[@tinystar3010]

I did that back in high school instead of focusing on assignments, I'd make build sheets instead.

[@chrisquick9219]

You should TOTALLY customize your own Kiesel and review it on the channel.

[@zanzabar4ky7]

They have Semi Hollow and everything he was looking for in that signature April fools. He might have to ship them a staple pickup.

[@thorstenthorben196]

@@zanzabar4ky7 True Kiesel would do the sickest Trogly signature ever. I bet they would be in for some fun.

[@TheGalilee416]

I support this 100%

[@SidWalter]

A custom Halo guitar would be cooler.

[@LordRegal69]

Yes I was just about to comment that he should get a keisel

[@Zundfolge]

Carvin used to sell their necks and pickups, I built an awesome super strat with one of their neck-through-body necks back in the early 90s. I also used some of their pickups on a couple other guitars. Great quality stuff at real good prices back in the day. Now days they're not as bargain priced, but apparently still decent stuff.

[@cmet8280]

My strat is loaded with a carvin pick guard and carvin pickups HSS with coil tap. Sounds great, going on 24 years now.

[@Zundfolge]

Apparently Kiesel still sells their pickups (which are probably fine, and look reasonably priced) but not the old 11/22 pole piece ones.

[@shreddyz]

@@Zundfolge They've started making the M22 again (or maybe more accurately they've started selling it direct again). It's just in 6 pole form and renamed the M12SD.

[@lisaayers1975]

I have a Carvin I bought new back in the 80s..Great guitar..I also have two bridge M22 pickups still new and unused..One is the M22 Scorcher..Also have a neck with ebony fretboard I bought..I like the M22 pickups better than the newer pickups..

[@lisaayers1975]

​@@cmet8280I remember those..They sound great 👍

[@dblum19]

Man I feel old remembering getting the catalogs in the mail and Trogly has barely heard of them. 😆

[@DeWittPotts]

From what I remember of Carvin, they did not really do production runs like Gibson or Fender. Carvin's were mostly custom ordered from a web site. You would log in and pick the model, the color, and the features that you wanted. The guitar was then built and shipped to you.

[@thomasmoore1003]

They were doing that before web sites were a thing. But basically yes you pretty much ordered what you wanted. Their amps and pa systems were bullet proof

[@DeWittPotts]

@@thomasmoore1003 Steve Vai was a big fan of Carvin Amps and had his own signature model. The Synergy module that he uses today is based off his Carvin amp.

[@sryanrussell]

They also used to sell kits for you to spec out and then assemble and finish them yourself.

[@aznsensation44]

correct and Kiesels are the same you can custom build your guitar with them

[@jeffzella8920]

Visited the Carvin factory shop near San Diego many years ago and played everything they had that day. I came home with the sweetest bolt on T of all time…it was a custom order someone rejected…sunburst, gold hardware, reverse headstock, tweed case with a chime that to this day out sparkles all of the Strats in my collection (and I have some good ones). On gig days, I do not leave home without it. $900 all in. I’ve seen mixed reviews of Carvins over the years, but this one is truly a gem. The stars were definitely aligned the day it was built.

[@JimDewdGuitars]

The good thing is they learned over the years and many of the critiques you have about the Carvin guitar Kiesel has since fixed in recent years. They now come standard with an oaks grigsby switch and better electronics. They also now come standard with stainless steel frets, luminlay side dots, carbon fiber rods in the neck, and quarter sawn necks. I have about 15 Custom Kiesels and love them. Became a fan through my dad, who played Carvin basses and amps. Great brand all around! Really enjoyed this deep dive into one!

[@crosswalklarry]

I have watched a few of your videos. You have a VERY nice collection.

[@MyName-nx1jj]

The first time I played a Carvin was in the mid '70s. Since then, I've owned quite a few. I will say that each was a step or two above any Gibson I've owned.

[@geraldrauch1701]

used to love the carvin catalogs...ordered two Floyd Rose originals from them in the mid 90's...the only place I could find them back then...cheers all!!!

[@jsquire1331]

I used to live about 10 minutes from Carvin's factory in San Diego, I've owned two of em. Great guitars

[@cmet8280]

Their factory was in Escondido, about thirty miles north of San Diego. I've been there many times.

[@jsquire1331]

@@cmet8280 the one I lived by was in PQ, maybe it was the amp division that was mentioned. Either way I was down there often as a kid to get strings and parts and jam on their instruments.

[@james-he7xv]

my band in the 80s had a carvin endorsement, they were made in my hometown of San Diego, really underrated guitars and basses.

[@AmosAllen-v4s]

I remember seeing Craig Chaquico from Jefferson Starship playing a Carvin and Joe Walsh

[@bradrehn1007]

Zappa also

[@ronsampservice3066]

The old CARVIN guitars were very high quality. I had a DC125 in Ferrari Red, single humbucker. Was one of the very early models with the hockey stick headstock they only made for like 2 years if my memory is right. 👍 Gave $140 for it at a pawnshop. Was virtually brand new.

[@crosswalklarry]

1987 and 1988 they had the "Jackson" headstock. I have a pearl blue '88. 💙

[@lisaayers1975]

WOW you got a great deal..Look how much used ones go for now..They are not cheap.

[@benjamenwhetstone2571]

Love the way the pickups sound.

[@nealhathaway2004]

My girlfriend gave me a catalogue in 76. It taught me so much. The 22 pole pickups were a huge innovation.

[@gpgpgpgp1000]

My first really good guitar was a 1985 Carvin DC200 (basically a Super Strat with a Les Paul style headstock) with a Kahler tremolo. I LOVE the Kahler! I also loved the pickups so much I bought some later to put in a Gibson Flying V.

[@GraphiteandCigars]

I had Carvin build my DC127 in 1996. All koa , neck through. To this day, still my favorite and best playing guitar.

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Cool! What did that guitar cost you back then if I may ask?

[@tanker5207]

I have a Koa DC127 from the early nineties that my brother bought new and gave to me. I love that guitar. In fact, I just played it ten minutes before I saw this video. :-)

[@crosswalklarry]

​@@jonathanhudak2059$800-$850. I has a SC90 built in 2004 with all the bells and whistles and was a little over $1,200 with a hardshell tweed case.

[@GraphiteandCigars]

@@jonathanhudak2059 When I had it built it was $1600, to build it on the Kiesel builder now is about $6k due to the regulations of harvesting Koa and how costly it has become.

[@GraphiteandCigars]

@@tanker5207 Oh Killer! Love mine so much. Nothing else has the feel or tone. Simply perfection.

[@thomassawicki2065]

I have a Carvin LB 20 Bass. Custom order, as were all Carvins. Neck through , Cherry Sunburst, black Ebony fretboard pearl dot inlays. The LB 20 won Bass Players 1994 shoot out by a mile. My Carvin Bass is fantastic, Carvins were built inSan Diego, I believe. Best passive Bass I have ever heard.

[@coryfeldman-hz2yj]

I wish they still made those pickups. They are perfect.

[@virtualscouser]

I have a Carvin C66 that I had built for me when I graduated from college in '06, absolutely superb guitar and my favorite to this day. Since they've morphed into Keisel, I've heard some nightmare stories about Jeff Kiesel (there are KZbin videos) and his treatment of customers regarding what they received but those were years ago and the build quality is still exceptional.

[@jamesedwards5713]

I'm new to Trogly, total Carvin/Kiesel fanboy here. I grabbed a used neck-thru 6 string LB76 fretless bass off CL on a whim. Blond, quilted maple top, the thing is gorgeous and you can feel the precision and quality just picking it up. The threaded inserts on the back cover screws sealed the deal for me. Have since got a Tiger quilted XB75 (35-1/4" scale), a CS6 Les Paul clone in beautiful blue quilt (my #1) and a Kiesel Osiris headless 6 string bass. These things are all stellar quality and sound fantastic. My herd includes a real vintage '59 Strat bought very used with lawn mowing money as a kid, a PRS Core Cu24, Parker Fly Classic, Hertage Prospect ES-339 clone. The Carvin/Kiesels hang at the upper edge of that pack. My bass amp of choice is the 200 watt 1 x 15 MB115 that kicks ass for a compact 28 lb box. Love their stuff!

[@aaronwoltz3027]

Carvin was where Holdsworth had landed. Great instruments

[@martinmurcek583]

Zappa had Carvin pickups in one of his Les Paul Customs and he used Carvin amps some too.

[@charleskonieczki9012]

Carvin guitars Rocked the 80s and 90s

[@papasmamas1]

Hell yeah! Trogls reviewing non Gibson or Fender guitars are the coolest episodes.

[@jfinester]

Carvins were great guitars. I’ve got four of them-they used to be the best unknown bargain in the guitar world. When they became Kiesel in 2015, the prices started going up, and they seemed to be concentrating more on heavy-metal guitars, but their quality seems to still be there. They’ve discontinued most of my favorite models from the ‘90s and 2000s-most of their endorsers seem to be metal players. Jeff Kiesel, who runs the company now, admits to being a metalhead, so most of the players he knows personally are metal guys (and girls-Sophie Lloyd has a Kiesel signature model. Speaking of which, the inlays on that Ultra V were called Signature inlays-they weren’t very popular, and they’re not available any more. Their pickups have changed too; they don’t offer the 22-pole ones any more. The old H22 (Allan Holdsworth) pickups are some of the best-sounding pickups I’ve tried, from anybody. They still offer a Holdsworth 12-pole pickup, and if it sounds as good as the old Carvin ones, they’ll be killer!

[@samizdat113]

Carvin guitars are absolutely fantastic instruments.

[@joelmahan]

Carvin had some sick Koa bodies in the 80’s😎

[@infinidominion]

M22SD is an awesome pickup

[@lisaayers1975]

Yes they are..I like the M22 pickups better than the newer ones.

[@UniqSniper]

Carvin guitars are actually Kiesel guitars now but have the option to put there old logo name on the guitar. Some of the older Carvin guitars are regarded as some of the best guitars available ive heard

[@GuitarJoesGuitarShow-mp4zv]

I remember Carvin. I used to receive their catalogs. I can remember reading them during class in middle school. You could basically mail order a custom options guitar. Always thought they were cool. Especially some of the double cut/ s type bodies. They did Carvin branded tube amps too

[@bobbeattie9695]

I own three Carvins. Being a left handed player they were/are the place to go. Back in the 80's there were no other options that I knew about. Just bought (Reverb) a 1964 Carvin Left handed SGB, very rare in almost mint condition. Looks unplayed. Love them.

[@gsbguitarsgsb679]

I’ve been a Carvin fan and patriot for a number of years. I would look forward to the small but packed catalog they would send out periodically. I specked out numerous guitars with all the options they had available but never pulled the trigger. I did buy one of their guitar amps before they shut down that part of the factory. I even visited the show room back in the late 80s when I was stationed at Norton AFB in San Bernardino Ca. Through the years and different bands we used Carvin PA gear speakers amps microphones all good quality stuff and they generally cut out the middle man so hence the catalogs. Order direct through them save no money because shipping usually added up to what was supposed to be saved. Even with that said I was bummed when they shut it down. I always loved having that option available. And they backed everything they manufactured up with replacement or repair without hassle. In my experience anyway… You rock as always, glad you got to explore that avenue. There are some real nice gems out there that Carvin made. Take care…

[@Kahuna54]

I’ve owned Carvin guitars since the 80s, they were made by Kiesel guitars and are great quality! All made in the USA, I’ve owned the AE185 that was a thin line semi hollow with dual hum buckets and a piezo pickup with 2 cord jacks, one for electric and the other for the piezo that can be played through 2 amps. I also own an AE185 12 string that plays like a 6 string. The other one was a DC135t which is their version of a Stratocaster and again, it plays great with no problems ever!

[@Gearhart_Music]

Carvin/Kiesel has always operated as Direct-to-consumer bespoke guitars. While they do carry some stock, the majority of them are custom ordered to the original buyer's specs, and you can choose the model, woods, headstock style, tuners, bridge and Nut combination, pickups, wiring, etc.... Each one is going to be unique.

[@WilliamHaisch]

Carvin made great custom built guitars. My brother had them make a hard tail HSH super Strat looking guitar with those 22 pole pickups! He still has it. Someday I hope to have a custom Kiesel guitar. I own a Carvin 4x10 open back speaker cabinet. I bought it from their catalog, sight unseen. It was the most affordable 4x10 cabinet on the market and it sounds wonderful! 😊

[@DARKMETL]

Whoa! Digging that! Love that offset V, Paul Stanley had a cool custom offset V (more rounded on the points) that was really cool.

[@natedyer0]

I grew up as a Bass player starting around 99 - Carvin was definitely one of the more well-known and regarded Made to Order companies in the late mid 80s/90s when exotic woods were becoming more available. I played a few at shops around New England in the 2000s and always liked the feel but I think they mostly stocked Bartolini soapbars, not my favorite pickup. I feel like they probably had a bigger market share in the bass world than guitar world, I don't remember seeing the guitars in shops but I was much more keyed in on bass gear until recently.

[@jester92345]

Been a fan of Carvin since the late 80's. Everything was a custom build. Basically you could start with a base model and add in tons of upgrades. amazing guitars. Fairly affordable for a custom built to your specks. The guy from Starship used to play a sweet one. Stars in my eyes! Cheers!

[@lrblouie]

Having currently 4 Gibsons, including an R0, two LPCs and a Standard, my 2008 Carving SH575 and 2023 Kiesel CT6, the Carvin/Kiesel are a work of art! No QC issues, absolutely gorgeous. Yes, I'll say it - better than Gibson.

[@robertpurdy4452]

I've got a left-handed CT6 I ordered from the in-stock selection this year, and I also have Gibsons, Schecters, Fenders, a Badlands GX-1, etc., and my CT6 is my best guitar hands down and it's really not even close...except the electronics, which could be better considering they lined the control cavity with copper.

[@mikeomatic9905]

I mean, that’s not the highest bar in the the world lol.

[@robertartese808]

I had a 1990 Ultra V in a rare reverse wing. The long wing on top, short on the bottom. It was just a solid fuchsia finish. It wasnt my first choice of color but it was the nicest one I played. Bought it at the Hollywood Carvin store. It had 24 frets and an ebony board. It played amazing! I think I sold it between 28 and 32. I dont remember. EIven with the solid finish, mine was so much nicer than this one. At least I think so......And it was mint.t was on Reverb. I should have asked more! I actually sold it to a current Carvin employee. If it was Facebook Id post a picture for you. I have a bunch of them. Feed the patch cord through the shoulder strap above the rear strap button to get the cord out of your way. Just leave a bit of slack so the cord isnt pulled tight from the input jack

[@spanfreckl]

Carving is a great American company... I'm surprised that you thought they were cheaper imports. They make killer one off custom guitars! I have several. Excellent instrument for the money

[@rocketpigrecords3719]

Like a lot of "quality off brands", yo simply don't see them that often to make a judgment on. The only place to find them just hanging up on a rack to try was LA to San Diego. I did find a couple used in NY.

[@jfinester]

@@rocketpigrecords3719In the late ‘90s and early 2000s, up until the transition to Kiesel, they had several outlet stores, most of them in Southern California, but they finally opened one up in Sacramento, about an hour’s drive from me. I was in there about once a month, buying strings and straps-I still have a couple of the Carvin leather straps-and I got two guitars from them as well. I miss those outlet stores, but Jeff Kiesel has said that their sales actually went up after they closed the stores. You can’t even get into the factory showroom any more without an appointment, and that’s for a fifteen minute window to place an order.

[@SHENDOH]

Factory direct. They made badass amps too!!

[@cmet8280]

I gigged with two fifty watt combos for about fifteen years, great amps with seven band EQ's, loved them.

[@bacongl]

I have multiple 80's-90's Carvin guitars and basses that I ordered brand new. I really love them. This thing is gorgeous.

[@McBurnside6380]

Back in the early '90's when I was first getting my gear together, Carvin offered direct to customer sales only. Cutting out the middleman made their products extremely affordable. I had a 300 watt bass amp and 4X10 Cabinet from them as well as a 2X12 solid state guitar combo amp. Their instruments were super high quality too, all with neck-through construction. In bass player magazine they won all of the intro bass shootouts simply because no other manufacturer could provide that level of quality for the price. The only downside, is they looked a bit too metal for most of us who were into "alternative" music. Oh, and it seemed I got a catalog in the mail every other week, lol.

[@jeffbarnard9246]

Carvin equipment are all very good. The PA equipment is exceptional also guitar amps hold up nicely. I'm not a big fan, but, Yes they are very good and dependable. Thanx Trogly another informative episode.

[@TheAtariCreep]

I love Carvin stuff. I had a V220 trimmed to be a blunt version of the Ultra V. Loved getting the catalog and building one in my head. The one I had in my head was an Ultra V in this blue they had (it was dark but had a metallic vibe), kahler, reverse headstock, HH, ebony board with MOP blocks. Man, wish I had the cash, I would swoop this up. Thanks for checking one out, bro.

[@randybrown7023]

I had a first year ultra v The corners where more round like a gibson. The headstock was like a gibson v. The v220 had two more points on the neck end of the body like a dean. Even our bass player played a carvin.

[@nealixd.3011]

Trogly, you explained the Carvin name correctly. It was an "Anagram" that Lowell came up with, because his Kiesel surname was embroiled in a contract he needed to leave behind on an earlier company, making the AP-6 pickup for Rickenbacker and Mosrite, etc. Man, love ya, but you are definitely Gibson focused only until recent times. Carvin is LEGENDARY to many players since the 1970s as people and famous players became more aware, with endorsers (Joe Walsh, Alan Holdsworth, Steve Vai, etc.), of their built in the USA San Diego, CA top quality, with premium materials and construction. Ebony fingerboards, Sperzel locking tuners and neck through construction were considered stock features. Carvin and Fender are definitely contemporaries in Southern CA, although Fender is far better known and affluent. Carvins were completely customizable upwards to 50,000 different combinations between their various models by the early 2000s. However they did seem to be hard to understand, not being handled by brick and mortar dealers, and not necessarily always obtainable used for many folks east of the MS River, as many Eastern folks wanted to start out by trying a used one versus using their custom shop to buy new. They had always eliminated the middle man from the start, and their guitars were absolutely steals new at reasonable prices. On the used market even cheaper, so I owned a lot of them since the 1990s, including both an AE185 and DC145 that I custom ordered new. I bought their pickups as early as 1979, putting a pair of M22s on a Gibson Les Paul Standard. Their pups are awesome. They were very affordable instruments on both the new and used markets, but when Lowell's grandson rebranded the company in honor of his grandfather Lowell, Kiesel became a top shelf brand, which also drove up the recognition, demand and prices of used Carvins. Sort of like the secret finally got out, which truly also is one of the most amazing rebranding successes in guitar history, ha. In 2003, I ordered my DC145 (HSH) with all the bells and whistles I wanted and tweed OHSC shipped to my door for $736. You can't get that deal now with Kiesel, thank God I still have my DC145. But, I got to respect the grandson for finally bringing the legacy of Lowell Kiesel to full fruition. If you research his history he was far more influential behind the scenes than you might know. He was a Godly man originally from Nebraska and Kansas, and always had a scripture on his catalogs, which I enjoyed from the mid 1970s. Carvin Audio still exists separate from Kiesel, but cut back on its line after returning from a temporary closure. I still own some great Carvin tube amps, 4x12 cab, 12 channel powered PA head/mixer, two monitors, a sizable Carvin bass rig, and two solid state portable amps of the AG series, useful for PA/voice, acoustic guitar (the AG part) and electric guitars, keys and bass. I own four of their M50 microphones that I got for like $30 each on a sale years ago that blow away the other Shure, AKG, and Beyer Dynamic mics I have in my SKB 12 mic case. The quality of the AG amps is fantastic for smaller solo or duo, etc. acts. I have a mid 1990s original AG100 (no digital effects like the newer AG100D) still going strong that I bought new circa 1997, perhaps earlier, that I mostly used for keys in several bands, which they also do great. Anyway, I hope you will become more aware of the quality and innovation of the Carvin and Kiesel products as time goes by.

[@Morbid0007]

Carvin was famous for selling custom guitars and basses direct to the customer. They built in USA (CA), so the instruments generally hold their value pretty well. Used to love reading their catalogs and going through all the different build options they offered (pickups, finishes, hardware, etc.). Finally got a Carvin bass in 2009; love it.

[@crosswalklarry]

Actually that is the biggest downfall, resell value. Don't believe prices on Ebay. They aren't selling at $1,800-$3,000

[@Morbid0007]

@@crosswalklarry Interesting.

[@doctaroctaka328]

​@@Morbid0007 yeah. Back in 2000's I remember people on guitar forums 'warning' about low resell value and I think it hampered new sales.

[@ScottHz]

@@crosswalklarry I had an ebay alert for the Holdsworth HF2, watched them for two years before a ‘player’ grade (needed refret, very rusty black chrome bridge/pole pieces, but it’s a great guitar) came up and I got it for ~$900 in ~2005.

[@StarSpawn9477]

I remember getting the Carvin catalog in the mail and adding up all the customizations I would get. Good times.

[@SnappyJCM800]

I wanted to say that Craig Chaquico was a player of this model but he actually had a star shape but reversed like the ultra v is

[@randybrown7023]

That was the V220.

[@crosswalklarry]

I think Norm's still has a blue autographed DC125.

[@flyonwall360]

When I was a kid, I would get a Carvin catalog every year. Early Carvin guitars, I believe, were mad by Hoffner. When Carvin started making their own guitars, the color options were black, white, or natural. Around 1980, they offered red as an option. It wasn't until 1985 when I bought a Carvin DC100 in white with the Shaller fine tuner bridge. The jack cavity was already routed for two jacks. So, I ordered the hardware and converted the guitar to a DC150 Stereo with the coil splitters and phase switches. Over the years, Carvin expanded their options to anything you could imagine. In 1988, I wanted the Carvin semi hollow body SH225 in a 12 string like the one pictured in their catalog with Roy Clark. They said it wasn't available. So, I bought a Hamer. I still think the best example of a Carvin would be the DC160 Stereo with the Quilted Maple body and the fine tuner bridge. That would be an awesome video to see you document.

[@ericbgordon1575]

Back in the 90s when I started out, Carvin was like the Rolls-Royce rendition of Brands like Ibanez, ESP, Charvel, PRS, Schechter or Ernie Ball that were a little more modern than Fender and Gibson. Getting a model like that, progressing ahead to when the Kiesel name was adapted for this manufacturer, always appeared to mean you had plenty of money to get models that you could have custom tailored to your specifics. In the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown, an old friend who had purchased a four-string fretless bass from Carvin back in 2000 played it a couple of times and left it in the case afterward ended up selling it to me at a sweet discount. Since the beginning of 2021, that bass has been a highly valued assistant. If I had money to burn on a custom guitar built by Kiesel, I would consider getting a headless model. I totally blew it with the only headless guitar I've ever owned, but I can imagine that what let me down about that model wouldn't be an issue with a Kiesel model.

[@sparks2spare782]

I have a Carvin Nomad 50 amp and I love it. Quality built amp.

[@gregoriyefimovichrasputin4931]

Love the upside down rhoads body!

[@ricksunderland1421]

We used to play them in the 1980’s. Excellent build quality, played like a Les Paul without the weight, and very versatile sonically. Not necessarily the best sounding for recording, but excellent for live. You could play a high quality guitar that stayed in tune but you didn’t have to take out a second on your house to replace if necessary. I never found a Carvin guitar, amp, or PA equipment that I wasn’t happy with.

[@edharmicar6227]

Those Carvin pickups sound great ,clean,defined yet they can growl and maintain definition.Some of the best pickups I’ve heard on your site,Trogly.

[@richardcarlson7802]

Great to see a Carvin. Dinosaurs like myself appreciate it.

[@konradhof7318]

I fell in love with a teal Carvin California Carved Top doublecut on their old Gallery page. Then I saw the exact piece for sale on Reverb, but didn’t buy. It came up for sale again a year or so later, and I bought it. It was nice, but I recall a bit heavy, with significant fret sprout. I moved it on. But now I own (again) a great TLB60 that I’d bought and sold to a buddy. They did make some great guitars. 🎸

[@mightyV444]

The brand Carvin always straight away reminds me of The Bangles' guitarist Vicki Peterson, who'd played pink Carvin guitars in the 80's and through Carvin amps 😊

[@Matthew-qk1xi]

Friend of mine had 2 custom made SG style Carvins and they were flamethrowers, very clean no quality issues he loved them and paid a good amount, custom ordered.

[@crosswalklarry]

Carvin never made a "SG" style.

[@brianobrian9334]

Jason Becker was the first guitarist that used Carvin. Edit: I meant the first guitarist that I knew ****to use one. My bad .

[@crosswalklarry]

Craig Chaquico was first. Then Vicki Peterson from The Bangles. Then Jason Becker/Marty Friedman. JB/MF first played Hurricanes.

[@bobgambill6495]

Does anybody remember Allan Holdsworth having a signature guitar or being a spokesman for carvin in the 90s I think.

[@tinystar3010]

Yeah, he had 2 different signatures with them. He was also featured in an hour long dvd featurette alongside Steve Vai, Tony McAlpine and other licensed Carvin artists. I still have that dvd. Allan's second signature had such a unique sound to it.

[@atltom331]

Yup. They still have Holdsworth pickups as an option at Kiesel

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Oh yeah I remember that as well as getting their little catalogs in the mail

[@crosswalklarry]

​@@tinystar3010Yep. He had the standard and the Fat Boy. Didn't keisel just put some new ones out? Maybe a limited run?

[@lbarj]

Proud owner of a 80's Carvin Ultra V. I bought it used in 88 mostly because the playability and feel , plus the Floyd . Great guitars

[@robbyclark6915]

I have an older (early 00s) Carvin super strat called the bolt plus, i believe. Found it at GC years ago. Has a nice flame maple top, ebony board, locking tuners, graphite nut, and an original Floyd Rose. I don't use a FR so i blocked it off and have a killer, HH, super strat with 5 way switching that i paid $400 for, with case! I love that guitar! It's just as good as any of my other American made guitars if not better? Plays like butter!

[@erickmartin5667]

Lowell Kiesel also designed the pickups for Mosrite guitars early on. I've got a Carvin amp I bought 10+ years ago and I love it

[@jfinester]

I love those old Carvin AP-6 pickups. They look like somebody’s school science project inside, but they sound awesome-somewhere between a P-90 and a Jazzmaster. They haven’t been made since the early ‘70s.

[@musicauthority674]

A person can definitely judge the quality of this guitar. by the Spersel locking tuning machines, if not by anything else. those are not cheap tuning machines.

[@michaelmoore7975]

Also the same pickups used on the Ramjam Black Betty pseudo Gibson guitar.

[@ianfurqueron5850]

Those of us who came of age in the 80s know Carvin pretty well. They were one of the original direct-to-consumer brands. I still have one of their old catalogs and like others have commented, used to think up custom builds. In the days before the internet, you had to use your imagination about what the guitar would look like. Their neck-thru guitars are usually 25" scale. Carvin then and Kiesel now are mostly a custom, made-to-order brand and they have never sold many "stock" models. Years ago I had a Carvin TL (Tele) model that wasn't bad. I currently own a Kiesel Vader from early 2017. I don't play it a lot, but it's a fun travel guitar. For better or worse, resale value has never been one of their strong points.

[@mattf6361]

I have a Carvin DC-127 Mahogany body and neck with flamed maple top. It is all stock with the lower output pickups. I bought it new 20 years ago. I also have higher end custom shop guitars from other manufacturers, that cost 4x what the Carvin cost. The Carvin is easily my #1, and will be the last guitar I own someday.

[@PM-wc1lp]

Same here. I have a DC-127 all black with the electronics I bought new in 1993, still like new. It will be the last guitar to go if I ever sell it. I occasionally wonder where the guitar will be in a 100 years and if it will still appreciated.

[@DanielBobke]

Kiesel are great guitars. However, since most are one off customs designed by the customer that originally bought them, selling them (if you so choose) is a bit of a challenge. It is hard to find a buyer for something that was designed by a specific customer. The reality is you can go design one for yourself on their configuration tool for not much more than people are trying to sell their used ones.

[@sopwithsnoopy8779]

The 80s (thru sometime in '92) Carvins have my favorite necks ever, love or hate the pickups. Sometime in 1992 Carvin changed neck profiles, and I personally dont care for the post '92 ones. The old profile was a 24.75" scale, 15" radius and 1.65" width at the nut.

[@ericblaisdell7987]

Carvin are killer guitars. Had an Ultra V in 1990. I have a CT 6 now.

[@Bierowski]

Great sounding guitar. Sounds better than most of the Gibsons you have reviewed.

[@NOTESxNOISE]

You should review more Carvins and Kiesels! They’re phenomenal guitars. Quality and beauty.

[@davidkulmaczewski4911]

I have an early 90's Carvin M400, their superstrat design with double humbuckers. Mahogany neck through a mahogany body with a AAA flamed maple top, translucent purpleburst finish, ebony fretboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays. I bought it along with one of their 50 watt 1x12 tube combo amps, a very loud two channels with spring reverb. I never really liked the pickups, so I eventually swapped them for a pair of Bare Knuckle Warpigs. Great guitar, very light and comfortable to play; still my favorite. I think I paid $999 for the guitar, and maybe $499 for the amp, through their mail-order catalog.

[@BillLuther-r9d]

I have 7 different Carvins, all have their own vibe Ll great!!!!!

[@samiam5557]

Back in the 1970s Carvin sold AMP kits for bass or guitar. And, build your own guitar kits too. Your example looks and sounds great! 👍

[@russellzauner]

The kid from Hammerhedd (a young band of literal brothers that I've been following on YT) has been rocking an V220 as his main axe so if you want to see what one can do, he pushes it hard and it keeps producing great tones.

[@crosswalklarry]

My buddy loves Hammerhead. 👍

[@ronbzoom8531]

For years Carvin (pre-Kiesel) was probably the best bang for buck, US made guitar option out there. These were practically custom made instruments for the price of a Fender American Standard guitar or bass (just don't go crazy with all the exotic wood options). But the one negative critique was regarding electronics. It was not unusual for someone to buy a Carvin, then upgrade the pickups and pots. Since then, now under the Kiesel banner, these folks have really stepped up their game. Kiesel makes some amazing instruments. However...err... they don't exactly come cheap anymore! But worth it! ;)

[@crosswalklarry]

Never had a problems with Carvins electronics. And I have models from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. Pickups sound good. Never had a problem with the pots. The electronics thing is a regurgitated thing usually by people with no experience playing a Carvin. Similar to the Floyd Rose goto comments.

[@ronbzoom8531]

​@@crosswalklarry My experience with Carvin has mostly been amps and cabinets. In fact, I'm a gigging bass player and still use a Cavin amp and 210 cab. Workhorses I tell you! I had a Cavin Tele when they first came out with two humbuckers. A stripped down kick butt guitar I loved. Currently I have no Carvin instruments. However, I have its offspring, a Kiesel Thanos 5. I just got it recently and I'm still getting a hang of it. But so far, totally dig it. High quality stuff.

[@crosswalklarry]

Nice. I have two TL60s. The first year made in 1993 with the DC127 Electronics(two humbuckers with coil splitters switches. One volume. One Tone. 3 way selector). The second being a 1994 with a Humbucker(3 way spiltter switch) and single in the neck. I have some Carvin cabs an amps as well. Always been pleased with their stuff.

[@ronbzoom8531]

@@crosswalklarry YES! The TL60s. I had a weird one from one of their LA showrooms. I think it had a plain maple body with almost ash-like grain pattern and tung oil finish. Maple neck-thru with ebony board and abalone dots. Super silky playing neck, I may add. Wilkinson trem, locking tuners, all black hardware gave a nice contrast. I think it was 2 humbuckers with 3-way switch and then maybe 2 mini switches to spilt the coils?- memory is failing me. That was an understated beauty yet a bit of a beast. And nope, I had no problem with those Carvin electronics at all.

[@crosswalklarry]

@@ronbzoom8531 Usually the mini switches are for splitting coils but can also be on/off pickup switches or I have one that is a phase switch on my SC90. Funny, my 1994 I bought off Ebay. The original Owner bought it from their showroom in CA. It's a beautiful Trans blue stain with gold hardware. Reminds me of Native American jewelry. The original Owner told me he liked it because he was a Notre Dame Football Fan. Definitely cool instruments. 😎

[@lisaayers1975]

I have a Carvin CM130 that I bought new back in the 80s..Great guitar...I also have two bridge M22 pickups still new and unused..One is the M22 Scorcher..Also have a neck with ebony fretboard I bought..I like the M22 pickups better than the newer pickups..Also have a Carvin SX300 Amp with two 12 inch speakers..Sounds great for a solid state amp.

[@ohmtronseedling]

Carvin makes a fine guitar. have played several, all top notch. so were the amps i've used. all great. i like the shape and overall appearance of this one as well. it's a little odd but it's not too weird. nice demo, too.

[@grahamnunn8998]

Both Frank Zappa and Steve Vai worked with Carvin, mainly on the amp side. I remember them advertising in Guitar Player in the 80s. They sold direct, which was not really an option over here in the UK! Lovely looking guitar, not quite my bag but looks really solid.

[@StephenLight-oc3tl]

I have a set of the M22 humbuckers in one of my flying V's. Very hot. Also, they're older guitars hold quite nicely value wise.

[@SuicidalGrind]

I love it, it's different.

[@mikecarbone828]

Salutations Austin! Actually, Carvin makes some very nice guitars, and they are also uncommon, there are not large quantities of Carvin guitars flooding the market. That one sounds really quite good. Most of the Carvin guitars that I have seen are always well made and they also often have the neck through construction. I have in my collection, a Carvin Telecaster style guitar with a book matched flame maple top and 24 frets. It has a pair of switchable humbuckers and a piezo pickup built into the acoustic style bridge. It is a one of a kind guitar. I had heard that Carvin guitars are no longer made which may affect the value of them, down the road. I really like mine. Thanks for sharing! Please have an excellent and awesome day! ✨🌟☀️🎸

[@johnr3267]

Like others commenting,I started getting Carvin catalogs while in jr High mid 60s. Their guitars were primitive very basic slab bodied with single coil pickups similar to Moserites at the time. By 1977 I had moved to California and was wanting one of their single cut Les Paul birdseye maple solid bodied 2 single coil guitars. With a cashed paycheck ,I drove to their factory and showroom in Escondido,north San Diego. The model I wanted, was no longer available andI left withtheir new double cut with 2 humbuckers. It was stereo wired, and had 2 coil tap switches and a phase switch, ahead of its time for a production guitar, similar to custom work done by Guitar Lab in NY city in 1970. I still have my DC- 150 ,a great deal for under 400 bucks

[@jeffking]

I have a koa Carvin bass with a though maple neck from the early 90s. I love the thing.

[@TMoody]

I love Carvin and use to get their catalog in the mail every other month when I was a teenager but never could afford one, now I have several. That cheap wiring and pots/jack/switch is surprising.

[@mr.timebombman2230]

Now it's Keisel of course, but I always lived the older Carvin models. Amps were pretty good too. Had both.

[@Gearhart_Music]

I've never owned a Carvin, but I've loved the ones I have picked up and played. You can feel the quality in them.

[@robertclayton7493]

Alan Holdsworth and George Lynch were their star endorsements back in the 80s / 90s. George Lynch had a great looking blue burst double cut LP'ish sized guitar that he played back then, and they were the makers of Holdsworth's tiny headless things. Used to get the catalogs in the mail back then.

[@zetaminor77]

I have a Carvin bass and love it! No need to get any other bass, it does what I want it to do and plays great

[@therewasascene]

Really cool inlays! I recognize the maple neck thru + alder body! Same as my LTD Steph carpenter :)

[@stellingbanjodude]

It sounded awesome

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

I love me some Carvin guitars. This one has some incredible wood grain.

[@Martinnordby]

Own 2 Carvins, one 1979 DC150 stereo and. Semi hallow Telecaster style body with a more acoustic look and active electronics. That one is about a 2000 model with a Koa top. Good instruments.

[@mnemonik61]

(How'd I miss this one?!) Used Carvins are an absolute _steal_ of a guitar! Pretty much every one's a custom model since you specced out what you wanted and they were all built to order. For example you _could_ have had the reverse headstock if you liked, it was a standard option! Still have and love the blacked out DC125 I picked up in the 90s for like $300 - less than the retail price of the black chrome Kahler Pro trem on it!

[@rudiyantohalim736]

For me, Carvin = Jason Becker number guitar

[@russellzauner]

A lot of people don't get the pickups and immediately replace them; there are a lot of them on the market and while they don't sound typical they can do the typical if you're patient enough to learn how they work and way more on top of that. They'll be rounder like the "old smoothie" bass - the pickup is build sort of like that, the old smoothie uses a 5 pole pickup on a 4 string bass (the strings are between the poles). You get all the girth and depth without the icepicking (Peavey T60 is famous for its "icepick" mode lol) or twitchy breakover behavior of overwound or tighter pots. :-)