Dewsterdude

Carvin makes great guitars. you cant beet the price if you buy used... BUT you really need to be careful when your buying one as to make sure you know the type of wood(s) the guitar is made from. Some combinations just do not work, even though people try them... I have a walnut dc400a that is a great playing and even better sounding guitar. This is a walnut top and back with a walnut/maple neck thru, and ebony fretboard. At some point I swapped out the c22 pickups and switch to wcr godwood and crossroads pickups. Superb instrument. Beautiful. And versatile. The dc400s come stock with the active pickups... This is something I would be fine without... This why I am now partial to the ct6 series,... No active electronics. I had a dc400 burled walnut top, alder back and ebony fretboard. Nothing but harsh highs and shrill. Absolutely horrible combination of woods. Guitar was very easy to play though. This one was sold... I've also own two ct6 guitars. These things sound and play great and the stock woods are a fancy maple top and mahogany back. They sound solid with the carvin pickups but really shine when paired with a set of boutique pickups (wcr and mules are my favorite). Really nice and versatile instruments. Add the stainless steel frets and I do t believe you can go wrong. They are Heavy though. A guy in my band has a carvin c66 that has the bolt on neck with a maple top and mahogany back. He practices with this guitar and uses it has his backup every week. His favorite is a suhr standard but he says the carvin he has plays almost as we'll and sounds close enough. He has at least 8 boutique guitars over $2500 each that he had made new and he still plays his carvin every day. I find that interesting... i have found them to be built well, beautiful for the most part, and easy to swap parts out in. I have gotten some really good deals on the ones I have. The only one I regretted was the walnut/alder one. Bad wood combo...but stunningly beautiful guitar. Can't really go wrong with a maple/mahogany body. The carvin pickups are not aweful. The c22 pickps are not quite as bright and lively as suhr pickups, but seem to fall I that tone range (dsh, dsv). For reference, i have a couple boutique electrics, but I play my ct6 every week. I hope that feedback helps.