CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

[aleclee]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

Carvin has always been in sort of a debacle. It's too expensive for them to put an outlet store in every major city, but it would help them get their gear to the masses. It's too late for them to change their business model to a normal one, because if they used dealers, it'd double the price of Carvin gear......nobody would pay that. If they moved everything to Asia, all the Carvin die hards would be disappointed and stop buying.

IMO, the only thing Carvin should do is form alliances with aftermarket companies like Duncan, EMG.....continue with Floyd and Wilkinson, and stop trying to make every part themselves.
Instead of 10 crappy amps, make 3 really good ones by using big name amp builders as consultants, just like PRS did with Doug Sewell, and Line 6 did with Bogner. They also need some real endorsees that put Carvin guitars on worldwide stages. They can't keep endorsing has-beens. Browse through any Carvin catalog and you'll see what I mean.

I wonder if the Kiesel rebranding was the first step in adjusting the business model.

I'm not a Carvin guy myself but I do like a similar company a lot in Warmoth.

The resale value is bad, also.

IMO, Carvin and Warmoth have common factors in their poor resale. In a way, their biggest differentiator (lots of configuration options) is the biggest drawback when it comes time to sell. When you get a guitar that's spec'ed out to be just what you want, it's probably gonna have a number of features that most potential buyers just don't care about. At best, those options add zero value to the buyer. At worst, they're a deal breaker. In either case, there aren't going to be a lot of prospective buyers willing to offer anything approaching what you paid for it new.

 

[jackson111]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

well I haven't tried tried any of their guitars but I did finally buy a x100b and it by far is my favorite amp. it simple does exactly what it needs to do and is easy to dial in just about anything you want. my next guitar purchase will be from carvin. after dealing with them on my amp purchase I am extremely impressed with their customer service. I did resist getting a carvin for about 5 years thinking that once I got it I would be on my own, but the couple issues I have had with my x100b (basically my fault for not knowing how to use the mute/boost mode) the customer support talked me through it and never once said " read the instructions moron"

I think they have extremely high quality, I think the x100b is better then my jvm 205h and my blackstar ht stage 60.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

I wonder if the Kiesel rebranding was the first step in adjusting the business model.


IMO, Carvin and Warmoth have common factors in their poor resale. In a way, their biggest differentiator (lots of configuration options) is the biggest drawback when it comes time to sell. When you get a guitar that's spec'ed out to be just what you want, it's probably gonna have a number of features that most potential buyers just don't care about. At best, those options add zero value to the buyer. At worst, they're a deal breaker. In either case, there aren't going to be a lot of prospective buyers willing to offer anything approaching what you paid for it new.

Resale value has never been something I consider at all when buying a guitar. I buy guitars to play them.

 

[Kac]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

Resale value has never been something I consider at all when buying a guitar. I buy guitars to play them.

Agree, with exceptions (like the MIA strat I bought and sold), but I look for guitars that meet the very specific things I look for in a guitar, knowing that most people don't look for those things.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

Resale value has never been something I consider at all when buying a guitar. I buy guitars to play them.

I buy them to play, as well, but I know that I love anything new for awhile. Most of the time, if I want something new, something has to go to generate funds. There's no way I'd tie up $1000+ in something I know it's impossible to get it back out of.

 

[dukebox]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

I buy guitars to play then too, but I gotta be honest, I don't feel as guilty about spending the money if I figure that the money has just taken on the form of a guitar, with the ability to be turned back into money, should the need arise.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

I buy guitars to play then too, but I gotta be honest, I don't feel as guilty about spending the money if I figure that the money has just taken on the form of a guitar, with the ability to be turned back into money, should the need arise.

I can't say I have ever felt any kind of guilt about buying a guitar either.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

At work and cant read whole thread, so Im sure this has already been said, but here is my .02. YES, you dont see as many because they dont sell them in retail stores. So many pass on them. AND, alot of younger guys buy what their heros play, so again. And, as one poster said, we buy many guitars online, sight unseen, but when its a guitar like a strat or lp, you already have an idea what you are getting as you have probably played one before. Unlike a Carvin, you are trying something diff. But, thats why they have the return policy as well. You arent STUCK with it.

I do agree with 'Joneser, it would def be better if they used diff pups or at least standard sized. BUT, many guys like their pickups. And, they did start enlarging the cavities to where you can use standard pups. Used to be they were smaller and you had to route.

I really like most of the carvin guitars Ive played and owned. As with any brand, its personal preference. I love les pauls, but HATE the ones with the 50s necks. Carvin has introduced more options, fret board, frets.

They are good playing guitars, not for everybody, but thats why we have choices. I really havent cared for most of the PRS' Ive played. Just a taste thing. There have been 2 that were magical tho.. Lastly, is you get guys on the net that slag them or had a bad experience with them. Happens with every company, just you dont hear so much about that cuz they guy took his brand x guit back to GC or whereever and returned it. Another small downsize to being an internet only co. Id love to have another one.. Really want a Jason Becker model. (with the Seymour Duncan, of course...)

 

[kherman]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

I'm very happy with my Carvins. Been playing them since '89. I also have/had Parker USA, Gibson, Ibanez, Fernandes, Schecter, Edwards (ESP), Jackson. My Carvins are still my main go to guitars.
I actually think the Carvin pickups are pretty decent for a stock oem pickup. Better than a lot of other companies stock pickups. But, to me, pickups are like picks and strings, everybody has their preference. Most of us wouldn't be on this forum if we didn't swap pickups to ones we prefer.
Some like Duncans, some Dimarzios, Suhr, Gibson, or Bartolini, etc.. Again, I think the stock Carvins will get you by till you find the brand and type of pickup that gets the sound your after in your head.
I've never had any issues with the Carvin passive electronics. They've been rock solid. The Active module in my Dc400 however was very versatile. But, seemed to amplify the slightest bit of oxidation on the pots. So, I was having to use electronics cleaner every few weeks. Same pots as in my passive Carvins. Never had an issue with those guitars. I ended up changing the module out to a passive 2 vol / 2 tone config in that guitar. Used new Carvin pots because they fit easiest. No issues. Guitar works great.
Again, electronics are another one of those things people tend to swap out for there prefered config and type.
I would have put Carvin in the ball park with Ibanez Prestige, Jackson USA Select, ESP Standard. Just with the ability to add options. But, now that they have become Kiesel/Carvin I do think they plan on going to that next level. I am interested in trying out the new Kiesel Lithium pickups.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

How popular, really, should they be? There are SO MANY brands of guitar out there and most of them I never, ever see on stage. It's like 9 /10ths Fender and Gibson and most of the remaining tenth are brands owned by those two.

 

[Ascension]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

Carvin today has bad resale value you have GOT to be kidding here??
I have owned more Carvins over the years than I can count and right now wish I had a bunch of them back because the used prices on Carvins have gone completely NUTS in the last few years!!
You will lose less in % value from what you paid on a new Carvin ( that is unless you order something weird from the CS) than you will a PRS Gibson or Fender!
I know that because I'm wanting another Carvin and the used prices are 80% of new right now on Ebay!

 

[tc]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

There's only one Carvin I'd buy, and that's a Jason Becker signature. And I wouldn't be buying it because it's a Carvin. I'd only be buying it because it's sort of, close enough to one of Jason's favorite shredsticks, and that man is one of my all time heroes.

Nothing against the brand, I've liked the few I've had in my hands, but personally, I don't think I've ever been drawn to them. Even aesthetically, I feel they're stuck in the late eighties/early nineties. I'm not saying it's the most important thing, but in order for me to own a guitar, I have to go "sweet baby jesus that's pretty" every time I take it out of the case.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

He's right folks. 2nd string Steve Vai/Satch/Dweezil Zappa wannabes (howe/zaza) and Javier from Animals as leaders are the only ones that stand out. Shane Gibson was a brilliant player but Korn wasn't on the top of the charts.

Javier Plays a carvin 8 string but I don't think he is fully endorsed. AAL might be some fantastic prog metal... it's not gonna fill an arena... but on the other hand... Tosin is an ibanez signature model endorser... maybe I am wrong.

Fwiw: Before I got news that we were expecting... I was gonna dump 900 to 1.3k into a guitar.

For the price and options I could get a hell of a seven string.

You realize Vai is an endorsee

Just saying

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

I once played a really nice Carvin SH65 that had the piezo in it. Sounded great but I didn't care for the feel of the neck. I don't know what the dimensions were but I just remember it was uncomfortable to play. Sounded incredible though.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

It was their brand back in the 80's. All I remember was their catalogs of shiny guitars that nobody I knew, as a teenager, played. I didn't see my guitar heroes using Carvin. No Carvin at the stores. Thus this image persists to this day. Then when I read about them now, the brand perception has changed. STill, funny looking guitars though.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

I was talking about guitars not amps. (BUT i seriously did forget about his legacy amps though)

Let his contract run out.... it's like the Bodybuilding pros with their supplements. The supplements didn't get them there. The money to buy HGH, steroids, and hard work got them there.

He's cashing in that X100B back story and milking it for all its worth. Mesa and Marshall would scoop him up in a heart beat.

Not discounting the amp... But there is more behind the scenes than is put on. Free gear, marketing, guaranteed gear for out of country.

According to the liner notes in the CD, Vai used Mesa Boogie amps to record Passion & Warfare.

I remember it well, because reading that, was the 1st time i heard about the Boogie brand.

Still a great album, imho.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

How popular, really, should they be? There are SO MANY brands of guitar out there and most of them I never, ever see on stage. It's like 9 /10ths Fender and Gibson and most of the remaining tenth are brands owned by those two.

With sooo many US companies taking their manufacturing to the far east, (and with sooo many PROUD Americans who prefer to buy, US made products only), i thought US made product would climb up the popularity/respect-ladder, so to speak.

I know if i lived in the US, i would have had at least one Carvin - even if it is only because i am proudy American, and want to 'help' with the US economy. . . . AND you get one hell of a guitar for your 1.5'ish K.

YMMV

 

[Demanic]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

I just wish I could get my V220 back from England, but I suppose that is a lost cause.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

I just wish I could get my V220 back from England, but I suppose that is a lost cause.

How did a entire country commandeer your guitar?

 

[Demanic]

Re: CARVIN guitars, why are they not more popular ?

lol It's not quite like that, there was no force involved, it was entirely voluntary.
Alas, I was young and dumb etc. and left if there with every intention of returning for it and the woman I left it with. Unfortunately, it just didn't work out that way and I lost touch with her. That was 28 years ago. I do have her grandmother's wedding band which she left with me as her token of our mutual pledge and I would be more than happy to return it to her, even if she no longer has the guitar. Like I said though, I have completely lost touch with her.