ideas for custom carvin guitar

[boulder4112]

Hey guys I'm getting a new guitar and I'm pretty sure i'm going to go with carvin, probably their single cutaway sc90s neck-through design. I'm basically going for an LP sound and feel. Here's my question- with a neck through model, if I went for a maple neck-thru with mahogany wings would I be getting the same tonal qualities of a mahogany body with a carved maple top? Or should I go with the more traditional design mahogany neck-thru and body and spring the extra for a carved maple top? (1/2 inch thick). If I decided to get an ebony (rather than rosewood) fretboard would this make it sound too bright with the maple neck but ok with a maple top? or would it be the other way around?

btw this guitar will have JB/Jazz pickups.

and while we're at it, anybody have any other suggestions for a neck thru guitar in this price range?

 

[Xeromus]

Re: ideas for custom carvin guitar

just for the hell of it, go check out a Schecter C-1 classic, they are neck through and nice playing guitars for less money, nice looking too. You definately get a paul sound from it

 

[boulder4112]

Re: ideas for custom carvin guitar

The c-1 classic is a great guitar, but I have one major problem with it:

to my eyes, the thing is gaudy and ugly as hell. Which sucks, because I would pay the same price for it if it had LESS of the expensive cosmetic features! :smack: IMO they really dropped the ball on the cosmetic design of that guitar.

 

[stratobastard]

Re: ideas for custom carvin guitar

go for the mahogany neck, body / with maple cap & ebony fret board

 

[kherman]

Re: ideas for custom carvin guitar

OK, I'm going to be quite honest here.
The SC90 is not going to sound LPish.
It's actually more like a SG in tone.
The body is thinner. Closer to an SG.
Plus, it's 24 frets.

If you want a tone closer to an LP, go with the CT models or a TL60.
The TL60 had a thick body like an LP. Is larger in size than other Carvin neck thru bodies.
If you go with the Mahogany neck/body, 20mm maple cap, 2 humbuckers, 2 volume/2tone option, on the TL60, you'll be much closer.

The CT models are designed to compete against the PRS and LPs.
It is 22 frets(like an LP), set neck, Body is thicker than a PRS.
So the CT models should get you closer to LP tones than a SC90 will.

As for Carvin pickup choice. I prefer the H22n/C22b combo for mahogany guitars. I feel the H22n has a nice clarity like a Duncan Jazz. Very full sounding tone as well.
The C22B many say is like a cross between a JB and Custom.
I do feel my Diodati 59Q with the H22n/C22b sounds wider, more open, than My Fernandes Ravelle with the Jazz/JB combo when A/B'd side by side.
The Ravelle sounds compressed. But, I'm sure it's a number of things with the Ravelle that contributes to this.
Both are still great sounding guitars, and have their own uniqueness.

Kent

 

[badco33]

Re: ideas for custom carvin guitar

Carvin's are natually brighter sounding guitars. I don't know if it the neck thru design or the thinner neck profile or a combination or the two. I have owned two TL-60's and they were great guitars. but they are bright. I owned one that was a Mahogany neck and sides with a flamed maple cap and bridseye maple fingerboard. It was still fairly bright so I changed the 500K pots to 250K and I added a JB in the bridge. I got a great tone out of it then, pretty close to a les paul but a little different.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: ideas for custom carvin guitar

OK, I'm going to be quite honest here.
The SC90 is not going to sound LPish.
It's actually more like a SG in tone.
The body is thinner. Closer to an SG.
Plus, it's 24 frets.

If you want a tone closer to an LP, go with the CT models or a TL60.
The TL60 had a thick body like an LP. Is larger in size than other Carvin neck thru bodies.
If you go with the Mahogany neck/body, 20mm maple cap, 2 humbuckers, 2 volume/2tone option, on the TL60, you'll be much closer.

The CT models are designed to compete against the PRS and LPs.
It is 22 frets(like an LP), set neck, Body is thicker than a PRS.
So the CT models should get you closer to LP tones than a SC90 will.

As for Carvin pickup choice. I prefer the H22n/C22b combo for mahogany guitars. I feel the H22n has a nice clarity like a Duncan Jazz. Very full sounding tone as well.
The C22B many say is like a cross between a JB and Custom.
I do feel my Diodati 59Q with the H22n/C22b sounds wider, more open, than My Fernandes Ravelle with the Jazz/JB combo when A/B'd side by side.
The Ravelle sounds compressed. But, I'm sure it's a number of things with the Ravelle that contributes to this.
Both are still great sounding guitars, and have their own uniqueness.

Kent

Concurr with everything but the pickups. I wouldn't spend more in upgrading to Carvins if I'm yanking them in favor of SD's anyway.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: ideas for custom carvin guitar

I recently scored an SC90 from ebay. mahog neck and body, flame top, Floyd. Its really sweet and a dream to play.
It has a chunky tone and great sustain. Even with floyd. The tone is more akin to an SG tho. First the neck is ebony for a brighter attack and Carvin necks are 25' scale (most neck thrus) so that gives a bit brighter tone than a paul.. The mahogany does keep it from being too bright. I also have an old V220 that is maple body/neck w ebony board and brass nut, and THAT is bright.
Now, mine has a m22sd in the bridge and Id always heard reviews going from excellent to treble shriekmonsters. I actually find that is sounds pretty good. (for stock pup) But I am swapping it for a Blues trembucker cuz I think it can sound better.
Only issue I have with the pups is that the neck pup seems way softer than the neck. Had to raise it alot to get a balance in volume when switching pups.
Im putting a pearly gates in the neck..
Anyhow, great guitar, highly recommend. I do hear the TL60 with a mahog/maple top combo tends to have more of an LP tone even tho it has a Tele shape. So if that is what you are looking for....