Thoughts on final selection of Woods for Carvin order? 2 Steps from ordering

[BluesGuyJ]

I am ordering a Contour 66 (super Strat) or a CT624 (similar I guess to a PRS/Gibson DC).

I am 95% sure I am ordering a C66 though and here are the final specs:

Mahogany body with quilted maple top
5 piece mahogany neck with 2 maple stripes
ebony fretboard with SS jumbo frets and 14' radius
cherry sunburst
matching quilted maple headstock overlay
tun oil finish on back of neck
HSH pickup config
Wilkinson tremolo
spirzel locking tuners
upgraded Ivroid nut
hardware color will be in gold I am thinking

I want a base tone that is full, throaty but has articulation and cut. I can not lie, the Suhr GG model inspired the selection of woods for this build, though it differs some. I also plan on swapping out the pickups for a set of DImarzios or Suhrs as well. I am hoping to have this complament my Lipe which is Alder body, flame maple top, 1 piece maple neck and indian rosewood board with hipshot trem and HSS setup.


Since the SS frets will already provide some attack and pop to the notes, should I go with rosewood instead of ebony on the board? What do you all think?

I am pumped for this.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Thoughts on final selection of Woods for Carvin order? 2 Steps from ordering

I think ebony with stainless frets might be too much brightness and articulation. I have recently built a guitar with an ebony board and gold alloy frets, which are harder than regular frets but not as hard as stainless. It has plenty of bright articulation and certainly wouldn't want any more.

So my suggestion would be ebony with gold alloy or rosewood with stainless.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Thoughts on final selection of Woods for Carvin order? 2 Steps from ordering

The 5 piece neck may be more stable, but more stable, plus maple, means much brighter than the tone you're looking for, since PRS and Gibson use solid maple necks. I think Carvin's mahogany necks are still 2 piece, so they're still plenty stable, no need for 5 piece unless for looks.

And since PRS and Gibson predominately use rosewood fretboards, I'd use rosewood if you're looking for that tone.

Stainless frets I'd keep

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Thoughts on final selection of Woods for Carvin order? 2 Steps from ordering

Im jealous!! Ive wanted a spec'ed out C66 since they came out with them! quilt top, YUM!! Are you wanting 5 pc neck for visual or stability?? id prob opt for just a mahog neck


Cant wait for the review!!

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Thoughts on final selection of Woods for Carvin order? 2 Steps from ordering

I was thinking 5 pieace mahog neck for stability.


Hmmm.... so a 5 piece neck, regardless of wood combo, has more brightness than a single piece of the same wood? I think I'll probs go with rosewood board and SS frets at this point.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Thoughts on final selection of Woods for Carvin order? 2 Steps from ordering

I placed the order!!!!

C66 with Wilkinson
Mahogany body with quilted maple top
mahogany neck with 14 radius, rosewood board and 22 SS jumbo frets
dot inlays
matching quilted maple headstock overlay
cherry sunburst finish with deep triple stain finish
tung oil back of neck
upgraded Ivory tusk nut
HSH pickup configuration

with shipping, came out to $1,420. That sounds like a deal to me. If this Carvin thing works out, it's a sick way to get an awesome USA made axe with plenty left over to upgrade pickups if desired. Even if I swap all 3 pickups, it's still under like $1,600. Should be done in around 7 weeks.

Happy holidays to myself!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Thoughts on final selection of Woods for Carvin order? 2 Steps from ordering

Awesome!! Cant wait for you NGD review!! What pups did you get? Ive heard the C22B (I think the model is) is pretty good..

 

[jmh151]

Re: Thoughts on final selection of Woods for Carvin order? 2 Steps from ordering

I was thinking 5 pieace mahog neck for stability.


Hmmm.... so a 5 piece neck, regardless of wood combo, has more brightness than a single piece of the same wood? I think I'll probs go with rosewood board and SS frets at this point.

A five piece neck is stiffer than a one or 2 piece..which would lead to a slightly brighter tone, but not by much... Similar to turning the treble up on your amp a hair

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Thoughts on final selection of Woods for Carvin order? 2 Steps from ordering

I stuck with the C22 series and an AP11 in the middle... I am looking for playability and acoustic tone with this more than anything else. If I like the pickups on top of it all, great. If not, then I am looking at some Suhrs or maybe Rio Grands.... we'll see!

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Thoughts on final selection of Woods for Carvin order? 2 Steps from ordering

That sounds great, man. Can't wait to see it!