Carvin AC275 Jumbo

The guitar was made in 2002, USA of course. The AC275, a 25" scale ebony fingerboard, mahogany neck with a quilted maple headstock, Sperzel locking tuners that seem to keep really work. The body is quilted maple with a tobacco sunburst with tortoise body binding very nice. The finsh is great. I can find no imprefections with the finish on the insides using a dentist mirror with a light. The LR Baggs pickup is clean, no feedback when played through my Crate CA-60D. The bass and treble controls takes a bit to get used to but work better in the middle position. The tone is balanced, very warm. The instrument weighs in at 5 1/2 lbs. Neck width at nut - 1 71". Body thickness is 1 /7/8'. Strings- came stung with Elixir NanoWeb med. I feel I upgraded the sound when I put a set of DR Rare Acoustic PB, in med-lite. Very clean. The case, can't bet the deal hardshell case reg $118 for $59.00. Not a bad case.

I am a light jazz fan, Craig Chaquico, Russ Freeman and John McLaughlin. This instrument or a tool allows me to construct that sound. Very clean all the way up the fret board. The high end is incredible, the mids are great and the low end is low. Could be my amp setting. Its not your Gallager or Martin sound but for a 1 7/8" body is sounds pretty good.

The action from the factory was perfect. NO Buzzing what so ever. A good friend played it and was amazed how easy the action was and he's a bluegrass player. I looked for flaws, since it was ordered factory direct, but i could not find any flaws. The finish, was well done. No blems in the top or back or the neck. No sure what the bridge is made of, but it is nicely constructed.

Appears very solid. Time will tell about the LA Baggs acoustic under saddle pickup.

Have yet to use them. They do answer the phone when called.

Been playing for 18 years mostly acoustics, but I wanted to get into light jazz and this instrument has fit that bill. If I had to compare it to other guitars with this makeup it would be the Wechter and of course the Gibson Chet Atkins acoustic models. I chose the guitar for the options I wanted and the price wasn't bad either. The only item I would recommend offer a bone nut and saddle.

Guitar was ordered in the spring of 2000, and arrived in pristine condition from the Carvin factory in under four weeks. 24 fret with an ebony finger board and abolone inlays. I ordered this quitar with a quilted maple top in see-thru black. The AC275 comes standard with an under saddle piezo, one volume and one tone control. The body and neck are mahogany. I also ordered this neck as a five peice mahogony/claro walnut. Extremely stable and resonant in and of itself. The tuners are Sperzel locking. The neck is a standard Carvin width, it just fits my hands. The frets are jumbo's, and the detailing in them shows Carvin's usual attention to detail. Carvin was offering a free case promotion at the time I ordered this, and I received a thermoplastic, form fitting case free of charge. On a side note, if you are wary of receiving a guitar through the mail, Carvin ships their merchandise in a box thats padded and sturdy enough to withstand just about anything. Carvin should automatically get a ten for features for any guitar they build. Every guitar is built as a one-off. Each is unique and built to the customers exact specifications. And all of this is done at a fraction of the cost of most custom shops.

I use this guitar for a trio I gig around town with. Mostly original instrumental peices. This guitar has enough bottom to it to anchor everyone around me. The nut is a little slim for the more energaetic fingerstyle peices, but I have adapted nicely. I run this instrument through a SWR and sometimes through a Zoom 504. Even at excessive volumes there is no "peizo quack". I find that the AC275 has a very warm, round sound when run by itself. The tone control is very sensitive and is able to dial in a variety tones, from a chorus like shimmer to a flat Beatle-esque strum. This has become my main gigging guitar.

As always, Carvin's fit and finish are second to none. It never ceases to amaze me the quality they can turn out for the price. The top is as figured as any I have seen and the gloss is even and almost mirror-like. The inside of the guitar is as flawless as the outside. No glue drips, spaces, rough edges, etc. As I am a classically trained guitarist, I prefer my action a little on the high side. Carvin's factory settings will please most guitarists familiar with electrics. The truss rod is graphite and extremely easy to get to and adjust. I defy anyone not to find that happy medium with this guitar. The frets are polished, with a slight crown. No spurs or nicks. Just beautiful.

This instrument feels like it was carved from a single block of mahogany, which essentially it was. Specifically designed to be amplified, this guitar shines on stage, figuratively and literally. Being Sperzel, the hardware will seemingly outlast me. As I do not use a pick, I am not worried about finish scratches, but the finish looks thick enough to withstand channeling Pete T. I also ordered this guitar with dunlop strap locks. This guitar is like the Mercedes Benz of A/E Guitars. Solid. After many hard lessons, I always have a back up, but since buying the Carvin, it has stayed on the stand.

This is my seventh Carvin product. Do you need more of a testimony that that? These people are professionals, in every aspect. The only problems I have had has been trying to reach them. East coast time vs West coast time. I have a one year warranty with this guitar. That may not seem like much, but I have a solid-body Electric that is close to 20 years old and have not replaced a thing but strings and a strp button. The only time I have ever called customer service is to check on thre status of an order. The instuments are so superb, that a warranty is not even needed, in my opinion.

I have been playing for 30+ years. My main acoustic - prior to this Carvin - was a Gibson EC30. I also occasionaly play a Nick Lucas re-issue. I also have several Ramirez and Cordoba nylons. I also have a 60's Epi Sheraton, and L-5, and a 59 Les Paul Gold Top, as well as the afore mentioned Carvins (all solid body electrics). The only thing I wished I would have asked about is the weight of the instrument. It can get a bit heavy, on par with a Les Paul. If it were stolen? I would uncurl from the fetal position, hunt down the dirty dog, and then make the call to California. Aside from the weight, this is almost the perfect amplified acoustic. I would have to say the top is my favorite feature, it is just fantastic. I compared this guitar to several Taylor's, Guilds, and the odd Tacoma. As I was able to duplicate each of these guitars with the Carvin, the choice was easy. Carvin is by far the best "true" custom shop out there....

Made 1997. An acoustic electric with 1/8th inch thick spruce top, about 1.5" thick chambered mahogany body, mahogany neck-thru body (graphite reinforcing rods). 24 fret ebony fretboard, Under-saddle piezo transducer. Active electronics. Sperzel locking tuners, body binding, blueburst finish. The neck is the standard Carvin neck (same as electrics) Slightly wide, slightly thin, slightly flattened "C" profile. Its called a Jumbo, because the body is slightly wider than their other acoustic-electrics. I tried the others out in the store. The jumbo has a little deeper bass response and the spruce top gives a more realistic acoustic tone than the maple and koa tops. (but there's not much difference)

Unamplified, this guitar sounds more like a solid body electric, but slightly louder. Through an amplifier (usually my Crate GX20R) this sounds VERY much like a flat-top steel string acoustic. I like the sound very much and I am totally satisfied, but keep in mind that you won't get the rich complex tones of a truly fine acoustic. The tone is much more even across the spectrum, kind of harp-like. Some might call it "sterile", but I think its very "clear and even" The neck-thru body gives an almost piano like sustain to chords. The active electronics are very quiet, reliable and produce a good variety of tones. To imitate an acoustic, I usually have the bass up a little above flat and the treble down a little below flat. You can also get a wide range of funky unique tones with more extreme settings, but they no longer imitate an acoustic. I am totally satisfied with the sound, but I'll give it an 8, because there's probably a little more complexity of tone that could be wished for and there's a lot of subjectivity involved. A dash of chorus adds enough complexity to keep me happy. I use this guitar for quasi-classical and Celtic fingerstyle, also some jazz with a pick. I haven't noticed any of the "quacky" sounds that some people cite when reviewing other piezo pickups.

I tried this one out at the West Covina store and they set it up for me there (Hi Lenny !). Everything was perfect and I knew exactly what I was getting. Carvin manufacturing tolerances, material quality, and setups are impeccable. Yea, I'm sick of people who give out a lot of 10s too, but I've owned numerous big-name and vintage guitars in the past so I know how they all compare.

Everything's rock solid. The batteries last even at least 4 months playing 2-4 hrs a day. I usually replace it cause its "about time", and I've never had it actually die. I do have to keep replacing strings though.

I own 5 Carvin guitars and a Carvin amp. Nuff said.

Given the features, sound, and construction I have to give this an overall 10. If its what you want, its perfect. If you expect the rich complexity of a true acoustic, you will be dissappointed (just buy a good microphone and an acoustic). Here's an appeal to other reviewers: wait until you've owned something for at least 6 mo. before writing the review. Everything seems great when its new, that's why you bought it! After its had some time to wear, break, age, etc,. the opinions sometimes change.