Carvin AC275-12

i got the basic model as the others with nothing extra.

the guitar sounds great when amped, but sucks when not.

mine had several manufacturer flaws and carvin ignored my emails to see about exchanging it. I guess its because I went to Iraq and couldn't return it within 10 days. You would think an American company would make an exception for a Iraq POW.

Its not too tough, but will work fine for my studio. I wouldn't road with it.

They should even have a web site or email address. Emails are either not returned or are returned with negative comments. I posted on the message board about my problem since I got zero help via email and the next morning my post was gone. They removed it and still did not answer my questions about the rough finish job.

Being that Carvin sucks in the area of customer service I can't rate it no higher than a 4. If I could give Customer Service a 10 the guitar would get a 6.

This is a Carvin AC-175
Made in 2002 USA
1/8 standard koa top
Active controls bass and treble center notched
pickup under bridge only
neck thru body all mahogany
satin finish
cutaway body ebony fingerboard sperzel tuners
SKB carvin case
This guitar was equiped with everything I wanted at half off all options.

This guitar sounds like a million bucks. I play alot of fingerstyle jazz. It sound fantastic through a crappy Cheap marshall combo with a 10 inch speaker. The active electronics can really open this guitar up or calm it down if your surroundings are too bright. This is the best sounding piezo config. I've ever used.

Here's the reason I'm doing this review. The action is not what I expected. It came with elixir 12-53. Its not that the action was too high, it was very stiff. Very hard to bend the strings. At first I tunned it down a whole step and it played like a dream, but who wants to have to tune down to make their new custom made guitar play easier.
next I put 11's on it and it still was too stiff. So I tried one more trick, I put elixir 10-46 on just like the Carvin AE-185. Now thats much better, and I'm in concert pitch. I wish I could have kept the heavier strings on because they do sound better. Something else that really cooks me is that the action is acceptable but not perfect, I did readjust the truss rod to accomidate the lighter strings. I'll never buy another guitar without playing it first.

I was totally impressed with the quality of the materials used. I think this guitar will last long enough to give to my grand kids. I don't think I would need a backup guitar, this will be my main guitar.

I give Carvin an 8 in this area because I registered the guitar on line, told them the action sucked, and got no return comments like let us make you happy or quit your whinning you lousy customer.
Guitar comes with a 5 year warrranty, I would expect that from a custom made guitar.

I've been playing for 30 years, I also play mandolin, bass, drums and piano. I got rid of a parker nitefly to get this guitar, because I hate magnetic pickups, this guitar almost looks like the Parker I had.
I'm still glad I went for the Carvin (thru neck, no magnetic pickups, or switches) I wish the plug would have been installed in the end pin, maybe they would have done that if I asked. The truss rod cover was engraved with my name and was done kind of sloppy, but thats no biggie,thats what I get for being so vain.

Model AC275-12. This is an acoustic/electric 12 string. If you look at the reviews for the Carvin AC175 you'll find mine there. I needed an acoustic/electric 12 and because I was so pleased with the AC 175, I decided to have Carvin make me a 12 string. There is no AC175-12 (I asked) but the AC275-12 is the same except with a wider body. The guitar was built in their California plant. It has a pearl white finish, ebony fingerboard, neck through (no heel), string through body. I had them add gold plating, locking sperzels, strap locks, body binding, and MOP markers. A case had to be purchased for shipping purposes but it was 50% off the list price. Like the other guitars in the AC series, the guitar has 1 volume and 2 tone knobs. The tones knobs are cut and boost with center detente. The features were everything that I wanted and was willing to pay for: nothing more and nothing less.

I expected the 12 to play pretty much the same as my 175 six string since it was basically the same guitar built by computer. It actually plays better than the 6 string. I'm not sure how this is possible but it's true. The feel is beyond belief for a 12 and I've played most of them at one time or another. Imagine a 12 string you could play all night with no greater fatigue than playing a 6 string. The sound is very acoustic which was a surprise to me. I thought it would err on the acoustic side. It does a reasonable electric impersonation. Just like the other AC's, feedback is not an issue. I use it with a Zoom 505 pedal and it gives me the sound I'm looking for. It is bright without being brittle and full bodied without being muddy. I'm not sure what more anyone could want. It would have been fine with me if they could have made the body a little smaller (like the AC175) but when I mentioned that to Carvin, they said I was the first person that had ever asked for one.

The guitar arrived behind schedule by several weeks. I was disappointed in that since I'd sold my other 12 string figuring Carvin would deliver on time. The guitar was perfectly set up and needed no adjustment. It think it was even in tune when I got it. Not bad considering it traveled from California to New York.

This guitar gets played out 2-3 nights a week. It can and does stand up to live playing. The hardware is first rate and looks great as well. I certainly would use this guitar without back up but if you get one be careful when you change strings. It is possible to disengage the pick up from the saddle if you're not careful. This guitar is built to last.

Except for the delay in shipping (the rep I talked to thought they were either out of wood or out of paint!!) there has been no problem with the people at Carvin. Call them up yourself. They'll treat you like a professional. Their phone people are friendly and knowledgeable.

I own bunches of guitars and I've been using acoustic/electrics for the past 3 years. My first Carvin (AC175) was purchased in the blind from Ebay. I bought it on reputation only and I'm glad I did. The purchase of the AC275 was based on the quality of my 175. It is an extraordinary instrument. I've never handed it to another guitarist that wasn't amazed by the feel and sound of it. By doing so I've probably sold more Carvins than some of their salespeople. I got this guitar in August of 2001 and I plan to have it till either the guitar or me falls apart (I'm sure I'll go first). If it gets lost or stolen I'll put the guys at Carvin back to work building me another just like it. They don't give these guitars away (near $1000.00) but they are well worth it to the working musician that needs one.