Carvin C-650 Cobalt

Brand new, dreadnaught style acoustic/electric. Solid spruce top with laminated rosewood back and sides. I've seen other reviews that indicate the rosewood is solid...It's not. It is a very nice looking laminate, though. It also appears that the laminate is all rosewood...meaning it's not just a rosewood covering on who knows what kind of plywood. Makers of top shelf classical guitars have used plywood for years. By choice and not by price restriction.

Grover tuners, Fishman Matix active electronics, rosewood fretboard, medium jumbo fret wire complete a nice looking package.

I bought this because my Taylor stays home unless it's being recorded. That said, this guitar really surprised me soundwise. In a good way! No, it doesn't sound like a Taylor but, I didn't buy it expecting that it would. I don't really know why so many people make this comparison. Taylors don't sound like Martins and "old" Martins don't sound like new Martins. If you want a guitar that sounds like a Taylor you better save your pennies and buy one.

The Carvin has a slightly bright/midrangey sound. Not bass heavy which is due to the lack of solid rosewood on the sides and back. It has a very nice character in the range it does cover. Highs have a nice sparkle and complexity and the lows are tight and not boomy. I changed out the Elixirs it came with and strung it with a nice set of phosphor bronze strings. Nice change and a little better low end. This thing finger picks very nicely and can hang with my buddies Gibsons and Martins volume wise, no problem. Strummed hard, it compresses slightly but never gets messy sounding.

Electronics seem to be first rate. Plugged in, this thing can sound as natural as any pre-amped acoustic I've heard. There is no substitute for a mic on an acoustic but the Matrix system doesn't have any of what I call "that Ovation sound"..kind of prickly and overly bright (no offense meant to Ovation owners-just not my cup of tea plugged in or not). The active EQ allows a ton of control over your sound, provided that your sound person has a good ear for acoustic tone. If not, it won't matter what pickup you use it will sound like an icky electric guitar.

All in all I've heard way more expensive guitars, which will remain nameless, that don't sound anywhere near as good

The action and playability of this guitar are first rate. I didn't change a thing other than the strings. It intonates very nicely and maintains a very low action with no buzz or fretting out on bends. I play electric guitar way more than acoustic and the way this thing is set up is perfect for me. Very fast. Makes me wish I was a better acoustic player.

I looked VERY hard to find a flaw on this guitar and found none! Finish and inlays are perfect. Binding-perfect! Inside is super clean and hardware is tight. Frets are better than on many much more expensive guitars. WAY better!

We'll have to wait and see what time and climate do to this thing. So far, so good. It hasn't done one of our Minnesota winters yet. It has gigged a few times with no problems whatsoever. The gloss finish is thin and very well applied. A thin finish will allow a guitar's wood to breathe a little better which makes it more responsive than a thick finish. Carvin USA is very good at the finish game and it appears Carvin imports are no exception.

I never gig without a backup! Ok, this guitar's fist gig was impromptu and I didn't have another with me. No problems. The construction is very good but ANY acoustic that takes a fall on stage or in your living room is gonna get hurt. Buy a good stand, watch out for the drunken, human bowling ball that wants to "check out" your gear during your break, and keep it clean. I have a 35 year old Yamaha that is in great shape because it's been taken care of. I can't see that the Carvin would be any different but time will tell.

5 year warranty and 10 day return it for any reason policy. Not bad. Lifetime would be better, but they didn't give me one of those on my car, either.

I have had excellent service from Carvin. Both before and after sale.

I've ben playing for 23 years and own lots and lots of acoustic and electric instruments. Other acoustics...Taylor, Tacoma, vintage Yamahas, 50+ year old Harmony (don't laugh-it's one of those "special" guitars).

I tried a number of other guitars in this price range and nothing came close except a Larrivee without a pickup (which I needed to keep from cutting a hole in my Taylor). None of the others played this well!

If lost or stolen...I've had both situations occur over the years, I would replace this in a heartbeat.

My parting shot...Don't buy this expecting a $2000.00 Taylor, Martin, or Breedlove. It's not and it's not fair to compare the Carvin to them. It does a diservice to all parties. What this guitar is, is an outstanding value with it's own sound and feel and a very good sound and feel at any price. If you want the big boys, buy 'em. Don't buy one of these then complain that it doesn't sound like a Taylor. Buy this and compare it to a similarily priced Martin or Taylor, however, and be prepared to be blown away! My Martin DR playing buddy was sick when he found out what I paid for this. Made me feel good.

2004 model. Rosewood back and sides. Spruce top. 6 strings. Typical-looking dreadnaught acoustic guitar. Fishman piezo pick-up and preamp.

I've seen a lot of comparisons between this guitar and the Taylors. On it's own, the Carvin is a good guitar for beginner to intermediate players, or for an advanced player who just needs something to kick around or bring to a gig 'cause he / she doesn't want to bring a $2000-$3000 Martin or Taylor, etc. to a gig.
The C 650 has a rather bright tone. It's got a decent sound on it's own, kind of "shimmery" and somewhat "3-dimensional". It doesn't really sound cheap at all, but it doesn't sound like a Taylor. I feel I'm qualified to make this statement as I've owned a Taylor 810 for 3+ years. The Carvin can't hold a candle to the Taylor, and anyone who says so hasn't really played a Taylor or has inexperienced ears. I've been playing for 23+ years, so again I feel I'm qualified to make this statement. The Taylor 810, in comparison, has a very balanced tone; smooth highs and rich bass. When I say "balanced tone" I really mean no one frequency seems to dominate the tone spectrum. The Taylor 810 is what you'd call a great sounding acoustic guitar. When you hear an exceptional sounding acoustic guitar on an album or the radio, you know there's an excellent guitar being played. The Taylor 810 has this sound. The Carvin doesn't come close. Compared to the Taylor 810, I'd give the Carvin a "2". On it's own merit it gets a 7.

The action was a bit high for me, so I adjusted the truss rod for a lower action. Easy enough, but the action isn't nearly as low as on my Taylor. Still, it looks well made and looks as though quite a bit of care when into the manufacturing process.
Also, the string tension feel very "tight" and "stiff", unlike my Taylor which feels supple and softer. Compared to the Taylor, the carvin gets a "2", but on it's own merit the Carvin gets an "7", because there are similarly priced guitars that don't sound or play as good as the Carvin

I would suppose this guitar would hold up well under normal use and playing conditions.

Never dealt with anybody at Carvin, so I can't comment.

I only make the comparisons to the Taylor 810 because a lot of other reviews have made the same comparisons and many people claim that this carvin is as good or better than the Taylor. They are either inexperienced or have never played a Taylor. Such comparisons are, admittedly, ridiculous. Comparing a $1700 guitar to a $659 guitar is pretty silly. Still, I just want to set the record straight.
The Carvin is a good value, to be sure. On it's own merits, I'd give it an overall score of "7". However, compared to the Taylor 810 I own, it only gets a "2".
Still, in the roughly $500 to $800 ( or possibly a little more ) price range, the Carvin holds its own against other guitars very well. The reason I bought the Carvin is because I don't feel comfortable taking my expensive and excellent Taylor 810 outside. It may be damaged or stolen, and if that happened I'd be really pissed off and would have to kill the person who did it. Just kidding...maybe I'd just smack 'em around a little.