Carvin C-980

Piezo pickup, Fishman preamp, beautiful finish.

Very nice, bright, mid range voiced guitar. I don't understand the reviews talking about the strong bass. When I compare to my Fender and Noname acoustics, the Carvin has the least bass. But that is not bad, it just has a higher voicing to it. I prefer Ernie Ball Earthwoods to the Elixirs it came with.

A low Taylor-like action is a must for my playing. The guitar came with an ok action, but I quickly set aside the original saddle and made a new one bringing the action way down. A little buzzy here and there, but it is fast. The finish, binding, back all are excellent. I especially like the Grover tuners.

Seems solid. I play out with it maybe 3 or 4 times a year. The rest is at home. The guitar is so nice looking, I over protect it, not wanting to put that first scratch on it. I usually grab one of my other acoustics when going to the park, since they are either cheap or already banged up.

I've dealt a lot with Carvin, and they have done a pretty good job with me. I have had better luck calling them, as opposed to online ordering.

Been playing 25 years. I own a Fender Acoustic, and a Lauren (cheap no name, sounds bad but has low action), a Washburn J6-S, a mexi strat and two fanned fret electrics.

See descriptions below. I will add that I wish the Fishman Prefix plus preamp had a tuner!! This is starting to become standard on preamps.

Sound is very nice. Rosewood sides give it a very warm sound. Once it is plugged in it sounds fantastic. Very nice bass response. The Fishman prefix plus gives you a ton of nice features and really lets you tailor your sound. I'm not much of an acoustic player, but for me....it sounds like I wanted it.

Note: I bought this guitar used off the net. There was a problem with the electric part of the guitar (but I knew that going in and figured I could fix it myself for cheap). Serial number dates it to less than a year old.

The action when I got it was atrocious!! Incredibly high (someone must have used it for slide), too much neck bow. I adjusted it myself to get it playable. I ended up having it worked on by a tech who got the action set very nice. For those who say this plays like a Taylor...yes...a lower end Taylor. Not a $3k taylor. Its still very good for the money. I compared it to upper end Alvarezs and some mid priced Takamines and it is as good if not better than those.

Fit and Finish: Seems to be well put together. No glue seeping out, abaone inlays are all high quality, all the finish work is top shelf. Let me note something here however: THIS IS THE SAME GUITAR AS A CORT!! I have a buddy who has a music store and he sells CORT Acoustics. Also made in Korea. We compared this guitar to his Corts that he had in stock and we couldnt find any difference other than cosmetics. Same bracing, same Fishman Prefix plus preamp, same pickups, same headstock, etc. Seems that all these guitars come out of of the same factory in Korea...but they have differnt logo's or a few different "cosmetic" features on them. I think its Samick that makes them. So slap a Carvin or Cort logo on them and ship them out.

That being said, the guitar is very well put together and is a quality piece of work.

As I said, this guitars serial number was less than a year old...and it was already broken. Turns out the pickup was bad. I'm not sure how this happened...but I think its more of a point against Fishman than Carvin/Cort/samick. (yes..I think Samick makes all these guitars in Korea). Since it apparently didnt last a year...I have to give it a bad score for this.

Before I bought the guitar I called Carvin to get some info on how to repair it. While they were relatively helpful, the fact that I wasnt the original owner basically meant I was SOL!! Plus, they couldnt (or wouldnt) order parts for me. Basically they said "Call Fishman". So, while they are great to talk to...their policy wasnt great. I've dealt with Carvin on other products and issues before so I know that USUALLY their top knotch...but not with this one.

Overall, By the time I figured in shipping, replacment pickup cost and cost for a setup...I ended up paying $660 for this guitar used. That was a fair price and I think that the new price of $860 (with case and shipped) is still fair. That being said, since the Carvin guitars are apparently the same as the Cort's, I would recommend that you check our the much cheaper Corts before buying a Carvin.

I was looking for a good acoustic/electric guitar to have around for when I needed one. (which isnt alot) and I didnt want to break the bank to get one. THis fit the bill. I wanted a guitar with good action, that didnt play hard like most acoustics. While THIS PARTICULAR GUITAR doesnt play as easy as an electric (as some have claimed) it plays pretty well. I wanted a guitar where my barre chord notes all rang out and were easily fretted. This guitar fits that bill. I have played nicer guitars that fretted better and sounded better...but they also were about $2k higher in price.

Overall, I would recommend this guitar to those who want a very nice acoustic/electric jumbo that wont break the bank. If you want a real value, look into the Cort line of acoustic electrics becuase they are the same guitar...

Let's talk features for the price here!! Solid Spruce top, Rosewood sides & back, double bound body & bound fretboard & headstock, abalone trim all around body & sound hole, gold Grover tuners, diamond abalone fretboard inlays, Fishman matrix pickup, prefix + sound system ... What more do you need? Okay, how about a comfortable, low action and very playable neck? For the price, this acoustic/electric is a bargain. I don't care if it's made in Korea or Russia!

Clean and crisp. Nice base tones and crisp highs. No fret buzz and the intonation is perfect. The solid spruce top brings out the highs and the jumbo size emphasizes the bass very well. Plugged in, it's pleasing as well. One of the best plugged tones I've ever heard. Of course the amp makes a difference here.

Again, for the price, it's impeccable. I couldn't find a flaw! Action is just right and feels like an good electric. Set up from Carvin was perfect. Playing high on the fret board is a breeze and sounds clean with no buzz or deadening of tone. Inside, the bracing is clean with no glue showing or wood splinters .. Excellent.

High Gloss finish may scratch easy but looks great new. No different from any other acoustic. Came with a pick guard in case I want to use it ... I don't because it looks better without it. Gold Plated Grover Tuners are tough. It came with Elixer strings that sing.

Okay, so the salesman wasn't that knowledgeable and really couldn't help all that much, but it made it to my door just as scheduled. Haven't had to call again.

Been playing over 30 years.Before I purchased this guitar, I played Seagulls, Washburn rare woods, Martins, Taylors, Blueridge .... I wanted a solid spruce top and rosewood sides and back. The C980 blows everything I tried costing under $1,000 away. I'd compare it in sound to a Taylor 714CE and the Neck is as nice as a Taylor too. The Martins ( D28 and D35 ) are double to triple the price and while they may sound fuller on the midrange, they do not necessarily sound better. For the price, the Carvin C980 acoustic/electric is one hell of a bargain. I don't care if it's made in Korea, Russia, or Egypt! I would recommend this guitar to anyone looking for a nice acoustic that's very easy to play, sounds beautiful, and costs under a grand. Buy one before they find a way to cheapen it after it gets popular with the masses !!! You won't be sorry. If it were lost or stolen, I'd buy another without question and hope the same luthier made it.

One of the best electronics packages I've personally ever played on an acoustic. With a four band EQ, built in phaser, gold hardware, premium woods, fast(and i do mean fast)play neck, medium jumbo frets, and grover tuners to top it all off. Great feel and unbelievable playability.

Has a deep bass, strong projection, and tone like a $5,000 Taylor. I play everything from classical to slipknot and this guitar does it all. In fact I was so impressed that I even tried it through a distortion to see how well it stood up. After i picked my jaw up off of the floor I started too realize what a truly refined instrument I had purchased. No noise interference ever with effects or not.

Came from the factory the way I would have wanted it and I'm a hard sell having worked setting up guitars for 5 years. Nice easy action, strings low enough for good playability without any fret buzz, quality materials all around, perfect gloss, great fit, and not a flaw to be seen.

Only had this work of art for a few months so I have to give it a while before I can say.

Never needed a repair or anything but when ordering, they were very helpful, informative, and knew their stuff.

I have been playing for over seven years and have worked for a guitar shop setting these beasts up for five. I've had my share of acoustics and played every brand I've ever heard of. This guitar is without a doubt the best overall acoustic Guitar I have EVER played. Before I purchased it I was looking at Taylors for five times the price and they still didn't hold a candle to this one. If it was ever lost i would be on the verge of insanity. I would buy another one in a heartbeat without any reconcideration whatsoever. Looking for a blow your mind acoustic? I reccomend looking into what Carvin has to offer and I guarantee you will be more than satisfied.

The previous review covers enough features....
Actualy it said that there was no second strap botton under the neck but mine does have on Hmmmmmmmm. It also has a SNAG chip that is some sort of thing to help with recovery if the guitar getts stolen

Great sound with a pick, very bright. Electronics by fishman sound impresive. Although when you finger pick it acousticly it lacks in tonal color for the base and mid (maybe because i have 11's on it) but the higher notes come throught very clear and have a cool resonance to them. THE SOUND QUALITY CHANGES GREATLY DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU PLACE THE MIC OR HAVE YOUR EARS (sounds better when listing to the guitar then when playing it. THE GUITAR SEEMS TO BE DESINED FOR PLAYING ELIXER STRINGS SOUND QUALITY IS NOT AS GOOD WITH ANY OTHER STRINGS I HAVED USED ON THIS GUITAR (Martin 80 20.....DR Bronze) Elixers are great for the lazy guitarist though

i got my guitar from the carvin show room in San Diego. It was set up well and i am a huge fan of carvin action. The lamination was coming off slightly on an area by the neck and a couple frets have small spaces on the edge between the frets and board on the edges...Waranty is great though and they fixed everything free of charge. The Wood is beautiful.

Every thing seems very solid i have had it for almost a year and i play pretty damn hard some times and nothing has broken. We will see over time considering Carvin is new to acoustic guitars. I would and will soon be giging without a back up.

5 year waranty and i will be visiting Carvin to have them repair every nittpicky thing i feel like. The employees are very friendly (they have a quota to meet) Although when Had them adjust the action when I first got the guitar they had it for a while and a was not satisfied with the action to adjusted it my self and it is much better now

Been playing six years and acoustics seem to sound better with age this is a great guitar but i hope the tone improves over time.

Carvin's top-of-the-line cutaway jumbo acoustic (as of mid-2002), made in Korea. Solid AA Spruce top, rosewood laminate back and sides. Solid mohagany neck with satin finish, rosewood fingerboard with satin finish. Bound rosewood headstock, Grover tuners, Paua shell body and soundhole trim and Paua shell diamond fretboard inlays. A very nice looking guitar! Comes with Fishman matrix pickup and Fishman prefix plus for amplification. With mail order purchase, you must buy the $59.00 hard shell case.

Unplugged, the C980 has a bright, lively sound with adequate bass. More bass would be nice, but for a cutaway that is not a solid rosewood back this is probably as good as it gets. The guitar performs nicely to my style of playing, which is finger picking and chord strumming. During my guitar hunt I played Takamine, Yamaha, Fender, Tacoma, and Dean all in the $800-$1000 range, (and all in preparation for my Carvin arrival and a 10-day money back guarantee if I weren't satisfied). Of these brands, I found the C980 to be equal to or better in sound, playability and value.

Of course, the real advantage to playing a Carvin is that you get to do it in your own environment on a 10-day trial versus playing at the stores with a salesman on your back.

Plugged in is where the C980 really stands out. The onboard electronics allow for adjustments to bass, treble, brilliance and contour. You can also adjust the frequency, notch and (of course) volume. When plugged in to my Fender Bullet 15 watt practice amp--and with the bass turned up--I get a rich, deep sound.

Carvin totes its "Rapid Play" low action neck as very fast, and I can't agree or disagree. I'm not much of a lead player--more of a rhythm player and finger picker--but I will say that fingering chords at the higher frets is comfortable and easy.

There are no obvious flaws in the build of this guitar, i.e. no glue seeping at the joints, no scratches or dings. The woods used are beautiful in appearance. The body has a high gloss finish and the Paua shell inlays are a nice touch. Of note: there is no pick guard on the C980, which makes for an attractive look but also puts it at risk to scratches for the more animated player.

I expect this guitar to be reliable and durable, although I probably won?t test it too heavily. I don't play live and I don?t plan on traveling with it, either. Everything about the C980 seems solid and well put together. One complaint is there is no second strap button behind the neck. This isn?t much of an issue for me since I like to play sitting down, but even so, I?d like to have the option to stand up if I wanted. The button at the bottom of the guitar doubles as the input jack.

I called Carvin several times to ask about the status of my guitar, to change shipping addresses and to receive my UPS tracking number. It all went smoothly. Best of all, each time I called the 800 number I was never on hold for more than a minute.

Carvin guitars currently come with a 5-year warranty and a 10-day money back guarantee. Pretty good stuff.

I?ve been playing guitar for about 2-and-a-half years and this is my second acoustic. My first was a Fender AG15 dreadnaught, which I bought used for $180 in ?99. I got great use out of that guitar but decided it was time for an upgrade after playing my mom's new Washburn J12S (mini-jumbo with rosewood back/sides and spruce top, and retails for $599). The Washburn wasn?t an acoustic/electric but it had a nice, bright tone. I haven?t been able to compare the Washburn and the Carvin side-by-side for tone, but the Carvin C980 has the edge in features and looks.

I discovered Carvin?s line of acoustics after they sent me a catalogue in Feb ?02. After several weeks of research and looking for reviews online, I purchased the C980 (btw, there?s currently very little literature on the C980 outside of the Carvin discussion board, of which I read nearly every biased entry).

I have to say, my anticipation for this guitar was quite high and I wanted to like it even before I got it. Once I got it, the C980 met my expectations in every area of concern--tone, playability, looks and features. The jumbo body took a bit to get used to but now I actually prefer it to my Fender dreadnought.

Overall, it's a very impressive guitar for the price.