Carvin CT6T

Made in 2005 Quilted Maple Top, Deep Clear Finish, 22 Dunlop Jumbo frets, rosewood fingerboard, standard Carvin Humbuckers, 3 way switch, pull tone pot to split coils, wilkinson trem

Great sounding guitar! I have owned countless strats and teles, les pauls, SGs, a couple PRS guitars, Brian Moore, and a few Carvins. The other Carvins that I have owned have had a really good sound, but have all been a little on the bright side (probably a combination of the maple neck thru body, wilkinson trem, and the Carvin pickups. This guitar adds the midrange complexity that the others have been lacking...would probably add even more without the trem and maple top, but i personally feel like this is the perfect balance...FAT like a PRS or Les Paul, but with more clarity...great for clean, blues, and heavy tones...I really like the Carvin pickups, too!

Absolutley Stunning!!! I am so amazed at the workmanship of all the Carvins that I have played...I realize that most of it is done with CNC machines, but WHO CARES!?!?! that way, you have the ultimate consistency and quality control. I have never seen better fret work that what Carvin has...perfect action and intonation straight from the factory. The wilkinson trems work great for moderate use...not quite as stable as floyd rose for heavy 'dive bombing' (If you're into that, you probably wouldn't want this guitar anyway)

Very solid guitar...finish seems to be quite durable...I'm certain that the guitar would hold up well for years and years with a little bit of care and common sense. The Wilkinson trem arm insert design could use a little work, but still one of the better trem systems I have used.

My experience with Carvin sales/support has been hit and miss...It all depends on who you get...but for the most part they are helpful.

I have been playing for over 20 years...over 10 years as a professional touring musician and studio session player...I really like the Carvin guitars...I even ordered one of their acoustics and was very impressed!!! I don't think there is a guitar manufacturer that comes close to the quality for this price (or any price)!!!

2004 CT6T California Carved Top made in San Diego, California
Color: Deep purple, Top wood: 20mm tube quilt maple carved top
Body and neck wood: Honduras mahogany
Dimensions: 37.8" long, 12.7" wide
Thickness: 2.1" center, 1.5" edge, weight: 8.25 pounds
Neck construction: Set-in, graphite reinforced
Neck width: 1.69" at nut, 2.23 at 22nd fret
22 med. jumbo frets (.48" x .103")-wish I would have gone with the low/wide
Fretboard: Ebony w/abalone block inlays....25" scale
Headstock: Honduras mahogany w/matching deep purple quilted maple overlay plus gold plated logo and truss rod cover inlayed with CT6T Custom
Trem: 24k gold wilkinson....better then my a. s. strat trem!
Tuners: 24k gold sperzel locking
Knobs: 24k gold recessed volume and push/pull coil tap/tone control
3 way pick up selector
Pick-ups: Carvin C22N and C22B....Cream bezels w/zebra covers
Strap locks: Dunlop locking....hate them! Don't need them!

tweed case w/ Carvin logo....Stunning!
all for 1453 dollars....an unbelievable price for a custom made carved top!

I bought the guitar for power chord, blow the walls down style 80's rock! Zepplin, Kiss, Queensryche, Rush, Aerosmith....just to name a few.... It suits my needs perfectly....for the past 2 years I've been searching over the internet and local stores for just the right guitar....it wasn't until just recently that I even considered buying a Carvin....but one day after tiring of finding killer guitars but all for 1800 dollars or more....this catalog shows up in the mail with a Carved top guitar....after checking it out I was convinced I was going to buy a Carvin CT6 because Carvin lets you design your own....how cool is that? and it only took them from May 31st(day I made the order) to July 14th to get it to me! And now I have an original carved top guitar!
I play through a Fender 65 Reverb Deluxe and have a Marshall MG50dfx for my back-up
I also play through a Boss ME-50 when I want to add any effects
This guitar sounds very versatile but if you own a Boss ME-50 any guitar becomes that way....with out it though it still is extremely versatile due to being able to change from humbucker to single coil.
I like it loud and these humbuckers kick ass both the neck, bridge and in between....single coils sounds are good but not like my Strats.
I definitly like its distorted sounds better then its cleans. Clean sometimes sounds a little bright possibly due to the Ebony fretboard.

Ouch! Mine wasn't set up too good when it arrived....Kinda strange because it didn't have to go to far between San Diego and Seattle....could've been those Fed-Ex guys.... the way some of them throw packages around....
Anyway when it arrived I didn't know how to open the case....So I called customer service....as Iwas waiting I thought why did they send me a case without a KEY....15 mniutes later when I finally got a hold of someome and he told me how simple it was, boy did I feel stupid....it was so easy....but they should have some directions....Opening the case though was like WOW! Coludn't believe how awesome it looked. The customer service guy even waited on the line and asked me how it looked! That was cool.
Well it certainly wasn't in tune....in fact it sounded UHHGGG! Figured I'd just tune it up and she'd be great but then snap....thin e-string breaks! Could have been my inexperience with sperzel tuners but regardless not a good start....grabbed one of my strat silver bullet e-strings and put it on....no problem....tuned it up....not bad....check intonation....oh sh_ _! Close but not close enough....not having the best ear this part is very frustrating to me, even with the help of an electronic tuner its frustrating to me.
Then there was the fret buzz....most notable on the fat e-string 7th fret....well carvin does provide easy to understand detailed instructions on how to correct this by adjusting the truss rod....but then to also adjust the rest to get the intonation just right is kind of an unwanted hassle. So anyway I set out to correct all this and have done a reasonable job and am satisfied with the sound but some day when I'm okay with letting someone else touch this guitar I will have a profsessional set it up right....I just don't have the patience myself to get it exact. And the way this guitar looks I don't even want my grandmother to touch it.
Pick-ups came just right....but the second day I had the guitar I changed my cream bezels to black ones just to see how it would look and also experimented with different heights....liked them best the way the factory sent them.
Absolutley flawless finish....best I've seen except in 3500 dollar plus PRS'. All joints are perfectly fitted
Plug in jack was loose....seems like all guitars have this problem

This guitar seems very durable....every thing feels solid and should hold up well....
Its to early to judge the longevity of the CT6's finish because Carvin just came out with the first ones in May of 2004....the finish is thinner then PRS'
I really like the strap buttons and feel no need for lock-ons besides the dunlops are big, ugly and will cut you just installing your strap to them....ouch!
The guitar seems very dependable but you should always have a back-up....for now mine will be a Fender Strat but now I'd like to find a mid-eighties Carvin....one with the pointy headstock and body.

Best there is.... I say this because of the Carvin discussion board....why call customer service....your every answer and opinion will be freely given there....and usually responces are extremely quick.
When it comes right down to it.... who has good customer service anyway? the problem is its to slow....if you speak english press this if you want this press this,then press this then more of the same and then 15 minutes later you might get a hold of someone with some usefull information. But at Carvin atleast when I did finally get a hold of the right person they were always knowledgeable, helpfull and seemed to sincerely want to help. Very friendly service during all my dealings with them so far.
Never had to get any repairs on any of my guitars but am starting to think it would be nice to someday have a qualified professional look at and set it up right....besides I'd like to see there face when I open the case....will they have the same opinion after they play it? I'd bet....Hell yeah!

I've been playing on and off for 30 years....started off on a banjo then 6 string and 12 string accoustics then electric....played a Strat almost exclusively and think for clean sound they can't be beat but I believe we all have inflated and unrealistic views of our own guitars. Wanted a Dual Humbucker guitar.....
.... other guitars I also tried and considered: PRS Singlecut Trem, PRS Custom 22 and 24, Hamer Studio Custom, Gibson Les Paul Customs and Standards and Jackson Soloists. Would have liked any one of them.

95% of the people I knew who played guitar when asked what they'd buy with 2000 dollars said Les Paul....95% at guitar center said PRS....some said Jackson, some Ibanez, some Schecter....Nobody said Carvin.
If it were lost or stolen I would order the same guitar with the low wide frets or the stainless steel ones....other wise this is everything I ever wanted in a solid body electric.
One of the biggest concerns I was warned about when buying a Carvin was there resale value....the thing is I don't know why any one would want to sell a custom made guitar....As far as I'm concerned this is as good as they get.