Product: Carvin DC127
Price Paid: US $419
Submitted
06/22/1998
at
10:57am
by
Andy Buschmann
Email: aandroid at rocketmail<dot>com
Features
:
10
Actually my guitar is a DC 125 with 2 pickups. I custom ordered it in 1986 when the DC 127 did not exist. Back then Carvin used Eastern hardrock maple. The catalog wt. is 8lbs; use a nice padded strap if you have a 4 hour gig. One night in the middle of a gig the lead pickup went out-- after almost 5 years Carvin replaced it for free. I put a Carvin M22V in the neck position to replace the stock bassy pickup M22N. The M22V is a wonderful pickup, not muddy, great for clean rhythm and high lead stuff- it sings for days. 24 frets, deep pearl blue finish, Sperzel tuners (I put them on some years later, now standard) fine tuner tail piece. This guitar stays in tune very well.
Sound
:
10
In humbucking mode the guitar is very quiet; with single coil it hums if you face the amp but that is physics for you. I use it with a aCArvin X60C amp purchased in 1985. The sound is on the bright side, the sustain is excellent. It is a rock guitar. The M22V pickup is not for bassy sounds; get an M22N for more lows. I have nothing bad to say about this guitar's sounds after playing it for 13 years.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
I had to raise the action in order to bend strings. That should tell you something about the playability. After 13 years I need new bridge pieces; The high e rattles a little from a too-wide slot. The pickups have individual string adjustments (2 per string) to taylor volume. The controls have a high quality feel. The guitar came set up from the factory in great condition.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
The neck pickup failed after 4 plus years and CArvin replaced it for free. I don't have a back up guitar and probably won't.The finish is showing some aging but only when the light hits it just right. I don't know if Carvin will refinish their products. In a nutshell, This guitar has withstood 13 years of rock with one pickup failure. I would buy it again.
Customer Support
:
10
With guitars and amps I have had no problem with Carvin warranty work.
Overall Rating
:
10
If this guitar was lost/ wrecked today I would order another Carvin guitar without hesitation. It is a little heavy but these days Carvin uses alder instead of maple. I played a Gibson 335 for 14 years and the Carvin workmanship and price beats the Gibson by miles.
