The Official Carvin Guitars Thread

[KieselGuitars]

Check out some of these for our Wednesday shop walk thru!

CT624 (California Carved Top) Deep moss green over flamed maple top with Zebrawood fretboard:

AM6 (Aries Multiscale) translucent orange over burl maple top on ash body in antique ash treatment:

TL70 in Jet black in a satin finish, zebrawood fretbaord and customer pick ups:

A7(Aries) translucent moss green over white limba body:

AC50 In flamed koa top with a tung oil finish:

IC5 (Icon bass series) figured claro walnut top on a black limba body:

Bonus round.

 

[Alberto7]

People have really been going to town with the specs lately, eh? some of those are so over the top that I don't even! Multiscale with translucent orange burled maple over antique finished swamp ash with a natural binding and zebrawood fretboard?! Jesus. Not to mention that bright blue and pink Aries that surfaced recently. On the one hand it is soooo cool to have so many options, but on the ther I wonder just what the heck people are thinking.

 

[olejason]

Any plans to offer ebony tops on guitars other than the K series?

 

[KieselGuitars]

People have really been going to town with the specs lately, eh? some of those are so over the top that I don't even! Multiscale with translucent orange burled maple over antique finished swamp ash with a natural binding and zebrawood fretboard?! Jesus. Not to mention that bright blue and pink Aries that surfaced recently. On the one hand it is soooo cool to have so many options, but on the ther I wonder just what the heck people are thinking.

Sometimes I don't get it either, but ya know? Different strokes I guess. Then again, I just like a plain satin black guitar haha!

Any plans to offer ebony tops on guitars other than the K series?

Ebony can be ordered on most models yes!

Well, walked through the shop to take some pics of a few finishing up for you lovely folks! Check them out!

KM7 (Anniversary K Series Multiscale) with a buckeye burl top, 3 piece body, on walnut, royal ebony fretboard, Kiesel lithium Pickups and Hipshot Bridge:

SH675 in deep honeyburst over flamed maple top:

AM7 (Aries Multiscale) in Deep Tiger's eye over flamed maple top with Kiesel Lithium Pick ups and Hipshot bridge:

DC600 in a black limba body in a satin finish:

VB4 (Vader Headless Bass) in Deep lava:

JBV6 (Limited edition Jason Becker Tribute Numbers Vader) Left handed Custom pink with Seymour Duncan Pickups:

B24 (Brian Bromberg Signature Model) In deep aqua Caliburst:

 

[Snarpaasi]

Hi there!

I have a DC127 which is currently over six years old. The guitar has been a dream come true and I still look at it everyday thinking "whoah what an instrument I have", so I would say it has been totally worth it. I heavily value the unplugged tone which is strong (perhaps due to neck-through and string-thru TOM) and I can tune the guitar by feeling the resonance in the neck. However I might have a minor GAS to an aquaburst, originated from Misha's guitars and also would like to have another guitar with a bolt-on neck (including smooth joint) for increased attack. Does somebody know how big the difference is in resonance when focusing on the neck-joint, neck-thru vs. bolt-on?

Must-have options would also be chambered body and satin finish, because I believe they will enhance the unplugged tone, resonance and light-weight properties. Satin finish is maybe the thing I love the most in my guitar. What I also like about Carvin, is that they offer SS frets for quite an affordable price and even nowadays options for neck thickness (and quite a bunch of other things). However, I have felt the DC127 neck to be just perfect so that is not my concern.

Thinking about Aries model, it has the option for chambered body and bolt-on neck but since I am going for a flamed maple top, the beveled top just ruins the looks in my opinion. Isn't it so that only solid colours don't have that top "mismatch"? Another option could be Vader but they are neck-thru and I'm not sure if I like a headless model in a long run.

If I decided to go for an Aries, what body wood would look nice against the aquaburst? There were few pages ago this CT-series guitar which looks absolutely great. Maybe If I took blackburst edges, the bevel and body wood wouldn't look so bad against aquaburst? http://i.imgur.com/8ypUtFo.jpg

E: Also this one looks like I could jump to swim in it! https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/63/83/0d/63830d90a224732272aed5fd77cb2421.jpg

 

[narad]

Question: there's a lot of variation in the quality of the flame tops. Are the tops graded? If there's a certain "look" I want, can I include a picture in an order to replicate that kind of wood? I mean, Kiesel is huge so I imagine the wood to match any other Kiesel is there, but I'm not sure you have any say in it, or if it's just luck of the draw.

And second question: can you order HSS or SSS on the vader? I don't think I've seen anyone do it before.

 

[mnemonic]

I think I saw an H/S Vader a while back.

edit - checked my computer, I don't appear to have saved the picture.

 

[narad]

I think I saw an H/S Vader a while back.

edit - checked my computer, I don't appear to have saved the picture.

Oh yea, you're right. "single coil" is a much better search term here I guess!

 

[ramses]

Question: there's a lot of variation in the quality of the flame tops. Are the tops graded? If there's a certain "look" I want, can I include a picture in an order to replicate that kind of wood? I mean, Kiesel is huge so I imagine the wood to match any other Kiesel is there, but I'm not sure you have any say in it, or if it's just luck of the draw.

They use AAAA tops for all builds. What's AAAA in Carvin/Kiesel's world?

This:

http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/sevenstring-guitars/285436-ngd-carvin-ct7.html

That's standard. I simply used the web order form.

If you call, you can pay an extra $100.00, and they will let you approve of the top before they start the build.

I'm sure that in a Kiesel K series build you'll get anything you want, if you pay for it.

 

[ferret]

If you call, you can pay an extra $100.00, and they will let you approve of the top before they start the build.

I've never heard of them letting you approve the top. The $100 I've always heard about is to have a photo match, and they say up front that they'll try their best to match but its not 100% guaranteed.

 

[HighGain510]

I've never heard of them letting you approve the top. The $100 I've always heard about is to have a photo match, and they say up front that they'll try their best to match but its not 100% guaranteed.

That is also what I have been told. They would "do their best to match", but never giving the buyer an option for approval. Unless the policy has changed, that was what I was told the last time I ordered a figured top so I didn't bother asking about it on my last build, otherwise I would have happily opted for that upcharge too.

 

[KieselGuitars]

Geez! You guys basically already answered all the questions asked in here already I think!

I guess we need to have everyone leave the SSO account open all day to answer questions, but you guys seem to have answered everything already!

Here are a few I took today in the walkthrough. One of these caused a serious drooling issue for me, betcha can't guess which one?

CS624 (California Single) in black denim over flamed maple top on black limba body:

V6 (Vader headless Guitar) in Deep black cherry over flamed maple top:

AM7 (Aries Multiscale) deep aqua burst:

AM7 ( Aries Multiscale) in Blue mist metallic in a satin finish, zebrawood fretboard:

A6 (Aries) in Jet Black in raw tone finish over ash body:

V7 (Vader headless guitar) with a figured claro walnut top:

V6 (Vader Headless Guitar) Lefty in deep blue over flamed maple top:

 

[ykcirj]

How much is the Brittish Racing Green finish? I want to order a Tl60 or an ScB6 in that color with Royal ebony board and black hardware.

Thanks!

 

[feraledge]

Bent top Vaders. Just so, so much better.

 

[Alberto7]

Bent top Vaders. Just so, so much better.

Absolutely man. The difference is huge. Like, these two:

V6 (Vader headless Guitar) in Deep black cherry over flamed maple top:

V6 (Vader Headless Guitar) Lefty in deep blue over flamed maple top:

That's some good sh!t.

 

[Alberto7]

I've also been staring at this one for quite some time. Jeez, I love me that satin black top, natural sides and back, (mahogany?) chrome (gold? can't quite tell, but pretty either way) covers, and light-colored fretboard combo.

TL70 in Jet black in a satin finish, zebrawood fretbaord and customer pick ups:

 

[KieselGuitars]

How much is the Brittish Racing Green finish? I want to order a Tl60 or an ScB6 in that color with Royal ebony board and black hardware.

Thanks!

You know, I THOUGHT it was, but now I'm second-guessing myself. Let me ask my sales guys and get back to you!

Edit: just heard back, it is a No-Charge Option, just need to call in!

Bent top Vaders. Just so, so much better.

Glad you dig!

Absolutely man. The difference is huge. Like, these two:

That's some good sh!t.

Yeah, you know? I liked the top stopping but sometimes it wasn't my personal favorite. Glad Jeff got the system read to do this on the Vader now, people really seem to like it! I mainly play solid color guitars these days, so it didn't affect me too much anyway, but super glad everyone is stoked on this new feature!

I've also been staring at this one for quite some time. Jeez, I love me that satin black top, natural sides and back, (mahogany?) chrome (gold? can't quite tell, but pretty either way) covers, and light-colored fretboard combo.

Yeah Mahogany Back I believe on this one. Custom sent in EMGs in silver for it! Looks awesome in my opinion as well! Thanks dude!

 

[Alberto7]

Yeah, ever since getting my flamed koa-topped DC727 6 years ago, I've come to appreciate solid colors more and more. I'm more afraid of blemishing a fancy top than a solid-colored guitar. I'm kinda tired of babying the same instrument for so long now, just so that it doesn't look all torn up. It's like I'm afraid of my own guitar and, as pretty and as visually inviting as it is, it makes it kind of intimidating. A similar configuration to that TL70 up there but on a Vader would likely be my go-to for whenever I do get another guitar. (Not any time soon, most likely, but some day.)

 

[KieselGuitars]

Some sweeeeeeet ones today! Enjoy!

A6H (Aries) Special blue denim yellow burst:

A7H (Aries) Translucent white caliburst over spalted maple top:

V49K (Vanquish Series) gorgeous buckeye burl top, 3 piece body, walnut body and royal ebony fretboard:

K6 (K Series) ebony top, 3 piece body and a tung oil finish:

DC400 with a zebrawood top, zebra wood fretboard:

V59k (Vanquish Series) translucent aqua burst over a spalted maple top on a black limba body:

VB6 (Vader headless Bass) With Kiesel Racing Green top:

HH1X (Allan Holdsworth Signature model) in Deep aquaburst over quilted maple top:

A6H Ash body in antique ash treatment:

V7 (Vader Headless) Ash top in Jet black Raw tone finish with ash body:

HH2X (Allan Holdsworth Signature Model) in Tobacco Sunburst in a satin finish:

V8 (Vader Headless Guitar) in Sea Foam Green over Ash top in a raw tone finish over ash body:

Bonus Pic: 7 string Jason Becker "Bluey" (Coming Soon to the website) Available for pre-order now if you call in!

ANNNND A Buckeye Burl V59K Vanquish for good measure:

 

[KieselGuitars]

K6H (K Series) with a Buckeye Burl top:

DC400 in deep purple over flamed maple top:

V7 (Vader Healdess) in deep umber:

GH24 (Greg Howe Signature Model) in deep red caliburst:

DC700 Deep black stain over flamed maple top:

DC600 in Deep red over flamed maple top with royal ebony fretboard:

Vanquish V69k:

K7 (K Series) with a flamed Koa top on black limba body, royal ebony fretboard:

DC800 with walnut neck & body with black burst edges in a satin finish:

CT6 (California Carved Top) in Blue Denim:

AM8 (Aries Multiscale) in Purple Caliburst over flamed maple top in a satin finish, purple heart fretboard :