• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Guitarists, check out Carvin's new 8 string. It's pretty.

Status
Not open for further replies.
http://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/index.php?model=dc800

The evolution of Carvin's electric guitar continues with the release of the new DC800 27" scale extended range 8-string guitar. For years, customers have been asking the Custom Shop to take our vast experience with 7-string models, and offer the same craftsmanship and features in an 8-string model, and we're proud to respond with this amazing new instrument. The DC800 has several new features, including Carvin A80 active 8-string pickups and a new hardtail bridge. The body has a deep rear body cutout and deep top arm contour for comfortable playing. With hundreds of available options, you can build your DC800 exactly the way you want it, and have an instrument that you'll be proud to play and own for years to come. And because we sell direct to you, you can expect big savings over a comparable "off the wall" instrument from a big box retailer - plus, the DC800 is made in the USA by our skilled craftsmen.

The DC800 is more than just a 7-string guitar with an extra string added. This guitar has been designed from the ground up as a completely new model, and will appeal to the most demanding jazz, prog-rock and metal guitarists who need the extra range an 8-string guitar provides.

The DC800 has a standard alder body and maple neck-through design. Alder is a high-quality tone wood used by many manufacturers because of its relative light weight and fine resonating tone. It's slightly darker in color than maple, which accentuates the DC800's neck. Alder also has a subtle and attractive grain that looks great in any of Carvin's many finishes, including solid colors, translucent finishes and our metallic solid finishes. Although alder is the standard wood, optional woods such as swamp ash, maple, mahogany, walnut and koa are available, all of which have their own tonal characteristics. You can add premium top woods, such as AAAA flamed maple, AAAA quilted maple, flamed koa, flamed spalted maple and California Claro walnut.

The standard maple neck clarifies the overall tone of the instrument, but other neck woods, such as mahogany and koa are offered for their own slightly warmer tonal qualities. 5-piece necks of different combinations of maple, walnut and koa add to the already great looks of this instrument, and if an optional top wood is selected, you can choose whether you want the neck to show on the top or not. All of our necks and fingerboards undergo a long conditioning process in our de-humidification chambers to remove any stress in the wood and prevent future warping or twisting. Carvin's dual-action, fully adjustable truss rod helps keep the neck straight and true, and allows you to set the action just the way you like it. The graphite-teflon nut is precision-cut, and allows the strings to move smoothly without binding. The new 4 X 4 pointed headstock adds to the aggressive looks of the instrument, and the straight string-pull design helps reduce string breakage, especially with heavy playing.

The DC800 features a standard 27" extended scale ebony fingerboard with white pearl dot inlays, a semi-flat 20" radius and 24 medium-jumbo nickel frets. Carvin offers more fingerboard options than most manufactures offer for their entire guitar lines. You can choose from rosewood, maple, birdseye maple or flamed maple fingerboards; and dot, block, diamond or Signature inlays in mother-of-pearl or genuine abalone. Carvin also offers a number of fretwire options, including jumbo, low-wide and stainless steel. Carvin's "Rapid Play" low action neck assures effortless playability throughout the entire fingerboard, while the smooth neck heel allows easy access all the way up to the 24th fret.

Our new 8-string hardtail bridge with strings fed through the body is standard. This new bridge is fully adjustable for height and intonation, and provides exceptional sustain. Sperzel™ locking tuners ensure you'll stay in tune no matter what your playing style is. Standard hardware is chrome, or you can upgrade to black or gold.


The DC800 comes equipped with Carvin's new direct-mount A80 humbucking pickups, which produce clear mids and highs, and an aggressive growl in the lower registers. Controls consist of a master volume and passive tone control with a 3-way lever-style pickup selector. Active electronics provide exceptional tonal variety, suitable for all styles of playing.

Carvin also offers the DC700, which is a 7-string model with similar features as the DC800. The DC700 features active A70 pickups, a 25 1/2" scale length, and Carvin's M-bridge, with a licensed Floyd Rose tremolo optional. The DC700 can be outfitted with many of the same options, include top woods, body & neck woods, fingerboard woods, inlays, fretwire and much more.

The only way to appreciate the performance of a Carvin product is to use it in your own environment, giving it the test of "real world" performance. Take 10 days to try out your Carvin DC700. If you're not completely satisfied, you can return it - no questions asked. Your trial period starts when the merchandise is received by you, not when it's shipped. Really give it a workout. If you're not satisfied for any reason, send it back for a prompt refund or exchange - you would only be responsible for the return shipping.

The DC800 is built at Carvin's Custom Shop in San Diego, California.

dc800-closeup-1.jpg


dc800-closeup-2.jpg


dc800-closeup-3.jpg


dc800-closeup-4.jpg


297663_2266902150073_1174127963_32135257_1058145590_n.jpg
 
When I was shopping I considered a Carvin. Pretty cool that you can config your guitar like you can a Dell computer.
 
When I was shopping I considered a Carvin. Pretty cool that you can config your guitar like you can a Dell computer.

Do they sound good though? A guy at our local music shop told me a long time ago that Carvins were just a crappy mail order guitar made out of inferior wood and proprietary pickups. I've never really researched them, and he was probably just saying that because they are a competitor though.
 
Do they sound good though? A guy at our local music shop told me a long time ago that Carvins were just a crappy mail order guitar made out of inferior wood and proprietary pickups. I've never really researched them, and he was probably just saying that because they are a competitor though.

Complaint I've heard was they lack "soul". Never actually played on so I cannot comment.
 
I had a Carvin LB75 I bought in 1991, and had for over a decade. That was a nice bass, and well worth the money paid. Though I do think the "As good as instruments selling for twice the price..." line is a little bit of a stretch.

(flame maple top in a translucent vintage yellow stain, black hardware. Looked real nice, too)
 
Do they sound good though? A guy at our local music shop told me a long time ago that Carvins were just a crappy mail order guitar made out of inferior wood and proprietary pickups. I've never really researched them, and he was probably just saying that because they are a competitor though.

hahah what a clown.

Carvins, especially today, are top shelf instruments. To say they are crappy just shows he doesn't know what he's talking about. A carvin guitar, especially a highly custom one with exotic woods, etc. is on par with a high end PRS.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/customshop/carvedtop.php

ct6-main.jpg


If you must, you can send them pickups/hardware you want used.

A guy at my church did just that. He had certain pickups he wanted used, so he just shipped them to carvin when he ordered his guitar and they put them in. He was just going to swap them out, but carvin said they would wire them up right, the first time, so he never had to mess with it.
 
I always liked the Carvin business model, and the features they offered for the price, but unless you're in California, or find one used at a local shop, you can't play it before you spend all that money.
 
I always liked the Carvin business model, and the features they offered for the price, but unless you're in California, or find one used at a local shop, you can't play it before you spend all that money.

Yea, it's a risk.

And if you do find one in a used shop, it might not be the model you want, so it's still hard to say.

I've got two carvin guitars (guitar and bass) and they're wonderful.
 
A guy at my church did just that. He had certain pickups he wanted used, so he just shipped them to carvin when he ordered his guitar and they put them in. He was just going to swap them out, but carvin said they would wire them up right, the first time, so he never had to mess with it.

That is really cool that they do that.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top