Carvin SH550

[barryjohns]

My Carvin SH550 Semi-Hollowbody showed up today. Here is a link:

https://www.carvinguitars.com/catalo...hp?model=sh550

I own and have owned many Carvin Guitars, all have been fantastic. This one is over the top amazing. Plays and sounds like a dream. The best guitar Carvin has "Ever" made.

I plugged it in and was in heaven. I can clearly see my PRS, Gibson Les Paul, Fender Strat, and several Carvin guitars all taking a backseat. I can't recommend this guitar enough.

[Pasta4lnch]

Originally Posted by barryjohns

My Carvin SH550 Semi-Hollowbody showed up today. Here is a link:

https://www.carvinguitars.com/catalo...hp?model=sh550

I own and have owned many Carvin Guitars, all have been fantastic. This one is over the top amazing. Plays and sounds like a dream. The best guitar Carvin has "Ever" made.

I plugged it in and was in heaven. I can clearly see my PRS, Gibson Les Paul, Fender Strat, and several Carvin guitars all taking a backseat. I can't recommend this guitar enough.

I gotta say my experience w/ carvin wasn;t very pleasant. the guitar itself is nice, which I suppose is all that matters, but the whole process of getting it kinda blew. I think my next custom instrument will be warmoth (that being said I like simple designs like Fenders . . .)

I will say the neck feels really nice and the over-all build quality is pretty good as well . . .

[barryjohns]

Carvin’s customer support is pathetic on a good day. Has been for years. Although I will say that the guy who helped me with this guitar was really good. Historically though, they are a bunch of arrogant people and makes me feel that that attitude starts at the top and that is why is so rampant throughout their company. Tons of Customer Service complaints at Harmony Central.

That being said, they make amazing guitars that cannot be touched in their price range. I really don’t care about their customer service, it has always been irrelevant to me, when I‘ve needed to I’ve played hardball and they have caved, but I should not have to do that. Like change something on an order 3 days after it was placed, please, charge me 25 bucks for that, I don’t think so, you haven’t even thought about starting the guitar yet.

I love their guitars though; have been playing them for 20 years. They smoke my Paul Reed Smith, Fenders, and Gibson Les Paul Standard. Don’t get me wrong, I love those guitars too, but Carvin spanks them in craftsmanship, quality, and playability. Carvin Pickups can be hit/miss. I will say that the Pups that came on my SH550 sound really, really good.

Look you can always find a few people who have had issues with Carvin Guitars, but the overwhelmingly positive feedback on their guitars can’t be ignored. Just read the reviews at Harmony Central. If we want to talk defects, let’s talk Gibson, who’s Quality Control is non-existent, even from their so-called “Custom Shop”.

If anyone is looking for an amazing guitar, the Carvin SH550 is one amazing deal.

[ewegogetemtiger]

Congrats on the new and beautiful guitar. I'm glad they did right by you more or less. And I hope the 'romance' doesn't end soon for you.

The last time I dealt with Carvin I finally got what I ordered but the experience was so ****ed up I will never give those ass hats any of my money again. Their customer service dept. is the worst I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with. I've had multiple dealings with every single person in that dept. and it makes my hand shake just recalling their BS

The guitar I ordered is well-built but the electronics are sterile and bland and while all my other guitars are rock solid when it comes to neck stability I have to keep the truss rod cover off the Carvin to tweak it about every two weeks. Just like the last Carvin I owned before that. It's by far the coolest-looking guitar I've ever owned (the quilt top will take your breath away in even low light) but it hardly comes out of the case after a short honeymoon of a couple of months. My G&L guitars just blow it away in terms of tone, vibe, neck carve, etc.

It's pretty sad that a company can alienate and enrage their long-standing customer base (I had been buying stuff from Carvin for about ten years before I simply threw up my hands at them).

Not to rain on your new guitar day. They can make a good guitar and it looks like you got a good one. Congrats again, it does look amazing

[lordmiguel]

dude that looks sweet.

how would you describe the sound of the S22's?

[barryjohns]

Originally Posted by lordmiguel

dude that looks sweet.

how would you describe the sound of the S22's?

I've not historically been a big fan of Carvin Pickups, but I don't know if it’s these pickups or the guitar or both, but I love they way they sound. Very defined. Neck and Middle Position both in Humbucker and Single Coil I'd call creamy. Bridge position humbucker, Raw and full of Chunk, single coil bridge, crisp, and clear. I can't stop playing this guitar, and I've got some really nice guitars in my collection. After a day, it's already my favorite, just a joy to play, listen to, and to look at!!!!! !

[ewegogetemtiger]

could be adding the covers improved the sound of the pups

[Orren]

Beautiful guitar! I've been looking very seriously at one of those myself. I have two guitars with 13-pin systems, and I'm considering the synth access version.

I've owned Carvin guitars for nearly 10-years. In the day, I had a Carvin 7-string, and now I have a Carvin AE185-12L (acoustic electric 12-string lefty). One reason I've always had a soft spot for them is that they'll make anything lefty for no extra money. Another is that the build quality has always been very good.

FWIW, I bought my last Carvin talking to a sales rep over the phone; other than being told it would be about 8 weeks and having it take about 15 weeks, it was absolutely fine. I got exactly what I wanted and no issues at all while ordering.

Orren

[Tube World]

Just ordered a Carvin SH550; based on the youtube videos of the guitar, it seems to be pretty good. I am very familar with Carvin and I know that the craftmanship is excellent. The sound of their solid body guitar lack the personality of a Gibson or Fender, but they sound good and for rock and roll is excellent. I was looking for a jazz type of guitar and like the semi hollow body design. However everyone has the Gibson sound and I want something different . The PRS is too expensive, and I hopeful this guitar will have the tone I am looking for. I already know it looks great, but the sound and playabiltiy is what is important.