Author Topic: Checking the Market... (Read 3818 times)

noodleplugerine · « **on:** February 14, 2008, 09:35:46 PM »

Towards the end of the year, I plan to buy a proper guitar. Specifically...

A curved top superstrat with a 25 or 24.75" scale length, 24 fret ebony board, and a floyd rose. Neck through construction, Probably mahogany/mahogany with either a quilt or flame maple top. Humbucker/Humbucker and no inlays on the fretboard.

My questions are - Anyone know something that will fit the bill nicely? Budget is around £1000, much more and I might aswell go custom.

What I'm currently looking at is this...

https://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/index.php?model=ct6

Considering the pound at the moment, a carvin custom could be RIGHT up my street - Anyone actually played one? And if so, can anyone speak up about their quality control? I've seen a few users on the boards with Carvins, but I want to particularly now how similar these guys are to a genuine custom builder...

They certainly look nice - its the exact look I'm going for, just a shame that its a set neck instead of a neck through, and its a further shame that their neck throughs aren't curved top, and a FURTHER shame that its not 24 fret (But their choices seem great!!!).

Surely - If they look as good as they play, and the exchange rate stays fresh - How could I avoid them?

On the other hand, I could spend a bit extra and go for a custom builder perhaps? Could Legra or Wez build something like this? (I doubt I could stretch to the price of a Feline :( )

Another thing to think about - Dean Hardtail? They seem pretty, but I'm not a big fan of Dean it has to be said... Anyone know what they're like to play?

Will · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2008, 09:38:59 PM »

I am no expert, but a mate played a dean hardtail, and said it just resonates and sustains so much.
He didn't get one for xmas as he hoped, and didn't play guitar after that lol (a year or two ago)

Jonny · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2008, 09:51:25 PM »

Take into consideration that the next three months inflation is going to be higher than pollution levels in Beijing.

(And that's feckin' high)

ailean · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2008, 10:00:32 PM »

It's probably too early to do much now, but I'd certainly be talking to Wez and Jonathan. We have a wez build that is being sprayed around now and is looking great, and that Feline Tele I just picked up was £1200 new, so depending on what you want a Feline might be available.

My personal opinion is if you can stretch to a custom build DO IT. Not only will you get exactly what you ask for, but you'll have a unique guitar. The wez build we are getting has an inlay which is custom to us, and has a meaning to us (more when we post the pics of the finished product, hopefully in March), that's worth the price of a custom alone.

Dakine · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2008, 10:03:34 PM »

Carvin are VERY well made and great guitars, but used they BOMB in price (here anyway).

Jonny · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2008, 10:08:24 PM »

After further looking into Carvin. I found this 'Make your Own Guitar' thing.

Here's what I decided on:

Model: CT6C, Right Handed, Floyd Rose Tremolo

   -NMAH - Mahogany Neck & Body (Standard)
   BGB - Black Gloss Back & Sides
   -CG - Clear Gloss Finish (Standard)
   QDR6 - Deep Red Quilt
   BST - Blackburst Edges
   5MW - Maple Neck w/ 2 Walnut Stripes
   -CTH - Carved Top Headstock (Standard)
   QPH4 - Quilted Maple Headstock
   -EB - Ebony Fingerboard (Standard)
   NIN - No Top Inlays - Side Dots Only
   6100 - Jumbo Frets .055" H .110" W
   -R12 - 12in Fretboard Radius (Standard)
   -C22B - C22B Bridge Pickup (Standard)
   -C22J - C22J Neck Pickup (Standard)
   -400 - Black Coils w/ Black Bezels (Standard)
   BC - Black Hardware
   -46 - Elixer 1046E Light Gauge .010 - .046 (Standard)
   GL - Gold Plated Logo
   HC11 - Form-Fitted ABS Hardshell Case

And it came to a total of... $1,868 ! Which is (currently) £740.00 !

Dakine · « **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2008, 10:11:02 PM »

Quote from: Jonny

After further looking into Carvin. I found this 'Make your Own Guitar' thing.

Here's what I decided on:

Model: CT6C, Right Handed, Floyd Rose Tremolo

   -NMAH - Mahogany Neck & Body (Standard)
   BGB - Black Gloss Back & Sides
   -CG - Clear Gloss Finish (Standard)
   QDR6 - Deep Red Quilt
   BST - Blackburst Edges
   5MW - Maple Neck w/ 2 Walnut Stripes
   -CTH - Carved Top Headstock (Standard)
   QPH4 - Quilted Maple Headstock
   -EB - Ebony Fingerboard (Standard)
   NIN - No Top Inlays - Side Dots Only
   6100 - Jumbo Frets .055" H .110" W
   -R12 - 12in Fretboard Radius (Standard)
   -C22B - C22B Bridge Pickup (Standard)
   -C22J - C22J Neck Pickup (Standard)
   -400 - Black Coils w/ Black Bezels (Standard)
   BC - Black Hardware
   -46 - Elixer 1046E Light Gauge .010 - .046 (Standard)
   GL - Gold Plated Logo
   HC11 - Form-Fitted ABS Hardshell Case

And it came to a total of... $1,868 ! Which is (currently) £740.00 !

more like 950 gbp today + shipping+duty

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2008, 10:14:42 PM »

Quote from: Dakine

Quote from: Jonny
After further looking into Carvin. I found this 'Make your Own Guitar' thing.

Here's what I decided on:

Model: CT6C, Right Handed, Floyd Rose Tremolo

   -NMAH - Mahogany Neck & Body (Standard)
   BGB - Black Gloss Back & Sides
   -CG - Clear Gloss Finish (Standard)
   QDR6 - Deep Red Quilt
   BST - Blackburst Edges
   5MW - Maple Neck w/ 2 Walnut Stripes
   -CTH - Carved Top Headstock (Standard)
   QPH4 - Quilted Maple Headstock
   -EB - Ebony Fingerboard (Standard)
   NIN - No Top Inlays - Side Dots Only
   6100 - Jumbo Frets .055" H .110" W
   -R12 - 12in Fretboard Radius (Standard)
   -C22B - C22B Bridge Pickup (Standard)
   -C22J - C22J Neck Pickup (Standard)
   -400 - Black Coils w/ Black Bezels (Standard)
   BC - Black Hardware
   -46 - Elixer 1046E Light Gauge .010 - .046 (Standard)
   GL - Gold Plated Logo
   HC11 - Form-Fitted ABS Hardshell Case

And it came to a total of... $1,868 ! Which is (currently) £740.00 !

more like 950 gbp today + shipping+duty

Still a damn good bargain though. Considering the flexibility you get, and I've heard good thing said.

Anyone got any alternatives, or any shock horror stories?

Dakine · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2008, 10:17:55 PM »

TBH, VERY wellmade nice guitars but for that kinda thing I would go Jackson or EBMM (like my Pet for sale ;)).

WezV · « **Reply #9 on:** February 15, 2008, 12:35:08 AM »

hard to compete with them prices but like ailean suggests, you dont always go custom to get a bargain, you certainly dont go to a uk custom builder for a bargain (although ailean and sue really did get one with that feline), we cant really compete on a global scale. The carvins dont hold there value well but neither do custom made guitars if the spec is too personal

if you can get what you want from carvin for a good price then i would go for it.. they make nice guitars

for a grand i could do a similar guitar without the floyd rose and without the fancy maple and the carve- although i could probably include an alternative fancy wood as a drop top... flamed and quilted maple is vastly overpriced.. i blame PRS

drop tops are a lot cheaper than carved tops because you need a hefty chunk of maple to get a deep carve and you need to spend a lot of time carving it. you also need it to be perfectly and consistently pale (most maple isnt) to get that blue looking good

if you wanted a floyd i wouldnt build without a top quality one (lets say a schaller - at least £120) which adds a lot to the price compared to a tune o matic (standard gotoh £25) - not to mention all the extra work a floyd needs for installing and setting up

noodle - you just have expensive tastes i am afraid :P

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #10 on:** February 15, 2008, 12:54:17 AM »

Quote from: WezV

hard to compete with them prices but like ailean suggests, you dont always go custom to get a bargain, you certainly dont go to a uk custom builder for a bargain (although ailean and sue really did get one with that feline), we cant really compete on a global scale. The carvins dont hold there value well but neither do custom made guitars if the spec is too personal

if you can get what you want from carvin for a good price then i would go for it.. they make nice guitars

for a grand i could do a similar guitar without the floyd rose and without the fancy maple and the carve- although i could probably include an alternative fancy wood as a drop top... flamed and quilted maple is vastly overpriced.. i blame PRS drop tops are a lot cheaper than carved tops because you need a hefty chunk of maple to get a deep carve and you need to spend a lot of time carving it. you also need it to be perfectly and consistently pale (most maple isnt) to get that blue looking good

if you wanted a floyd i wouldnt build without a top quality one (lets say a schaller - at least £120) which adds a lot to the price compared to a tune o matic (standard gotoh £25) - not to mention all the extra work a floyd needs for installing and setting up

Superb reply! Love the honesty!

For me, holding value is the least of all problems, I don't buy guitars to sell them...

I would definely consider going custom, I'd get what I want to the T, rather than everything BUT this, or everything EXCEPT that. Also a UK builder would certainly save hastle.

Basically, what it'll hinge on is if I go to the US in the summer, because if I do, and the US is cheap, I reckon I'd be able to do an I-O-U with someone and I wouldn't be able to pass up the chance...

Quote

noodle - you just have expensive tastes i am afraid :P

So true =(

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #11 on:** February 15, 2008, 01:36:37 AM »

The Carvin stuff always looks really nice - I used to lust after the stuff in their catalogues.

Quote

you also need it to be perfectly and consistently pale (most maple isnt) to get that blue looking good

That is very true. The lefty PRS type you saw had quite pinkish maple which looks great as a honey colour but would make a green or blue stain look funny. The maple we have on Johnny Mac's Lion is very pale and would take a blue very well

Quote

if you wanted a floyd i wouldnt build without a top quality one (lets say a schaller - at least £120) which adds a lot to the price compared to a tune o matic (standard gotoh £25) - not to mention all the extra work a floyd needs for installing and setting up

I agree - never skimp on a Floyd
I like the FRT original but the Schaller unit is good too

I don't know how we all compare on prices but we all seem to have our own looks and trademark quirks ( and maybe that makes it hard to compare on a like for like basis.)
I know that all my guitars tend to have a particular look and I have found that Wez's stuff is identifiable too. Haven't seen a huge amount of the Legra stuff but again from what I have seen I think that Bob has his own style

It's all down to what suits you best at the end of the day....[/quote]

opprobrium_9 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 15, 2008, 03:41:51 AM »

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS

Quote
if you wanted a floyd i wouldnt build without a top quality one (lets say a schaller - at least £120) which adds a lot to the price compared to a tune o matic (standard gotoh £25) - not to mention all the extra work a floyd needs for installing and setting up

I agree - never skimp on a Floyd
I like the FRT original but the Schaller unit is good too

Now i feel really dumb because i loaded my personal build with a Licensed FR by Gotoh

I am afraid if i replace the floyd the specs will not be exactly like the Gotoh and i don't trust myself to reroute anything, nor do i particularly want to...

Scotty477 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 15, 2008, 05:33:31 AM »

Bear in mind that you will need to factor in about 30% extra in duties for bringing the guitar into this country, which is going to have a profound effect on your overall price.

dave_mc · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2008, 05:36:06 PM »

Quote from: opprobrium_9

Now i feel really dumb because i loaded my personal build with a Licensed FR by Gotoh I am afraid if i replace the floyd the specs will not be exactly like the Gotoh and i don't trust myself to reroute anything, nor do i particularly want to...

gotoh floyds are good too (depending on the model)...