My first USA guitar (not a Dean) actual photos

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5799

I went to my local GC tonight to look for a used Fender amp. As I was browsing the store for the third or fourth time I noticed an ML kinda shaped guitar way in the back of the huge mass of used ones. I saw the name Carvin and stretched back there and pulled it out. I had never actually seen a Carvin because as you all know they're mail order only. I get the catalogs and they look great, I've heard great things, but never actually seen one. This thing has some weight to it! (I like that). It's all black, looks to be neck thru (I do research when I get home and find it's solid maple with a set neck and a very smooth heel), 2 humbuckers, 3 way switch, 2 toggles for tapping the humbuckers, 2 volume controls and 1 tone control. Brass nut. Kahler Pro trem, Schaller tuners, ebony fretboard and big frets on the big chunky LP like neck. 24 frets. So far I'm in love. I look it over and then head for an amp! I plug into a modest 25 watt Fender and holy cow! Using my trusty Dean pick I play some power chords and some scales and generally just noodle around for about 30 minutes. Sounds great distorted and clean. There's gotta be a catch right? I can't find anything wrong with this guitar, other than the fact that it's not mine. Finally a sales guy comes around and I say "I'll give you $200 out the door". They're asking twice that. He checks the computer, talks to The Man, I fork over $200 and run outta there. I get home and do my research and find that it's an 84-86 model (close as I can track it down with these options) V220. I'll get some pics the next couple of days, but here's a couple of ones very similar to mine. I'm a happy camper!

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:25 pm

Great axe the shape resembles an ML

Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 16

How do you get away w/paying half of the asked price? I realize it was used and possibly sitting there for a while, but everytime i've been to a GC (or any music store, for that matter), they will never negotiate more than $10-30 on any given item.

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 12:29 am

It's called aggresive bargaining. Usually works when the seller doesn't really know what he's got.

Nice guitar Lon, only not sure about the shape? It looks a bit...uh...starry. But hey, I've never seen or played a Carvin. I bet she screams. Smile

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 12:40 am

Very cool steal lon!!!!

Congrats

(your one pic isnt laoding BTW)

Rich

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 4797 Location: BEERMUDA

KICKASS LON, those PU's must scream, a friend of mine has some of the USA CARVIN V's and is really happy with em!

Cheers

hans

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5799

I figured I had nothing to lose. It's 2 weeks before Christmas, it was close to closing time, I was just about the last customer in the store, and I figured there was no way they gave the previous owner more than $100, so I doubled their money. I was surprised they went for it as well.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 2036 Location: VALHALL

WOW... Congrats Lon ! Very Happy

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 79 Location: Dayton, Ohio

Carvin's are very nice, high quality guitars. I've owned a couple and have another being built right now. Excellent price on that guitar btw. Craig Chiquico (sp?) of Starship played those.

Here's a pic similar to what I'm having built.

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 8:13 am

Congrats... sounds like you got one heck of a deal! I didn't know Carvin even made a shape like that?!?

Chuck

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 403 Location: Cincinnati, OH

nice steal lon! Carvin makes great stuff... incidentally, there's a couple more carvin guitars up ehre in cincy at the local GC, and at good prices too!

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 9:27 am

Good Score!

Guest

A FRIEND OF MY HAS A CARVIN CUSTOM SHOP GUITAR. THEY SEEM TO MAKE A GREAT GUITAR.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5799

bump

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 2742 Location: Denver

Those V220's are awesome...I should have never sold mine. That one looks MINT, Lon! Isn't that a V220T, though? It was priced well at $400 for a clean neck through USA model and a steal at half the price. Dana was selling one on here months ago but I think somone on another board bought it.

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 1:07 pm

nice score lon..... a little different lookin with that small upper bass horn.. but it beez nice... kinda like a wayne charvel star...

Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 229 Location: South of Heaven

Cool man! You sound loving it very much! Cool

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 344 Location: The Netherlands

Nice one!

Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 456 Location: Austin, Texas

huxleysghost wrote:

Those V220's are awesome...I should have never sold mine. That one looks MINT, Lon! Isn't that a V220T, though? It was priced well at $400 for a clean neck through USA model and a steal at half the price. Dana was selling one on here months ago but I think somone on another board bought it.

Yes, I did indeed have one exactly like that. Mine was red. I also have a custom made DC127 that I had made for me in 2001. Very nice. Lon, the price you paid is a good price for a USA guitar. Unfortunately, Carvins just don't bring much money, because most people don't have any experience with them. I also sold mine for $200 with hardshell case. Both were in excellent condition. That guitar was available from about 1984-1989. The first 2-3 years were set-neck, and after that, they were neck-thru. The reason it weighs so much is that it is solid maple body and neck. That was one reason I just couldn't use mine...too heavy for me. Good score, Lon.
Dana <~~~

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 4:51 pm

guitarforceone wrote:

huxleysghost wrote:

Those V220's are awesome...I should have never sold mine. That one looks MINT, Lon! Isn't that a V220T, though? It was priced well at $400 for a clean neck through USA model and a steal at half the price. Dana was selling one on here months ago but I think somone on another board bought it.

Yes, I did indeed have one exactly like that. Mine was red. I also have a custom made DC127 that I had made for me in 2001. Very nice. Lon, the price you paid is a good price for a USA guitar. Unfortunately, Carvins just don't bring much money, because most people don't have any experience with them. I also sold mine for $200 with hardshell case. Both were in excellent condition. That guitar was available from about 1984-1989. The first 2-3 years were set-neck, and after that, they were neck-thru. The reason it weighs so much is that it is solid maple body and neck. That was one reason I just couldn't use mine...too heavy for me. Good score, Lon.
Dana <~~~

Carvins are a great buy if you are familiar with them. I just scored a LB70 bass for $300 because nobody around where I live knows jack about them. I just kept watching until the guy was desperate and lowered his price.

The one I scored has Maple neck, Walnut body wings, matching headstock, active/passive pup set up with a humbucker in the bridge position, and a coil splitter. Not a bad deal for 3 bills (with case).

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5324

i'd like to have a mid-70's Carvin LP copy.. the ones that look like gibson customs..

sweet 220 there, lon.. a guy came into the guitarshop that i worked at with one in pearl white.. it's pretty heavy..

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:56 am

huxleysghost wrote:

Those V220's are awesome...I should have never sold mine. That one looks MINT, Lon! Isn't that a V220T, though? It was priced well at $400 for a clean neck through USA model and a steal at half the price. Dana was selling one on here months ago but I think somone on another board bought it.

GOOD NEWS BROTHER!! You can buy LON'S!! It's on EBAY!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2365777262&category=33044

I guess the hottest passions burn out the fastest Laughing

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5799

This one weighs in at about 9 pounds. Already got it on ebay. Cool

Yeah yeah I know. I'll get twice what I paid for it, and even then the buyer will get a good deal. Then I'll have enough to finish my dream strat. I just wish someone would hit they Buy it Now and put me out of my misery. I play it every night and am really falling in love with it. It's just the right size for me as well. It's about the size of a Baby ML but much thicker and heavier. I'm having a hard time not cancelling the auction and just keeping it. The feel of it reminds me a lot of the 79 LP Custom I sold and have regretted it ever since.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 4797 Location: BEERMUDA

keep it man, it's a kickass guitar, I can't imagine any strat wil be better Wink

I bet those PU's are hot as hell too.....i

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5799

GAAAAHHHHHH I'm pulling my hair out on this one. I have already got some good bids that are way over what I paid for it, which tells me I can sell it any time for a good profit. I should probably cancel the auction and sit on this one til after the holidays to see just how much I really like it. Now I know how you guys feel about your high $$$ Deans. My research tells me this guitar cost around $800 nearly 20 years ago. Alright that's it! I'm pulling the auction!

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 10:42 am

WIMP!!!!! Let a lil piece of wood and metal seduce you so easily! Laughing

Enjoy!!!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5799

Someone needs to hit me over the head for even THINKING about selling this guitar. We spent a good 2 hours together last night and I am in awe. I've never held a guitar that made me actually play better, easier, even a little faster (and I'm slow as hell). Maybe it's the ebony, or the fat frets. Bends are sooo easy, I can't hardly stop from bending even when not trying. I only work 5 days in the next 3 weeks so lots more playing time coming up!