Carvin Allan Holdsworth Model

[Doughboy]

Does anyone own or have experience with the Carvin H2 models?

I've always wanted one & Carvin just sent me a big old coupon towards my next purcahse, so I'm really tempted.

 

[anorakDan]

I wish I could say I've owned or at least played one, but I can't. Sorry.

But if it's anything like my AE 185, it's going to be a wonderful guitar. They do a fantastic job over there in San Diego. Next to Warmoth, Carvin is probably the best kept secret in American electric guitars. I don't think you can go wrong with a Carvin.

I think the neck is a little wider than Carvin's standard, and the fingerboard is a little flatter radius, but don't quote me on that.

I always wondered about the two strap buttons on the bottom. Do you sling the guitar like a shoulder-holster? Looks like you might not need a stand to prop it upright, though!

Go for it!

 

[rockskate4x]

sweet guitar, I've played two. As long as you can stand carvins thinner neck profile, I don't think that you'd regret that purchase.

 

[Doughboy]

sweet guitar, I've played two. As long as you can stand carvins thinner neck profile, I don't think that you'd regret that purchase.

The H2 & most Caevin necks are pretty damn HUGE.

I just got a Carvin CS6 & although it looks, plays & sounds great, the neck is a far cray from y usual Wizard profiles. It's pretty BEEFY & the H2 is supposedly even thicker.

 

[rockskate4x]

still smaller than i'm use to i guess... if the neck isn't a factor than by all means, the holdsworth is a great guit!

 

[Cagey]

sweet guitar, I've played two. As long as you can stand carvins thinner neck profile, I don't think that you'd regret that purchase.

The H2 & most Caevin necks are pretty damn HUGE.

I just got a Carvin CS6 & although it looks, plays & sounds great, the neck is a far cray from y usual Wizard profiles. It's pretty BEEFY & the H2 is supposedly even thicker.

I've got a Carvin neck sitting in the closet just rotting, and it's gotta be one of the thinnest necks I've ever played. Ebony over maple with decent-sized frets, it was a joy to play. It's one they'd sell you loose, or what you'd get if you ordered a "Bolt" or "Bolt kit". I could be wrong, but I think it's a pretty standard profile for them.

 

[Kadmium]

I've always found it hilarious that Allan Holdsworth has two signature Carvin models and both of them have headstocks. It's as though they've just given up pretending that the artist themselves might actually play their own signature model.

 

[Doughboy]

I've always found it hilarious that Allan Holdsworth has two signature Carvin models and both of them have headstocks. It's as though they've just given up pretending that the artist themselves might actually play their own signature model.

Allan asked for a headless design, but Gibson owns the rights & wouldn't give it to Carvin. This is another reason why you don't see headless models around.

 

[Corey P.]

I've played 2 two friend's Carvins, and the necks on both were pretty phenomenal, they have a very high level of craftsmanship.

 

[pabloman]

Stop lookin at me swan!

 

[Doughboy]

I've played 2 two friend's Carvins, and the necks on both were pretty phenomenal, they have a very high level of craftsmanship.

I'd never played a Carvin until I got my CS6 last week. The worksmanship & eye to detail is amazing.

It's by far the best off the shelf type production guitar I have ever played. Why they're not a household name is a mystery to me.

 

[Cagey]

Why [Carvin isn't] a household name is a mystery to me.

Most people who take the plunge wonder the same thing. High-quality parts, instruments and gear at reasonable prices - what's not to love?

But, buying a guitar or amp sight-unseen is sorta like buying shoes that way. You really feel like you need to try them on, or the risk of your not being happy is too high. Yeah, they got a money-back guarantee, but that's little consolation. Not that they wouldn't honor it, but you could end up short some bucks from shipping charges, restocking fees, etc., or if nothing else, the hassle of it all. Narrows their market down to risk-takers, and there just aren't as many of those as there are impulse buyers.

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

Why they're not a household name is a mystery to me.

Probably because of their unorthodox distribution system.  Since people can't see and play them in their local music store they lack the brand focus of the other major companies.  In general, it takes a knowledgeable consumer to order a Carvin since they can't just pick one up at Guitar Center or a local store.

 

[bagman67]

The Carvin bolt neck is pretty slim, and they only offer one profile.  I think it pretty much matches the profile on their neck-through and set-neck designs.  The Holdsworth, however, has a fatter neck per the artist's request.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I like Carvin stuff, but I'd rather build a nice Warmoth Tele with a figured maple top, a pair of humbuckers, TOM/STP bridge, & a 24-fret neck, than buy that guitar.

 

[Doughboy]

Why [Carvin isn't] a household name is a mystery to me.

Most people who take the plunge wonder the same thing. High-quality parts, instruments and gear at reasonable prices - what's not to love?

But, buying a guitar or amp sight-unseen is sorta like buying shoes that way. You really feel like you need to try them on, or the risk of your not being happy is too high. Yeah, they got a money-back guarantee, but that's little consolation. Not that they wouldn't honor it, but you could end up short some bucks from shipping charges, restocking fees, etc., or if nothing else, the hassle of it all. Narrows their market down to risk-takers, and there just aren't as many of those as there are impulse buyers.

Very true. It's scary buying anything sight unseen & the one time I did that with a Peavey Wolfgang, I regreted it. I guess that's why it took me so long to pull the trigger on the Carvin. However, once you do get one & see the quality, craftsmanship & eye to detail, you're hooked. My CS6 sounds amazing & has everything I want in a Les Paul. Light weight solid body, contoured rear, smaller neck, coil taps etc. The same thing in a Gibson isn't possible, as they just can't make guitars this good anymore & if they did, it would be double the price. After my CS6 experience, I'm going for a Holdsworth H2 model.

 

[Corey P.]

Stop lookin at me swan!

:doh:

 

[dNA]

I have to say that the Carvin I had several years ago was probably the nicest guitar I ever owned. It played like a dream, sounded wonderful, and it was gorgeous to boot.

That being said, they're thinner necks. i don't know if they make a fatter contour than the standard. And on top of that, i think the Holdsworth model has a 20" radius that's supposed to feel and play comparable to a nylon-string's neck isn't it?

 

[Doughboy]

I have to say that the Carvin I had several years ago was probably the nicest guitar I ever owned. It played like a dream, sounded wonderful, and it was gorgeous to boot.

That being said, they're thinner necks. i don't know if they make a fatter contour than the standard. And on top of that, i think the Holdsworth model has a 20" radius that's supposed to feel and play comparable to a nylon-string's neck isn't it?

Yes, it comes standard with a 20" radius. However, you custom pick your options through their custom shop so you canpick 12", 14" etc. 20" seems t0o scary for me, so I'm going for 14".

Carvin isn't as felxible as Warmoth for custom options, where the sky is the limit, but they do give you enough options to keep most people happy enough.

My CS6 neck is pretty damn thick, so definitely a far cry from my wizard profile Warmoth necks.

 

[gotnothing]

Saw one of these for sale on ebay cheap;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carvin-H2T-w-gigbag-/120783026904?pt=Guitar&hash=item1c1f3abad8#ht_500wt_949
. I played one of these before....sounds awesome but the thick neck and flat radius weren't for me