Carvin goes under

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At least the audio part. The guitars are being made under the Kiesel brand now. If you are looking for a tube amp, they are 25% off.
 

GAD

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I'm honestly amazed Carvin has lasted this long.

I remember lusting over the catalog back when Craig Chaquico was on it (probably 1979 or 80?). I ended up buying a Guild S300AD instead and here we are.
 

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A friend of mine brought over a Carvin ss amp because it was cutting out. The entire amp is a 6x2 inch strip in a cavernous chassis. When it finally craps out, I plan on building an 18 watt with reverb in it. Literally impossible to service.
 

Alan_M

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I live in San Diego, where Carvin is headquartered, and I've only visited their shop once. They make great guitars and all, but I never really was hooked by them. I've always wondered why I almost never see anyone playing their gear. Maybe the reliance on their factory direct model just couldn't get a big national audience?
 

chazmo

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Sad to see one of the smaller guys fold. I think we'll be seeing more of this (particularly on the acoustic front) as more of the established luthiers pack it in and retire.
 

txbumper57

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I remember seeing Timothy B. Schmit playing some of their Carvin Bass Guitars when The Eagles first got back together in the 90's. I have a few friends who have had their stuff and from what they said the Tube amps Carvin made were always a little on the Lacking side but then again for the price you really couldn't complain. Never heard any serious complaints about their guitars. As a matter of fact I almost bought a Carvin Bass to start learning Bass guitar but then the shoulder sprung up and that long reach went out the window. LOL!

TX
 

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The complaints I've read about Carvin are that you can't get neck binding and that they have absolutely terrible resale value.
 

dbirchett

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This is the Carvin that was always the most intriguing to me.

ae18512-umberstainsunsetburstflame-68458.jpg
 

Quantum Strummer

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I used to get the Carvin catalog too, back in the early ‘80s. I had a thing for semi-hollow guitars at the time, though this was years before I owned one, and for whatever reason a Carvin semi had caught my eye. Then I read a review, probably in Guitar Player, that knocked that very model for having poor acoustic resonance. :) Haven’t paid much attention to ‘em since.

-Dave-
 

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There were two catalogs I remember being fond of in my teenage years. One of them was Carvin.
I also had a Carvin catalog I used to riffle through constantly, but they were always a bit too flashy for my tastes.

I think it's a drag when any independent maker goes under. Certain series of their bass amps have a great reputation, and there's a devoted fan bass over at the Talk Bass forum.
 

jcwu

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The other had to be either Sears or Amway?

Musician's Friend, of course.

I still remember getting permission from my dad to order a DOD distortion pedal, and he suggested I also add a capo into the order.
 
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