Author: Sirloin
Subject: Re: re: Back In Black!
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 12:03 am (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 18
Doctor Turn wrote:
So let me ask you--what, especially with those Carvins that you put Gibson PAF's in, did the R8 have soundwise that the Carvins didn't have?
I ask because--don't know if you've seen the threads I've mentioned this in--I am likely going to build a CS6 out of solid koa of a particularly resonant (hopefully!) type, and I'm going to send in 4 conductor Classic 57's. I know the slightly tighter/longer scale length adds a touch of chime in the mix, but did it make that much of a difference in the Gibbied out Carvins you built? Something intrinsically in the build or the hardware?
I'm aiming for a modern day update of my old Carvin in my avatar. My guitar smokes just about every LP I've played but for a couple of very old and customized black beauties I've played in the past, and one late 60's model that made me pee it sounded so good... but my old Carvin plays on the true same ball field as a Gibson because it's the same scale length.. they were designed specifically to be compared to a Gibson Les Paul.
These modern C/K's are often called another animal altogether.. so I'm curious what caused you to let it go. I've been looking at the 2017 LP Classics which look like a decent deal (as does the non HP version of the Trad), but I was playing some new LP's this weekend and I just don't feel like fighting the tuning of that damned nut/headstock. It's just an awful design, but I'm not really interested in the standard or paying the kind of money needed for even a used R7/8/9. The sound is just not that hyperdifferentiated.. and I must have played several hundred Gibsons in my life. A true 57-60, some of them sound awful, but the best ones truly have a special magic about them with the effect of the age on the mags and the old growth wood. But the right piece of koa or korina (or slab mahog for that matter) has a special magic about it too... so..
Not a ton of difference sound wise. Mostly geometry and neck profile. I noticed I was having hand/wrist/forearm pain when I would play that guitar. Neck was still a bit too slim for me. Hated to let it go. The Gibsons are a little more raw sounding to me.
I would say the CS6 was a touch brighter with a hair less low end.
I personally would stay away from Koa if going for a Les Paul type of tone. Too bright and focused to my ears versus a mahogany guitar.
For tone and comfort, my bolt kit is still my favorite Carvin. Maybe not as sexy looking, but it is a versatile workhorse with killer tones.