NGD - Pictures!

mikealpine · #1 02-13-2015, 03:22 PM

Hey all, pretty excited...bought a Carvin. I decided to buy new and spec it out myself, and I am looking forward to receiving it, ideally, one day mid nest week. It is their CS shape (single-cut, like a LP), with 24 frets. The main reason I bought it, especially a new one, is they now offer these with a Piezo. I'm posting now, instead of waiting, because I'm excited and needed to post something somewhere, and like sharing "stuff" with my AGF family. It's a mahogany body with a flame maple top, in Deep Aqua Burst (kind of a blue-teal) with a thin black burst edge. The fretboard is a 10" readius, ebony, on a 5-piece neck. Happy to answer any other questions, if you have. Otherwise, looking to post pictures on arrival, or at least after a day's acclimation to the cold Long Island weather.

Happy Valentine's Day, and hope you spend it with someone you love!!

terrapin · #2 02-13-2015, 03:25 PM

Sounds NICE! I live pretty near Carvin, and have friends who work for them. They are doing some really nice work these days! Will look forward to pics and review.

mikealpine · #3 02-13-2015, 03:40 PM

Thank you! I had an older AE185, and the neck, specifically ebony fretboard, was amazingly smooth. They really have been doing some gorgeous work. I'll try to a video clip, or at least an audio of the Piezo. Many folks suggest their pickups aren't great, but that's fine with me because I have a couple of good sets I can use, if necessary. I'll reserve judgment, though, and if I like them, that's all the better.

Steve DeRosa · #4 02-13-2015, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikealpine

...Many folks suggest their pickups aren't great...I'll reserve judgment, though, and if I like them, that's all the better.

I'll beg to differ - a buddy of mine bought one of their two-pickup DIY kits about 35 years ago and turned a $50 early-70's MIJ SG knockoff into a killer rock/blues machine - and you're 100% right to reserve judgment until you've heard them through your rig...

Been thinking of scoring an SH550 myself for a couple years now - let me know how things work out with yours; in the meantime, good luck - use it well, often, and loud...

Dru Edwards · #5 02-13-2015, 05:22 PM

Wow! That's going to be a great guitar. As far as the piezo goes, I played in a band with someone who had it in his John Petrucci model and it sounded great, much better acoustic sound than with a straight electric guitar pickup.

mikealpine · #6 02-13-2015, 09:16 PM

Thanks guys! I like having a Piezo for an acoustic flavor. For example, my band is just starting to learn "If You Coukd Only See" by Tonic, which opens with some acoustic strumming, then kicks into heavier sound. I think this guitar will work well on songs like this.

The Growler · #7 02-13-2015, 11:02 PM

Sounds good. Looking forward to your in hand review and some pictures.

jaybones · #8 02-15-2015, 12:20 AM

I have one partscaster that I put a Graph Tech Ghost piezo saddle system in. Did some custom wiring (didn't sacrifice the tone pot for a volume, put in a mini 3 way switch and separate volume knob) and absolutely love the fact that I can go from acoustic to electric and vice versa at the flip of a switch. I have the rest of the system wired the way GT recommends- stereo out with the tip of the jack being the switch that arms the preamp (burns up the battery if you leave the guitar plugged in). With the separate knob and 3 way mini switch I can have acoustic and electric signals and use the volumes to blend the signals. Its a tone machine!!

mikealpine · #9 02-16-2015, 10:04 PM

Thanks gents! Guitar is scheduled to arrive Thursday afternoon, but I doubt I'll be able to play it befor Saturday. It's very cold in lower NY, so I have to give it plenty of time to acclimate.

mikealpine · #10 02-19-2015, 05:11 PM

Box has arrived. Didn't feel too cold. Picked it up from UPS this morning. I have the guitar out of the box, still in the case. Gonna be a tough night! I may cave and open it early. I used up all my willpower, so we'll see what happens!

Dru Edwards · #11 02-19-2015, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikealpine

Box has arrived. Didn't feel too cold. Picked it up from UPS this morning. I have the guitar out of the box, still in the case. Gonna be a tough night! I may cave and open it early. I used up all my willpower, so we'll see what happens!

You better hope you're not tossing and turning tonight in bed otherwise the guitar is coming out of the box.

mikealpine · #12 02-19-2015, 08:53 PM

I did peek inside the case, and it's beautiful!! I closed it up fast, and will leave it alone until tomorrow morning. Pictures, then playtime!

The Growler · #13 02-19-2015, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikealpine

I did peek inside the case, and it's beautiful!! I closed it up fast, and will leave it alone until tomorrow morning. Pictures, then playtime!

You're like a kid with a Christmas present under the tree. Makes me chuckle, but I totally understand and can't honestly say I'd be any different.

mikealpine · #14 02-19-2015, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Growler

You're like a kid with a Christmas present under the tree. Makes me chuckle, but I totally understand and can't honestly say I'd be any different.

It's funny, the 8 week wait for it to be built was easy. The acclimation time sucks!!

Dru Edwards · #15 02-20-2015, 05:13 PM

So how is it????