Ordering a Carvin DC727, so many options...

[beyond dead]

So I have a couple recording gigs lined up, and I was debating what to spend the proceeds on. I have decided (although it is not the most practical decision)
that I am going to bite the bullet and order a custom 7 string from carvin.

So Im sure I want a 2 pickup guitar with a fixed bridge. I have settled on a maple neck with birdseye fret board. I am going to go with the rounded body sides.

the part that is kinda hard for me to decide is which type of wood to use for the body. the reason I am unsure of which wood to use, is because I have little experience with body woods other than mahogany and basswood (the later of which all my guitars are all made of) I`m not sure what tonal characteristics alder, swamp ash or maple, walnut and koa have when used for the body of a solidbody electric.

I like how quilted maple tops look, and I enjoy bright guitar tones, which I think is an attribute of maple tops.

I am not looking to get a whole shitload of extra features. as you can see I prefer a fairly simple guitar.

I also am not sure how the carvin pickups will sound

so basically I am looking for a rundown of what tonal characteristics each body wood has, and possibly a review of carvins workmanship, playability and quality of the pick ups.

thanks in advance!

 

[beyond dead]

bump???

 

[Executioner213]

30 min wait is not bump-able dude. Patience will yield you results.

 

[Executioner213]

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/BodyWoodOptions.aspx

 

[beyond dead]

thanks dude! I will learn to utilize the virtue of patience in the future.

interesting piece. basically just says that heavier woods are less muddy, and more articulated.

im thinking a mahogany body is what I would prefer. with a maple neck and birdseye maple fretboard.

I would love to hear the testimonial of a dc727 owner!

 

[egan.]

I would go alder or swamp ash with a maple board. Those are pretty classic "bright guitar" combos. That said, oiled koa looks and sounds awesome.

 

[ze kink]

I adore swamp ash! Definately go for that, especially on a 7-string. It's really balanced from lows to highs (that's why it's especially good with extended range IMO) and punchy. It's so light too that it's awesome. I really don't like mahogany in 7-strings, I've had a couple and it's just too bottom heavy IMO.

 

[ParsonsMatt]

I adore swamp ash! Definately go for that, especially on a 7-string. It's really balanced from lows to highs (that's why it's especially good with extended range IMO) and punchy. It's so light too that it's awesome. I really don't like mahogany in 7-strings, I've had a couple and it's just too bottom heavy IMO.

+1

I'd get ash body and ebony board, but that's just me... A greenburst satin finish too

 

[egan.]

I really don't like mahogany in 7-strings, I've had a couple and it's just too bottom heavy IMO.

That's actually a really interesting point. Mahogony provides a lot of complex, compressed low mid stuff which I could see becoming problematic down low.

 

[beyond dead]

I am trying to get the highest quality instrument possible on a "just over a grand" budget. It seems carvin is the way to go. my fav guitar that I have played is a peavey wolfgang.

okay, so I`m gonna stay away from mahogany. Swamp ash is a bit more expensive than alder, Is it worth the extra cash to get swamp ash?

and as far as neck wood, Ebony is the stock fretboard. I have always liked the birdseye maple necks on my dads peavey wolfgang guitars, So I thought I would go with that, but I dont think I can recollect consciously playing an ebony fretboard, so I`m not sure if the birds eye upgrade is worthwhile...

thanks for the advice guys!

 

[egan.]

okay, so I`m gonna stay away from mahogany. Swamp ash is a bit more expensive than alder, Is it worth the extra cash to get swamp ash?

Isn't the difference like $30? If so then absolutely.

and as far as neck wood, Ebony is the stock fretboard. I have always liked the birdseye maple necks on my dads peavey wolfgang guitars, So I thought I would go with that, but I dont think I can recollect consciously playing an ebony fretboard, so I`m not sure if the birds eye upgrade is worthwhile...

A nice birdseye can look awesome and has a nice bright sound. That said, the ebony will wear better (maple has to be sealed and will discolor over time), feels great and is still bright (with a slightly different timbre).

 

[ParsonsMatt]

From the reports I have read, ebony sounds similar with a bit more attack and compression than a maple fretboard.

 

[beyond dead]

awesome. thanks alot egan and matt.

I found a guy locally selling one with a floyd bridge, maple inner body, mahogany wings, ebony board and a lundgren m7 bridge pickup for a good price... might just go that way. decisions decisions ...

 

[-Loco-]

the pickups in the DC727's SUCK. If you want to change them you'll have to do alot of routing but since its a custom i dont think that'll matter itll just mean you have to splash out on more.

 

[Airborne]

I got a new Carvin DC727 this year.

Mahogany Body
Maple Top
Maple Neck

Change the pickups and you'll have an awesome guitar.

 

[cobrahead1030]

an ebony board will give you a bright & snappy attack, good thing to have if you go with a darker wood like mahogany

if you go with something brighter like alder for the body tho, i would probably stick with maple on the fretboard...if you're getting a brighter body wood and a maple top you may wanna consider rosewood to balance it out a bit

don't overlook the fretboard wood when it's an option tho