A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

Well, been wanting an acoustic-electric with nylon strings again so this one is coming back home. I sold it to a friend a few years back because I really wasn't playing classical/nylon, and now he's agreed to sell it back to me since he isn't playing much anymore.

This is a Carvin CL450 with a beautiful flame koa top, mahogany neck and body, and ebony fretboard. Sounds great unplugged but since it's really meant to be plugged in you really experience it properly with the Fishman preamp going into a good acoustic amp. Always been a huge fan of Carvin and this guitar does nothing to change that .

Anyway, will post a few more photos when it lands in a few days but got these for now.

Damn, that's a looker! I've always dreamed about the Carvin/Kiesel acoustics (well, and their electrics lol) - how are the necks on the Carvin acoustics? Their electrics tend to be the 12-14" radius flat style, just wondering how their acoustics are...

bleys21 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 19, 2020 11:18 pm Damn, that's a looker! I've always dreamed about the Carvin/Kiesel acoustics (well, and their electrics lol) - how are the necks on the Carvin acoustics? Their electrics tend to be the 12-14" radius flat style, just wondering how their acoustics are...

This particular one has a 20" radius, semi-flat. It's a 25.5 inch scale, and neck width is 1 & 7/8" at the nut.

I also already have another Carvin acoustic-electric steel string, the AC275...which I believe has a 14" radius and is 1 & 11/16th at the nut:

1-7/8" - Should play nicely!

Wow, that's a big radius for an acoustic. Do(did) you ever have problems with barre chords and the like? That's what I've always heard about the large radius: easier soloing/individual notes, harder for barre chords.

Both guitars are beauties, though! Carvin makes amazing looking instruments.

slowhand84 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 19, 2020 11:42 pm This particular one has a 20" radius, semi-flat. It's a 25.5 inch scale, and neck width is 1 & 7/8" at the nut.

I also already have another Carvin acoustic-electric steel string, the AC275...which I believe has a 14" radius and is 1 & 11/16th at the nut:

bleys21 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 2:37 pm Wow, that's a big radius for an acoustic. Do(did) you ever have problems with barre chords and the like? That's what I've always heard about the large radius: easier soloing/individual notes, harder for barre chords.

Both guitars are beauties, though! Carvin makes amazing looking instruments.

slowhand84 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 19, 2020 11:42 pm This particular one has a 20" radius, semi-flat. It's a 25.5 inch scale, and neck width is 1 & 7/8" at the nut.

I also already have another Carvin acoustic-electric steel string, the AC275...which I believe has a 14" radius and is 1 & 11/16th at the nut:

Nope, they both play great all around for everything I play. These aren’t really “acoustics”, they’re closer to electrics in terms of how they feel due to the much thinner bodies...which is the reason I got ‘em.

Carvin did make outstanding stuff and Kiesel has picked up where they left off...have a few other Carvins and a couple of headless Kiesel Vaders and they’re amazing too.

I think it's too early for you to say it's the final NGD of 2020. You still have almost two weeks left! Let's be real here.
Congrats!!!

Cool, thats good to know, as I've always gone back and forth about buying one, and I never could find one where I live to try it out, and haven't found the time to drive down to San Diego and visit the showroom (which you probably can't even do these days thanks to Covid...)

I'll keep my eyes out on the used market... maybe I can be like TMC, and score one for $250...(not happening... lol )

bleys21 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 21, 2020 4:26 pm Cool, thats good to know, as I've always gone back and forth about buying one, and I never could find one where I live to try it out, and haven't found the time to drive down to San Diego and visit the showroom (which you probably can't even do these days thanks to Covid...)

I'll keep my eyes out on the used market... maybe I can be like TMC, and score one for $250...(not happening... lol )

TMC got a Carvin for $250? I'm behind on the times here, no one really seems to know what day it is anymore

Definitely lots of great Carvin deals online, especially GC Used...got that AC275 there for $499 and the CL450 (when I originally owned it) for like $600ish.

Sweet Guitar, glad you were able to re=connect.
Cheers

I was just exaggerating, but if anyone could score a Carvin for $250, it would be TMC.