Demand for Carvin guitars in North America

[qcounsel]

I'm flying up to Montreal for a student exchange later this month and I would like to take the opportunity to get myself some new gear... The thing is, I've got a Carvin DC 150 (2000s model) and would like to see if I could trade it in for something else (don't like the neck too much).

Where I'm at, Carvin's aren't very popular and I have problems selling it. So I'm wondering how popular these guitars are, and where's a good place to trade it? Other than the guitar emporium here of course, because I'd like to meet up and do a physical trade.

[dspellman]

It would be interesting if you could say WHERE you are.
Probably the main hub of Carvin activity is going to be California (there are actually stores there where you can pick one up and try it out). I don't see a lot of them east of the Mississippi, but they're there.

You have the "new" DC-150 (22-fret version)? The original version, of course, was 24-fret, had a fairly small body, and was (in the main) a solid maple guitar. It was discontinued in around 1992 after a long run as perhaps the most popular Carvin ever. The "new" version wasn't particularly popular, came with a quilt maple top standard (at first) and was available at a killer price (around $600-700, as I recall) given what was included. Prices later jumped, as much as 35% one year, as Carvin brought it closer in line with the rest of the "plank" and superstrat guitars. What year guitar was it, and what are you asking for it?

[harpinon]

Its a shame. A decent made in America guitar made to order that just doesnt get much respect.
The Holdsworth model seems to be a decent hit. You rarely see those for sale.

[Floyd Eye]

I bought a new TL60 in 1999. It's the best neck I have ever played on any guitar.

[n8cjohn]

My new Carvin ships tomorrow. AC275.

[qcounsel]

I'm in Singapore at the moment. But will fly up to montreal and be there till June next year. I'll be happy to travel around the east coast, it's an opportunity to take in the sights as well.

Yup, mine's the 'new' DC-150 with the quilt maple top. I'm not sure what it's worth really, but i would be happy to trade it towards a Les Paul standard or something, with a top up on my end. Don't think I want to bring two guitars home at the end of my student exchange.

[Jdobson]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

I bought a new TL60 in 1999. It's the best neck I have ever played on any guitar.

AWESOME! My TL60 is getting delivered tomorrow by UPS.

[GCDEF]

Odds of finding somebody to give you a decent trade are slim. You'd probably sell it on ebay. What percentage of your money you'd get back depends on how tricked out it is. The more basic models should be easier to recoup your money, but I'd still prepare to take a shellacking.

[Don A]

I've got a Carvin DC150 and AE185 and love them both. The recent DC150 is an awesome guitar but was not one of Carvin's most popular guitars. They seem to be a hard sell. I got both of my Carvins at very good prices! Prices that made buying them a no-brainer. I doubt that you'll be able to get a guitar as nice as a Carvin for the value of a Carvin!

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by Jdobson

AWESOME! My TL60 is getting delivered tomorrow by UPS.

Here is mine.

[Jdobson]

Very nice Floyd. Waiting on mr. ups right now.

[Mark]

This my require me to put my flame suit on, but why Carvin? Out of all the guitars out there, why would I go with a Carvin? They've never appealed to me.

[Deathmonkey]

The DC 150 is a very love-it-or-hate-it kind of design. Carvin resale depends a lot of options, tho, especially with more esoteric builds. You might try the for sale section of the Carvin Museum Forums.

[Whiskeyrebel]

That model looked good to me the first year of the reissue where it was maple over mahogany. I've been curious about it but never seen one face to face. Too bad you're coming to Montreal instead of Windsor.

[dspellman]

Originally Posted by MusicGuyIL

This my require me to put my flame suit on, but why Carvin? Out of all the guitars out there, why would I go with a Carvin? They've never appealed to me.

Not the point. Guitars are a personal thing. You, obviously, prefer an Ibanez Artcore (your signature). Others love or hate PRS's, and we've certainly seen our share of Gibson detractors. Carvin sells what it does in part *because* guitars are a personal thing, and because folks can buy something relatively custom for reasonable prices.