Carvin SH-550 - A Comprehensive Evaluation

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Great reviews, guys!

[derek]

Excellent work fellas, thanks a bunch.

[fep]

Great job, best reviews of a guitar that I can remember.

Interesting the different opinions.... makes me think of the importance of trying an instrument out for yourself.

[TieDyedDevil]

Thank you, everyone, for the thoughtful and detailed reviews! I really appreciate your collective commitment to elevating the quality and and usefulness of product reviews.

[Squint]

Wow! Just WOW, y'all!
Good job!

LOVE that heelless neck! my Aria Pro II...

[randyc]

Yes indeed, that's a sleek transition but that is a solid-body guitar. The best neck to body transition, in my opinion, has always been the Gibson SG. Making that transition style work on a semi-hollow instrument is not possible.

This is again personal opinion but I don't care for the sound of any notes played beyond the 12th or 14th fret - things just get a little too tinny for my taste. So the neck/body transition of any guitar has never troubled me, even the very clunky one on my classical instrument. In fact some of the very worst transitions occur on the most coveted jazz guitars, LOL.

Most rock music employs the upper registers of the guitar successfully because of amplifier distortion - the extra harmonics and particularly the additional sustain minimizes the "tinniness" of the high notes.

Cheers,
Randy

[IanD]

Thank you so much for organising this review Randy, and to all the reviewers for their honest opinions.

My musical tastes go to both jazz and blues (what's the old saying about jack of all trades but .......?) so for me this sounds like close to the perfect guitar.

Here in Australia Carvins, the better models at least, are rare so its quite a leap of faith to order one direct from Carvin. I'm aware the return policy is very good but I would have to pay return freight. At least this review gives a level of comfort, and knowledge if I did take the 'leap'.

[randyc]

Hi Ian,

Members of the evaluation team are doubtless appreciative of your gratitude. Their sole purpose, after all, was to provide an unbiassed review of various products that we've evaluated over the past three or four months.

I understand your concerns regarding purchasing a sight-unseen guitar, based on recommendations of strangers, photographs and so forth ... I live in a relatively remote area of California and many personal purchases have been made on faith (internet) - there's one music store in town and it's not open on the week-end. That might give you an indication of the level of interest here .... jazz guitars are unheard-of, LOL. Three of my guitars were ordered from Palo Alto (CA) which is about 300 miles away, one from Seattle (WA) about 900 miles away and one from Memphis (TN) some 2,000 miles from me.

In all cases I was able to discuss the purchases with knowledgeable persons in (more-or-less) the same time zone. Your situation would not permit real-time conversations with the folks in San Diego, CA. And of course the return shipping costs would not be a simple transaction - what might the costs be, as a matter of interest?

It's not my intention to project a "chamber of commerce" image or, worse, that of a Carvin pimp, LOL. I believe the quality of these guitars and their value to be unmatched by any mass-producer but, as you will have read, there may be reasons why one cannot unconditionally love the SH-550.

One additional comment that I SHOULD have made during my summary of the SH-550 review deals with the "prettiness" factor. Two reviewers objected to the appearance of the guitar and that is entirely MY fault. I ordered the guitar with those particular wood and finish options. Personal taste, and so forth, I wanted the guitar to "fit in" with a number of natural finish maple instruments that I already own. Those who prefer a more subdued appearance or a more over-stated one can readily be accomodated. It's simply a matter of checking off the options on the Carvin website.

Cheers,
Randy

[lpdeluxe]

One additional comment that I SHOULD have made during my summary of the SH-550 review deals with the "prettiness" factor. Two reviewers objected to the appearance of the guitar and that is entirely MY fault. I ordered the guitar with those particular wood and finish options. Personal taste, and so forth, I wanted the guitar to "fit in" with a number of natural finish maple instruments that I already own. Those who prefer a more subdued appearance or a more over-stated one can readily be accomodated. It's simply a matter of checking off the options on the Carvin website.

Cheers,
Randy

This is an interesting point: I'm one of the reviewers who would have preferred a more subdued top (as opposed to "objecting" to the gorgeous guitar as delivered). As I noted in my evaluation, I expect mine to be a minority opinion, and it is tempered and influenced by many years as an artist and graphic designer. My "lightly figured" 335 is much more to my taste.

Even so, as soon as I opened the Carvin's case, I was in love! And Lee, who ended up with the guitar, shares none of my qualms: he unabashedly thinks it's the most beautiful guitar he's seen.

To conclude my beating of this deceased equine, I have to say that I love the natural finish, which shows the high quality wood off to its best advantage.

I went to the dress rehearsal for a local community theatre performance this evening that featured keyboards, a drummer and electric guitar in the pit. As it happened, the guitarist was a recently-formed friend, and he was playing a very pretty Baldwin-era Gretsch Nashville. I confidently told him that he would LOVE the SH550. He might even like the quilt!

[helios]

Great Review! I had a Tung-oiled Koa SH550 for about a year. I loved everything about it except the pickups.

[randyc]

Helios, that's a gorgeous instrument. I wonder if you'd mind telling us what brands of guitars you're most comfortable with. It's to satisfy my personal curiosity; as I noted earlier, those who liked the Carvin's sound tended to play Gibson guitars while those that didn't care for it usually played single-coil instruments.

In any event, thanks for that pretty photograph !

Randy

[helios]

Hi Randy,
Thanks-the SH550 was a gorgeous guitar! My current guitars are all humbuckers:

1. Yamaha SA2200: ES-335 Clone, Has Lindy Fralin pickups-Nicest tone of the three to my ears. I will never sell this one.

2. Epiphone Byrdland: Has Lindy Fralin pickups-Easiest to play of the three, and very decent jazz tones. This one's a keeper too.

3. Warmoth L5S Chambered Body: Has SD Seth Lover 59's-Best ergonomics of the three-does everything well, but nothing great!
Best Wishes, Jeff

[RonD]

"3. Warmoth L5S Chambered Body: Has SD Seth Lover 59's-Best ergonomics of the three-does everything well, but nothing great!
Best Wishes, Jeff[/quote]"
Hey Jeff.
Could you give some more details on the Warmoth?
I was looking at it but I wasn't liking the fact that it wasn't a carved top.

Cheers, Ron

[randyc]

Jeff, thanks for the information -

[helios]

"3. Warmoth L5S Chambered Body: Has SD Seth Lover 59's-Best ergonomics of the three-does everything well, but nothing great!
Best Wishes, Jeff

"
Hey Jeff.
Could you give some more details on the Warmoth?
I was looking at it but I wasn't liking the fact that it wasn't a carved top.

Cheers, Ron[/quote]

Hi Ron,
The Warmoth L5S is not a carved top. Unlike the discontinued Gibson L5S, the Warmoth L5S can be ordered with a zillion different options: With F-holes (one or two), chambered body,and any number of body & neck wood choices-in short, much like Carvin in terms of options (But no carved top!). Mine even sports a 24.75 scale. Remember, even the SH550 carved top is a CNC milled product, as opposed to a "tap tuned" hand carved affair.
If one gets too fancy with woods and options, a Warmoth L5S can easily run over $1000.00!
The neck on mine is pretty fat (I think a 59 LP contour) and the fretwire narrow, so I may order a different neck eventually. It was a decent experiment and I like it. Their (Warmoth) resale value is zippo, so plan to keep it if you ever order one! Cheers, Jeff

[Cooperro]

I've purchased two Carvins over the years. Both had workmanship issues, and one I sent back. The guitar I kept is a DC-145, and the one I sent back was an AC-375. I won't go into details, but I will tell you this:

1) Carvin guitar warranty is only five years, NOT lifetime.

2) You pay shipping and insurance both ways. This means if you don't like the instrument FOR ANY REASON, it will cost you about $75 to have tried it, even if there are workmanship flaws you don't like!

3) Many reviewers complain about the pickups - too stereophonic/hi-fidelity, etc. I experienced this too with my DC-145. I play through a Boogie Mark III, and compared to my LP, well, there is no comparison. In fact, check out their own website and play the 550 demo/video. I've watched it several times trying to justify buying one 'cause I still love the idea of customizing my guitar. But, I just can't get into the sound of that instrument...

4) And that Abalone Carvin Logo for $30? I ordered that on my AC-375. It was clearly a sticker - NOT INLAID. You could see it laying on top of the wood, and not "in" the wood if you looked close enough.

5) Beware the Carvin forum. Everything is glossy there as you ARE NOT ALOWED to post anything negative about Carvin, less it be yanked.

6) Their customer service is hit or miss, and they're notorious for poor, arrogant attitudes.

So, there you have my opinion. Bottom line, it'll cost you about $75 to try one and prove me wrong...

[helios]

Hi Meggy,
I've ordered three Carvins in the past, and have never had a problem with the company Carvin, or their guitars. I don't own any of them today, but for reasons which have nothing to do with workmanship, or company issues. They offer great bang for the buck in my opinion. I wish they'd install pickups from other manufacturers, or at least copy a good pickup design (Like Lollar or Fralin). I may have kept my Holdsworth or SH550 if this were so. I guess this is my only issue. Best Wishes, Jeff

[helios]

"Regarding the pickups, is it not possible to change them for some good Fralins or whatever? After all, the cost of these guitars seems very good, so even with the extra outlay maybe it would not be too much overall, for such a nice instrument"

Hi Meggy,
I kick myself now and again for not doing just that! The electronics were so nicely done on the Carvin's, and I hated to violate either of the guitars in any way. Both were in pristine shape when I sold them, and with good photos, they both commanded pretty favorable pricing on Ebay--some importer/exporter guy bought the SH550. If the guitars had 24.75 scales (my Epi byrdland is 23.5"!), I would have changed the pickups for sure. I woud have kept the Holdsworth even if it came with a 25" scale, as I really liked the flat 20" neck radius & ergonomics.
I have a friend who'll play any kind of guitar no matter how badly it's set up, or what it's scale length is. I'm unable/unwilling to do that (but I also manage to get better tone than he does!).
I did change the pickups in my Byrdland. Cheers, Jeff

[Meggy]

"Regarding the pickups, is it not possible to change them for some good Fralins or whatever? After all, the cost of these guitars seems very good, so even with the extra outlay maybe it would not be too much overall, for such a nice instrument"

Hi Meggy,
I kick myself now and again for not doing just that! The electronics were so nicely done on the Carvin's, and I hated to violate either of the guitars in any way. Both were in pristine shape when I sold them, and with good photos, they both commanded pretty favorable pricing on Ebay--some importer/exporter guy bought the SH550. If the guitars had 24.75 scales (my Epi byrdland is 23.5"!), I would have changed the pickups for sure. I woud have kept the Holdsworth even if it came with a 25" scale, as I really liked the flat 20" neck radius & ergonomics.
I have a friend who'll play any kind of guitar no matter how badly it's set up, or what it's scale length is. I'm unable/unwilling to do that (but I also manage to get better tone than he does!).
I did change the pickups in my Byrdland. Cheers, Jeff

Cheers for explaining your position Jeff. I quite like the longer scale lengths, so probably would have gone for pickup changes if required. Although I can understand not wanting to risk doing very much to an up-market guitar. I have heard that Carvin humbuckers are a slightly smaller size, so if a little routing, or drilling new holes for a mounting ring, was required, that might make me think more than twice! I like the setup to be right too!

[lpdeluxe]

After three years, this thread may not deserve to be revived...except that, I followed up on my very positive impression of the SH550 by snagging a used one. Three years may seem like a long time, but it took me 27 to finally find a Gibson 335 at the best possible price, so know that I am very patient.

My objections to the review SH550 were based on three issues: first, the too-ornate top figuring; then the "hi-fi" sound of the pickups; and finally, the position of the pickup selector switch.

I found one on craigslist for a very friendly price with a cedar top, Seymour Duncan Jazzmaster Antiquity II pickups, black hardware and a Bigsby vibrato. And, of course, the misplaced selector switch! Well, nothing to be done about that.

The cedar top is much more to my taste than the flamboyant quilted maple, and the translucent antique yellow finish gives it a mellow, amber appearance. While the quilt is like an applique on the guitar, the cedar integrates much more successfully into the instrument, in my opinion.

The Bigsby is a welcome addition -- my main guitar for 25 years was a Bigsby equipped '63 Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman.

Black hardware? I'm not nuts about it, but it doesn't seriously offend me, either. I'll let that go.

But it is the replacement of the pickups that turns this beast into lpdeluxe's special cuddle. On the review guitar, a lot of tweaking on both the guitar and amp was necessary in our cycling through a wide variety of styles and material. With the SD JM pickups, it was extremely easy to dial in very sweet, or fairly raucous, sounds. So far I have played it through my Fender Jazzmaster Utralight amp, and it sings.

I will post pictures once I get my camera back from a friend.

[zigzag]

I've had an SH550 for a couple of years. I love everything about it but the S22 stock pickups. They are a little brighter than I like, but they are warm enough and tonally balanced with excellent definition. This being the case, it is still my go to guitar. I've dropped the pickup height way down, put on some flatwounds, and I'll roll off the the high end on the pickups a little and cut the treble and bass on my amp, jack up the mid-range, and I'm golden. I actually prefer the middle pickup position. Overall, this is an excellent guitar, a great value, and more versatile than my 335, IMO.

[lpdeluxe]

Here are a few blurry shots of my recent acquisition. It's a 2012 Carvin SH550 with cedar top, antique yellow stain, Bigsby, black hardware, and has been modified with a pair of Seymour Duncan Jazzmaster Antiquity II pickups in humbucker-size cases.



I like the cedar top, which integrates with the mahogany back and neck much better, in my eye, than the flame and quilt maple tops. The guitar is about halfway in size between a Les Paul and a 335 (14.1") and is lighter than either. The change to single-coil pickups gives it a much sweeter tone, to my ear.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I like that cedar, too. Guess I'm not a flamed maple guy.

[Robertkoa]

Hi I am resurrecting this old thread because

I am thinking of a semi hollow and like Carvin , necks and fretwork.

I like deep sounding Guitars and the Carvin I have now is a Bolt which is very resonant, loud and deep unplugged probably over 10 or 11 pounds.

Picture a Strat in Mahogany with a blocked Trem and maybe 11s or 12s String Gauges and that's what this is like...with 10 gauge.

I hate the pickup switch on Les Pauls and the few Carvin Models which have it on the upper horn.

I prefer a 5 way and toggles for options and asking about moving the switch on a CS or SH 550 if I go for one...this will prevent returning it..( unless a serious error on their part).



So ..I wonder on the Carvin 550 with the Cedar Top is it unplugged a darker sound than an ES 335 ?

The unplugged sound gives me an idea of how deep it would be with similar pickups to a 335 ...but I never heard a Carvin SH 550.

You guys that have them ...will Cedar or Mahogany top and maybe a Rosewood Fingerboard make it darker sounding ?

Or very minimal difference?

With '57 Pickups will it be as deep as a 335 but more versatile ?

[Woody Sound]

I like that cedar, too. Guess I'm not a flamed maple guy.

That is beautiful. I wonder if the cedar dents easier than the usual maple, or even spruce.