Epiphone G-400 Review - Great Guitar, Great Price!

By R. S. Rasnick

The Gibson SG doesn't have the comparable iconic history as the Les Paul or the Stratocaster, but it's still a mighty rock and roll image. Angus Young of AC/DC can show to that.

Many guitar players, from rock to blues to jazz, have played the Gibson SG at one time or another. While the Gibson SG is a powerful instrument and surely worth the purchase price, not everyone can fork out the $1,200 it costs for a brand new Gibson SG. Fortunately, Epiphone makes an affordable SG-style guitar, the G-400.

Since the Epiphone G-400 is plainly more inexpensive, we have to determine how well it "stacks up" to its big brother, the Gibson SG.

We have no niggles with respect to the cherry finish, which is just plain beautiful and looks great on the instrument's mahogany body. The SG shape itself is faultless. If it weren't for the name on the headstock, the guitar would be a dead ringer for a Gibson SG.

The mother-of-pearl inlays are wonderfully done, though we did discover some small traces of glue residue near the edges. Likewise, we noticed some minute traces of glue holding the neck joint in place, but these squabbles aside, we found the construction quality to be really well done.

The instrument stayed in tune really well, and we are able to set the guitar's action extremely low. The intonation was dead on and easy to set; nonetheless, we thought the bridge saddles were just a touch too sharp when we rested our hand on the bridge. Still, this is a minor complaint.

The guitar plays well, suitable for pretty much any style of music. We did notice a a couple of buzzes and rattles here and there, but we did set the action moderately low, and we didn't observe any of these sounds through an amplifier.

Even unplugged, the G-400 has a superb, vibrant sound. It's a very alive instrument, which is welcome seeing how lightweight the guitar is.

The positive characteristics are only heightened by plugging the instrument into our test amp, a Dr. Z MAZ-18 NR. The G-400 pickups provided a well balanced but not terribly aggressive sound.

All three pickup positions yielded quality sounds useful for just about every style under the sun. When we auditioned the G-400 out with some highly distorted sounds (using some high gain pedals), it sounded a little muddy to us, but that's likely because of the warm-sounding mahogany body.

If you plan to gig with the G-400 in a metal or shred setting, a change of pickups might be needed.

In The End, we think the Epiphone G-400 is a wonderful guitar for people looking for classic rock, blues, and even hard rock tones, and who don't desire to drop a ton of cash on their purchase. It's a fun instrument with various usable tones and one we highly recommend. - 32370

About the Author:

If you are looking for the lowest available price on a new or used Epiphone G-400, then you need to look no more! Ray's Guitar Shop offers the lowest prices on all new and used guitars (acoustic and electric) available anywhere online. Go visit Ray's Guitar Shop today!

Brief Review of the Custom Carvin CT6M

By R. S. Rasnick

Carvin has a well-earned status for making quality custom guitars at a reasonable price. The main downside to buying a Carvin is that you won't find them in your local music shop, unless they're used. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives, however. You can order a custom-made instrument that is one of a kind, made to your unique specifications.

The Carvin CT6M continues Carvin's reputation for quality. The craftsmanship, finish, playability, and sound rival the world's greatest instruments in every way. If you need a beautiful and versatile guitar that you can personalize to your own tastes at a fair price, the CT6M certainly fits the bill. Let's see what makes this instrument so unique.

We tested a Carvin CT6M with an impressive flamed maple carved top. It came with a mahogany body and a set-in neck that we upgraded to 22 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets (nickel frets are standard). We kept the standard ebony fretboard, though we opted for the abalone block inlays. It came standard with locking tuners (Sperzel) and Carvin's Classic C22 pickups. We also invested in a set of Dunlop Straplocks.

We ordered our instrument with the standard Tune-O-Matic bridge with a string-through-body design, though you can order either a Wilkinson or Floyd Rose tremolo bridge as an option. For the finish, we chose a beautiful triple-stained deep blue and a black back and sides.

We received the instrument with our requested .009 strings setup for low action. UPS transported the CT6M all the way from San Diego to Dallas, and the instrument not only played great upon arrival but was tuned to concert pitch as well. The action was perfect, and the intonation was spot-on. We only needed to fine-tune the truss rod a touch. Like all Carvin necks, the CT6M was mega-fast, and was actually one of the smoothest I've seen in a while.

Honestly, I can't think of a single thing that could be done to make the CT6M more playable. The stainless steel frets were a smart decision, since they contributed to the effortless, easy bends and fretwork.

The guitar sounds exceptional. The 3-way pickup selector functions like a Gibson Les Paul or SG and combined with a push-pull tone pot coil tap, the sound options are broad and useful. I could definitely elicit some nice Strat-tones out of the coil tap.

If you're accustomed to upgrading stock pickups, you might actually be content with the Carvin C22 pickups in their stock configuration. We were able to get some very solid blues, rock, metal, and even country tones. The bridge pickup is pretty hot, which makes it a good choice for blues and rock sounds. The neck pickup is nice as well, though it might lack the depth a jazz player may desire. Still, it's quite versatile.

We received the CT6M with a very nice SKB-designed case that provides a really solid fit for the guitar. Even though we had no need to contact Carvin's customer service (since everything was perfect), I can say based on past experience that their customer service really does come through when you need them.

The total for this world-class custom made electric guitar was $1,550.49, quite a deal when you consider that a PRS McCarty or Hamer Studio (other guitars in the CT6M's quality range) sell for twice that amount. Carvin definitely has a winner on their hands with their CT6M. - 32370

About the Author:

If you're searching for the most affordable price online for a used Carvin CT6M, then you need to look no further than Ray's Guitar Shop, which offers the best prices on all used and new electric guitars, including Carvin guitars.

The Carvin Bolt-T: A Brief Review

By R. S. Rasnick

With the Bolt and Bolt-T, California-based guitar maker Carvin makes their entry into the so-called "Super-Strat" market with a model that offers countless customization options. Bolt-on neck guitars are nothing new for the company (they used to make them years ago), though they've become more renowned for their set-neck instruments. Strat-style guitars are virtually everywhere these days, so we have to ask, what does Carvin add to an already crowded market? With the Bolt and Bolt-T models, it's clear that they add a lot.

As is the case with all of their instruments (except for the Cobalt series), Carvin's Bolt guitars can be ordered with a number of options, including customizations of wood, hardware, color, and pickups. The guitar we reviewed came with an alder body and a beautiful flamed maple top with crimson red finish. We ordered a humbucker in the bridge position and a black perloid pickguard. We left the single coils in the neck and middle positions, just so we could still get some realistic Strat-like sounds. We also ordered our Bolt with the Wilkinson vibrato bridge option.

Regarding the guitar's electronics, it relies on a master volume and tone as well as a standard Stat-style five-way selector switch. It also includes two mini-toggles. One allows you to add the bridge pickup in positions four and five while the other allows you to split the bridge humbucker. Obviously, the Carvin Bolt-T has a wide palette of sonic possibilities.

Since we ordered the Bolt with the optional Wilkinson vibrato bridge, we tried to get the guitar to go out of tune, but the Carvin Bolt-T would have none of it. It probably didn't hurt that we ordered the optional locking Sperzel tuners. When you couple those locking tuners with the Graphtech nut, it would take a lot of work to get this guitar to go out of tune. Way to go, Carvin!

If you've never played a Carvin guitar before, then you're missing out on some of the best-playing guitars in the business. We opted to get our Bolt-T with 22 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets and an ebony fingerboard. We were positively blown away, as it was far better playing than instruments costing two or three times as much! The neck's tung oil finish added to this silky smooth feel and playability.

The instrument was shipped in a solid ABS case that is durable despite its lightness. Amazingly, the Bolt-T was tuned to concert pitch and wholly playable when we took it out of the box, which is hard to believe!

Perhaps the most compelling feature of the Carvin Bolt-T is the price. We had numerous quality upgrades and options, and the instrument still cost us less than $1,000 including shipping and the hardshell case. While we still love our Fender Strats, it's hard to justify the cost of a new Fender when you can get a new or used Carvin for a lot less.

All in all, the Carvin Bolt-T is an amazing guitar for the cost, especially if you can find a used one. If you want a guitar that gives you world-class sound and playability at a low price, the Carvin Bolt-T is sure to satisfy! - 32370

About the Author:

If you're wanting to buy a quality Carvin Bolt guitar, then hunt no further than Ray's Guitar Shop, which gives you the most competitive prices on all used Carvin guitars available online today!

Carvin CT6M: A Brief Review

By R. S. Rasnick

Musical instrument maker Carvin has a solid reputation for producing quality custom guitars at a modest price. Alas, you won't find Carvin guitars in your nearby music shop unless you happen to find a used instrument. Regardless, the good far outweighs the bad. With Carvin, you can order a custom-made guitar that is truly one of a kind because it is built to your particular specifications.

The Carvin CT6M continues Carvin's reputation for excellence. The craftsmanship, finish, playability, and sound rival the world's greatest instruments in every way. If you need an attractive and versatile instrument that you can personalize to your own tastes at a fair cost, the CT6M certainly fits the bill. Let's look at what makes this guitar so unique.

We reviewed a Carvin CT6M with an impressive flamed maple carved top. It came with a mahogany body and a set-in neck that we upgraded to 22 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets (nickel frets are standard). We kept the standard ebony fretboard, though we upgraded to the abalone block inlays. It came standard with locking tuners (Sperzel) and Carvin's Classic C22 pickups. We also invested in a set of Dunlop Straplocks.

Though Floyd Rose and Wilkinson tremolos are available as options, we opted for the Tune-O-Matic M bridge with a string-through-body design. The color was a beautiful triple-stained deep blue with a standard black back and sides. Very sharp!

We ordered the instrument with .009 strings and requested low action. The guitar was shipped from San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX via the M.I.B. (men in brown) and showed up not only in tune but playing great! The intonation and action were dead set and required only a small tweak of the truss rod. The action was low and silky, a common Carvin feature. The neck was one of the speediest I've ever encountered.

I couldn't imagine a single thing that Carvin could improve regarding playability. The stainless steel frets were beautifully polished and smooth.

The guitar sounds exceptional. The 3-way pickup selector functions like a Les Paul and combined with a push-pull tone pot coil tap, the sound options are broad and useful. I could easily elicit some nice Strat-tones out of the coil tap.

We were also quite happy with the stock C22 pickups in both the bridge and neck positions. The CT6M yielded some great tones for blues, rock, country, and even metal. It even emits some usable jazz tones, though you'll have to play around with the tone controls if that's your preference.

The Carvin CT6M also came with a very nice SKB-made case that provides a solid fit for the CT6M. We had no need for Carvin's exceptional customer service, since the CT6M came to us immaculate as expected, though I can say from personal experience that, when needed, Carvin's customer support comes through like a flash when you need them.

The total for this world-class custom made electric guitar was $1,550.49, quite a bargain when you consider that a PRS McCarty or Hamer Studio (other guitars in the CT6M's quality range) sell for twice that amount. Carvin definitely has a winner on their hands with their CT6M. - 32370

About the Author:

If you're searching for the most affordable price online for a used Carvin CT6M, then you need to search no further than Ray's Guitar Shop, which offers the best prices on all new and used electric and acoustic guitars, including Carvin guitars and basses.

A Review of the B. C. Rich Mockingbird Elite Classic

By R. S. Rasnick

Since the 1950's, most guitar shapes are mere variations of the vintage Stratocaster and Les Paul designs. It's very uncommon that a unique guitar shape makes a significant influence on guitar players who, for all their differences, are a conservative lot when it comes to guitar body shapes.

One such luthier who did make a pronounced impact on the industry with his unique body styles is the late Bernardo Chavez Rico, the founder of B. C. Rich guitars and creator of such memorable guitars as the Warlock and Bich. One of his earliest and most popular models is the B. C. Rich Mockingbird.

The Mockingbird guitar shape is available in a number of different incarnations. Current B. C. Rich Mockingbird models include the Calibre Classic, the Special, the Special X, the Masterpiece, the ST, and the Exotic Classic, which is the subject of our present review.

Like all the original B. C. Rich instruments, the Mockingbird was made by hand in Rico's shop. Current models, though, are constructed in Korea to high standards, which explains why current instruments are so inexpensive. The instrument features renowned B. C. Rich neck-through construction, which helps explain why the guitar has such solid sustain and tone, since the neck extends through the whole guitar body.

The instrument is a speed player's dream machine! The ebony fretboard allows for very speedy fingerwork. The frets are well-rounded, smooth, and polished immaculately, especially for an import.

The guitar features Rockfield pickups, which offers creamy, smooth rock and metal sounds, though players who desire extreme high gain pickups may want to install Dimarzio or Duncan replacement pickups. If you're more of a classic metal (e.g. Ozzy) or classic rock (e.g. Zeppelin), the Rockfield pickups are perfectly acceptable.

We found the B. C. Rich Mockingbird Exotic Classic to be a first-rate classic rock and metal machine. The fit, finish, and action are impeccable. The hardware is first-rate, though we would have liked some locking tuning machines.

If you want some even more metal sounds, you can opt for the Mockingbird ST, which offers an original Floyd Rose vibrato system. The Exotic Classic, however, is such a solid hard rock machine that we didn't miss the Floyd Rose one bit, and we recommend the B. C. Rich Mockingbird Exotic Classic without reservation. - 32370

About the Author:

If you're searching for the perfect price on a new or used B. C. Rich Mockingbird, then look no further than Ray's Guitar Shop, which is your number one destination for both electric and acoustic instruments.

Purchasing Electric Guitars For Young Musicians

By Manuel Vintagoli

Thanks to people like Les Paul, who were pioneers and developers of the electric guitar, this instrument is the most popular off all instruments, both electric and acoustic. The Electric guitar has had profound effect on music. If it was not for the invention of electric guitars it is safe to say that Rock and Roll would not exist.

Electric guitars are extremely popular particularly with teen age boys. Many teenagers desire to emulate some of the greatest players of the electric guitar, people like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page. The electric guitar is part of a Rock N Roll fantasy, the visualize themselves living a Rock N Roll dream.

Well electric guitars do not have to cost a fortune, sure there are those world class guitars such as the Gibson Les Paul, or the Fender Stratocaster, but even Carlos Santana did not start with the best guitar in the world. Everyone starts somewhere and if you are looking to learn to play the guitar than you may be better off finding a good deal on inexpensive electric guitars.

Electric guitars are much like the people that play them; they tend to have their own personality. Finding the right electric guitar for you is a lot like finding a perfect match for your personality. You want to find one that feels right in your arms, fits your hands just right and plays sweet music. It kind of sounds like trying to find the perfect girlfriend.

Unlike a girlfriend, your electric guitar will never leave you sitting alone in a restaurant holding the check. They will however scream and cry if you don't handle them correctly. Learning the guitar effectively is more than just learning where to place your fingers, or the difference between a B flat and a C sharp.

There is certainly nothing wrong with learning to play on an acoustic guitar, but if you ever really want to rock then you will need to graduate to electric guitars. In fact if you become a devoted player then you will have several guitars, don't worry they don't get jealous. Even if you dream of a telecaster someday you will probably want to start with something a little more economical. Music stores typically provide a wide selection of guitars.

Buying a guitar can be done online or offline, you can find great deals online but you may get lucky and find a good deal at a music store as well. Keep in mind that if you buy a guitar over the internet you won't be able to get a feel for it in your arms ahead of time. You can go to your local music store find the make and model that you like best and then shop around online for a really good deal. This can eliminate the problem of buying an electric guitar, sight unseen.

One way to save money on electric guitars is to buy an Asian import. The Chinese and Koreans both have some great offerings in inexpensive guitars. While these models used to be inferior to the pricier American versions, they have improved greatly in recent years. These instruments now have great pickup and provide an obvious difference form models a few years ago, it is obvious with just one touch.

Second hand guitars are also a great way to get started, while these instruments may have been played by someone else, chances are they have been well taken care of. You can locate good deals on used guitars online or through the classifieds. No matter what you eventually buy, learning to play the guitar can be the start of something great. - 32370

About the Author:

Thanks to people such as Richy Sambora, who were pioneers and developers of the electric guitar, electric guitars are considered the most popular off all instruments, both electric and acoustic.

Review of the Carvin Bolt: The Ultimate Superstrat?

By R. S. Rasnick

The Carvin Bolt is the California music company's submission into the customizable "Super-Strat" market. Though Carvin is usually celebrated for their set-neck models, they remind us that they used to make bolt-on neck guitars several decades ago, so the design is nothing new for the mail-order only company. Since everybody and their grandmother offers a Strat-style guitar, the question then becomes, what does Carvin add to the market? As you'll see soon, they add quite a bit!

The Carvin Bolt and Bolt-T are just like other Carvin guitars (except for the Cobalt acoustic) in that they are available with literally thousands of different configurations due to the various options of hardware, pickups, wood, and colors. With our custom Bolt-T, we chose an alder body with a flamed maple top. We got a gorgeous red finish as well. We decided on a black pickguard and a humbucker in the bridge position. We kept the single coils in the neck and middle positions, just to keep some of the sounds truly Strat-like. We also replaced the hardtail bridge with a Wilkinson vibrato.

Regarding the layout of the electronics, our Bolt-T has a master volume and tone control along with a standard 5-way switch. The instrument includes a mini-toggle that lets you to bring in the bridge pickup in positions four and five, something not usually found on a "real" Strat. There's also an extra mini-toggle that splits the bridge humbucker into single-coil mode. So, the variety of sounds available on the Carvin Bolt-T are wide and helpful.

We tried as hard as we could, but we couldn't make the Wilkinson tremolo to go out of tune, even with some extreme "Van Halen" whammy work. Adding the optional Sperzel locking tuners didn't hurt the tuning, as you'd expect. When you add the fine Wilkinson bridge and the locking tuners with the Graphtech nut, you've got a recipe for perfect tuning!

We ordered our Bolt-T with an ebony fingerboard and 22 medium-jumbo stainless steel necks. Carvin necks are some of the finest in the industry, and the Bolt-T is no exception. The guitar's 25.5" scale and 15" radius felt extremely comfortable, and the necks tung oil finish was super smooth and added to the playability. Like all Carvin guitars we've ever played, the Bolt-T was smooth, fast, and silky.

The guitar was shipped in a solid ABS case that is durable despite its lightness. Amazingly, the Bolt-T was tuned to concert pitch and wholly playable when we took it out of the box, which is hard to believe!

The Carvin Bolt-T is a great playing and sounding guitar, but its ultimate feature might just be the cost. We opted for numerous upgrades (including a flamed maple top), and the guitar was still less than a grand (shipping included). Other guitar makers (including Fender) should take note of what Carvin offers for such an affordable cost.

All in all, the Carvin Bolt-T is an amazing guitar for the cost, especially if you can find a used one. If you want a guitar that gives you world-class sound and playability at a low price, the Carvin Bolt-T is sure to satisfy! - 32370

About the Author:

If you're wanting to buy a quality Carvin Bolt guitar, then search no further than Ray's Guitar Shop, which offers the most competitive prices on all used Carvin guitars available online today!