Carvin Allan Holdsworth Signature HH2

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I knew Allan Holdsworth's face years before I'd ever heard him play a note.
Way back in 1985 he was predominantly featured in my Ibanez catalogue of guitars. In fact, I think i played one of his Ibanez signature models before I'd heard him play. It was red and had a spider logo on the headstock. Very cool for the 14 year old me.

So when I saw that Carvin had a signature Holdsworth model it caught my eye. I really like the look of this headless guitar. I think it wold make a great travel instrument. Carvin makes great guitars. I play with a bassist who sells and buys gear all the time. The one constant is his Carvin. Something, something......... from his cold dead hands.

Currently listed for $1200 Canadian

R.W. Haller



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Can you identify the mystery doubleneck guitar / (very) short-scale bass?

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Guitarz reader Jeff brought this mystery doubleneck to my attention. It's currently being offered for sale on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $649, although the seller is completely in the dark as to what this guitar/bass combo actually is. Apparently the pickups are made by Framus so it would be a perfectly reasonable piece of guesswork that the whole guitar might be made by Framus, but the seller claims to have checked with Framus who have responded that it's not one of theirs. Jeff suggested to me that it has the looks of a Carvin to it, and I reckon he might be onto something there.

Can any of you guys identify it more conclusively?

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Carvin doubleneck - I wouldn't fancy tuning this up on a darkened stage

guitarz.blogspot.com:

This Carvin doubleneck 12+6 guitar was, until very recently, the property of Guitarz reader Derek; he sold it on eBay just this last week. He comments:

This is a early 90s Carvin doubleneck. It is, as far as I know, the only 6/12 that has the tuners on the 12 string neck inline. It makes for a very weird looking headstock... it looks more like a shovel.

It appears to be the same as the guitar on this catalog page from 1990.

The 12 inline was a option, the 6+6 was standard. The microswitch is the neck selector.

It's very heavy. The neck feels like a cross between an Ibanez RG and a Jackson; it's very thin, flat and wide. It is very much in keeping with the Superstrat/shred guitar design (other than the lack of a Kahler or Floyd). It's well made just like any other Carvin I've run across, but offers little in the way of new ideas. It looks and feels very late 80s if that makes sense.

Thanks for showing us that beast, Derek. I can imagine I'd get into all sorts of tuning difficulties with a 12-string headstock like that. I often seem to go for the wrong tuner even on a regular 6-string 3+3 headstock. Still, in an on-stage situation, I guess that's what guitar techs are for.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Carvin #3-SGB from 1957

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here's a Carvin #3-SGB (at least, I think #3-SGB is the model designation) from 1957. It's a slab-bodied electric guitar with a bolt-on neck, 6-a-side headstock. Hmmmm... we're scratching our heads here at Guitarz wondering where they got that idea from.

The guitar was made in Covina, California, and has a natural finish on a maple body, with maple neck and rosewood fingerboard.

At least it doesn't have a silly Buy It Now price on it, like some guitars of this vintage. With Carvin's reputation it should be a quality instrument, so long as it's survived the years in good condition. It might be an interesting one to bid on if you're after something a little different.

More information here.

With thanks to Al in Crosby TX USA.

G L Wilson

© 2011, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!