Carvin M22V...opinions?

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

Hey y'all,

Any opinions on the Carvin M22V humbucker?

[blueman335]

I have several models of Carvin HB's in several guitars, I like them. Carvin doesn't have the selection and creativity of Duncam & DMz, or even Gibson, which means you can't always get the right PU for a certain guitar, and magnets are glued in, so swapping is pretty much out. But in the right guitar, they can sound pretty good.

You can get used ones for $20 to $30, and they certainly sound better than any Asian PU's I've heard.

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

I have several models of Carvin HB's in several guitars, I like them. Carvin doesn't have the selection and creativity of Duncam & DMz, or even Gibson, which means you can't always get the right PU for a certain guitar, and magnets are glued in, so swapping is pretty much out. But in the right guitar, they can sound pretty good.

You can get used ones for $20 to $30, and they certainly sound better than any Asian PU's I've heard.

Thanks Blueman.

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

I just got mine in the mail today. When I wire it up, I'll post a review.

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

OK, I slapped the Carvin M22V into the neck position of my Yamaha SBG200 (Mahogany set-neck solidbody guitar.) My 1st impressions (with old and dull sounding strings, mind you! LOL). VERY cool pickup...throaty, not muddy, nice chime, clear but not harsh. Responds INSANELY well dynamically. Pinched and tapped harmonics JUMP out of this pickup to an amazing degree...like an Air Norton!

[ehdwuld]

with the eleven poles per coil
the trem/F-spaced vs traditional spaced debate is irrelevant

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

with the eleven poles per coil
the trem/F-spaced vs traditional spaced debate is irrelevant

Very true!

[BloodRose]

very cool! Carvin pups get alot of neg lash (Anything carvin does for some reason) but the pups Ive tried by them have been good.. The m22sd was a blast to play! I like the tone of the AP11 singles alot. I havent played the new C22 B I think it is, but I hear its a very good sounding pup! Glad yours are working for you!

[arellanon]

Sorry guys for reviving a somewhat old thread. Just wanted to input my opinion and experience.

The M22V is a very, very good neck pup; the only one I like more is DiMarzio's Humbucker From Hell. It sounds clear enough for lead or rhythm work and when played clean it really is a gem. I love splitting this pup; it sounds very spot on to a good single coil. I cannot recommend this pickup enough.

[metalmachine]

carvin has made pups longer than they have made 6 sting guitars..... just sayin
i thought the c22b was on par with any duncan or dimarzio as far as quality. but it doesnt sound duncan or dimarzio. it sounds carvin

[Ascension]

I still have a bunch of Carvin pickups laying around. The old braided wire shield wood spaced M22's sound better for some reason than the newer ones IMO. In particular the old M22SD's from the mid 80's - around 92 were real killers tone wise. The newer ones are hotter in output but lost the sweetness and don't have the smooth fat bottom the early ones had. I have a really good sounding M22T from a 1990 DC300 that I need to find a home for + a couple of the early SD's. My 1990 X220C still has the stock M22SD and M22N and that guitar has some KILLIN tones!!
I played a stock solid maple 1989 DC 200 with a SD and M22N that was a match for the one Jason Becker had on the road with Ascension all through the late 80's -90's. Here is a live clip from 1993 with the DC 200 through my JCM 900 Dual Verb Marshall http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...songID=5539540.