Carvin Cobalt C850 acoustic electric guitar review: can it compete with the big dogs?
The Carvin C850T It’s an electro-acoustic cutaway guitar that looks just like many other models from high-end manufacturers, like the impressive Martin D-16GTE. Hey, if you’re going to look like anything, the D-16GTE is a great guitar to emulate! The acoustic dreadnought cutaway style that the C850 carries has to be one of, if not the most popular, acoustic guitar style. This type of guitar is played in music videos and concerts in almost every genre of music these days. The Carvin looks like the part, but I learned a long time ago that you can’t judge a guitar by its looks. I have played many great looking guitars over the years that really did sound terrible to my ears.
Carvin’s website states that Cobalt series guitars are inspected at their custom US shop for the ultimate in tone and playability. This line is built by hand at a reputable factory in Korea, then final setup is done at their US factory before the guitars are shipped to the end user. The online reviews are pretty positive, and one of the reasons I decide to give the Cobalt C850T a try myself. Another factor in my purchase decision was that everyone I personally spoke to who owned a Carvin Cobalt acoustic loved it. Not closet musicians, but people who play day after day night after night and still rave about the Carvin. He just had to see what all the fuss was about!
The purchase process was quite simple, and with a few clicks of the mouse, my order was completed and the guitar was scheduled to ship. In 4 days, I was eagerly retrieving it from my doorstep.
The guitar I bought was very impressive.. Right out of the box, the action of the C850 was low and perfect for me. Maybe that had something to do with Carvin’s Rapid Play (TM) low-action neck. Guitarists who play very hard will probably need to adjust the action a bit so that the strings do not vibrate. It’s this low from the factory. A good guitar tech will make it perfect for heavy handed players.
I compared this guitar side by side with one of my other guitars, a Martin DC-16GTEP. The guitars look very similar and both have excellent Fishman electronics for playing through a public address system, acoustic amp, or direct recording. The built-in tuner is also a great feature. I would give the Carvin the thumbs up for the sound plugged in through a PA, as its EQ seemed more responsive than the similar system on the Martin. The Martin had a condenser mic along with the under-saddle pickup, but I turned it off for comparison. Recording nods would have to go to the Martin because it has a built-in condenser mic, and it records very well making great acoustic mic sound when recording. But any acoustics can be micro-mic externally, and I was able to get some good acoustic recordings using the C850 and a couple of good condenser mics placed on stands in front of the guitar.
The guitar’s unplugged tone wasn’t as loud and booming as Martin’s, but the C850 has a high-gloss finish (the Martin had a glossy top, with satin back and sides), and it takes some time for any spruce. solid. -Guitar with lid to age and soften a little. As it gets older, I imagine the C850T will give a lot of more expensive guitars a shot for their money in the tone department..
The Carvin’s build quality was actually as good or better than any other acoustic-electric guitar in the $ 700 price range that I have inspected, including Martin and Taylor. Let me tell you, that’s saying a lot. The quality is there, with no unsightly glue dots or jagged fret edges, and a beautiful glossy finish is included throughout the guitar, which is a premium on similar models from Martin and Taylor.
I played the Carvin at various concerts, and believe it or not, every time people came up to me after the concert commenting on how great the guitar sound was. So the action was great, the sound was impressive, and the C850T looked great. Did I mention that there is also a 5 year warranty against manufacturing defects? Can the Carvin compete with the big dogs of the acoustic world? In my opinion, it certainly can, and at a mid-range price that’s way more comfortable on the bank account than anything close in quality and craftsmanship I’ve seen.