Kiesel (Carvin) Vader

[Scott Jones]

This thing is a work of art that happens to play as beautifully as it looks. Nothing recorded yet. Just got it last week. Wanted to share it with you all. It is a chambered Alder body with a Burl Maple top with a Deep Triple Stained Sunset Burst finish. An Ebony fingerboard. It weighs 6 lbs. (exactly as much as my Carvin HH2).

[Jim Soloway]

It's been a blast watching this one come together Scott. Congratulations.

[Scott Jones]

It's been a blast watching this one come together Scott. Congratulations.

Thanks Jim! Even the folks at Kiesel seemed to enjoy it enough to have used it in this promo shot with another Vader.

[helios]

Congratulations Scott! Carvin does PRS-USA quality work for a fraction of the cost. This guitar should compliment your fusion needs. Jeff

[lauwing]

What are the differences between this and the HH2 other than the body shape?

[vintagelove]

Congrats!!! I love Carvins, they play absolutely effortlessly. Enjoy!!!

[barrymclark]

Nice. I dig it!

[dingusmingus]

What are the differences between this and the HH2 other than the body shape?

Yes, I have the same question. Great looking guitar!

[JSanta]

Mine's on order, can't wait!

[Jim Soloway]

What are the differences between this and the HH2 other than the body shape?

27" scale length (25.5 optional), thinner/flatter neck profile, carbon graphite loaded neck, available in 6, 7, and 8 string versions, different body and neck construction, and Hipshot hardware.

[Scott Jones]

27" scale length (25.5 optional), thinner/flatter neck profile, carbon graphite loaded neck, available in 6, 7, and 8 string versions, different body and neck construction, and Hipshot hardware.

What Jim said! ha!

sorry .... I was out of the loop for a bit.

I got the 25.5 scale. The neck is close to the thin neck profile option on the HH, close, but ever so slightly meatier.

[lauwing]

Thanks Jim and Scott. Looks like it's neck thru vs set neck in HH2. It comes with 5-way switch too. What is carbon graphite loaded neck though?

[GuyBoden]

Very nice. Reminds me of a Strandberg.

[Jim Soloway]

Thanks Jim and Scott. Looks like it's neck thru vs set neck in HH2. It comes with 5-way switch too. What is carbon graphite loaded neck though?

We did the same thing with our guitars so I'm intimately familiar with this one. You run a long narrow channel that runs most of the length of the neck on both sides of the truss rod channel and glue a graphite rod in each of the channels. It substantially increases the rigidity of the neck allowing it to handle much more tension. That's why a fairly thin neck is able to handle both the additional strings for the 7 and 8 string versions and the added tension of the 27" scale length. There is also a very noticeable tonal impact: it increases clarity and note separation. This seems to be a common property of graphite in neck construction and since there is much less variation in graphite than there is in wood it is much more predictable and consistent. It is also something which I consider to be a huge tonal plus. We original used the graphite implants strictly for the rigidity (essential since our first guitars were 27" 7-strings) but in the end we used it in all of our guitars included the models with the 24.75" scale length because I was such a fan of the tonal impact of the graphite.

BTW, I once dance with the idea of having us branch into headless guitars and when I first saw the Vader and read its specs, I immediately thought that minus a few stylistic changes, this is exactly what we would have built.

[kris]

nice!

[lauwing]

Very good explanation. First time heard about graphite rod in the neck. Thanks. I like the body shape of the HH2 better, but other new features look nice.

[339 in june]

Neck

[GuyBoden]

You run a long narrow channel that runs most of the length of the neck on both sides of the truss rod channel and glue a graphite rod in each of the channels.

Is a Graphite rod different than a Carbon fibre rod?

Thanks
Guy

[Jim Soloway]

Is a Graphite rod different than a Carbon fibre rod?

Thanks
Guy

Same thing.

[Woody Sound]

[QUOTE=Jim Soloway;525674] There is also a very noticeable tonal impact: it increases clarity and note separation. This seems to be a common property of graphite in neck construction and since there is much less variation in graphite than there is in wood it is much more predictable and consistent. It is also something which I consider to be a huge tonal plus. We original used the graphite implants strictly for the rigidity (essential since our first guitars were 27" 7-strings) but in the end we used it in all of our guitars included the models with the 24.75" scale length because I was such a fan of the tonal impact of the graphite./QUOTE]

I played a few Parker Flys for several years, and I thought the same thing about the sound. Clarity and note separation. I wonder if it's the same reason, the carbon neck/shell. Loved EVERYTHING about the Fly except for the little offset body fit under my arm. As hard as I tried, never could get comfy. Finally had to reluctantly give it up.

[Jim Soloway]

[QUOTE=Woody Sound;528129]

There is also a very noticeable tonal impact: it increases clarity and note separation. This seems to be a common property of graphite in neck construction and since there is much less variation in graphite than there is in wood it is much more predictable and consistent. It is also something which I consider to be a huge tonal plus. We original used the graphite implants strictly for the rigidity (essential since our first guitars were 27" 7-strings) but in the end we used it in all of our guitars included the models with the 24.75" scale length because I was such a fan of the tonal impact of the graphite./QUOTE]

I played a few Parker Flys for several years, and I thought the same thing about the sound. Clarity and note separation. I wonder if it's the same reason, the carbon neck/shell. .

I'm sure it is the CF. It's been there is every guitar I've ever played that had a significant CF component to the neck and it's a tonal characteristic that I really like.