While we await the definitive Carver test, a few thoughts on thoughts:
I haven’t ever seen one with a bad finish or poor inlays. Not that I’ve seen all that many. The Epiphones were more in my price range. My first acoustic at age 14 was an Epiphone.
Anything hand made is going to have flaws, or variance in fit 'n finish. On a three thousand dollar guitar there is no excuse for sawdust in the pickup cavity. Just like on a two thousand dollar preamp, the top panel should be the actual top panel (when Peter Aczel received his JC-2 preamp, the top was for one of Mark's crossovers!). But even automated machine produced items can have problems, if the operators aren't watching. Check out the
Guitaristas on YT. Last weeks video. A big run of the latest Epiphone '61 SGs have their back bevel miscut--and this is an $850.00 guitar! Generally Epiphone is good value for the dollar (I own a couple), but mistakes can happen.
1) But I also believe the audio industry has produced an overwhelming amount of solid-state equipment for all the wrong reasons...
2) I know this is a contentious subject, and 3) I don't wish to debate it with the masses.
1) If it was not for SS, many music lovers would never be able to afford gear. That in itself is a net positive. 2) It is certainly contentious, among some. However, it's just a hobby for most of us, so no need to become contentious. 3) Who are the masses? Are we the masses?
Hey, let's talk about pressure washers.
Will the debate between electric and gasoline pressure washers ever be decided?
I think the draw of S.S. was its reliability, low heat output, and compact lightweight size; no tubes to fizzle out & need regular replacement and no bad backs caused by heavy transformer-laden chasses.
In the early days of SS, horrible failures were frequently reported. I recall one of the major hi-fi magazines planning to review one of the first SS integrated amps, but before the review could run, so many were defective, blowing up, that the company went out of business. Generally, if a tube failed, your loudspeaker was probably safe. Can you say Quartre Gain Cell?