I have been a Carvin fan and owner since 2000. I found a used DC200 Koa in a small guitar shop in PA. After playing it, I just could not leave the shop without taking it home. The only part of that guitar I disliked was the bridge. It did not take long before I installed a Kahler 2300. I finally decided to upgrade the guitar with a new Kahler 7300 as well as replace the active electronics with the most recent available from Carvin. I still have the original M22V and M22T pups. They sound great and better than the pups I had in a Charvel model 4 (which has seen its share of Seymore Duncan pup of many types, last pup I put into that was SD Trembucker). I retired the Charvel a few months ago but kept the pup.
My next Carvin was a vintage DC100 (eBay). I did not care for the pup in that guitar (Bill Lance dual blades). The DC100 is solid hard rock maple which is extremely brite in tone. I upgraded the pups to Carvin M22N, and M22SD. It was difficult to tame the tone on this guitar. Way too much treble. That was cured with the old electronics I removed from the DC200.
My third Carvin, DC400A (eBay) Standard options with alder body with maple walnut neck, quilted maple cap. PUPs are C22J and C22B. I believe the fretboard radius is 12". This guitar has some great tones which are different than the DC200 and DC100. I bought this guitar after I ordered a DC400W from Carvin.
My favorite and first new Carvin, DC400W. Claro walnut top, black walnut body and mape/walnut neck. I ordered this build with the M22N and M22SD pups. That was not a good choice for a Walnut guitar. I replaced the pups with Carvin S22J and S22B (metal coverd pup) and what a difference that made. Sings like my old 84 Les Paul (that I can remember).
All of the guitars have Ebony Fretboards. Both of the DC400's have SS medium jumbo frets. When it comes to the Carvin pick ups, it makes a difference what type of woods the guitar is made from. Mahogany, Koa, will give you nice warm tones so almost any pick up would work well. Alder wood is not as robust in tone (my opinion) and sort of gives you a strat type sound. Walnut, that is a different beast on its own. bright highs and growling lows. Best to use mild pups for that. All maple guitar is simliar to walnut but with more brightness. I like the walnut dc400 I may get another one. I am considering something a bit different, like Carvin CS624 with walnut cap.
When I went to GC to buy another Mesa Amp (originally after the Roadster but liked the MKV better) I played a few PRS, Ernie Ball, Gibson semi hollow model ( all of them priced over $3000) and I did not care for any of them. The tech who helped me out said I could pick any of the guitars I wanted to play through the amp. Both the Gibson and PRS were in a locked glass cabinet. To me, the carvins fit me better, overall I feel the Carvin quality surpassed the expensive PRS. Also it took me over an hour to find where they kept the Mesa Amps (hiddend in the same room the overpriced guitars were.)