Carvin SH250 2009 - Spalted Maple Natural

Every once in a while a guitar shows up that feels less like a production instrument and more like a personal dream build. This 2009 Carvin Custom Shop SH250 is exactly that — a fully custom, feature-packed semi-hollow that blends electric and acoustic capability into one incredibly versatile instrument.

The first thing that stops people in their tracks is the top. The spalted maple is absolutely stunning, with dramatic figuring that runs across the entire body and even continues onto the matching headstock veneer. Every section of the top is different, creating a wild natural pattern that almost looks like artwork rather than wood grain. Photos barely capture how alive it looks in person.

Under the hood, this guitar is built to be far more than just a pretty instrument. The set-neck mahogany body and neck provide warmth, sustain, and resonance, while the semi-hollow construction with the classic f-hole adds a lively acoustic response that really opens up the sound.

What makes this SH250 truly special is its dual electric/acoustic capability. The guitar features traditional humbuckers alongside a piezo acoustic system, allowing it to function as both a full electric guitar and a convincing acoustic-style instrument. A blend knob lets you mix the electric and acoustic signals together, or you can use the dual output jacks to send the humbuckers to an electric amp while routing the piezo to an acoustic amp or direct input. It’s an incredibly powerful setup for recording, live performance, or players who want maximum tonal flexibility in one instrument.

The humbuckers have been upgraded to a set of Fishman Fluence Classic pickups, which bring an entirely new level of versatility. Each pickup offers multiple selectable voices, giving you access to vintage PAF-style warmth, a hotter modern humbucker tone, and an authentic single-coil style voice. Between the Fluence switching, coil-tap options, and the acoustic piezo system, this guitar can cover an enormous range of tones without ever touching another instrument.

Hardware and playability are equally impressive. It features a Bigsby vibrato that works beautifully and returns to pitch reliably, paired with Sperzel locking tuners and a graphite nut for excellent tuning stability. The ebony fingerboard with abalone inlays looks fantastic and feels incredibly smooth, while the jumbo stainless steel frets ensure long-term durability and effortless playability.

The guitar also comes equipped with Dunlop Straplok buttons, and the matching strap pieces are included in the case.

I’ve owned hundreds of guitars over the years, and this one honestly stands out as my personal favorite guitar I’ve owned so far. Between the tone options, the build quality, and the overall feel, it’s an incredibly inspiring instrument to play.

Condition is excellent overall. The guitar has clearly been very well cared for, with the only notable cosmetic mark being a small bump on the back of the body, which is pictured. Otherwise it presents beautifully.

Included with the guitar is the original Carvin tweed hard shell case, along with the original pickups should you ever want to return it to factory spec. Also included is a helpful wiring diagram from the tech who installed the Fishman Fluence pickups, showing exactly how the pickup switching and tonal options are configured.

This really is one of those instruments that does nearly everything: rich semi-hollow tones, convincing acoustic sounds, modern noiseless humbuckers with multiple voicings, and rock-solid hardware. It’s the kind of guitar that could easily handle an entire gig by itself.

Key Features

• 2009 Carvin Custom Shop SH250 Semi-Hollow
• Stunning spalted maple top with matching headstock
• Mahogany body and set mahogany neck
• Ebony fingerboard with abalone inlays
• Jumbo stainless steel frets
• Upgraded Fishman Fluence Classic pickups with multiple voices
• Piezo acoustic pickup system
• Blend control for electric / acoustic mixing
• Dual outputs for separate electric and acoustic signal routing
• Bigsby vibrato
• Sperzel locking tuners
• Graphite nut
• Dunlop Straplok buttons installed
• Includes original pickups
• Includes Fishman pickup wiring diagram
• Includes original Carvin tweed hard shell case

Like all my guitars, this one has been carefully inspected, tested, and set up to ensure it plays exactly the way a great instrument should. I personally go through every guitar before it ships so there are no surprises when it arrives.

⏳ Quick note

These guitars don’t usually sit. Most are purchased within 1–5 days, and I regularly hear from watchers after the listing has already sold. If this one’s on your radar, now’s the window.