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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 4!

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#421
WoodyG3 said:
I hear you, Vic, but I also kinda' think Carvin should have to invest the time, money and effort into the repair, since it was their fault, and then you don't have to worry about screwing anything up when you do it yourself. Plus, what if the pots aren't the total solution to the problem? Then there would be even more time wasted. If they have to keep paying shipping and have one of their techs take the time to fix their mistakes, maybe they'll have incentive to make fewer mistakes in the future, too. ;)
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Yes. I didn't mean to suggest Jarret would have to pay for the repair if a tech did it, and I also didn't mean to suggest I should be expected to do my own warranty repairs.

Just me noting I'm happy that this is something that's trivially easy for me, so the benefit is I don't have to be without the bass for more than a few minutes and I don't have to take it anywhere.

On the other hand, a local tech would be nice, of course on Carvin's tab, also to save time, packing, etc.

IMHO of course.
 
#422
Yeah, it was more of a principle thing for me. This is the third time they have sent me a bass that was not working properly. Last time I fixed it on my dime, this time I'm sending it back in the hopes that they will up their QC process and stop wasting time and money on little things like this.
 
#425
Jarrett said:
Yeah, it was more of a principle thing for me. This is the third time they have sent me a bass that was not working properly. Last time I fixed it on my dime, this time I'm sending it back in the hopes that they will up their QC process and stop wasting time and money on little things like this.
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Carvin has always seemed like a rather Schizo company - they REALLY want to create the impression of being a top-end even quasi "Boutique" instrument and amp builder, but then they do things that seem to say "hey - you didn't pay much for this - why are you stessing??".

It makes me glad to know that should I buy a bass from them, their right up the freeway.
 
#426
phillipkregg said:
So every SB you've ordered had a QC problem?
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First one was perfect other than I just made a couple of poor choices when ordering. The second came with a dead active mode. Third one didn't have a reverse pickup in it and hummed at full volume. Fourth one can't turn off.

I know we are paying a 1/3 of what others charge for similar basses and I get that there are going to be some issues with that much of a cost cut. I'm just not going to let the 4th one slide. Maybe I'll do my own repairs on #5 :D
 
#428
Hopefully, these isssues are not the norm. Regardless of how much money is saved versus comparable basses, malfunctions are a serious problem and makes me hesitant to get one...

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste! :cool:
 
#431
Even though I am complaining about Carvin, I just want to make it clear I've never played a G&L that holds a candle to my SB5000 :D The only things I pick up that feel in the same ballpark are Sadowskys, Mike Lulls, that kind of stuff. That's why I put up with this minor QC stuff ;)
 
#432
Vic said:
Just me noting I'm happy that this is something that's trivially easy for me, so the benefit is I don't have to be without the bass for more than a few minutes and I don't have to take it anywhere.
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Yeah, and that does make sense. I'm fine soldering a passive set up, but with those pesky circuit boards, I start to get nervous. :eek:


Jarrett said:
Yeah, it was more of a principle thing for me. This is the third time they have sent me a bass that was not working properly. Last time I fixed it on my dime, this time I'm sending it back in the hopes that they will up their QC process and stop wasting time and money on little things like this.
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Boy, Jarrett, that's really bad luck. I've never had an issue with anything I've bought from Carvin. I sure hope my upcoming SB4000 doesn't ruin my perfect streak! :) I would have sent it back, too, just to send a message. And, this is coming from a true Carvin fanboy!
 
#433
Jarrett said:
Even though I am complaining about Carvin, I just want to make it clear I've never played a G&L that holds a candle to my SB5000 :D The only things I pick up that feel in the same ballpark are Sadowskys, Mike Lulls, that kind of stuff. That's why I put up with this minor QC stuff ;)
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This is also why these minor QC issues make me scratch my head. They could eliminate these issues by having a tech sit down with each instrument and a relatively short checklist for 10 minutes before sending them out. Its got to be cheaper to do this than ship a bass round trip to replace a defective pot.

Back in the mid 90s I bought a BB75. Beautiful instrument, but it was missing two of the pickup height screws. Minor issue, but it would have been cheaper for them, and easier for me if I didn't have to call them up and get them sent to me.
 
#434
Jarrett said:
Yeah, it was more of a principle thing for me. This is the third time they have sent me a bass that was not working properly. Last time I fixed it on my dime, this time I'm sending it back in the hopes that they will up their QC process and stop wasting time and money on little things like this.
Click to expand...

IMHO, Carvin is "so close", but it's up to us at TB to get them over the hurdle

My laundry list includes:

1. Improve QC
2. Offer a split-coil P-Bass pickup option
3. < Censored > as not to start a riot here on this thread

Cheers!
 
#435
Handyman said:
This is also why these minor QC issues make me scratch my head. They could eliminate these issues by having a tech sit down with each instrument and a relatively short checklist for 10 minutes before sending them out. Its got to be cheaper to do this than ship a bass round trip to replace a defective pot.

Back in the mid 90s I bought a BB75. Beautiful instrument, but it was missing two of the pickup height screws. Minor issue, but it would have been cheaper for them, and easier for me if I didn't have to call them up and get them sent to me.
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The thing is, final quality control costs *money*. I think that it's obvious that Carvin does a very good job of controlling costs (This is confirmed by the folks I've met who have worked for Carvin) and adding yet another inspector to their final QA costs money. Paying that inspector to be motivated: money. Having good line supervisors to ensure good final QC? Money.

I'm not saying that better final QC would not be money well invested, but Carvin has clearly chosen, through accident or otherwise, to not do so. It might well be that they ONE dude on ONE shift who is a bit asleep at the switch - and that is gumming up the works. No matter what the cause, someone should let Carvin know that this has *not* gone unnoticed and that they risk a great deal of the good will they have developed recently...
 
#436
So perhaps they don't need "another" QC person. They just need one to do their job properly. So maybe a "different" QC person is more appropriate. :eyebrow:

BigOldHarry said:
The thing is, final quality control costs *money*. I think that it's obvious that Carvin does a very good job of controlling costs (This is confirmed by the folks I've met who have worked for Carvin) and adding yet another inspector to their final QA costs money. Paying that inspector to be motivated: money. Having good line supervisors to ensure good final QC? Money.

I'm not saying that better final QC would not be money well invested, but Carvin has clearly chosen, through accident or otherwise, to not do so. It might well be that they ONE dude on ONE shift who is a bit asleep at the switch - and that is gumming up the works. No matter what the cause, someone should let Carvin know that this has *not* gone unnoticed and that they risk a great deal of the good will they have developed recently...
Click to expand...
 
#437
Jarrett said:
Even though I am complaining about Carvin, I just want to make it clear I've never played a G&L that holds a candle to my SB5000 :D The only things I pick up that feel in the same ballpark are Sadowskys, Mike Lulls, that kind of stuff. That's why I put up with this minor QC stuff ;)
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If it's better than a G&L JB than I certainly want to play one!

The JB - in my experience - has been better than any Sadowsky that I've played. But that may just be me.
 
#439
Dr Funk said:
So perhaps they don't need "another" QC person. They just need one to do their job properly. So maybe a "different" QC person is more appropriate. :eyebrow:
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or just crack the whip on the ones they have.

I'd really like to see their plant at peak production - from my experience, production lines are *never* as frantic or busy as they appear on film/TV - there's always something slowing things down - even lack of demand. I'll be that all Carvin needs to do is just motivate a few folks and it would be Problem Solved.
 
#440
Jarrett said:
Even though I am complaining about Carvin, I just want to make it clear I've never played a G&L that holds a candle to my SB5000 :D The only things I pick up that feel in the same ballpark are Sadowskys, Mike Lulls, that kind of stuff. That's why I put up with this minor QC stuff ;)
Click to expand...

My sentiments exactly!
 
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