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Carvin SB5000 / SB4000 Roll Call...Part 6!

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#782
JumboJack said:
Does anyone know if Carvin send you any updates as your bass is being built?
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They don't. This is my first experience with an instrument thats custom ordered and Carvin has lacked on the service end. I didn't get a reciept or any confirmation at all that I even made the purchase. I received no post card with completion date and when I called about it, the dued at Carvin made it seem like I inconvenienced him to know when my $1200 bass that I already paid for was coming. I am really hoping Carvin makes up in the instrument, what the service lacked.
 
#784
Grateful said:
What they mean is that they make strings that enable you do do ridiculously low tunings. I think they offer a .250 string.... They also offer piccolo-type strings that are really small gauged.

I ignore all those and go straight the the .136 balanced set.
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Ah gotcha, that initial sales pitch threw me off. I'm a big DR fan. HiBeams, FatBeam, SunBeams. How do they compare to those?
 
#785
Jarrett said:
Ah gotcha, that initial sales pitch threw me off. I'm a big DR fan. HiBeams, FatBeam, SunBeams. How do they compare to those?
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Really different. Closest cousin would be maybe fender nickels, they're more like the stock Carvin nickels than DRs. More flexible than d'addario nickels and growlier tone. But still closer to those than sunbeams.
 
#786
Jarrett said:
Ah gotcha, that initial sales pitch threw me off. I'm a big DR fan. HiBeams, FatBeam, SunBeams. How do they compare to those?
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I have used FatBeams and HiBeams. To my ears, I noticed an 'even-ing-out' in the volume across the strings with the Circle K strings. Especially the G string, and especially on active basses like the SBs. The Circle K's say they are not to be strung through body as the taper on the B ad E strings is not long enough. But with the shorter ferrules in the Carvins, they go trough body just fine. Also, they run a little softer than you think. The .136 is like medium gauge, and the .130's are like a med/light.
 
#787
JoeVictim said:
They don't. This is my first experience with an instrument thats custom ordered and Carvin has lacked on the service end. I didn't get a reciept or any confirmation at all that I even made the purchase. I received no post card with completion date and when I called about it, the dued at Carvin made it seem like I inconvenienced him to know when my $1200 bass that I already paid for was coming. I am really hoping Carvin makes up in the instrument, what the service lacked.
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Really?

This was not my experience at all. Mine took longer then normal, due to a combination of the holidays and the NAMM show, but they kept me notified. I actually called them, and they were very responsive.

Did you happen to get the name of the "dued" who you spoke with?
 
#788
Grateful said:
I have used FatBeams and HiBeams. To my ears, I noticed an 'even-ing-out' in the volume across the strings with the Circle K strings. Especially the G string, and especially on active basses like the SBs. The Circle K's say they are not to be strung through body as the taper on the B ad E strings is not long enough. But with the shorter ferrules in the Carvins, they go trough body just fine. Also, they run a little softer than you think. The .136 is like medium gauge, and the .130's are like a med/light.
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That's funny you mention that. I actually like having the G string stand out in case I feel the need to throw a GANK! in there sometimes :D
 
#790
Yeah, its a black hole pretty much once you click submit, but most are happy with the end product. I try to click and forget.

Do other custom builders give you daily play by plays? "Today I chopped down the tree!!" :)
 
#791
JoeVictim said:
They don't. This is my first experience with an instrument thats custom ordered and Carvin has lacked on the service end. I didn't get a reciept or any confirmation at all that I even made the purchase. I received no post card with completion date and when I called about it, the dued at Carvin made it seem like I inconvenienced him to know when my $1200 bass that I already paid for was coming. I am really hoping Carvin makes up in the instrument, what the service lacked.
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How long ago did you order? The post card usually comes in 2-3 weeks, if I remember correctly. If you got a discourteous customer support guy, that sadly does happen once in a while. There are a few really good reps, but there is also a constant turnover and I have dealt with some poor reps, as well.

You certainly should have gotten an email confirmation of your order with the details. Did you order online or by phone?
 
#794
WoodyG3 said:
How long ago did you order? The post card usually comes in 2-3 weeks, if I remember correctly. If you got a discourteous customer support guy, that sadly does happen once in a while. There are a few really good reps, but there is also a constant turnover and I have dealt with some poor reps, as well.

You certainly should have gotten an email confirmation of your order with the details. Did you order online or by phone?
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March 23rd. I have also popped into this thread to mention not having my postcard several times. No one chimed in then, so I considered it normal. I thought you got the card a few weeks before it comes, not a few weeks after you order. I ordered by phone and set up the call as being a first time customer thinking the dude would ask my step by step what I wanted. NOPE. He was just like, ok what do you want? I was all like, what are my options? To which he had a snark reply of, whatever I wanted...

Yeah, not so happy with the customer service end. I also bought a cab that day as well. I think that Carvin would have been more service friendly considering most of their business is word of mouth and I dropped $1600 that day to boot. I shouldn't have to call in and beg to spend my money.
 
#795
Grateful said:
"...and in 10 years, I'll start shaping."
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That reminds me of something I'll hopefully never forget. Many years ago I took lessons with Chuck Rainey for a couple of years. This was after his time as a highly in demand session player and before bass players sort of rediscovered him in the mid 90's, so he was giving lessons to pay the bills. And he said something cool. It was something like:

CR: I got a new bass today
Me: Cool, where is it?
CR: At home, in the closet.
Me: Why?!
CR: I do that with all my new basses for about 6 months. Right now that bass still thinks its a tree...

Always thought that was a cool line :D
 
#796
I'll admit I'm not overly fond of their phone reps either. I had to call in 3 times to get them to reverse an overcharge. The first time the guy actually walked me step by step through all my options adding it up. Like I didn't have an email confirmation with all the prices. When I pointed out where the discrepancy he basically said my quoted price was wrong and they wouldn't give me my money. I told him I negotiated the price when I called in and ordered it. Why would that not have been on file? No idea. Then it took 2 weeks to get my money back. Never did get any sort of apology. That to me is a huge failure on their part.
 
#797
JoeVictim said:
Yeah, not so happy with the customer service end. I also bought a cab that day as well. I think that Carvin would have been more service friendly considering most of their business is word of mouth and I dropped $1600 that day to boot. I shouldn't have to call in and beg to spend my money.
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Yeah, that is frustrating. There are a few reps who are great, but some who seem to have an attitude. I once had a guy act like I was wasting his time because I was "only" buying strings. Meanwhile, Keith was the best to deal with when I ordered my SB4000. Very helpful and personable. Sorry you had these problems. I'll bet you love the bass a lot when you get it, though. :)
 
#799
WoodyG3 said:
...I'll bet you love the bass a lot when you get it, though. :)
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I am hoping so. First experience with a Carvin instrument after playing several different amps and cabs from them.

When I dealt with the ebay department, gold. I called the guy there to ask about the speaker in the ebay cab and he told me to check the cab in 5 minutes. When I did, he marked down the price another 10%. So my experience hasn't been 100% negative with Carvin, just when I ordered the bass as a first time customer. I would have like to have been walked through what all options there were along with the differences in those options. I am ordering through the phone after all and can't be there to try it out. OH well, I have a feeling I will love my new SB4K.
 
#800
I have had no issues with the service at all.
A+ in my book and I have delt with a few different folks as well.
 
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