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Is Carvin Going Downhill?
- Thread starter tobiasaurusrex
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Seriously?
Which are the "right" Carvin pickups? No offense of course.
A friend of mine recently ordered an SB5000. Loaded it up with options. He showed it to me and it was a good looking instrument. Even had his name engraved on the trussrod cover... this was going to be a keeper. It took him a couple of weeks and a few gigs to come to the realization that the bass was not for him tonally in the mix. He then did a preamp swap (for a very popular brand/model) and still no dice so he sold it.
I played the bass and it was okay. Not "Wow, I want to keep playing this"... just okay. It happens. I had the same experience when I ordered my LB75 fretless years ago. Needed a fingerboard level right off the bat (despite what was promised in the ads) and it was cheaper to have it done locally than ship it back. It didn't knock me out soundwise, I did a pickup and preamp swap and it was a little better. Finally gave up on it when I got my Zon Legacy Standard 5. That was a bass that was hard to put down.
I had a negative experience when I played a friend's Swamp Ash with Ash neck and board Brubaker KXB 5. Yeesh. It happens.
So the lesson is... some people may very well get an instrument from Carvin that works perfectly and does everything they want. And some people might not. It would be cool if the people who can't believe anyone could be less than satisfied is an enemy of the state.
Everyone does not have the same bar when it comes to customer satisfaction. If you've played something you think sounds phenomenal and then play something that just sounds okay, okay can be disappointing. If you go for super low, clean action and have a bass that can't consistently do that, it can be disappointing. And despite conventional wisdom in this thread, it can happen... even with a Carvin.
The requests for photographic proof and documents are a hoot.
If you are the original owner then it is under warranty. Contact them and have them make it right. That advice hasn't changed since page 1.
Dude, you have every right to be miffed at some of the responses here, but I think posting pictures of the bass would add some credibility to your argument. You haven't made an amazing one so far.
FWIW, I've never played a carvin, but I've gassed over their sixers. Your complaint does give rise to some concern on my part as someone interested in their basses, but it's not like I could afford a new bass in the near future anyway...
Pictures of what exactly? I'm curious as to what photos/documents would establish his credibility.
The thread is a great example of when fans appear to lose objectivity. The OP's been flat out called a troll because people think he called their mom ugly. Is there any other way to take what he wrote? He's a repeat and previously happy Carvin customer... did anyone besides me notice that?
It's really difficult to feel sorry for someone who has a bass that's still under warranty, and would rather rant about the neck problem rather than send it back to be repaired or replaced. That really puzzle me as it does others. Something else has to have happened that we're not aware of.
So we know what you've done so far but there is still one unanswered question.
Why won't you send it back to them to make it right?
Could it be you've possibly altered something or possibly stripped the truss rod and voided the warranty?
I can assure you the minute I received the bass and it wasn't right, it would have been back in their hands immediately.
I've owned a Carvin B800 head and have owned it for a while. I find that it is a good amp. It's got a pretty neutral tone to it and is plenty loud for what I need. It's built well. I like it.
With that being said, I ordered an SB5000 brand new from them. Alder with rosewood in a pearl blue with MOP blocks. Went with the Single Coils everyone was raving about and the new pre as well. Could. Not. Wait.
The bass came in and I was extremely let down. The bass had finish issues. Cracks in the neck pocket and two black dots in the finish by the input jack. The bass also would not turn off completely. Even with volume all the way off, you could still hear it.
I called Carvin and they offered to pick the bass back up and fix the flaws/electronics. Some say I was wrong for not doing that but I paid for them to get it right the first time. Having me send it back is time and as some people would say time is money. A few weeks passed and I hadn't even got my refund yet and I saw another tber post: check out the Carvin I bought from the in stock page. It was the bass I sent back. I pm'd him the details. They had fixed and changed nothing but trussrod cover which had said "Codeman" on it.
I have been leery of Carvin ever since. I know i'm in the minority here, but after sending out a bass with a questionable finish and electronics and then reselling it without fixing anything after I told them it had issues is bad business.
So no, I will not order another Carvin.
With that being said, I ordered an SB5000 brand new from them. Alder with rosewood in a pearl blue with MOP blocks. Went with the Single Coils everyone was raving about and the new pre as well. Could. Not. Wait.
The bass came in and I was extremely let down. The bass had finish issues. Cracks in the neck pocket and two black dots in the finish by the input jack. The bass also would not turn off completely. Even with volume all the way off, you could still hear it.
I called Carvin and they offered to pick the bass back up and fix the flaws/electronics. Some say I was wrong for not doing that but I paid for them to get it right the first time. Having me send it back is time and as some people would say time is money. A few weeks passed and I hadn't even got my refund yet and I saw another tber post: check out the Carvin I bought from the in stock page. It was the bass I sent back. I pm'd him the details. They had fixed and changed nothing but trussrod cover which had said "Codeman" on it.
I have been leery of Carvin ever since. I know i'm in the minority here, but after sending out a bass with a questionable finish and electronics and then reselling it without fixing anything after I told them it had issues is bad business.
So no, I will not order another Carvin.
Pictures of what exactly? I'm curious as to what photos/documents would establish his credibility.
The thread is a great example of when fans appear to lose objectivity. The OP's been flat out called a troll because people think he called their mom ugly. Is there any other way to take what he wrote? He's a repeat and previously happy Carvin customer... did anyone besides me notice that?
The only reason I'd call him a troll is because he came on to an internet forum to bash on Carvin instead of just returning the bass...
Yes, that is the only possible reason he posted. There's no merit to a complaint about a bass from Carvin.
+1. Unless the neck look like some kind of banana, how does one document that?
The thread is a great example of when fans appear to lose objectivity. The OP's been flat out called a troll because people think he called their mom ugly. Is there any other way to take what he wrote. He's a repeat and previously happy Carvin customer... did anyone besides me notice that?
Yes. And a lot of people also noticed that he did not seem to convey an understanding of what remedies are immediately available to him for a bass still apparently under warranty.
This thread should have been:
OP: Hey! The truss rod on my 3 month old Carvin is maxed out and I can't get a good setup on it.
Poster #1: It's under warranty. Call Carvin. They'll take care of you.
OP: Cool. Thanks.
Inevitable Poster in every Carvin thread: Carvin sucks!
Yes, that is the only possible reason he posted. There's no merit to a complaint about a bass from Carvin.
I'm not here to defend Carvin. I don't really care. I don't own a Carvin, I don't play Carvins.
But I've seen it happen more than once that someone will come to a public forum and complain about a company instead of contacting the company directly.
Who said Carvin sucks in this thread? You seem to be the first to utter that phrase or anything like it
Did you read the OP's follow ups? People seem to be annoyed that he's not responding to them fast enough. How dare he?
I saw inthe first post he mentioned not having problems with Carvin necks on his homebuilt basses. People seem to be taking that as him calling Carvin homebuilt. I took it as he probably bought Carvin necks, which Carvin does sell seperately, and built basses around them with no issue. So he either had someone do that or did it himself.
The easiest thing to do is let the bug up some folks' butt immediately grow to gigantic proportions. Why not try the other tact, ask a question and wait for a frickin' answer?
I know he hasn't given full disclosure and this thread is dreadfully old... around two days old, right? Oh that's right... he won't be back. So let's get him in his absence.
Take a step back, folks and read this like someone with no dog in the fight. It might just read a bit differently. I know it does for me.
I will take you at your word on that. See? That was easy.
First post. Said he contacted Carvin.
What you've seen happen more than once does not mean it will happen every single time... so why act like it's a foregone conclusion? Wait... there will be plenty of time to get a rope.
So you called Carvin, and they wouldn't honor their 5 year warranty? You want advice on how to get help from Carvin, per the OP. What specifically does that mean? Is it something that's not covered under the 5 year warranty? When you told Carvin your issues, they told you to take a hike?
I'm not a Carvin fanboi, but your OP was vague on what you asked them to do for you, and why they refused to honor their warranty. Some people may view that as 'bandwagoners' piling on, but you threw the turd on the wall. Now people want specific details.
I'm not a Carvin fanboi, but your OP was vague on what you asked them to do for you, and why they refused to honor their warranty. Some people may view that as 'bandwagoners' piling on, but you threw the turd on the wall. Now people want specific details.
Is it really necessary to bash other brands like Fender in defense of Carvin? The neck adjusting statements are generalizations and aren't really fair when you consider some necks simply need more or less adjusting than others. Fender isn't above that and neither is Carvin. I'm not going to mention my experiences with Carvin or how I feel about them but since we're bringing Fender into it, I will say that I have never had to adjust the neck once in the eight years I have owned my p bass. As far as features offered, people buy brands like Fender because they know what they are getting. The features WORK for many and have been doing so for over 50 yrs.
Could you expand on what contact you've had with Carvin about these issues and why you feel they are ignoring you?
See, folks... how hard was that?
I should have added a smiley at the end of my thread as the last part was intended to be tongue in cheek...
Yes, I read the follow ups. I don't know why he suddenly earned troll status from some, but I can see why some might say that (if they stretch). It seems that some folks are used to OP's staying on top of their threads when they have an issue that warrants a post on TB. Perhaps a contributing factor?
I think there was an intent to wait for answers. But for some reason this thread took on a life of it's own and spiraled horribly out of control.
Either way, bad builds come from every manufacturer, even Carvin.
That's why there are warranties. No company ever built a great Customer Service Department by putting out perfect products.
Yes, I read the follow ups. I don't know why he suddenly earned troll status from some, but I can see why some might say that (if they stretch). It seems that some folks are used to OP's staying on top of their threads when they have an issue that warrants a post on TB. Perhaps a contributing factor?
I think there was an intent to wait for answers. But for some reason this thread took on a life of it's own and spiraled horribly out of control.
Either way, bad builds come from every manufacturer, even Carvin.
That's why there are warranties. No company ever built a great Customer Service Department by putting out perfect products.Who said Carvin sucks in this thread?
Did you read the OP's follow ups? People seem to be annoyed that he's not responding to them fast enough. How dare he.
I saw inthe first post he mentioned not having problems with Carvin necks on his homebuilt basses. People seem to be taking that as him calling Carvin homebuilt. I took it as he probably bought Carvin necks, which Carvin does sell seperately, and built basses around them with no issue. So he either had someone do that or did it himself.
The easiest thing to do is let the bug up some folks' butt immediately grow to gigantic proportions. Why not try the other tact, ask a question and wait for a frickin' answer?
I know he hasn't given full disclosure and this thread is dreadfully old... around two days old, right? Oh that's right... he won't be back. So let's get him in his absence.
Take a step back, folks and read this like someone with no dog in the fight. It might just read a bit differently. I know it does for me.
Could you expand on what contact you've had with Carvin about these issues and why you feel they are ignoring you?
See, folks... how hard was that?
Highlights from post #11....
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