Order a new Kiesel/Carvin bass. Good idea?

[nikki271027]

Hello TBs,

I plan to get a new 4 string bass.
I personally like some following configuration:
*Neck: maple fingerboard, stainless fret, multiple piece neck + graphite reinforcement, 24 frets.
*Electronic: versatile preamp + humbucker(soapbar) pickup.
Then I find kiesel/carvin bass (LB70, X44) may fit my requirement.
It cost around $1300 to build a X44 without any fancy option for cosmetic.
My concern is the price is a little high, and its resale value is always not good.
So I was wondering if ordering a new Kiesel/Carvin bass is a good idea or not.
Any suggestion would be appreciated.

 

[bholder]

Try to find one used, much better deals.

 

[buldog5151bass]

1. I would be Leary of plunking that much money down until the whole Carvin/Kiesel thing is straightened out.
2. Yes, resale is poor on them - always has been. Is this a bass you intend to keep a long time?
3. What about hose specs is a "want"? What is a "gotta have"?

 

[bholder]

1. I would be Leary of plunking that much money down until the whole Carvin/Kiesel thing is straightened out.

That happened in 2015, done deal. Carvin Audio and Kiesel are completely separate companies, the failure of one has nothing to do with the other any more. Obviously why they separated Kiesel out, since it was the only part making money.

 

[nikki271027]

1. I would be Leary of plunking that much money down until the whole Carvin/Kiesel thing is straightened out.
2. Yes, resale is poor on them - always has been. Is this a bass you intend to keep a long time?
3. What about hose specs is a "want"? What is a "gotta have"?

2. Yes, I will keep this bass for a long time if I have no complain on this bass.
3. Must have: *maple fingerboard, *5-piece maple neck, *Stainless steel fret
*Kiesel Radium Radiused Humbucker Pickups (I have played a bass with this, like the tone!), *Active electronic.
Want: *Hipshot Bass Detuner (I think this may useful if I have to use some lower notes)

 

[buldog5151bass]

But that's the issue - "if you have no complaints". Generally, opinions on Carvin (sorry, Kiesel) vary from fantastic to meh - I've seen an equal percent of both on threads here.

But yeah, get the detuner on any bass you get.

 

[lz4005]

My concern is the price is a little high, and its resale value is always not good.

If you're already planning on selling a bass before you buy it, skip the middle man and don't order it in the first place.

 

[shawn1288]

Love what kiesel makes, I can only afford Ibanez and found they have many similar features in their premium line

 

[nonohmic]

If you're already planning on selling a bass before you buy it, skip the middle man and don't order it in the first place.

this man speaks the truth.

 

[Handyman]

If you're already planning on selling a bass before you buy it, skip the middle man and don't order it in the first place.

Excellent advice - I wish I read this post years ago!

 

[gln1955]

If you're already planning on selling a bass before you buy it, skip the middle man and don't order it in the first place.

Not getting what you really want because it has a poor resale value is sad, really.

 

[SteveHeissner]

Order it. Kiesel aint going anywhere.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Until yesterday, who would have said that about Carvin?

 

[DigitalMan]

Until yesterday, who would have said that about Carvin?

Apparently @FingerDub

I'm predicting the end for Carvin.

 

[MarkoYYZ]

Apparently @FingerDub

I'm predicting the end for Carvin.

The writing was on the wall for the audio side for a while, I think, but Kiesel seems to be on a pretty good upward trajectory right now. Watch some of their recent factory tours (in the last year or less) and you'll have a better idea what's happening there. They may not ever be a big player in basses (1/10th of their sales would be about 400 basses a year), but they do "their thing" with the guitars very well. IMO.
.

 

[AcridSaint]

It will suffer on resale. I would either buy one used or go elsewhere if you think you'll resell the bass. I like the other suggestion though and just pass if you think you're going to sell it.

I would not worry about any doom and gloom about Keisel going the way of the dodo. Even if they do, the lack of warranty support is not really the same kind of concern that it is with their audio products.

 

[yodedude2]

2. Yes, I will keep this bass for a long time if I have no complain on this bass.
3. Must have: *maple fingerboard, *5-piece maple neck, *Stainless steel fret
*Kiesel Radium Radiused Humbucker Pickups (I have played a bass with this, like the tone!), *Active electronic.
Want: *Hipshot Bass Detuner (I think this may useful if I have to use some lower notes)

for wants that specific, i expect a used purchase would require a compromise in some area. therefore, i would recommend ordering new.

 

[Hounddog409]

It will suffer on resale. I would either buy one used or go elsewhere if you think you'll resell the bass. I like the other suggestion though and just pass if you think you're going to sell it.

I would not worry about any doom and gloom about Keisel going the way of the dodo. Even if they do, the lack of warranty support is not really the same kind of concern that it is with their audio products.

Not everyone cares about resale.

This thought never crosses my mind with anything I buy.

 

[AcridSaint]

Not everyone cares about resale.

This thought never crosses my mind with anything I buy.

The OP does, as stated in their post, which is why I mentioned it.

 

[bholder]

Until yesterday, who would have said that about Carvin?

Plenty of folks have been saying it, actually.