so called "custom shop"

btweensunandmoon · #1 05-05-2003, 11:07 PM

Ive been shopping around for 7 strings. I've gotten quotes for customs as well as looked at ibanez imports. The UV isnt my taste nor is the 1527. So I'm on the carvin site and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Finally I could get exactly what i wanted. Well I'm reading through old threads on here and found out that corrective work has to be done in order to get dimarzio or duncan pickups to fit in thier guitars. I write customer service and basically explain to them that the only reason they will lose a big sale is because of the pickup routing. I offer to give them new dimensions for enlarged routings.I work with CNC a little and know that it would take 15 minutes to do the alterations i requested to the DFX file. This is nothing but perhaps a few extra bucks added to the price. Their response to me was this:

"It is a shame that you would choose to lose the quality instrument at such a low price over a pickup routing issue *if* you do not like the pickups. Bottom line is that we will not change the routing and we wish you good luck in your search."

Is this bad business on carvins part? They call themselves a custom shop and my request was nothing out of the ordinary. Instead of working with me, they tell me basically to go to H*LL and send me on my way. Their loss, not mine. Oh well.

Rich · #2 05-05-2003, 11:12 PM

*Custom Shop* does not mean "We'll make it any way you want", it means "Choose from the options you're given".

btweensunandmoon · #3 05-05-2003, 11:48 PM

that js7 is looking more appealing by the minute....just wish the pickups were dimarzios

Rich · #4 05-05-2003, 11:56 PM

Rerouting isn't an issue

Reshaping the neck is LOL

btweensunandmoon · #5 05-06-2003, 12:11 AM

good point but that guitar is definately worth the neck reshaping. Thats a bad A$$ machine. If the reshaping wont be too much, It may be mine

Rich · #6 05-06-2003, 12:16 AM

If I had time I'd take the power sander and some 80 grit to it

Petie · #7 05-06-2003, 12:58 AM

My god, what crappy customer service. They really should be nicer to people - after all, they're just Warmoth with a nicer logo.

Dead Roman · #8 05-06-2003, 01:36 AM

whats the dea, they were polite in reply and they show you th eoptions they give you. your asking a hellofalot out of a 700-100 dollar guitar. buy the guitar, do the routings yourself, quick cheap easy, come off it your asking to much.

CrossingStar · #9 05-06-2003, 02:38 AM

Enlarging a hole for a pickup yourself is NOTHING, if it's a guitar you've died and gone to heaven for(have you ever played one?). I don't get Carvin, how does anyone know what their guitars play like, if they have no dealers and you can only order direct?

Akhenaten · #10 05-06-2003, 09:36 AM

I happen to like Warmoth's logo better...lol

Nonetheless, these posts are all accurate. Carvin's are impossible to try before buying. And I have never understood the term "custom shop" being used on a company that just assembles the premade parts you want. Kinda a Chinese menu approach to "custom" (this from column A, this from Column B, etc...).

I don't believe you're asking too much, but what you are asking is inconvenient to the dimwit that will sell it to you. All he is able to do is put together the parts...give him a router, and you'll probably have holes throughout the guitar. It is very easy to take the body elsewhere and have it routed for whatever pickups you want. On average, look for about 35-40 bucks for the routing. Sometimes more, but not much.

Gresh · #11 05-06-2003, 10:18 AM

IF you're so keen on getting exactly what you want (and who doesn't like getting what they want!?!?) then why not entertain the idea of piecing together a custom 7. Get the body you want from EKG (so long as you like the RG shape) and have LGM make a custom neck for you, and put it all together with your choice of pups and hardware, and the exact finish that you want.

Just another option.

JESTER700 · #12 05-06-2003, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ankhnaten

I happen to like Warmoth's logo better...lol

Nonetheless, these posts are all accurate. Carvin's are impossible to try before buying. And I have never understood the term "custom shop" being used on a company that just assembles the premade parts you want. Kinda a Chinese menu approach to "custom" (this from column A, this from Column B, etc...).

OK, so they're not truly a custom shop. They are, however, the closest thing to it of any mainstream manufacturer, and NO custom shop will give you their quality at their price. The possible permutations are MANY. And you do get 10 days to try before you have to keep it, and are only out the shipping.

btweensunandmoon · #13 05-06-2003, 02:07 PM

I have quotes out on what i want and may do it if I have enough coin. My idea is for a custom universe guitar. The body will be tung oiled mahogany with clear pickguard. I've always loved being able to see the electronics on the acrylic js. All hardware and knobs will be crome. I'm not a big pyramid fan so those will be replaced with prestige style abalone dots. The headstock will be just plain clear finished, no logos.