My Crappy Experience with Kiesel Guitars

[cardinal]

Drum City Guitar Land has a simple set neck, ash-bodied 7 string M for something like $5k. The Japanese orders are pretty expensive. The USA guitars offer more reasonable pricing if you’re ok with the models and options they offer.

 

[japetus]

I stayed with my friend in NYC and he had 2 custom Kiesel 7 strings, I dont know shit other than I said "So they are Carvins" and he was like " OH NO NO NO NO"...but to be honest they played awesome. I played some Korn riffs because that is the only thing I know how to do with 7 strings other than some Passion and Warfare riffs, that is a different higher tuning. I digress.

 

[ChurchHill]

I've always heard they play great. Personally, I was rather disappointed because I used to lust over them when I first started playing. I just couldn't do business with someone who's customer service basically told me to go away just because I asked a simple question. I can understand it being a small shop and being busy. And believe me, given the state of customer service in all industries these days, I wasn't expecting much. However, I don't think I deserved to be yelled at just for asking a question. Others mileage may very. Since my experience, I've heard a lot of very similar stories. I wish, for their sake (they've been around for a long time and really do have a great legacy, and, by most reports, make a fine guitar), that they can improve their customer relations.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

What was the question?

 

[thiswaythatway]

The Kiesel-thing is nothing new unfortunately, and many felt unsatisfied/utterly pissed off after dealing with them.

I’ll stick with Suhr and Tom Anderson who imo make the best guitars and have the best customer service.

Good luck I hope it works out for you with your cc company.


What was the total price of this guitar?

You should add Schecter USA Custom Shop to that list. I've owned Suhr and Anderson, I recently bought a Schecter or two and they are awesome. Easily in the Suhr/Anderson league and MUCH cheaper on the used market.

Please provide me some pics.

This one is a 97 but good shape, $1099 used. It's right there with Suhr/Anderson.

 

[ChurchHill]

What was the question?

The question I'd asked was about the 12-string version of the DC200 (I think it was the 200, definitely the DC series). I asked if, instead of the full active electronics (as on the DC400, which was stock on this model), if they could use the V/T of the DC127. They originally responded by saying they'd talk to their engineers and get right back to me. After two weeks, I emailed and asked if they'd be able to find anything out. I believe that I was polite, at least I tried to be, because I do understand that they're a small shop and busy. A got a response a few days later that said things to the effect of "I was wasting their time," "I was was extremely rude and impatient," and "if I didn't like their guitars that I should go someplace else and stop bothering them so much." Those were the only two emails I sent and the only two I received. Sorry I can't remember the exact words, but this was about 15 years ago.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

That's a legit question
Weird how crappy they are!

Bought an AM7 last year & love it! Want another Kissel but these crap stories are plentiful & make one pause

 

[ChurchHill]

Honestly, I hadn't even thought about it for years. But there were so many similar stories that it reminded me. I really couldn't understand the response I got, and it's too bad. I'd wanted a Carvin ever since I started playing. They really do seem like great guitars and the people who have them seem to love them. I wish them the best.

 

[Zado]

The Kiesel-thing is nothing new unfortunately, and many felt unsatisfied/utterly pissed off after dealing with them.

I’ll stick with Suhr and Tom Anderson who imo make the best guitars and have the best customer service.

Good luck I hope it works out for you with your cc company.


What was the total price of this guitar?

You should add Schecter USA Custom Shop to that list. I've owned Suhr and Anderson, I recently bought a Schecter or two and they are awesome. Easily in the Suhr/Anderson league and MUCH cheaper on the used market.

Please provide me some pics.

This one is a 97 but good shape, $1099 used. It's right there with Suhr/Anderson.
https://i.imgur.com/oGKcY3y.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CVuIuoq.jpg

Looks impressive, very. Can I ask you a pic of the right side of the joint?

 

[Deleted member 13074]

I imagine if I called them and said,
You know that Jason Becker model you do with the multi-colored Duncans? Can I just buy the pickups?
there might be an eruption to trigger the San Andreas plate line and California would fall into the Pacific

 

[gibson5413]

That Schecter looks great, Dan!! Their custom shop is totally legit and as good as any boutique custom builder.

 

[rsm]

Ugh, have you seen the price on a custom order ESP? They are a little bonkers.

What IS the average price of a custom ordered ESP? I'm kind of curious now I always thought they were rather reasonably set, aren't they?

Not sure on the average price of a custom ESP; the ESP Chunpa V (Toki sig) I mentioned is a Japan market release; to buy one new in the US (buy in / shipped from Japan), the price is north of $6K.

 

[thiswaythatway]

The Kiesel-thing is nothing new unfortunately, and many felt unsatisfied/utterly pissed off after dealing with them.

I’ll stick with Suhr and Tom Anderson who imo make the best guitars and have the best customer service.

Good luck I hope it works out for you with your cc company.


What was the total price of this guitar?

You should add Schecter USA Custom Shop to that list. I've owned Suhr and Anderson, I recently bought a Schecter or two and they are awesome. Easily in the Suhr/Anderson league and MUCH cheaper on the used market.

Please provide me some pics.

This one is a 97 but good shape, $1099 used. It's right there with Suhr/Anderson.
https://i.imgur.com/oGKcY3y.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CVuIuoq.jpg

Looks impressive, very. Can I ask you a pic of the right side of the joint?

That one I posted is from the 90's, I think Schecter re-did some things in 2012 and added what they call the American Production line. I just grabbed another that is from 2013 that is more in line with their current specs. This one feels a LOT like a Sleek feeling Suhr, but I got it for $1250. The neck is smaller than the other one and a smooth satin feel, the 90's one has some gloss on it. The heel is sculpted.

 

[splatter]

What were the changes you wanted to make to the original order? I'm guessing the guitar only comes standard spec?

Honestly, I dont remember 100%. I think I wanted to add a floyd rose and change the headstock.

Wow. Something like that, I'd clearly remember. You're full of shit..

Welcome to RT.

Im sorry you feel that way. It was over 3 months ago. I am pretty sure it was the floyd.

Why be so harsh ?

Did you order a Floyd on the Anderson, or cant remember?

If the Kiesel was a quick build, why don't you have it? They have a 10-day return window..

Don't understand how you learned about it on Facebook, yet didnt read right there on the page..

"This special limited run will allow you to get an amazing Kiesel Vanquish guitar or bass at huge savings, with 4 price points to choose from and starting as low as 1000.00. Run is open World-Wide and is limited to a max of 2 instruments per customer. 20% deposit is required for the first 3 price points and 50% for the final price point, all sales are final and no order changes are allowed once order is placed".

So Kiesel now sucks, and stole your money, yet it's your own fault. I'm guessing the $600 was due to the price-point?

yep looks pretty plain to me.

Love my kiesel its my #1 guitar. My experience with the build was great as well . I also called a week into the build and had the color changed .

 

[Zado]

The Kiesel-thing is nothing new unfortunately, and many felt unsatisfied/utterly pissed off after dealing with them.

I’ll stick with Suhr and Tom Anderson who imo make the best guitars and have the best customer service.

Good luck I hope it works out for you with your cc company.


What was the total price of this guitar?

You should add Schecter USA Custom Shop to that list. I've owned Suhr and Anderson, I recently bought a Schecter or two and they are awesome. Easily in the Suhr/Anderson league and MUCH cheaper on the used market.

Please provide me some pics.

This one is a 97 but good shape, $1099 used. It's right there with Suhr/Anderson.
https://i.imgur.com/oGKcY3y.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CVuIuoq.jpg

Looks impressive, very. Can I ask you a pic of the right side of the joint?

That one I posted is from the 90's, I think Schecter re-did some things in 2012 and added what they call the American Production line. I just grabbed another that is from 2013 that is more in line with their current specs. This one feels a LOT like a Sleek feeling Suhr, but I got it for $1250. The neck is smaller than the other one and a smooth satin feel, the 90's one has some gloss on it. The heel is sculpted.

Damn, this one looks astounding as well. Kudos to them, I got a 2013 USA Prod. Traditional and it's a damn fine instrument, for some things superior to other Suhrs I've compared it to. Only problem with mine is that the neck joint is too tight, you can litterally lift the guitar by the neck without the bolts being in place, and due to that a small part of the finish chipped off in the right side of the joint.

 

[splatter]

Just noticed the OP is listed as jeff kiesel. So I call BS on this thread. Apparently he joined just to bash Kiesel.

 

[Oblivion DC]

Just noticed the OP is listed as jeff kiesel. So I call BS on this thread. Apparently he joined just to bash Kiesel.

A lot of people only join so they can post about a very specific problem they're having and then they never post again. I don't see a problem. He's trying to call attention to a badly run company. You like the product and haven't been treated badly by them so nothing anyone says is going to change your opinion. Enjoy, you're one of the winners. The rest of us would still like to know when any company does shady things and has bad customer service.

 

[indespise]

I agree with this. Carvin/Kiesel had always been in my mind as a prime option if I ever had a custom/semi custom build done. I'm glad these stories came out before I risked having my own bad experience.

 

[Oblivion DC]

I'm calling BS on this OP.

Not saying it couldn't (or even didn't) happen. But the way it's presented raises red flags. This poster joins Rig-Talk TODAY for the sole purpose of shit talking a guitar builder? It's his first and only post here (as of my writing). And he chooses as his forum handle the name of the builder he hates so much?

Sorry, I don't buy it. Something smells off here.

I'm with you. This is B.S...
It's also funny that he knew nothing about a Facebook page, yet 2 minutes in, he mentioned buying the guitar based on A FACEBOOK PAGE POST.

He spoke of a Facebook Live video stream, not a Facebook post. The Live streams pop up in your feed if you've liked the page that's broadcasting it. You don't have to physically visit their page to see it and any rules about buying that are posted on the page aren't necessarily something that you would see from watching one of their vids in your feed. I don't know whether he's legit or not but I've seen way too many of these types of threads concerning Kiesel Guitars to not be squeamish about doing business with them.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

My Carvin is a decent guitar which led me back to seek another. I tried working with Kiesel but they were extremely arrogant, unprofessional, and unwilling to correct the issues I had with one of their new builds. Luckily they took it back. After the way they treated me, I would never consider doing business with them again.