what's up w/ companies making a sexy product like an electric guitar and then naming it like its an air filter? ibanez is bad about that too, my newer guitar is called something like RGEX$@#EHFM...
I wish I could get excited about Kiss as they exist today. I love the original 4 members in full regalia.. having said that, I have seen Kiss without make up in various incarnations with Vinnie, Bruce and Eric Carr. I feel like they've become the Beatlemania Gene always wanted with hired players imitating the originals.
I don't like Carvins because I think I recall seeing on the Internet that they were built by Oompa-Loompas in sweatshop conditions. That would explain the tone issues, but I kind of doubt it, as Veruca Salt's father bought all of the O-Ls after Willy Wonka was killed in an unfortunate taste test and the unforgiving Mr. Salt had them turned into school lunchmeat and sold off as sex slaves to a resort in the South Pacific.