I think you are right on the pickups. Carvin has so many choices of how to build - just like buying a car! Yeah, my opinion on the customer service was pretty much focused on the sales rep I got on the phone. Complete nimrod that could have cared less to sell me a guitar, which isn't the response I would have expected from them. But either way, I got the guitar I wanted with no mixups in the build and it's awesome, so I'd likely buy another Carvin in the future if the need arises!