Yeah I got the broken one on Monday. As soon as I was able to open the box and check out the mic I heard a noise felt something shifting inside I wasn't too comfortable with... I sent my email to Avant at 1:41 PM EST, at 1:50 I got a note...
Hi Michael,
That sounds like something got knocked loose in shipping.
Please call us ASAP 909 931-9061 to arrange a swap-out...
We will get another one out to you immediately.
AVANT ELECTRONICS
I called a minute later and Sue Avant answered the phone and without hesitation or fuss offered to air me a new set. A few minutes later Ken from Avant called and wanted to make sure it was really broken... it was... the lower capsule was loose and moving around. Both Sue & Ken were extremely friendly and we ended up having short chats about FedEx vs UPS and other shipping nightmares.
I think that even with the layers of bubble wrap floating in peanuts that the mic inside the road case was still able to have significant force transfered to the mic. The new mic was packed a little looser and they had bubble wrap INSIDE the road case around the mic... it arrived in perfect condition a few hours ago.
I will not be able to get to a show tonight, but plan on going (if I can get away) to The Rising Sun near my house in Telford, PA tomorrow to see my friend Will of Los Manatees play. I will run it in different settings and post results.
Oh and Shane & Warren at Front End Audio were both very helpful too.
Check
the Team Avantone board here for more CK-40 updates as they arrive.