NGD: Charvel So-Cal

[napalmdeath]

Got this from Marshallmel here on the forum. A little elbow grease, fret polish and fingerboard cleaning, some carnuba wax. I wrapped the pickguard with 3M automotive carbon fiber vinyl. It set up beautifully, and the Distortions sound fantastic! Better than my Schecter's Fishman! 3rd time's a charm. The other 2 I ever bought were turds.

What do you think??

 

[PeteLaramee]

Love all So Cals! Congrats.

 

[marshallmel]

Glad you’re happy with it. Looks great!

 

[Racerxrated]

Looks great! Charvel necks are perfection, to me anyway. SoCals have a slight edge in tone to the SD in my experience.
Congrats!

 

[kmanick]

Congrats!!!! I have not bought a MIM Charvel exactly because of what you said. I'm friends with 2 people that own Musical equipment stores and they both have told me the same thing about the new import Jacksons and Charvels. QC is not consistent at all, the good ones are very good, it's finding a good one, a lot of dogs go out My MIJ Charvels have all been outstanding.
I'm glad you found a good one

 

[marshallmel]

Last time she was out was on a very cold November night. Lol

 

[stratjacket]

Looks good, love the color. Congrats on finding one you like

 

[japetus]

What do I think? You'll have it for sale in a week.

 

[Will Onyx]

Sweet guitar. I have a so cal in white with the black pickguard. I couldn’t afford the USA Adrian Smith signature Jackson, so this was the next best thing. So much fun to play!

 

[thenine]

Looks great! Charvel necks are perfection, to me anyway. SoCals have a slight edge in tone to the SD in my experience.
Congrats!

Interesting. I have found the Japanese SD’s to have the slight edge in tone. I guess you just never know. If you can try a Wildcard #7. Primer gray with ebony board and a JB. I have 3 and they all sound fantastic. Mean and snarly. I know a couple people who have repainted them. I always wondered why. I think the primer gives it a chance to breathe and makes for a great sounding, lively guitar. They all seem lightweight too.

That’s a great color OP. Congrats. Really cool. I have considered picking up one of these because that color is so cool looking. Nice score.

 

[Racerxrated]

Interesting. I have found the Japanese SD’s to have the slight edge in tone. I guess you just never know. If you can try a Wildcard #7. Primer gray with ebony board and a JB. I have 3 and they all sound fantastic. Mean and snarly. I know a couple people who have repainted them. I always wondered why. I think the primer gives it a chance to breathe and makes for a great sounding, lively guitar. They all seem lightweight too.

That’s a great color OP. Congrats. Really cool. I have considered picking up one of these because that color is so cool looking. Nice score.

I agree with the finish/tone correlation. I had a mid 90s USA SDII with the wacky hs shape; oil finish KOA and that was a monster sounding guitar.
I’ve been through 25 or so 08-11 USA/MiJ SD/SoCals and my findings are the Jap versions are the most consistent; but they fall short of the occasional USA that is equal or better than Custom shop versions in playability. I have an 09 Plum SoCal and 08 Candy blue SD that feel incredible in the hands, nice and resonant too. Only better sounding Charvels that I’ve owned were 3 originals from 83-85. I’ve also owned 3 recent Charvel customs. But the best players are the 2 I have now.

 

[Speeddemon]

Sweet guitar. I have a so cal in white with the black pickguard. I couldn’t afford the USA Adrian Smith signature Jackson, so this was the next best thing. So much fun to play!

Same here. Bought it, as I was/am 'Adrian' in more than one Maiden tribute.
Did do a few pickup swaps, added a toggle switch (bridge pup coilsplit), added a D-Tuna and a FU brass big block.

This was still stock:

 

[Devin]

Fuckin love it