$1500 bucks for a mexi-charvel ? Really ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter shar-vell Dan
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shar-vell Dan

shar-vell Dan

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Everything is outrageously priced now. Everything. Total B.S.
Ive been seeing a bunch of gibson custom shops well north of 7k. Not Murphy lab either. PRS wood library are 7k, plenty private stocks pushing 16k. Not a damn thing out there exciting enough to buy at current prices.
 
They do come with Dimarzios....... and Nitro..... and a Floyd Rose and short of a Charvel MIA Select your not getting a lot of those features otherwise on any Fender short of a Ultra Luxe nvm the compound radius at 12-16, rolled fingerboard and stupidly almost perfectly carved bodies after they upgraded the CNC machines.......


I mean too rich for my blood and I like the 900-1000$ So-Cal/San Dimas models just fine but that Reliced So Cal sure doesn't look bad for the money IMO and they look pretty sick too.


A nice Rosewood board too.......


Great color IMO and that Aged Artic is pure sex ^_^


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I picked up a used ProMod relic and I’m blown away by this thing. I’ve never played a new one so I can’t compare, but everything about it is spot on. I don’t now if the previous owner had it worked on or what but it plays like a dream. Fretwork is perfect, intonation is spot on and it never goes out of tune. Only thing that I changed was the JB and the tuners. I’m not a fan of JB’s and the tuners have way too much slop. Other than that I can’t say enough about it. Maybe I got a good one :dunno:
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After discount and 50 dollar gift certificate...... got this San Dimas Pro Mod new for around 759.99 bucks before taxes (regular price 900 bucks before taxes) around March of 2025 this year........ with a very nice handmade Someone Somewhere gig bag from Zzounds..... much better than any Fender MIM off a wall, for less money, better build and quality and better hardware, electronics, pups and features too....... Rosewood board too......


Probably as nice as a Fender Pro ll or better one could argue as well....... ordered online as well and pretty much flawless and amazing....... super thin skin paint too :dunno:



Usually IME if you call into a place they give 10%-15% discounts so no need to pay full price........



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I picked up a used ProMod relic and I’m blown away by this thing. I’ve never played a new one so I can’t compare, but everything about it is spot on. I don’t now if the previous owner had it worked on or what but it plays like a dream. Fretwork is perfect, intonation is spot on and it never goes out of tune. Only thing that I changed was the JB and the tuners. I’m not a fan of JB’s and the tuners have way too much slop. Other than that I can’t say enough about it. Maybe I got a good one :dunno: View attachment 402026
Got that same guitar and it kills! The Pau ferro fretboard is very nice on mine. Nitro finish also. Very cool guy (y)

Maybe I don't know what a USA model is like since I've never owned one but the MIM are pretty awesome to me.

edit ; I forgot I had one(found a pic) in the early 90s pro mod ,black with white pickguard, pointy headstock. The two MIMs that I own now smoke that one (y)
 
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Honestly with MIM Charvels it kind of doesn't make sense to get an MIM Fender IMO for most...... they are just so much better for the same or less money...... base models start at 800 for Hardtail models and 900 and up got Floyd and Gotoh models.



And the base models are more than enough for most but if you want more the higher end models are there too with stuff like Dimarzios or Nitro bodies too :dunno:
 
I’m honestly curious as to how it would compare to the old US models that were pretty affordable.
 
I’m honestly curious as to how it would compare to the old US models that were pretty affordable.
wish they still made the MIJ models, they were pretty awesome and budget priced at the time.


Probably better...... Given the features on them now like dual graphite rods and rolled fretboards, reccesed Floyds etc etc.... nvm the thin skin pain too.....truss rod wheel at the heel...... You even have some owners that say the new MIMs are as good as their Custom Shops/Selects. Jim Root even uses stock MIM Charvels with changed pups and setups to his preference and that's it.


Even relative to whatever was MIJ at the time back then to what is made now from MIM the builds, specs and quality is better too due to improved QC and manufacturing process since those times more than a decade ago........... you just have better quality and tighter consistency with the MIM Charvel stuff now relative to the early 2010s or 2000s stuff in general.......


And when you account for inflation the older MIA 2010 models weren't as affordable as one thinks, I think they went for 1099.99$ new and that's 1600$ and about the same as an American Pro ll in todays money and most base MIM models today start at around 800-900$, pretty much half the price, better build, features and specs too :dunno:



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And when you have deals like this on a new Charvel for example and you compare to what an MIJ or MIA at 1099.99$ in 2010s money cost......... in todays money that is 1600$ and change...... so it's not exactly affordable as said.....


It's hard to argue that the older MIA/MIJ 2000s/2010s were better or more affordable IMO when the Charvel MIMs can actually be had at a much lower cost when you account for inflation in 2000/2010s money to todays money. You actually get better quality, specs, build, features thanks to the advancements in manufacturing and technology since pretty much more than a decade ago since the MIA/MIJ ones were made....... nvm a better price too and much more affordable :dunno:




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The new Pro Mods and DK’s are really nice playing guitars and can be had at a bargin, I have two San Dimas, One So Cal and a DK22. I bought the DK22 used in mint condition for just over $600 shipped which included a nice $100 padded gig bag. All three Pro Mod’s I purchased new for just over $600. The So Cal was open box, mint and the San Dimas’s were brand new. If you look around you can find killer deals on these. I also have five of the Pro Mods from 2013 - 2015 with the quarter-sawn necks. I believe I paid in the $500’s or less for each when Music Zoo was blowing them out. If you like the features, imo, these are the best bargains available.
 
What I like about the Charvels when you order online and I've ordered one through MF as an open box with full warranty and through Zzounds new and at GC new......


At GC they didn't save the tags but when I ordered online they had the tags on the open box one from MF I got for 580$ before taxes in May of 2021 and new at Zzounds before taxes for 759.99 in March of 2025....... the GC one I paid full price for at 850$ before taxes in March of 2021 didn't come with the tags......



My first one which was a Burgundy Mist San Dimas was gotten at GC and unfortunately they just throw that stuff in the trash and when I got the other San Dimas online it was a very nice surprise to find these "Final Inspection" cards Autographed and dated by the people who made the guitar.


IMO that is pretty cool and none of my other Fenders or any other guitar I've gotten, not even a Martin Made in USA had that level of attention to detail with something that kind of shouldn't/doesn't matter but it kind of does. It's not a COA but it's kind of as nice or the next best thing and in some regards nicer.


It's not MasterBuild right or a Custom Shop......... and it's just the regular folks on the line doing it but it really kind of reassures one the folks who made it didn't cut corners, they made the best they could and they take enough pride to put their name on the work and quality produced.


I mean the best part of the guitars is that whether you have the "Final Inspection" card or not, whoever made any Charvel didn't cut any corners, they made them as best they could and the quality and pride they took in making them shows either MIJ/MIM/MIA....... Charvels really are different in that sense and it's not something simply made on a factory line in a factory somewhere IMO......


Real people made them, put attention, care, focus and detail in what they made and they took pride in what they made.


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