Anyone set up a usa charvel as good as a suhr or anderson?

[thiswaythatway]

I've owned more than a couple of Suhr's and I had a MIJ Charvel that sounded better than all the Suhr's I had. It played just about as good as anything really. Suhr's and Anderson's are great though and are made with a lot of attention to detail. But IMHO cheaper guitars are being made REALLY well these days, the gap has shrunken between a 3k Suhr or Anderson and a cheaper guitar.

Right now, where I'm at if I wanted a HSS style Strat I'm going to play a BUNCH of Fenders and find one I like. I found I like the American Specials and the Deluxe model, the standard doesn't do much for me. Some tweaking and a bit of ignoring internet hype and your good.

Having owned a LOT of Fenders over the past 33 years, including plenty of American Standard and Deluxe models I frankly don't see how you can even compare them to Anderson and Suhr. If you wanted to conpare Fender CS instruments to those brands, then fine. But the attention to detail on the two brands is in an entire different universe than non-CS Fenders. That's why they cost more money and are made in far more limited numbers.

Guitars are very personal tastes and opinions are very subjective. But don't kid yourself into thinking that production Fenders are truly comparable to boutique instruments. Just like a Gibson Studio is not comparable to a True Historic. If they were, there are plenty of people who wouldn't spend the money on them regardless of "forum cred". Suhrs have long been a darling of R-T, TGP, and other gear sites. While Andersons get mentioned far less. Makes no difference to me... as I've never played a guitar that stacks up to my Andys for my tastes (including the Suhr that I sold here). So it wouldn't matter to me if I was the only guy on earth who played Anderson... I'd still play and love them.

It's all good and whatever inspires you is the right guitar for you. But most production Fenders aren't that special.

It's all opinion. I once had a $2400 Suhr next to a 400 dollar Ibanez and guess which one killed the other for pure tone, when I said that many a Suhr fanboys expressed their butthurt? Of course I know how nice Andersons are, I've owned a BUNCH. But Anderson single coils leave a lot to be desired. And I think any great player can make a regular production Strat sound killer. Sure there's plenty of crap out there but you can always sift through them and find good one's. I played a Deluxe the other day that was killer, there's wasn't one flaw on it anywhere. There's some really killer players in my area in the local bars and none of them are playing Suhr's or Anderson, just sayin.

 

[cardinal]

IMHO, I prefer at least the custom shop Charvel's to Andersons and Suhrs. And I even prefer some Ibanez guitars over them. Especially recent Andersons. I dunno if it's just coincidence, but I haven't really liked any Anderson with that new neck joint.

 

[R Weaver FX]

I've got a Charvel Jake E Lee sig and a 2006 Music Zoo natural and recently picked up a MIM Demartini pro mod Snake that has the best tone of all three and plays like a monster.Dont get me wrong, the other two smoke as well but the quality of the lower end guitars has improved.

 

[dfrattaroli]

Everyone has their own favorite. I had a Pro Mod Charvel that was really sweet. I have 2 Kiesels that are great guitars. Never played an Anderson. I don't doubt they're awesome. I even have a Fender Classic Player 60s strat that is the best playing Fender I've ever played. Recently I was shocked at how good my nephew's Sweetwater-plekked Schecter KM7 Mk II played. Yes, there are great guitars out there in the middle level that can rival the high dollar custom order guitars.

So if the question is: Hey, can I get a great playing guitar for around $1000 (or even less)? Absolutely. If the question is: Hey, I want a guitar that will blow me away every time I look at it, play it, etc., so what do I buy? For me, the journey starts with a Suhr. I bet the guys who love Andersons and the like feel the same way. Do you get 3 times the guitar when you pay 3 times the money? No way. But if you want that last 10% or so of quality and just overall satisfaction with your purchase, this is one way to get it.

Ultimately, it's wood and wires. So yeah, a pickup change and a good set up will get you where you need to be every time. But at least with guitars, IMO, it's such a personal thing that I consider the money well spent. I scratch my head more often over what can be spent for an amp when the difference in "quality" is much harder to see across the price spectrum. Again, IMO.

Dave

 

[Racerxrated]

One of the Suhrs I played was 5500 new. Holy %$&#. That's a lot of coin. But, it had a crazy awesome top and the wood used was very rare and exotic according to the owner. It really was a work of art, and if I owned it I think I'd be afraid to play it lol. I'd just hang it on the wall and stare at it, which was pretty much what the owner told me he did. Lol

 

[cecilbag]

They all suck compared to my first act. It's so amazing that they included picks, a strap and the amp all in one package.

 

[romanianreaper]

They all suck compared to my first act. It's so amazing that they included picks, a strap and the amp all in one package.

All First Act guitars come with real elephant tusk inlays and the case is made of baby seal skin.

On a serious note though, I have always loved the Charvel necks. I had a Suhr a few years ago and had a great neck as well. It seems like I can pick up any Charvel and plays great, even the non-U.S. ones.

 

['63-Strat]

Lol at this thread.

Every Suhr and Anderson I've played was a VERY well-made guitar. But I have yet to play one that made me buy it. I did own a few US Charvels, though ended up selling them to fund a motorcycle. I'll just have to make do with my other guitars somehow...

 

[rcm78]

This thread delrailed a bit. The OP was asking if a USA Charvel could be dialed in to play as good as a Suhr.
Assuming the guitar didn't play as good as a Suhr out of the box there's no reason a good set up couldn't get it there.
How a guitar feels and sounds is a completely different question.
I love the neck on my Jackson PC1. It's substantial and has more shoulder then most guitars. Most Suhrs I've found have a 1.65 nut width and an even C neck profile that measures .80 at the first fret. Those feel very small and uncomfortable to me. But lots of people must like them because it's the most popular neck on a Suhr.
My Jackson plays just as good as any Suhr I've tried but it doesn't feel anything like them. Never will.

 

[Robotechnology]

At long as it is one of the DOZENS of well made brands, it doesn't matter. Unless the guitars's truss rod is broken or bridge height screws are stripped or its nut is cut incorrectly, you can have the setup on any well made guitar be the way you want it. I have a lot of different brands in my possession and I do my own setups. Doesn't matter whether it's an Anderson, Suhr, Jackson, Ibanez, Gibson, Ernie Ball Music Man, etc... THEY ALL PLAY WELL.

I will tell you something I dislike about how most USA Charvel "play" though... The block neck heel. What gives!?! Every time I pick one up and see that I put it down. I'd go buy a Fender non elite Strat if I wanted that. I like the Charvel Guthrie Govan neck heel. And the old MIJ Charvel heels. My Jackson PC-1's heel is a perfect Charvel heel! The neck plate is flush to the body because the heel is recessed the thickness of the plate. I'd have have one or two non Guthrie USA Charvel's if they made them like that again.

 

[Fordman65]

The thread certainly did derail. Regarding setups if you're paying$2k+ for any guitar, which all three of these generally qualify for, they​ should be able to be set up perfectly. Feel and preference are completely different topics. Some don't like the two-bolt Anderson neck joint. I do. Some can't jive with the thin Suhr neck carve. I do. Others prefer the Charvel neck carve. That's great too.

All in all there will always be stinkers in the group but as a whole I don't think you can go wrong with any of these brands. CS quality is CS quality now a days.

 

[metalmaniac93]

I've owned more than a couple of Suhr's and I had a MIJ Charvel that sounded better than all the Suhr's I had. It played just about as good as anything really. Suhr's and Anderson's are great though and are made with a lot of attention to detail. But IMHO cheaper guitars are being made REALLY well these days, the gap has shrunken between a 3k Suhr or Anderson and a cheaper guitar.

Right now, where I'm at if I wanted a HSS style Strat I'm going to play a BUNCH of Fenders and find one I like. I found I like the American Specials and the Deluxe model, the standard doesn't do much for me. Some tweaking and a bit of ignoring internet hype and your good.

Well said. I agree on the Fender Strat thing!!!

I have an American Special (all single coils) that sounds and plays great. Just changed out the pickups and not that the pickups were bad just wanted something different. For an HSS guitar, I am waiting for my Chubtone build.

 

[Anonymous]

You feel completely the opposite how? That Charvel is so good that they ruined Anderson and Suhr for you?

Yes. Charvel Custom Shop guitars, for ME, blow away Anderson and Suhr guitar. YMMV...

Steve

 

[braintheory]

I also prefer the charvel custom shops to any of the suhrs or andersons I've tried, but honestly I much prefer my Mayones Regius or an ESP custom (original series) horizon that I tried recently to anything I've played by charvel, suhr, or anderson. For my taste, those are the best super strat type guitars I've tried so far, but I still need to try a GNG, Aristides, McNaught and KXK

 

[jsp]

Charvel won't have Stainless Frets. Big difference in feel

I've had guitars with both and if I was blindfolded, no way I could tell the difference. I don't see how I could, but I'll take your word that you can...

Steve

I can feel a difference, bends and vibrato are way smoother on stainless steel frets for me.

 

[Blackbird]

You feel completely the opposite how? That Charvel is so good that they ruined Anderson and Suhr for you?

Yes. Charvel Custom Shop guitars, for ME, blow away Anderson and Suhr guitar. YMMV...

Steve

For me: SUHR------>Anderson-------------------------->A lot of different brands--------------->First Act---->Charvel Custom Shop

 

[cardinal]

If we're honest, a $100 fret job on pretty much any guitar off the GC rack will set up as well as the fanciest custom shop guitar, in terms of playability, buzzing, action, etc. Beyond that, its just down to idiosyncratic preferences.

 

[dfrattaroli]

What? Wait! Everyone's favorite guitar is the best? OOHHHHHHHHHHHH! I get it.

 

[Anonymous]

Charvel won't have Stainless Frets. Big difference in feel

I've had guitars with both and if I was blindfolded, no way I could tell the difference. I don't see how I could, but I'll take your word that you can...

Steve

I can feel a difference, bends and vibrato are way smoother on stainless steel frets for me.

I'll take your word on this, but I don't notice bends or vibrato being any smoother with stainless frets.

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

What? Wait! Everyone's favorite guitar is the best? OOHHHHHHHHHHHH! I get it.

Certainly wasn't what I was saying. My whole point was it's all opinion.

Steve