Charvel 2017 Style 2: MIM vs USA

[stratjacket]

I’ve never been a Tele fan, the shape has always reminded me of a beluga whale head and I can’t get the whale image out of my head when I see one.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Bought one as soon as they were available. Got the red one. Although I had my mind made up in about 2 minutes, I played it for about 20 minutes before I called Sweetwater to get an RA#.
Feels cheap, sounded and played like crap. Extremely disappointed in the fit and finish and overall build quality. For $899 with no bag or case...no thanks.
I eventually found this one on Ebay. $875 with the original bag, a much better built, playing and sounding guitar.
The new MIM Charvels simply don’t compare to the old U.S. Pro Mods in my opinion and there are still deals to be had on these.

Again, just my experience and opinion. YMMV.

Well that kinda sucks. I played one this week and agree that the setup was crappy. Strings were also dirty as hell. It's a light guitar. Overall, I didn't think it sounded bad.

What was it about the build quality? Thanks for sharing!

 

[Joe-TX]

Bought one as soon as they were available. Got the red one. Although I had my mind made up in about 2 minutes, I played it for about 20 minutes before I called Sweetwater to get an RA#.
Feels cheap, sounded and played like crap. Extremely disappointed in the fit and finish and overall build quality. For $899 with no bag or case...no thanks.
I eventually found this one on Ebay. $875 with the original bag, a much better built, playing and sounding guitar.
The new MIM Charvels simply don’t compare to the old U.S. Pro Mods in my opinion and there are still deals to be had on these.

Again, just my experience and opinion. YMMV.

Well that kinda sucks. I played one this week and agree that the setup was crappy. Strings were also dirty as hell. It's a light guitar. Overall, I didn't think it sounded bad.

What was it about the build quality? Thanks for sharing!

The wood looked and felt “cheap” for lack of a better description. The neck had a whitish tint and felt like it wasn’t finished very well...bumps and rough feeling surfaces. Very hard to describe.
Unplugged it sounded dull and lifeless, no bite or snap at all. Plugged in to my EVH 5153 and Friedman modded ‘79 JMP, it sounded about the same.
Overall, it just felt like it was built with the lowest quality materials. I was hugely disappointed as I had been waiting for one as soon as they were announced and watched the demo video. Maybe I got a bad one but it was enough to sour me on them entirely. Too many other things about them that are so unCharvel ( recessed trem, tone knob etc. ) that I should’ve never even given it a thought.

Honestly, if you find one that sounds and plays great then go for it. I’ve learned that one persons experience shouldn’t be the only deciding factor. Like I said, I may have just gotten a bad one.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Bumping for any recent experiences with the MIM or USA Style 2's? ...Or how about the MIM's in general?

 

[Exo-metal]

Doesn't do it for me and the headstock is not a match.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Bumping for any recent experiences with the MIM or USA Style 2's? ...Or how about the MIM's in general?

I played one of the newer one's with the roasted maple, it was a real ugly Orange finish. The neck felt nice except for ALL the frets hanging over the edge of the board, felt like it would slice your hand if you slid up and down fast. Besides that....I don't know, I'd pay $400 for one, not 1k.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I'm looking at these:

MIM

and this USA

Clips I've heard of the MIM seem to be more versatile, but...you know...the whole USA vs MIM thing. Plus the volume knob placement on the MIM seems to be in the way of the 5-way switch, but probably something you get used to.

I've played both the MIM and USA, and USA felt more "substantial", but MIM had more tonal variety.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Bumping for any recent experiences with the MIM or USA Style 2's? ...Or how about the MIM's in general?

I played one of the newer one's with the roasted maple, it was a real ugly Orange finish. The neck felt nice except for ALL the frets hanging over the edge of the board, felt like it would slice your hand if you slid up and down fast. Besides that....I don't know, I'd pay $400 for one, not 1k.

Yeah, I felt like they MIM's I've played, while still good guitars, I would pay a bit less for and were a little less refined than the USA's.

 

[romanianreaper]

I played a new Charvel San Dimas MIM a few weeks ago and was disappointed. It didn't sound or feel like MIM, USA, or any Charvel guitar I'd played in the past and not sure why.

The wiring was causing so much noise and buzz and flicking the pickup selector switch was clanky and felt cheap. The funny thing is a week later I went into another store and played an older MIM Charvel that sounded and played so great that I almost bought it on the spot. I agree that I'd look into some other guitars or at least play the one you are going to get in person. I wouldn't order one of those online without playing it first.

 

[Exo-metal]

When I really think about it that's the guitar when you're transitioning to join the gear page lmao

 

[the rossness]

Bumping for any recent experiences with the MIM or USA Style 2's? ...Or how about the MIM's in general?

they don't compare. MIM vs USA/ MIJ. They just feel different For a $600 tele its ok. I've thought of getting one myself. Then I play a MIM pro mod and it just not the same as my experience with the USA MIJ models- or even the newer USA select series. I actually think Kramer guitars FEEL better then the MIM pro mods. I've been sooooo tempted by the Okoume pro mods but just don't like the feel. They're not the same.

As for the tele body shape vs the san dimas, its much better from a tonal standpoint.

 

[Mr. Willy]

I like the Tele body, but I don’t like the Tele body with the Strat headstock. It bugs me.

 

[rstites]

I've never owned a tele and been thinking about one over the last few months. Several times, I've thought what I really want is a traditional tele look that plays like my old Charvels. I've found a couple custom shop Charvels like that, but way out of my price point for this idea.

I got nothing to add on these guitars, this just seemed like a place to state this. My newest Charvel is a 1984....probably haven't played on that's newer than the 80's model series, now that I think about it. (Damn, I sound old, don't I! )

 

[romanianreaper]

My newest Charvel is a 1984

I hate you.

I have loved Charvels since seeing George Lynch, Warren DeMartini, and Jake E. Lee playing them back in the day. I have a Warren DeMartini custom that I got from someone here on the forum for a great price, otherwise I couldn't afford it either.

 

[rstites]

My newest Charvel is a 1984

I hate you.

I have loved Charvels since seeing George Lynch, Warren DeMartini, and Jake E. Lee playing them back in the day. I have a Warren DeMartini custom that I got from someone here on the forum for a great price, otherwise I couldn't afford it either.

Well, to be fair, I supposed that's my only "real" Charvel. My others are all parts'o'casters made from era parts or maybe even parts during the production run. Still, that guitar was my mainstay for years and years. It's an incredible instrument.

The only other proper, serial numbered instrument I have is an '87 Jackson strat. The rest are all total mutts - beat to hell, extremely playable, mutts and I love them.

Anyhow, great thread. I've been temped by these production Charvels, just to get something new, but I'm back to thinking I'll just piece together anything new I want.