Charvel Custom Shop, Luxxtone, Friedman, Iconic

[alan67]

Won't have to buy a new car so I'm looking for a new guitar instead! Looking for something San Dimas inspired.

Had never heard of Iconic till I saw one in the classifieds - they look pretty awesome. The Friedman's I've seen in videos look cool too and I've noticed they seem to ring really loud unplugged.

Never seen a Luxxtone with a truss rod adjust wheel at the heel, which is a must for me, but I'm sure that's just a spec thing.

And of course there's Charvel, nuff said.

Thoughts or opinions?

 

[grooveHT]

I've also heard a lot of people talk about Chubtone in the same context, doing the old style Charvel thing. Plus, Curt used to be a member here!

 

[Racerxrated]

Chubtone, on par with Charvel customs plus you’ll save a grand over buying any of the others.

 

[alan67]

Oh yeah, I forgot about Chubtone

 

[Metlupass2]

Luxxtone doesn't offer the wheel. I wish mine had it like my Friedman and Charvel for sure

 

[romanianreaper]

Chubtone, on par with Charvel customs plus you’ll save a grand over buying any of the others.

Yep, and help out a fellow forumite!!!

 

[scottosan]

I’ve had all 3 at the same time, Custom Shop, Luxxtone, and Chubtone. Get The Chubtone

 

[paulyc]

Chubtone, they just finished my fourth. Can't say enough good things about the guitars, Curt or Matt. Very easy to deal with, deliver on time, way cheaper (price) than the others but same quality. I've never ordered a graphic, but I believe Dan Lawrence does the complicated ones for them and that would push delivery times, but easy graphics or solid colors or relic work doesn't push anything out.

 

[alan67]

Chubtone, they just finished my fourth. Can't say enough good things about the guitars, Curt or Matt. Very easy to deal with, deliver on time, way cheaper (price) than the others but same quality. I've never ordered a graphic, but I believe Dan Lawrence does the complicated ones for them and that would push delivery times, but easy graphics or solid colors or relic work doesn't push anything out.

How long was the build time? Can you share some pics? Would love to see em.

 

[EXPcustom]

I just saw this thread but are you seriously considering a Charvel custom shop?

Read my post on the Jackson Kelly thread about the shitshow dumpster fire that became of the Jackson Charvel custom shop.

Now if you find an already made custom shop Charvel that's ready to go and you like it, awesome. Get it especially if you can play before you buy and like it.

Now if you want to pay and wait you're going to get fucked, I won't mince words here. Their Ebony is no longer black anymore and they bleach their maple so you won't see the grain in it anymore.

Their order system is best described as draconian. The "rules" for the custom shop order are best described as... well... Draconian. Let me give you an example. My custom Charvel Strat showed up with backbow so bad that the strings were resting on the frets, no fret buzz they were literally laying on the frets. After numerous warranty services which left the guitar with action so high to be playable in the middle of the neck you could slide two Dunlop Large pics into I finally got them to agree to take the guitar back to the CS so they could "look at it". I told them I would be happy with a new neck that was standard maple instead of Birdseye maple because I believe that made the neck so flexible to weather.

So long story short they would not give me a new neck in standard maple because it was against the "rules" if it had to new neck it had to be Birdseye as well, even though I said I didn't care or want a refund in the cost difference. When I got the guitar back they milled the fretboard and refretted it to get it "level" so if you look at the side of the neck you can see that the fretboard slab was thicker at then ends and thinner in the middle.

It probably cost them more to go through all this then to just replace the neck with solid maple like I asked but you know "rules".

Also you can't speak with the builders directly like you could in the 80's and 90's every little thing has to be done with the dealer. Imagine playing the game of telephone with a 5k custom shop guitar. That's what you are doing with a custom shop Charvel.

Hope this info helps.

 

[paulyc]

Chubtone, they just finished my fourth. Can't say enough good things about the guitars, Curt or Matt. Very easy to deal with, deliver on time, way cheaper (price) than the others but same quality. I've never ordered a graphic, but I believe Dan Lawrence does the complicated ones for them and that would push delivery times, but easy graphics or solid colors or relic work doesn't push anything out.

How long was the build time? Can you share some pics? Would love to see em.

6 months. They put pics of each completed guitar on their site.

 

[232cap]

Luxxtone doesn't offer the wheel. I wish mine had it like my Friedman and Charvel for sure

The truss rod adjustment is at the headstock on the luxxtones.

 

[Racerxrated]

I just saw this thread but are you seriously considering a Charvel custom shop?

Read my post on the Jackson Kelly thread about the shitshow dumpster fire that became of the Jackson Charvel custom shop.

Now if you find an already made custom shop Charvel that's ready to go and you like it, awesome. Get it especially if you can play before you buy and like it.

Now if you want to pay and wait you're going to get fucked, I won't mince words here. Their Ebony is no longer black anymore and they bleach their maple so you won't see the grain in it anymore.

Their order system is best described as draconian. The "rules" for the custom shop order are best described as... well... Draconian. Let me give you an example. My custom Charvel Strat showed up with backbow so bad that the strings were resting on the frets, no fret buzz they were literally laying on the frets. After numerous warranty services which left the guitar with action so high to be playable in the middle of the neck you could slide two Dunlop Large pics into I finally got them to agree to take the guitar back to the CS so they could "look at it". I told them I would be happy with a new neck that was standard maple instead of Birdseye maple because I believe that made the neck so flexible to weather.

So long story short they would not give me a new neck in standard maple because it was against the "rules" if it had to new neck it had to be Birdseye as well, even though I said I didn't care or want a refund in the cost difference. When I got the guitar back they milled the fretboard and refretted it to get it "level" so if you look at the side of the neck you can see that the fretboard slab was thicker at then ends and thinner in the middle.

It probably cost them more to go through all this then to just replace the neck with solid maple like I asked but you know "rules".

Also you can't speak with the builders directly like you could in the 80's and 90's every little thing has to be done with the dealer. Imagine playing the game of telephone with a 5k custom shop guitar. That's what you are doing with a custom shop Charvel.

Hope this info helps.

That's disappointing, to say the least. Sounds more on par with a Kiesel.

Glad we have Curt at Chubtone to provide us with a real Charvel Custom without the hassle of your experience. I do believe Curt's partner has worked in the Charvel Custom shop? But maybe I'm wrong. Either way they do a spot on Charvel spec'd guitar for a third or more less; with a 6 month wait.
Winning!

 

[Fiesta Red]

Chubtone

 

[alan67]

Chubtone

those look killer

 

[alan67]

I just saw this thread but are you seriously considering a Charvel custom shop?

Read my post on the Jackson Kelly thread about the shitshow dumpster fire that became of the Jackson Charvel custom shop.

Now if you find an already made custom shop Charvel that's ready to go and you like it, awesome. Get it especially if you can play before you buy and like it.

Now if you want to pay and wait you're going to get fucked, I won't mince words here. Their Ebony is no longer black anymore and they bleach their maple so you won't see the grain in it anymore.

Their order system is best described as draconian. The "rules" for the custom shop order are best described as... well... Draconian. Let me give you an example. My custom Charvel Strat showed up with backbow so bad that the strings were resting on the frets, no fret buzz they were literally laying on the frets. After numerous warranty services which left the guitar with action so high to be playable in the middle of the neck you could slide two Dunlop Large pics into I finally got them to agree to take the guitar back to the CS so they could "look at it". I told them I would be happy with a new neck that was standard maple instead of Birdseye maple because I believe that made the neck so flexible to weather.

So long story short they would not give me a new neck in standard maple because it was against the "rules" if it had to new neck it had to be Birdseye as well, even though I said I didn't care or want a refund in the cost difference. When I got the guitar back they milled the fretboard and refretted it to get it "level" so if you look at the side of the neck you can see that the fretboard slab was thicker at then ends and thinner in the middle.

It probably cost them more to go through all this then to just replace the neck with solid maple like I asked but you know "rules".

Also you can't speak with the builders directly like you could in the 80's and 90's every little thing has to be done with the dealer. Imagine playing the game of telephone with a 5k custom shop guitar. That's what you are doing with a custom shop Charvel.

Hope this info helps.

Wow, that sounds horrendous. Good to know.

 

[GreatRedDragon]

I just saw this thread but are you seriously considering a Charvel custom shop?

Read my post on the Jackson Kelly thread about the shitshow dumpster fire that became of the Jackson Charvel custom shop.

Now if you find an already made custom shop Charvel that's ready to go and you like it, awesome. Get it especially if you can play before you buy and like it.

Now if you want to pay and wait you're going to get fucked, I won't mince words here. Their Ebony is no longer black anymore and they bleach their maple so you won't see the grain in it anymore.

Their order system is best described as draconian. The "rules" for the custom shop order are best described as... well... Draconian. Let me give you an example. My custom Charvel Strat showed up with backbow so bad that the strings were resting on the frets, no fret buzz they were literally laying on the frets. After numerous warranty services which left the guitar with action so high to be playable in the middle of the neck you could slide two Dunlop Large pics into I finally got them to agree to take the guitar back to the CS so they could "look at it". I told them I would be happy with a new neck that was standard maple instead of Birdseye maple because I believe that made the neck so flexible to weather.

So long story short they would not give me a new neck in standard maple because it was against the "rules" if it had to new neck it had to be Birdseye as well, even though I said I didn't care or want a refund in the cost difference. When I got the guitar back they milled the fretboard and refretted it to get it "level" so if you look at the side of the neck you can see that the fretboard slab was thicker at then ends and thinner in the middle.

It probably cost them more to go through all this then to just replace the neck with solid maple like I asked but you know "rules".

Also you can't speak with the builders directly like you could in the 80's and 90's every little thing has to be done with the dealer. Imagine playing the game of telephone with a 5k custom shop guitar. That's what you are doing with a custom shop Charvel.

Hope this info helps.

What a nightmare! So disappointing to hear.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I’d love a Chubtone relic Tele with the truss rod adjustment wheel or normal one at the head. Anyone know if Curt offers either of those features?

 

[SpiderWars]

I’d love a Chubtone relic Tele with the truss rod adjustment wheel or normal one at the head. Anyone know if Curt offers either of those features?

Pretty sure he does, he asked what I wanted and I 'think' there were three options. I deferred to him and mine is neither a wheel nor at headstock, I don't think I've adjusted it. You can see the notch for the wheel in some pics on his site.

 

[alan67]

Just fired off an email to Chubtone