Charvel guitars??

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Boeing 717

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Hi guys, I am considering purchasing a Charvel wildcard 7. The grey primer thing. I want to buy an ESP Kamikaze but 3500 bucks is a little steep for me because I am saving for a new car right now. I have been playing the same Kramer Pacer Imperial for 28 years and I play ALOT and take it pretty seriously. My Kramer is like a good car with 400 thousand miles on it. It is a good guitar but completely worn out, the frets are flat and have vally's in them where the strings have been rubbing, there is a crack in the body under the floyd Rose i think from tension from whammying over the years and no matter what I do the intonation is off. I want good guitar that can hold me over till I can get a nice Lynch model. What do you think of these Charvel WildCards??? I only want the #7 because I only want 1 hum and 1 single with one volume with a floyd, Im not crazy about the color but right now I just want a good playable guitar. And the price is right on this one.

1) Do you think it would be good transition from a Kramer Pacer?? Remember I am used to playing only one guitar for 28 years.

2) Hows the Quality??

3) They also have a flat black one (custom shop matte black san dimas) on their website but its 2200 dollars although it looks the same as the model #7?? Why so much more expensive??? http://www.charvel.com/guitars/customsh ... 7-5637-000

4) Oh also I was looking at some posts and guys seem to like floyds that arent recessed into the body, why is that???

Thanks for your advice!!
JERRY
 
Why settle for an import when you can have a full-on Custom Shop with graphic brand NEW for a few bucks more:

Charvel Custom Shop CHEEP!!

And to answer your questions:

1.) A Charvel will feel quite comfortable to you coming from a Kramer Pacer. I'd say the Kramers have a fatter neck profile, but I think you'll be fine.
2.) The Japanese Charvel's are really nice, but not near as nice as a Custom Shop
3.) Buy the Custom Shop I just pointed you to for $1000 less!!!!!
4.) I like both, I don't care...

Steve
 
Steve's right. That's a smokin' deal on that custom shop Charvel (and it's a killer graphic).
However, if you want to save dough though, pick up an import Charvel. They frequently go for less than $800 new on eBay. $600 or so used. Then when you get your new axe, take your Kramer to a good luthier and let him refret it with some new jumbos and put some dowels, threaded inserts and studs to take the place of the wood screws which are probably leaning on your Pacer.
If you've been playing the same guitar for 28 years, anything you get that's new, is not going to feel quite right. Get it fixed up and it can do another 28.
 
sah5150":3uekop5m said:
Why settle for an import when you can have a full-on Custom Shop with graphic brand NEW for a few bucks more:

Charvel Custom Shop CHEEP!!

And to answer your questions:

1.) A Charvel will feel quite comfortable to you coming from a Kramer Pacer. I'd say the Kramers have a fatter neck profile, but I think you'll be fine.
2.) The Japanese Charvel's are really nice, but not near as nice as a Custom Shop
3.) Buy the Custom Shop I just pointed you to for $1000 less!!!!!
4.) I like both, I don't care...

Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks Steve.
I like the "dont tread on me" but I need a neck pickup and dont want a maple finger board. So whats the deal with the custom shop??? Are those American made?? Is that why so expensive??? Their website is kinda lame, can I contact them and have one made to my specs??? And if so how long does it take?? I think I saw a post where people were saying it takes over a year to get a custom guitar from them.
 
chumbucket":2gnyrpc1 said:
Steve's right. That's a smokin' deal on that custom shop Charvel (and it's a killer graphic).
However, if you want to save dough though, pick up an import Charvel. They frequently go for less than $800 new on eBay. $600 or so used. Then when you get your new axe, take your Kramer to a good luthier and let him refret it with some new jumbos and put some dowels, threaded inserts and studs to take the place of the wood screws which are probably leaning on your Pacer.
If you've been playing the same guitar for 28 years, anything you get that's new, is not going to feel quite right. Get it fixed up and it can do another 28.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, I do have every intention of having my Kramer overhauled but its also going to be a thousand dollars probably minimum to get it tip top and right now I just want something new to try.
 
Boeing 717":1t4pytyf said:
sah5150":1t4pytyf said:
Why settle for an import when you can have a full-on Custom Shop with graphic brand NEW for a few bucks more:

Charvel Custom Shop CHEEP!!

And to answer your questions:

1.) A Charvel will feel quite comfortable to you coming from a Kramer Pacer. I'd say the Kramers have a fatter neck profile, but I think you'll be fine.
2.) The Japanese Charvel's are really nice, but not near as nice as a Custom Shop
3.) Buy the Custom Shop I just pointed you to for $1000 less!!!!!
4.) I like both, I don't care...

Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks Steve.
I like the "dont tread on me" but I need a neck pickup and dont want a maple finger board. So whats the deal with the custom shop??? Are those American made?? Is that why so expensive??? Their website is kinda lame, can I contact them and have one made to my specs??? And if so how long does it take?? I think I saw a post where people were saying it takes over a year to get a custom guitar from them.
Click to expand...
The Custom Shop guitars are the cream of the crop, built right in Corona, CA by the same guys, on the same equipment as the original 80s USA Charvels. that is why they are so expensive. You can order a Custom Shop through a dealer like our own Chubtone (Curt) and have it made EXACTLY to your specs. It takes a long time - I ordered one in April and I'm hearing mine will be ready in Feb of next year, but I'm betting more like a year or more. Of course, you can find great deals on Custom Shop Charvels you can have right now from dealer inventory if you are willing to compromise a bit on what you want...

Steve
 
The Custom Shop guitars are the cream of the crop, built right in Corona, CA by the same guys, on the same equipment as the original 80s USA Charvels. that is why they are so expensive. You can order a Custom Shop through a dealer like our own Chubtone (Curt) and have it made EXACTLY to your specs. It takes a long time - I ordered one in April and I'm hearing mine will be ready in Feb of next year, but I'm betting more like a year or more. Of course, you can find great deals on Custom Shop Charvels you can have right now from dealer inventory if you are willing to compromise a bit on what you want...

Steve
Click to expand...

Ah yea thats way to long to wait. If I could find that black san dimas custom (1 hum , 1 single pickup) for $1500 Id probably go that high but wouldnt know who carries anything like that.
Thanks for the compliment as well.
 
I'd buy that yellow custom shop, it wouldn't be too hard to have it modified with a neck pickup. You aren't going to get a better guitar for the money.


Boeing 717":3t1gce43 said:
I do have every intention of having my Kramer overhauled but its also going to be a thousand dollars probably minimum to get it tip top and right now I just want something new to try.
Click to expand...

Im sure you can get that thing refretted and fixed up far less than $1K, if not you are getting ripped off.
 
snowdog":2megu2y2 said:
I'd buy that yellow custom shop, it wouldn't be too hard to have it modified with a neck pickup. You aren't going to get a better guitar for the money.


Boeing 717":2megu2y2 said:
I do have every intention of having my Kramer overhauled but its also going to be a thousand dollars probably minimum to get it tip top and right now I just want something new to try.
Click to expand...

Im sure you can get that thing refretted and fixed up far less than $1K, if not you are getting ripped off.
Click to expand...

Well by the time I get new hardware, pickups, Floyd, refretted, rewired etc etc. I figured it all up and it was around a thousand.
 
while the custom shops are top of the line obviously, the new promods are really nice guitars for the money. They feel like their pricetag should be a lot higher. I've owned or had extensive playing time with 6 of the current era MIJ and MIA models, and they've all been very consistent. I actually prefer the necks on the promods. They play great, and can sound killer with the right setup. The stock Seymour Duncan pups work very well, and if you have a favorite boutique pup, the guitars are cheap enough new that they make a great platform for upgrades.
 
Boeing,
I love the Charvels as anyone on Rig Talk can tell you, but it sounds to me like all your guitar needs is a re-fret $200-250 and some new inserts for the posts on your Floyd. If the pickups and original Floyd are still functioning well, I say leave them, they probably look cooler than new parts would. We all know how much people pay for relic stuff and yours is naturally reliced.

And like Steve mentioned above, Great playing!!!!

And one potential negative for me personally on that "Don't Tread On Me" guitar besides it being pretty darn ugly (IMO) is that it has a basswood body. Basswood is definitely not my personal favorite tonewood though others dig it. I sold out of the Wildcard #7 Primer Scream, but can call my rep and see if they have any left if you want to go that direction.

And oh yeah...... your lead playing rips in case I didn't mention that! :rock: Very Lynchy....... and it is my personal opinion that if you spent $2200-2500 on a Made In USA Charvel Custom Shop, you wouldn't be all that thrilled with a Made in Japan Kamikaze for $1k more.
 
"Charvel guitars" caught my eye, then I come in and see a few respected dudes say "great playing"....had to see for myself, and yeah, great tunes, Boeing!! Props. And you can't go wrong with a good Charvel, especially after getting it home and tweaking it up. Good luck!
 
My local Sam Ash (King of Prussia, PA) had one of the trans magenta San Dimas (MIA) in stock and on clearance for $799. Serious bang for the buck if you can live with the color...
 
Boeing you're playing is great!! Love the Lynch style phrasing and vibrato.
 
sah5150":30px5qm0 said:
Boeing 717":30px5qm0 said:
sah5150":30px5qm0 said:
Why settle for an import when you can have a full-on Custom Shop with graphic brand NEW for a few bucks more:

Charvel Custom Shop CHEEP!!

And to answer your questions:

1.) A Charvel will feel quite comfortable to you coming from a Kramer Pacer. I'd say the Kramers have a fatter neck profile, but I think you'll be fine.
2.) The Japanese Charvel's are really nice, but not near as nice as a Custom Shop
3.) Buy the Custom Shop I just pointed you to for $1000 less!!!!!
4.) I like both, I don't care...

Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks Steve.
I like the "dont tread on me" but I need a neck pickup and dont want a maple finger board. So whats the deal with the custom shop??? Are those American made?? Is that why so expensive??? Their website is kinda lame, can I contact them and have one made to my specs??? And if so how long does it take?? I think I saw a post where people were saying it takes over a year to get a custom guitar from them.
Click to expand...
The Custom Shop guitars are the cream of the crop, built right in Corona, CA by the same guys, on the same equipment as the original 80s USA Charvels. that is why they are so expensive. You can order a Custom Shop through a dealer like our own Chubtone (Curt) and have it made EXACTLY to your specs. It takes a long time - I ordered one in April and I'm hearing mine will be ready in Feb of next year, but I'm betting more like a year or more. Of course, you can find great deals on Custom Shop Charvels you can have right now from dealer inventory if you are willing to compromise a bit on what you want...

Steve
Click to expand...
Absolutely agree with Steve here...I have done the same thing with Curt; I got my first CS from him and I have another on order.
 
Really enjoyed the hell out of your playing!! Love me some good Lynchness!
 
Check out The Music Zoo Charvels. I have one of these -
Charvel_San_Dimas_Koa_HS_FR_C8798full.jpg


While it's not technically a custom shop guitar it was miles ahead of the production So-Cal I had. You can usually find them at a good price.
 
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