Charvel question

[splatter]

I've been toying with the idea of buying a used Charvel.I had 2 custom shop Charvels years ago and sold them both .So my question is how can one tell the custom shops from the pro mod series ?
I know the custom shops will have "made in the usa" on the headstock but so will the old pro mods.
I can't remember if the ones I had before had "custom shop " on the back of the headstock . I don't think they did.
I don't want to buy what I think is a custom shop guitar only to find out its a pro mod .

Before we go down the road of "buy a pro mod ,they are just as good" I played one in a music store and I wasn't impressed .The attention to detail,and fret work just werenn't up to par.
I'm not hating on the pro mod and don't be offended if you have one . I'm sure there are plenty of them that are killer but the one I played wasn't and I don't want to spend money on something I'm not gonna play.
thanks

 

[Dave L]

Almost every american-made Pro Mod (apart from a few early documented oddballs that were made as protos and to show to dealers) have 00XXXX serials going up to 008000, the custom stuff has four-digit XXXX numbers going from about 6000 and onward since Charvel resurfaced about fifteen years ago.

 

[Racerxrated]

To add to ^^, the custom shops that I've owned have had Custom Shop on the front tip of the headstock. I have had a few of the USA models from 08-09 that play every bit as good or even better than the customs that I've owned. I have a 09 Plum SoCal now that has a neck that has to rival the pre pro stuff..it's that good. But the 05 pointy reissue that I also have sounds better than the pro mod, and that's a custom shop guitar, so better wood was used. You can call or email Fender about the exact specs by giving them the serial number. I'll see if I can dig up the contact info, I have it somewhere in my email.

 

[Dave L]

I´ve had two custom stratheads without the Custom Shop logo, though, it´s optional.

 

[cardinal]

Yeah they don't all say custom shop. I think the four-digit serial on the neck plate is your best bet.

 

[neilli777]

Yup, the 4 digit plate is the sure-fire tell.

 

[Racerxrated]

Yup, the 4 digit plate is the sure-fire tell.

My pointy reissue also has the 4 digit serial, and although it was built in the custom shop, some feel that they aren't quite to the level of a custom shop order, as they were a bit of a production run. I think they are great though. The only way to really know is contact the Fender Charvel rep, they can give you the build date and specs.

 

[Rock Bodom]

One other thing on the serial number, I've seen 5 digits on the newer customs now (first number is a 1, looks to be just the natural continuation of the sequence since they've apparently run out of 4 digit numbers).

 

[paulyc]

Personally I generally like the feel of the pointy necks better, but the headstock SCREAMS 80s, so I like the strat headstock better.

 

[Dave L]

One other thing on the serial number, I've seen 5 digits on the newer customs now (first number is a 1, looks to be just the natural continuation of the sequence since they've apparently run out of 4 digit numbers).

So they´re past 9999 now? Cool, let´s add the five-digit serials to the mix =)

 

[splatter]

Thanks guys