Charvel/Super-Strats: Educate Me

[Aristocat]

I posted a thread earlier narrowing down what would be near perfect in terms of my next guitar and after giving it much thought (and asking my girlfriend-she's a tone hound) I think a Super Strat is my best bet.

I'm looking at the Charvel Pro Mod and I've seen variations between them involving H/S/H or S/S/H and H/X/H configurations. Personally, I'm leaning towards the latter as I'll add DpDt switches for coil taps and phase reversal.

So what I'm wondering is, how do they stack up?

I'm looking for a Super Strat that's Floyd equipped for under $700. I do not mind used and well worn guitars (not reliced) provided that there are no major mechanical issues (refret time; destroyed trem system).

Anything else you guys could recommend me?

Thanks!

 

[cardinal]

I've never been able to gel with maple boards, so the bulk of Charvels and I don't get along. Nice playing guitars though. I'll say that coil tapped humbuckers just don't give me to the single coil tones I want, but maybe they work for you.

As far as used bargain superstrats, old ESP guitars are incredible and at least a few years ago were practically given away based on what you were getting for the price. Ibanez MIJ stuff is pretty nice, too, but not as traditionally looking as the Charvel/ESP guitars and tend to have thin, love-it-or-hate-it necks. I don't know if the bargains are still out there, but when I was 16 (which was a long ass time ago) I bought a Tom Anderson superstrat for $700 that was completely beat to hell. Still my #1; best guitar I've ever played. So if you're willing to hunt, you can probably find a beater USA-built '80s superstrat (ESP, Jackson, Schecter, Charvel, etc.) that no one else wants to touch.

 

[Aristocat]

I've never been able to gel with maple boards, so the bulk of Charvels and I don't get along. Nice playing guitars though. I'll say that coil tapped humbuckers just don't give me to the single coil tones I want, but maybe they work for you.

As far as used bargain superstrats, old ESP guitars are incredible and at least a few years ago were practically given away based on what you were getting for the price. Ibanez MIJ stuff is pretty nice, too, but not as traditionally looking as the Charvel/ESP guitars and tend to have thin, love-it-or-hate-it necks. I don't know if the bargains are still out there, but when I was 16 (which was a long ass time ago) I bought a Tom Anderson superstrat for $700 that was completely beat to hell. Still my #1; best guitar I've ever played. So if you're willing to hunt, you can probably find a beater USA-built '80s superstrat (ESP, Jackson, Schecter, Charvel, etc.) that no one else wants to touch.

I dig maple necks and coil taps tend to sound and work better (in my opinion) with DPDT switches. I know it's the same set up as a push pull, but I get something out of it.

I'm game for anything really within the super strat realm. I just wanted to arm myself with knowledge as some guys on fleabay put guitars together and claim one thing when it's a fake.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Load it up the way you want it:

Soloist body: $199.00
http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Showcas ... &Path=Body

plus

Strat Neck: $199.00
http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Showcas ... &i=SN11427

or

Strat neck: $245.00
http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Showcas ... &i=SN10483

or

Warmoth neck: $205.00
http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Showcas ... e&i=WN1241

 

[EvilBatman]

Edit: I was typing this up when DbU posted.

For $700, you might, I repeat, MIGHT be able to assemble one from USA Custom Guitar or Warmoth. The downsides to this route are:

1. A crap shoot as to tone. Though USACG in my experience has been consistently good. Warmoth has been good too, but I've read a lot of stories where guys just didn't like the tone. Search the forum for mrp5150 and Warmoth. If I'm right, he had either a bad or not good experience with a Warmoth.

2. Your resale value is going to be low.

3. You'd probably end up spending more than $700 for one. I'd say more so in the area of $900 if it's not too wild. Less if you do some of the work yourself.

As to the Pro Mods, they're good guitars with pretty great necks. I've played a couple that could have used a bit more filing on the fret ends, but that wasn't too big of an issue. Tone wise, they're good. I'm not a fan of the JB so I couldn't form an honest opinion in this regard. I will say that none of the PMs I've played were dead sounding.

All in all, they're good for their price range and what they are. What I think really shines about them is the neck. Fairly similar to my favorite neck profile, the profile of a Jackson Soloist.

 

[metalmaniac93]

Well I you will probably have to buy used to keep it under $700. There are plenty of Pro Mods out there on the used market. I have a Charvel So Cal MIJ that is a great guitar for the money. You can swap out the pickguard if you want to go the HSS route. Carvin also makes a very good bolt guitar for the price. It will cost you a little more than $700 though new.

 

[aw9190]

For $700 or less even you can have a modern production Charvel. I have the USA san dimas and have not one complaint.