Charvels may just be the most perfect guitar design ever!

[dawnofdreamx97]

I really wish they made the promod production models in 24 frets / Hard Tail or id even take a 22 fret hard tail.... But agreed, they are just killer guitars... Also would like to offer all the models w rosewood boards to.... i know im picky

 

[Doubleneck]

I love my Charvel's but, the most perfect design IMHO is a Wolfgang style body. Just feel's like my perfect girl.

 

[ZMAN]

Should probably part out the Teles on Ebay, $100 for the MIK Floyd, $300 for the neck with the nut and tuners(pretty much the going rate for the USA ones), $100 for the pickups, and whatever you get from the body is cake.

Oh, and for the guy thinking of using the Charvel neck on another body, it's 2 1/4" neck heel, versus Fender's typical 2 3/16" heel. I would stay with Charvel parts, the SoCal's are routed like an American Std under the guard.

Thank you for the info ... I know ive seen the routing under the pickguard ... and ive seen some custom designs done by people . Since the neck pickup is routed for a humbucker ... i figure i could slide a single hence the lil 59 back and the fret board extension might fit ? ive guessitmated on the extra two frets and a single fitting in that spot but , I bet whip out my tape measure and check before spending $350 for a new neck and it doesnt work ... measure twice cut once . Ill have to talk to Musikraft about all of this . If it works out then ill get a custom pickguard drilled and cut accordingly . Even if the pickup routing needs a lil shaving on the neck position ill go for it . then rout out the trem area but not recess it .. I like the top mount . I dont care if its recessed . Ive played an Axis that was routed like this and it worked really awesome . I played a recessed so cal and actually didnt like it ... amazing work was done on it but i was shocked i didnt like the feel as I am an Ibanez floating floyd junkie . Well if this works out then Ill be keeping my So cal !! I do like the fact that Charvel gave us an option with the so cal to customize it . I hate the color orange but , the burnt redish candy tangerine color is a great color . Now just to figure out a cool color pick guard to go with it ... no pearloids

Z

 

[Digital Jams]

Im gonna cry $550??

What did you pay for yours?

Too much apparently.

We lost our shirts on teh Charvel...but the forum thinks we are cool for owning one.

Forum cred is not cheap.

 

[Tone Zone]

Play one of these and stop messing around. This IS your guitar.

I'd love to own another TAG one day. I recently sold the used one I had. Next one will be built to my own specs. Until then, I've always got my trusty Suhrs.

 

[Toshiro]

Should probably part out the Teles on Ebay, $100 for the MIK Floyd, $300 for the neck with the nut and tuners(pretty much the going rate for the USA ones), $100 for the pickups, and whatever you get from the body is cake.

Oh, and for the guy thinking of using the Charvel neck on another body, it's 2 1/4" neck heel, versus Fender's typical 2 3/16" heel. I would stay with Charvel parts, the SoCal's are routed like an American Std under the guard.

Thank you for the info ... I know ive seen the routing under the pickguard ... and ive seen some custom designs done by people . Since the neck pickup is routed for a humbucker ... i figure i could slide a single hence the lil 59 back and the fret board extension might fit ? ive guessitmated on the extra two frets and a single fitting in that spot but , I bet whip out my tape measure and check before spending $350 for a new neck and it doesnt work ... measure twice cut once . Ill have to talk to Musikraft about all of this . If it works out then ill get a custom pickguard drilled and cut accordingly . Even if the pickup routing needs a lil shaving on the neck position ill go for it . then rout out the trem area but not recess it .. I like the top mount . I dont care if its recessed . Ive played an Axis that was routed like this and it worked really awesome . I played a recessed so cal and actually didnt like it ... amazing work was done on it but i was shocked i didnt like the feel as I am an Ibanez floating floyd junkie . Well if this works out then Ill be keeping my So cal !! I do like the fact that Charvel gave us an option with the so cal to customize it . I hate the color orange but , the burnt redish candy tangerine color is a great color . Now just to figure out a cool color pick guard to go with it ... no pearloids

Z

The extension might work, since the neck pickup rout isn't right on top of the neck. The only issue I see is reaching those frets to use them, as they'd be pretty deep into the body.

The closest Musikraft neck profile to the Charvel ProMod neck is the "Thin D". It's not as round, but the thickness is close. The "Thin C" is a lot fatter, especially up near the 12th fret. They make a nice neck, but I wish I'd paid more attention to the specs when I ordered one(for my partscaster), as I've had to do some mods. If I could've gotten a SoCal in 3 tone 'burst I would've been a happy bastard.

 

[ZMAN]

Should probably part out the Teles on Ebay, $100 for the MIK Floyd, $300 for the neck with the nut and tuners(pretty much the going rate for the USA ones), $100 for the pickups, and whatever you get from the body is cake.

Oh, and for the guy thinking of using the Charvel neck on another body, it's 2 1/4" neck heel, versus Fender's typical 2 3/16" heel. I would stay with Charvel parts, the SoCal's are routed like an American Std under the guard.

Thank you for the info ... I know ive seen the routing under the pickguard ... and ive seen some custom designs done by people . Since the neck pickup is routed for a humbucker ... i figure i could slide a single hence the lil 59 back and the fret board extension might fit ? ive guessitmated on the extra two frets and a single fitting in that spot but , I bet whip out my tape measure and check before spending $350 for a new neck and it doesnt work ... measure twice cut once . Ill have to talk to Musikraft about all of this . If it works out then ill get a custom pickguard drilled and cut accordingly . Even if the pickup routing needs a lil shaving on the neck position ill go for it . then rout out the trem area but not recess it .. I like the top mount . I dont care if its recessed . Ive played an Axis that was routed like this and it worked really awesome . I played a recessed so cal and actually didnt like it ... amazing work was done on it but i was shocked i didnt like the feel as I am an Ibanez floating floyd junkie . Well if this works out then Ill be keeping my So cal !! I do like the fact that Charvel gave us an option with the so cal to customize it . I hate the color orange but , the burnt redish candy tangerine color is a great color . Now just to figure out a cool color pick guard to go with it ... no pearloids

Z

The extension might work, since the neck pickup rout isn't right on top of the neck. The only issue I see is reaching those frets to use them, as they'd be pretty deep into the body.

The closest Musikraft neck profile to the Charvel ProMod neck is the "Thin D". It's not as round, but the thickness is close. The "Thin C" is a lot fatter, especially up near the 12th fret. They make a nice neck, but I wish I'd paid more attention to the specs when I ordered one(for my partscaster), as I've had to do some mods. If I could've gotten a SoCal in 3 tone 'burst I would've been a happy bastard.

Funny I was playing my so cal before and thought the same thing reaching the 22 - 24th frets ... especially with "these hands" ... remember the burger king commercial , the guy with the small hands ... yep .. I have those hands LOL .. so that would prob make for another mod ... making the cut away deeper for better access , kinda like a soloist body cut away . Ive spent some time on the musikraft web site and did a customized charvel a few times . Cool thing was one of the neck profiles was the same as an Ibanez wizard ... perfect for me . The thin D is close to that plus , I can get my 6105's that I love !! Then , you can get the truss rod adjustment at the headstock unlike the original neck and the heel . Yea , you have to take the neck off to adj. it ... what a poor idea that was on the USA charvies . Now to be able to reach the 24th fret id prob have to shave the heel of the body . Warmoth and GMW offer this option , Jacksons have this stock on their bolt ons . I had one of those Charvel pro A+ a while back , I should have stuck with that and had it refretted . the frets were so rounded off on the high e side I used to yank the string off the neck constantly . BUT , it was so well made , top notch stuff . All these mods , ill prob be better off selling it and getting something else .. sucks though ill prob have to let it go for a stupid low price just to get rid of it .... yeesh

Z

 

[petethorn]

I'll tell ya what- when I was a kid, growing up in Edmonton, Canada, there was a store called Mother's Music, on Whyte Ave. I was like 14, and guitar crazed- and it was around 1984 or 85. Mother's became a Charvel/Jackson dealer, and I remember them getting in the first ones I'd ever seen- strats with single hums, floyds, and crazy ass graphics- lighning bolts, skulls, rising suns, etc etc. And I'd ride my bike there on Saturdays and lose my fuckin mind over those guitars. They were the coolest thing I'd ever played and seen... When I was 15, in 86, I got one- and I still have it- a pointy head Jackson bolt on strat, 2 hums, a Floyd and city scape graphics! And I still have it! I back routed the term cavity, ugh, wish I hadn't but Vai was the shit and everyone wanted to pull up on the bar, haha.... Those were the times. I'll have to take a pic and post it. Crazy I've owned that guitar for 24 years. Makes me feel old! Anyways, I had a pointy Charvel too, got it in 87 but believe it or not it was cooler if they said "Jackson" then, so I somehow came across a Jackson maple/ ebony board neck and pulled the Charvel one and sold it to a friend. The Jackson neck ended up backbowing and it was screwed. Ugh. I can't even remember what I did with that one- I also had a Japanese made model 2 Charvel, red single hum with a Floyd and that guitar played just amazingly well as I remember, had a really amazing neck. I can't remember what I did with it either. Man I've owned a buttload of axes.... Anyhoo I have a special place in my heart for these guitars, no doubt.

 

[Toshiro]

Should probably part out the Teles on Ebay, $100 for the MIK Floyd, $300 for the neck with the nut and tuners(pretty much the going rate for the USA ones), $100 for the pickups, and whatever you get from the body is cake.

Oh, and for the guy thinking of using the Charvel neck on another body, it's 2 1/4" neck heel, versus Fender's typical 2 3/16" heel. I would stay with Charvel parts, the SoCal's are routed like an American Std under the guard.

Thank you for the info ... I know ive seen the routing under the pickguard ... and ive seen some custom designs done by people . Since the neck pickup is routed for a humbucker ... i figure i could slide a single hence the lil 59 back and the fret board extension might fit ? ive guessitmated on the extra two frets and a single fitting in that spot but , I bet whip out my tape measure and check before spending $350 for a new neck and it doesnt work ... measure twice cut once . Ill have to talk to Musikraft about all of this . If it works out then ill get a custom pickguard drilled and cut accordingly . Even if the pickup routing needs a lil shaving on the neck position ill go for it . then rout out the trem area but not recess it .. I like the top mount . I dont care if its recessed . Ive played an Axis that was routed like this and it worked really awesome . I played a recessed so cal and actually didnt like it ... amazing work was done on it but i was shocked i didnt like the feel as I am an Ibanez floating floyd junkie . Well if this works out then Ill be keeping my So cal !! I do like the fact that Charvel gave us an option with the so cal to customize it . I hate the color orange but , the burnt redish candy tangerine color is a great color . Now just to figure out a cool color pick guard to go with it ... no pearloids

Z

The extension might work, since the neck pickup rout isn't right on top of the neck. The only issue I see is reaching those frets to use them, as they'd be pretty deep into the body.

The closest Musikraft neck profile to the Charvel ProMod neck is the "Thin D". It's not as round, but the thickness is close. The "Thin C" is a lot fatter, especially up near the 12th fret. They make a nice neck, but I wish I'd paid more attention to the specs when I ordered one(for my partscaster), as I've had to do some mods. If I could've gotten a SoCal in 3 tone 'burst I would've been a happy bastard.

Funny I was playing my so cal before and thought the same thing reaching the 22 - 24th frets ... especially with "these hands" ... remember the burger king commercial , the guy with the small hands ... yep .. I have those hands LOL .. so that would prob make for another mod ... making the cut away deeper for better access , kinda like a soloist body cut away . Ive spent some time on the musikraft web site and did a customized charvel a few times . Cool thing was one of the neck profiles was the same as an Ibanez wizard ... perfect for me . The thin D is close to that plus , I can get my 6105's that I love !! Then , you can get the truss rod adjustment at the headstock unlike the original neck and the heel . Yea , you have to take the neck off to adj. it ... what a poor idea that was on the USA charvies . Now to be able to reach the 24th fret id prob have to shave the heel of the body . Warmoth and GMW offer this option , Jacksons have this stock on their bolt ons . I had one of those Charvel pro A+ a while back , I should have stuck with that and had it refretted . the frets were so rounded off on the high e side I used to yank the string off the neck constantly . BUT , it was so well made , top notch stuff . All these mods , ill prob be better off selling it and getting something else .. sucks though ill prob have to let it go for a stupid low price just to get rid of it .... yeesh

Z

Heh, I haven't really had to adjust the new on my SoCal much. Set it up in Eb after all the mods, and left it alone. I have a bunch of RGs for when I want those extra frets, but I don't miss them that much on the Charvel. With all the mods you're doing, you'd be better off with a Warmoth "Soloist" body rather than a strat shape.

 

[Vrad]

I'll tell ya what- when I was a kid, growing up in Edmonton, Canada, there was a store called Mother's Music, on Whyte Ave. I was like 14, and guitar crazed- and it was around 1984 or 85. Mother's became a Charvel/Jackson dealer, and I remember them getting in the first ones I'd ever seen- strats with single hums, floyds, and crazy ass graphics- lighning bolts, skulls, rising suns, etc etc. And I'd ride my bike there on Saturdays and lose my fuckin mind over those guitars. They were the coolest thing I'd ever played and seen... When I was 15, in 86, I got one- and I still have it- a pointy head Jackson bolt on strat, 2 hums, a Floyd and city scape graphics! And I still have it! I back routed the term cavity, ugh, wish I hadn't but Vai was the shit and everyone wanted to pull up on the bar, haha.... Those were the times. I'll have to take a pic and post it. Crazy I've owned that guitar for 24 years. Makes me feel old! Anyways, I had a pointy Charvel too, got it in 87 but believe it or not it was cooler if they said "Jackson" then, so I somehow came across a Jackson maple/ ebony board neck and pulled the Charvel one and sold it to a friend. The Jackson neck ended up backbowing and it was screwed. Ugh. I can't even remember what I did with that one- I also had a Japanese made model 2 Charvel, red single hum with a Floyd and that guitar played just amazingly well as I remember, had a really amazing neck. I can't remember what I did with it either. Man I've owned a buttload of axes.... Anyhoo I have a special place in my heart for these guitars, no doubt.

Hee hee...
Did all the same crap and yes... Sounds like we're about the same age. Man I wanted a Jackson SOOOOOO bad... I used to get the Jackson catalogs, it was like porn for me.

 

[RockNRun]

Sorry - a little OT, but has there been any hints/info at what is in the next batch from Japan yet? Seems like it should be right around that time.

 

[Vrad]

Sorry - a little OT, but has there been any hints/info at what is in the next batch from Japan yet? Seems like it should be right around that time.

Wonder Curt (Chubtone) knows...

 

[Meathead]

Play one of these and stop messing around. This IS your guitar.

I'm suhr the Anderson is a great guitar...but out of my league.

That falls into my 'I won't pay over $1000 for any guitar' rule.

 

[Meathead]

I love my Charvel's but, the most perfect design IMHO is a Wolfgang style body. Just feel's like my perfect girl.

Agreed!

I was hoping the tele shaped San Dimas would be something like a Wolfgang with a Charvel neck..not even close.

 

[Vrad]

Play one of these and stop messing around. This IS your guitar.

I'm suhr the Anderson is a great guitar...but out of my league.

That falls into my 'I won't pay over $1000 for any guitar' rule.

That $1000 limit is a great place to be. After $1000, you seem to be paying for the finish and the pretty tops and stuff. None of which make a difference on a meat-and-potatoes guitar. Besides, I want something that looks like it's ready to be played... not put in a glass case.

 

[Meathead]

Play one of these and stop messing around. This IS your guitar.

I'm suhr the Anderson is a great guitar...but out of my league.

That falls into my 'I won't pay over $1000 for any guitar' rule.

That $1000 limit is a great place to be. After $1000, you seem to be paying for the finish and the pretty tops and stuff. None of which make a difference on a meat-and-potatoes guitar. Besides, I want something that looks like it's ready to be played... not put in a glass case.

If I had an expensive Anderson, Suhr, Tyler....I'd be afraid to put a mark on it and hurt it's value, thus...I'd never bring it out to a gig...thus...I'd rarely play it...thus...why the heck did I buy this piece of expensive furniture???

 

[Vrad]

Play one of these and stop messing around. This IS your guitar.

I'm suhr the Anderson is a great guitar...but out of my league.

That falls into my 'I won't pay over $1000 for any guitar' rule.

That $1000 limit is a great place to be. After $1000, you seem to be paying for the finish and the pretty tops and stuff. None of which make a difference on a meat-and-potatoes guitar. Besides, I want something that looks like it's ready to be played... not put in a glass case.

If I had an expensive Anderson, Suhr, Tyler....I'd be afraid to put a mark on it and hurt it's value, thus...I'd never bring it out to a gig...thus...I'd rarely play it...thus...why the heck did I buy this piece of expensive furniture???

Yup... I have my guitars just hanging out. Leaning up against stuff... Can't do that with a $3k guitar

 

[Meathead]

Play one of these and stop messing around. This IS your guitar.

I'm suhr the Anderson is a great guitar...but out of my league.

That falls into my 'I won't pay over $1000 for any guitar' rule.

That $1000 limit is a great place to be. After $1000, you seem to be paying for the finish and the pretty tops and stuff. None of which make a difference on a meat-and-potatoes guitar. Besides, I want something that looks like it's ready to be played... not put in a glass case.

If I had an expensive Anderson, Suhr, Tyler....I'd be afraid to put a mark on it and hurt it's value, thus...I'd never bring it out to a gig...thus...I'd rarely play it...thus...why the heck did I buy this piece of expensive furniture???

Yup... I have my guitars just hanging out. Leaning up against stuff... Can't do that with a $3k guitar

I'd leave it in the case and just tell people that I own one.

 

[stratotone]

Play one of these and stop messing around. This IS your guitar.

I'm suhr the Anderson is a great guitar...but out of my league.

That falls into my 'I won't pay over $1000 for any guitar' rule.

That $1000 limit is a great place to be. After $1000, you seem to be paying for the finish and the pretty tops and stuff. None of which make a difference on a meat-and-potatoes guitar. Besides, I want something that looks like it's ready to be played... not put in a glass case.

If I had an expensive Anderson, Suhr, Tyler....I'd be afraid to put a mark on it and hurt it's value, thus...I'd never bring it out to a gig...thus...I'd rarely play it...thus...why the heck did I buy this piece of expensive furniture???

Buy USED. I have a cobra that was $1400 used... killer killer guitar. I also see TAG strats with solid finishes (not at all 'expensive furniture' looking) for less than that sometimes. Sometimes after 1k you also pay for attention to detail too... I mean, TAG makes what, 3-4 guitars a day if that? I bet there were more Charvel San Dimas Teles made in a day than a month's worth of TAGs.

Love my three TAGs - two cobras and a drop top w/floyd - and all three sound and play better than anything else I own. The Charvels are awesome guitars, a friend brought over a recent custom shop strathead (Jake E Lee looking thing) and it played and sounded better than my socals. It just depends on what price/performance ratio you want. The SoCals, especially used at around $700, are an amazing value and you get a LOT for your money.

Every product has a spot where the performance and value hit the sweet spot, and then past that you're spending more $ for less of a upgrade. I've been looking at musclecars lately - I can get a car that runs a high 12 second quarter mile for around 30k new. (Mustang GT). If I want to go much faster than that, I'm going to spend a lot more money. Same with these guitars.

Pete

 

[Meathead]

Play one of these and stop messing around. This IS your guitar.

I'm suhr the Anderson is a great guitar...but out of my league.

That falls into my 'I won't pay over $1000 for any guitar' rule.

That $1000 limit is a great place to be. After $1000, you seem to be paying for the finish and the pretty tops and stuff. None of which make a difference on a meat-and-potatoes guitar. Besides, I want something that looks like it's ready to be played... not put in a glass case.

If I had an expensive Anderson, Suhr, Tyler....I'd be afraid to put a mark on it and hurt it's value, thus...I'd never bring it out to a gig...thus...I'd rarely play it...thus...why the heck did I buy this piece of expensive furniture???

Buy USED. I have a cobra that was $1400 used... killer killer guitar. I also see TAG strats with solid finishes (not at all 'expensive furniture' looking) for less than that sometimes. Sometimes after 1k you also pay for attention to detail too... I mean, TAG makes what, 3-4 guitars a day if that? I bet there were more Charvel San Dimas Teles made in a day than a month's worth of TAGs.

Love my three TAGs - two cobras and a drop top w/floyd - and all three sound and play better than anything else I own. The Charvels are awesome guitars, a friend brought over a recent custom shop strathead (Jake E Lee looking thing) and it played and sounded better than my socals. It just depends on what price/performance ratio you want. The SoCals, especially used at around $700, are an amazing value and you get a LOT for your money.

Every product has a spot where the performance and value hit the sweet spot, and then past that you're spending more $ for less of a upgrade. I've been looking at musclecars lately - I can get a car that runs a high 12 second quarter mile for around 30k new. (Mustang GT). If I want to go much faster than that, I'm going to spend a lot more money. Same with these guitars.

Pete

Good points...If I saw a used one that was reasonable, I may try it. I'd like to find a beat one that isn't too expensive..then I won't mind beating it myself.