Despite my feelings about Charvels - I want this!

[napalmdeath]

My last Charvel was a piece of crap, and I returned it. Bad frets, sharp ends, wavy neck, etc. But, I want this. There's some other models at this $699 new price-point, with models being discontinued. I like the shit out of this! I'm close to adding to cart..

https://reverb.com/item/10668969-charve ... tin-silver

 

[romanianreaper]

I have a DeMartini USA "Frenchie" and it is an absolutely awesome guitar but I know what you mean about the cheaper Charvels.

With that said, I played a Made in Mexico Charvel San Dimas hardtail the other day and it kept going out of tune, was noisy, etc. I put that one back on the rack and grabbed another Mexico San Dimas but sounded way better, had a floyd rose and stayed in tune, etc. Those guitars are not even close to my DeMartini but they are great for the price and I think with some upgrades they would be even more killer.

 

[maddnotez]

The MIM 1888 I had was 100% solid. No issues whatsoever. Was honestly very close to quality of my 2005 reissue.

I guess any brand can have issues with production. I sent back two 1000 series LTD before giving up and I've seen some very bad QC on those $1,800 KM-iii's.

I say go for it if you like the guitar. Can always return if it sucks. Even though it is a hassle.

 

[MrDowntown]

I loved the look of my San Dimas, and thought the neck was really nice, but could never really bond with...couldn't get used to the floater/recessed bridge and it always felt/sounded thin.

I still think they are cool as hell looking. If I did another one...it'd be one of the older USA or mij with the nonrcessed bridge.

 

[IntenseJim]

Picked this up on a whim . The quality is unbelievable for the price and damn good for any guitar at any price.

https://reverb.com/item/10619763-charve ... rcoal-gray

 

[Racerxrated]

Stop messing around and taking chances with the Mexi Charvels. Here's a real USA SoCal for not much more, and in good shape....

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Charv ... -Guitar.gc

Yeah, you might run into a Mexi gem..but it's still not a real deal USA Charvel. I've been through a bunch and they all play good to great and sound very resonant. Every Mexi Charvel I've pulled off the wall has been disappointing.

 

[napalmdeath]

Stop messing around and taking chances with the Mexi Charvels. Here's a real USA SoCal for not much more, and in good shape....

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Charv ... -Guitar.gc

Yeah, you might run into a Mexi gem..but it's still not a real deal USA Charvel. I've been through a bunch and they all play good to great and sound very resonant. Every Mexi Charvel I've pulled off the wall has been disappointing.

Meh.. Don't you have to take the neck off to adjust it?

 

[Racerxrated]

Stop messing around and taking chances with the Mexi Charvels. Here's a real USA SoCal for not much more, and in good shape....

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Charv ... -Guitar.gc

Yeah, you might run into a Mexi gem..but it's still not a real deal USA Charvel. I've been through a bunch and they all play good to great and sound very resonant. Every Mexi Charvel I've pulled off the wall has been disappointing.

Yup. I've played out in Wi for over 30 yrs, and you won't find more damn temp swings in the summer than this state, even more than down south. One day 80 and no humidity, next 99 and 100% humidity. Lol. I've owned 20 Charvel USAs and maybe once I've had to take the neck off...actually all you have to do is loosen it and turn the bolt accordingly, re bolt and let it sit overnight. Check the action the next day. And, that was only after buying it. The Plum SoCal I have arrived perfect and no adjustment needed, as were 18 others I've owned.
It's really no big deal. Honestly I don't understand guys complaining about it, since I was a heavy gigging musician for years and maybe 2-3 times in 30 plus yrs I've ever messed with the truss rod in any guitar I've owned. These were 80s Ibanez RGs, Hamer USAs and Charvel USAs.

 

[Racerxrated]

Ask Maddenotz about the USA Charvel I sold him. He lists it as his favorite guitar he's ever owned. He also had a nice Mexi Charvel...good guitar but it pales compared to a real deal USA. Now, his is a pointy and different than the SoCal I posted at GC. But, that pointy was mine and I sold it after I got my plum SoCal. As good as that pointy is my SoCal is even better. I've had 2 Custom shop Charvels, 3 Custom Jackson USAs and this SoCal is better than all of them.
Not all of them are like mine but I've never played a USA that wasn't a really nice guitar, and some are special. Ask Psychodave, he's sold most of his USA Charvels and has kept one really special pro mod.
Remember, you can always return it to a GC. I stopped my search after getting my first USA Charvel. I've also had 2 original 83-84 Charvel USAs with Kahlers and these necks are the same profile/feel. Sold those too.
Try it. You might strike gold, and be done with the weekly search for your next guitar.

 

[maddnotez]

^^^^
True. I will never sell the point reissue
Best guitar I've played and owned. Send my ESP SS packing.

But I wouldn't say the MIM was pale in comparison. The pointy was definitely better but for a new production MIM I was actually very surprised and would say it was maybe 90% there.

Obviously I sold it and kept the pointy so if the USA Socal is on that level I would absolutely pay extra and get that but the MIM wasn't bad at all. Maybe it was a rare gem idk. The only one I've had.

 

[Racerxrated]

I just feel the USAs from the pointy reissues 05-06 to the 08-09 run are more consistently good to great guitars, that I'd much rather find a clean used one than take a chance with the cheaper Mexi Charvels, you have a better chance at a keeper that way.

 

[maddnotez]

I just feel the USAs from the pointy reissues 05-06 to the 08-09 run are more consistently good to great guitars, that I'd much rather find a clean used one than take a chance with the cheaper Mexi Charvels, you have a better chance at a keeper that way.

Definitely understandable. I would also absolutely trust your Judgement.

If you had a SoCal that was better than that pointy you sold me....I need a SoCal

 

[trey85stang]

from the talk in this thread i must of got a freaking gem of a mim-charvel, its 2018 model maybe its gotten better. But it stays in tune perfectly, frets are perfect neck is perfect. So before I buy another one site unseen are we talking older ones or current ones?

 

[napalmdeath]

from the talk in this thread i must of got a freaking gem of a mim-charvel, its 2018 model maybe its gotten better. But it stays in tune perfectly, frets are perfect neck is perfect. So before I buy another one site unseen are we talking older ones or current ones?

I'm looking at 2017 & 18's, MIM.

 

[mixn4him]

My MIJ is leaps and bounds better than the MIM and picked it up for less than this one. There are plenty out there and would love to find a T body MIJ or USA. Though the Ash MIM's are pretty sick...

 

[MrDowntown]

from the talk in this thread i must of got a freaking gem of a mim-charvel, its 2018 model maybe its gotten better. But it stays in tune perfectly, frets are perfect neck is perfect. So before I buy another one site unseen are we talking older ones or current ones?

My MIM was a '13 model...really nicely done. the neck and fret work were, I'd say flawless...no fangs or razor wire frets, etc.

my only rub...and this is some of a preference thing i suppose, but i did not dig the floating/recessed trem, and the guitar always was a step or two behind other guitars of similar build, quality, electronics etc...from a sustain standpoint. it could have been just that guitar, or it could've needed a FU upgrade, it could've been because it had a lot of clear-coat (or whatever) on the body (it was the blueburst which has a maple veneer)...it could've been b/c the chunk of wood at the trem was gone...don't know...could've just been the dude holding it but, for me, it lacked sustain and resonance....always felt a little lifeless.

 

[maddnotez]

my only rub...and this is some of a preference thing i suppose, but i did not dig the floating/recessed trem.

I had this long drawn out reply that I decided not to post but....I will do a quick version now.

The 2018 MIM I had was flawless. Felt almost as good as my 2005. The difference was so small that it could have been the difference of a well played 13 year old guitar vs a brand new one or something like the finish they used for the neck.

The biggest difference however was the Floyd, Both Non Recessed.

My 2005 is flat with the body. I am sure I could raise it but I wont. The claws under the fine tuners on the 2018 MIM seemed a bit large AND the Floyd was a bit higher off the body where I could pull up. That is how I got the ding on the guitar.

I will say though I played it for a couple of hours, definitely used the Floyd and it fluttered amazingly well and stayed in tune. I believe that one was a Floyd 1000 IIRC.

To the OP: my guitar was good enough where I believe the current MIM shop is putting out quality stuff. It seems you want that specific guitar so go for it. Unless you can find a USA that is expected to be better and the same guitar. Was easy for me to decide which one to sell since the 2 guitars were basically the same thing.

 

[romanianreaper]

I played a MIM Charvel today and it sounded and played awesome!! It was used and not sure of the year but probably a 2013 if I was to guess based on the color. Seems things fluctuate between years and versions, etc. with those. I played a MIJ and hated it compared to a Mexi one but this was years ago.

Agree with Racerxrated that I'd rather have a USA one used than a new MIM one. They just have that magic. I still regret getting rid of my "Blood and Skulls" one. I tell you one of my biggest regrets was a 2008-2009 Slime Green USA Charvel San Dimas I got from Chubtone. What a great guitar!! This was before they moved operations to Mexico. That guitar was a rock. I sold it to a younger guy years ago and he showed up with his girlfriend. He kept thanking me and telling me how it was his dream guitar, etc., etc. It was awesome passing the Charvel magic on to the next generation.

Charvels just have this "thing". I say the most important part of a Charvel is the neck. When I play a Charvel, I'm instantly on the Sunset Strip sitting next to C.C. Deville at the Cathouse with tiger stripe pants on, reading a "Metal Edge" or "Hit Parader" magazine. That smooth neck and effortless fretboard are awesome. Just makes me want to play Dokken riffs all day. Just love those guitars!

 

[IntenseJim]

I played a MIM Charvel today and it sounded and played awesome!! It was used and not sure of the year but probably a 2013 if I was to guess based on the color. Seems things fluctuate between years and versions, etc. with those. I played a MIJ and hated it compared to a Mexi one but this was years ago.

Agree with Racerxrated that I'd rather have a USA one used than a new MIM one. They just have that magic. I still regret getting rid of my "Blood and Skulls" one. I tell you one of my biggest regrets was a 2008-2009 Slime Green USA Charvel San Dimas I got from Chubtone. What a great guitar!! This was before they moved operations to Mexico. That guitar was a rock. I sold it to a younger guy years ago and he showed up with his girlfriend. He kept thanking me and telling me how it was his dream guitar, etc., etc. It was awesome passing the Charvel magic on to the next generation.

Charvels just have this "thing". I say the most important part of a Charvel is the neck. When I play a Charvel, I'm instantly on the Sunset Strip sitting next to C.C. Deville at the Cathouse with tiger stripe pants on, reading a "Metal Edge" or "Hit Parader" magazine. That smooth neck and effortless fretboard are awesome. Just makes me want to play Dokken riffs all day. Just love those guitars!

 

[Chris O]

I'm brand conscious - I love Charvels. I don't really care where they're made. I had at least a half dozen of the '09-ish USAs, and they were nice guitars, but "consistent" is not a word I'd use for them. Same can be said for the Mexis. I don't really care where a guitar is made these days. The hardware is usually similar when you get into the $1000+ price range. The neck construction has the classic feel - for the most part. RR bought one of my WDM Charvels - probably the best one I've owned, but again, they varied. Even having owned at least 6 USA WDM Charvels, after the one RR bought from me, the best I've had since was a white USA Pro Mod DS Style 1. I've had Mexis that rival the custom shop models. I guess I try to take each axe for what it is - regardless of the place it came from. Sacrilege, I know.