how're the new mexican promod Charvels?

[yankeebulldog]

These guitars have no fingerboards, just frets right into the maple neck, cost cutting measure I am sure. Even the MIM Stars have a maple fingerboard. Probably the reason they don't offer these with rosewood boards because they don't have fingerboards.

How is having a separate maple fretboard instead of a one piece maple neck and fretboard better? All of my expensive Charvel custom shop maple necks are one piece and the guitars sound great. What value would it bring to me to have a separate maple fretboard on a maple neck? You're reaching here, man...

Steve

The only thing 2 pc neck might provide is extra stability if you live in areas with wide ranging climate swings. Most purist prefer the 1 pc neck for tonal reasons since the 50s Fenders were made like this. Honestly though, you're really splitting hairs about the 3 pc body, 1 pc neck on a guitar with a thick poly coat of paint, a floyd and high output pickups that you're probably playing through a high gain amp.

 

[Anonymous]

These guitars have no fingerboards, just frets right into the maple neck, cost cutting measure I am sure. Even the MIM Stars have a maple fingerboard. Probably the reason they don't offer these with rosewood boards because they don't have fingerboards.

How is having a separate maple fretboard instead of a one piece maple neck and fretboard better? All of my expensive Charvel custom shop maple necks are one piece and the guitars sound great. What value would it bring to me to have a separate maple fretboard on a maple neck? You're reaching here, man...

Steve

The only thing 2 pc neck might provide is extra stability if you live in areas with wide ranging climate swings. Most purist prefer the 1 pc neck for tonal reasons since the 50s Fenders were made like this. Honestly though, you're really splitting hairs about the 3 pc body, 1 pc neck on a guitar with a thick poly coat of paint, a floyd and high output pickups that you're probably playing through a high gain amp.

My point is that the lack of a separate fretboard on an all maple neck is being described as a cost cutting measure, when there is no significant reason for having a separate fingerboard on an all maple neck. I don't buy the stability thing. I've had just as many problems with necks with separate necks/fretboards when I lived in humid climates...

Steve

 

[baron55]

[/quote]
My point is that the lack of a separate fretboard on an all maple neck is being described as a cost cutting measure, when there is no significant reason for having a separate fingerboard on an all maple neck.

Steve[/quote]

Sure there is if you want a ebony or rosewood board

 

[Darden]

It boils down to human nature...."Damn right they're good guitars, they're Made in the USA"...and when you can't get USA made anymore..."the Japanese stuff is just as good!"...and when they don't make those anymore..."Mexcian is fine!"...and sooner or later..."Those guys in East Timor make a great guitar!".

 

[Anonymous]

My point is that the lack of a separate fretboard on an all maple neck is being described as a cost cutting measure, when there is no significant reason for having a separate fingerboard on an all maple neck.

Steve

Sure there is if you want a ebony or rosewood board

I clearly was talking about an all maple neck, which I clearly indicated meant maple neck and fingerboard in one, so this has nothing to do with my point. Which I bet you already know, so I'm not sure why you bothered with this...

Steve

 

[lolzgreg]

I won't buy any guitar that requires the neck to be removed to adjust the truss rod. When you take the neck of, you completely unload it, also depending on how good the neck pocket is making the alignment right, not to mention the screws into the wood gradually wearing out. If I had a guitar like this I would be removing the neck 6 times a year.......

Yep.... I love my Slime Green American, but I freakin' hate taking the neck off to adjust the truss rod. It is truly an unintelligent product decision to make something difficult to adjust in my honest opinion.

 

[RG955TT]

I have a US slime green S Dimas and during some work I just took my dremel and put a bit a soft v shaped notch where the neck adjustment screw is and I have no problem making minor adjustments with the neck on the guitar. A little black paint and since its behind the neck pickup you cant even see it unless your really looking.

 

[baron55]

My point is that the lack of a separate fretboard on an all maple neck is being described as a cost cutting measure, when there is no significant reason for having a separate fingerboard on an all maple neck.

Steve

Sure there is if you want a ebony or rosewood board

I clearly was talking about an all maple neck, which I clearly indicated meant maple neck and fingerboard in one, so this has nothing to do with my point. Which I bet you already know, so I'm not sure why you bothered with this...

Steve

Same reason anyone bothers to post in the forums

 

[Shawn Lutz]

My point is that the lack of a separate fretboard on an all maple neck is being described as a cost cutting measure, when there is no significant reason for having a separate fingerboard on an all maple neck.

Steve

Sure there is if you want a ebony or rosewood board

I clearly was talking about an all maple neck, which I clearly indicated meant maple neck and fingerboard in one, so this has nothing to do with my point. Which I bet you already know, so I'm not sure why you bothered with this...

Steve

Not sure of the cost factor but perhaps it is "easier" to have one size fits all standard neck. If they are all the same they can slap an rosewood board, ebony board or maple. I never understood a maple neck with a super glued maple fretboard myself. Here you have one nice hunk of maple that you reduce to lam a little hunk of maple over that. All of my all maple neck a quartersawn with maple FB over it.

 

[Code001]

Not sure of the cost factor but perhaps it is "easier" to have one size fits all standard neck. If they are all the same they can slap an rosewood board, ebony board or maple. I never understood a maple neck with a super glued maple fretboard myself. Here you have one nice hunk of maple that you reduce to lam a little hunk of maple over that. All of my all maple neck a quartersawn with maple FB over it.

Some truss rods need to be top loaded, hence the maple fretboard.

 

[Anonymous]

My point is that the lack of a separate fretboard on an all maple neck is being described as a cost cutting measure, when there is no significant reason for having a separate fingerboard on an all maple neck.

Steve

Sure there is if you want a ebony or rosewood board

I clearly was talking about an all maple neck, which I clearly indicated meant maple neck and fingerboard in one, so this has nothing to do with my point. Which I bet you already know, so I'm not sure why you bothered with this...

Steve

Same reason anyone bothers to post in the forums

Two in a row! You're good, man!

Steve

 

[lolzgreg]

Not sure of the cost factor but perhaps it is "easier" to have one size fits all standard neck. If they are all the same they can slap an rosewood board, ebony board or maple. I never understood a maple neck with a super glued maple fretboard myself. Here you have one nice hunk of maple that you reduce to lam a little hunk of maple over that. All of my all maple neck a quartersawn with maple FB over it.

Some truss rods need to be top loaded, hence the maple fretboard.

Wood doesn't end up perfectly straight either, not to mention the fact that it is porous and "moves." Having a separate fretboard adds to the stability of the neck because the two piece of wood are slightly different

 

[paulyc]

The WHOLE IDEA of Charvel being ANYTHING but Made In USA is bogus...it defeats the whole fucking purpose.

 

[rupe]

The WHOLE IDEA of Charvel being ANYTHING but Made In USA is bogus...it defeats the whole fucking purpose.

The whole idea behind FMIC purchasing Charvel was to turn a profit on their investment, so I would say the idea of low cost foreign manufacturing is precisely in alignment with the purpose.

It certainly adds to the cheapening of an iconic brand though for those who are fans of those instruments and what they once stood for (although those guitars are still available to a degree as well).

 

[baron55]

On another note, PRS is making a line here in the US very close to the same price point

 

[Chubtone]

The WHOLE IDEA of Charvel being ANYTHING but Made In USA is bogus...it defeats the whole fucking purpose.

I agree completely. I hope Gibson and Fender never go down that road.

 

[luxxtone]

You guys can still get USA made, built to your specs guitars……you just have to be willing to pay for it. Charvels were very expensive back in the 80's, and they are still expensive now. So that much hasn't changed. So if you can pay between $2500 - $4500 for your custom Charvel, you can still have it built custom for you just like back in the day. But for more budget minded guys, you can get a bitchin' non-USA Charvel for like $700 - $900. That's what this line is for! Not getting what all the fuss is about having a lower tier Mexico made for a lower price…..just gives everyone more choices to fit within their budget. Shit, you can still get Charvel himself to build you a guitar if you want, it will just say Wayne on the headstock instead.

 

[paulyc]

I don't mind paying for it...it's the WAIT TIME that kills it for me. I just don't get why they can't come out with solid color guitars with a couple of options (like how many pick ups for example) that are MADE IN USA and AVAILABLE with no wait...that's all. I don't NEED graphics or custom color options, just a nice solid USA made line of Charvels. Period.

 

[projectx102]

Not sure why people shit on MIM all the time. I've played and felt some MIM that were bitchin. I have no problem with Mexican geets. Take it over chinese.

Personally, I have issues with a guitar going from USA production to made in japan to mexican production in a few years but the price stays pretty close to the same. That's why *I* shit on MIM - it just seems like Fender is trying to see how low they can go production cost wise and still sell them.

What's next, made in China or Vietnam? On the plus side, my USA Charvel promods have gone up in value. And yeah, I'm one of those snobs that prefers a USA guitar over a Japanese one. Call it myopic pride in my country or whatever, when offered a guitar for the same amount, I'm going to pick USA over Japan and Mexico each time.

Agreed.

 

[BYTOR]

You guys can still get USA made, built to your specs guitars……you just have to be willing to pay for it. Charvels were very expensive back in the 80's, and they are still expensive now. So that much hasn't changed. So if you can pay between $2500 - $4500 for your custom Charvel, you can still have it built custom for you just like back in the day. But for more budget minded guys, you can get a bitchin' non-USA Charvel for like $700 - $900. That's what this line is for! Not getting what all the fuss is about having a lower tier Mexico made for a lower price…..just gives everyone more choices to fit within their budget. Shit, you can still get Charvel himself to build you a guitar if you want, it will just say Wayne on the headstock instead.

I would never pay that much for a Charvel custom or wait anywhere near that long.

I own 3 perfect condition Charvel custom shops that I've gotten on eBay for between $1400 & $1650

You see them on there all the time. I like letting other people pay thru the nose & wait crazy amounts of time to get theirs. I'll keep getting mine from eBay & the GC used site....