how're the new mexican promod Charvels?

[Bamboo]

Anyone know if the Mexican Charvels will be two or three piece bodies, or are they going butcher block with a veneer cap and back?

 

[luxxtone]

I'm sure they are 2 or 3 piece like the others were.

 

[Chubtone]

I was told that they had to shut down the USA Production line because it was needed to build more Fender USA instruments. They had way more orders than they projected in 2010 and at one point there was a 6 month backorder to get an American Standard Strat. That was unacceptable so that production line had to be swapped to Fender products.

I call bullshit.

Well then I guess I was wrong. I talk to the Fender DSM, sales reps, customer service and tech guys every week. I talk to guys who work in the custom shops every week, in the same facility as this production line was. I talk to the Charvel Product Manager regularly.

But I'm going to put their words out of my mind and just go with yours......

I CALL BS TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chubtone]

I call bullshit.

By the way Dan, I have been checking out that new Guitar Amp Board amp forum and seeing a lot of guys from RT and from HC. What in the heck do those guys have against you? You really ticked someone off there. It seems like half the reason of starting that forum was to mess with you. I missed the joke though?

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I have to admit not being able to adjust the truss rod without taking the neck off keeps me away. Jealous of southwest peeps who don't have to worry about it.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

+ 1 agreed. I hated that about the truss rod adjustment. What is wrong with the old fashioned way? At the very least make it accessible.

 

[rupe]

I was told that they had to shut down the USA Production line because it was needed to build more Fender USA instruments. They had way more orders than they projected in 2010 and at one point there was a 6 month backorder to get an American Standard Strat. That was unacceptable so that production line had to be swapped to Fender products.

I call bullshit.

Well then I guess I was wrong. I talk to the Fender DSM, sales reps, customer service and tech guys every week. I talk to guys who work in the custom shops every week, in the same facility as this production line was. I talk to the Charvel Product Manager regularly.

But I'm going to put their words out of my mind and just go with yours......

I CALL BS TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[IceMan]

I so happens, I JUST got a San Dimas (see-thru red burst) on Monday of this week and thought I'd weigh in. First off, for a sub-$1,000 guitar I'm impressed. The tone is VERY good and the SD pickups....well, they speak for themselves. There is a reason the combo of a JB/'59 is as popular as it is and I am very pleased with the output/tone. The neck/fretwork is AWESOME with zero rough edges to speak of and the bare sanded neck feels silky as my wife's panties. The Floyd on this guitar is VERY good as well as I have yet to need to retune following the initial setup I did after I got it - which really only consisted of adjusting bridge height and trem-spring tension. That was really all that was needed to get it to where I like the action. I've been playing the hell out of it this week and have been really having a lot of fun.

A few cons: There is a slight variation, or "hump" in the volume pot tension - starts off smooth, gets a little more taut - then gets smooth again...but does not impact the tone/volume swell. I could swap out the pot, but not really a big deal for me. If one does a lot of pinky-swells with the volume it might be an issue if this is true for all their pots.
The truss rod situation (need to remove neck to adjust) is admittedly not ideal, but I have to say that I'm kind of surprised at the reaction by some. I guess I'm kinda shocked that some have to adjust their necks as much as they do. I've played guitar for over 25yrs and live in Minnesota and we're kind of known for some pretty impressive swings in the weather. And I have to say that I RARELY ever need to adjust the truss rods on ANY of my guitars after I have them setup to my liking, save the OCCASIONAL tweak - and I'm talking about anything from $3,000 Les Pauls to sub-$500 ESP LTD's. But, in my opinion, many players have their action set so freak'n low that any tiny change in temp or humidity causes them to fret out. I like my action low as well, but not so low that I can't lightly strum without all the strings buzzing. ADVICE: Move your action up a SMIDGE! You'll benefit from a slight boost in tone (sound is fatter) and your neck can shift a tiny bit with the weather without you really noticing.

I admittedly rolled the dice a little on this Mexi-Pro Charvel - but again, for the money, it's not a disappointment. If it's not your thing, it's not your thing. But if you don't have $$$$$$$ to spend on USA Customs, etc. - it's a great playing, great sounding axe for not a lot of change................

 

[MississippiMetal]

I played my Charvel (which I got from Curt) on tour for over a year across some of the hottest and most humid areas of the country, as well as some of the coldest parts of Germany and Switzerland. I never once had to adjust the truss rod on it. Now that being said, I did a week in Jamaica last year with some 30 musicians and EVERYBODY had neck problems. I was the only guy with the tools to adjust truss rods, so guess what I spent half my day doing?

 

[romanianreaper]

I'm so glad I have my Warren DeMartini USA Charvel but wish I would have kept my Slime Green Charvel San Dimas I got a few years ago.

I don't understand why once I start to like a certain guitar (EVH Wolfgang Special, Charvel San Dimas), they move operations from Japan to Mexico.

Just a quick heads up as to why production moved, Fender/Charvel didn't choose to move production from Japan to Mexico. The Japanese factory decided to stop making guitars completely since it wasn't as profitable as their other business, textiles. Yes, that's right, textiles were being made at the same factory……and it's more profitable than making guitars! Man, maybe I should start sewing dresses and give up guitars!

It actually threw a huge monkey wrench into guitar production for Charvel and many other companies that were using this factory for production. They were all taken by surprise by it and had to find another source of production. They already have the Mexico plant, so that's where it switched to. So it wasn't a pre-planned decision or a cost cutting measure.

Thanks for the info! I get really irritated with the way things have changed and maybe that is just a sign that I'm getting old. I remember being in high school and seeing guitar magazines showing Warren DeMartini and Jake E. Lee with their Charvels. I would have thought landing on the moon was more possible for me than owning a Charvel back then. The Charvels have gone thru ups and downs but I had hope a few years ago when the U.S. ones were being made and were an awesome deal for around $1,000. Then I heard they were going to Japan, now Mexico. Just sucks a good thing has to end.

 

[Chubtone]

Thanks for the info! I get really irritated with the way things have changed and maybe that is just a sign that I'm getting old. I remember being in high school and seeing guitar magazines showing Warren DeMartini and Jake E. Lee with their Charvels. I would have thought landing on the moon was more possible for me than owning a Charvel back then. The Charvels have gone thru ups and downs but I had hope a few years ago when the U.S. ones were being made and were an awesome deal for around $1,000. Then I heard they were going to Japan, now Mexico. Just sucks a good thing has to end.

Guitars just like Jake and Warren played are still available through the USA Custom Shop and would be on par with what Jake and Warren were playing quality wise back in the day. They cost a little over twice as much as they did back then, but a Les Paul costs 4 times as much.

 

[GRANKOR]

I so happens, I JUST got a San Dimas (see-thru red burst) on Monday of this week and thought I'd weigh in. First off, for a sub-$1,000 guitar I'm impressed. The tone is VERY good and the SD pickups....well, they speak for themselves. There is a reason the combo of a JB/'59 is as popular as it is and I am very pleased with the output/tone. The neck/fretwork is AWESOME with zero rough edges to speak of and the bare sanded neck feels silky as my wife's panties. The Floyd on this guitar is VERY good as well as I have yet to need to retune following the initial setup I did after I got it - which really only consisted of adjusting bridge height and trem-spring tension. That was really all that was needed to get it to where I like the action. I've been playing the hell out of it this week and have been really having a lot of fun.

A few cons: There is a slight variation, or "hump" in the volume pot tension - starts off smooth, gets a little more taut - then gets smooth again...but does not impact the tone/volume swell. I could swap out the pot, but not really a big deal for me. If one does a lot of pinky-swells with the volume it might be an issue if this is true for all their pots.
The truss rod situation (need to remove neck to adjust) is admittedly not ideal, but I have to say that I'm kind of surprised at the reaction by some. I guess I'm kinda shocked that some have to adjust their necks as much as they do. I've played guitar for over 25yrs and live in Minnesota and we're kind of known for some pretty impressive swings in the weather. And I have to say that I RARELY ever need to adjust the truss rods on ANY of my guitars after I have them setup to my liking, save the OCCASIONAL tweak - and I'm talking about anything from $3,000 Les Pauls to sub-$500 ESP LTD's. But, in my opinion, many players have their action set so freak'n low that any tiny change in temp or humidity causes them to fret out. I like my action low as well, but not so low that I can't lightly strum without all the strings buzzing. ADVICE: Move your action up a SMIDGE! You'll benefit from a slight boost in tone (sound is fatter) and your neck can shift a tiny bit with the weather without you really noticing.

I admittedly rolled the dice a little on this Mexi-Pro Charvel - but again, for the money, it's not a disappointment. If it's not your thing, it's not your thing. But if you don't have $$$$$$$ to spend on USA Customs, etc. - it's a great playing, great sounding axe for not a lot of change................

thanks for the review! I'm going to have a look around the stores tomorrow to find out if there's any about yet

 

[charveldan]

I call bullshit.

By the way Dan, I have been checking out that new Guitar Amp Board amp forum and seeing a lot of guys from RT and from HC. What in the heck do those guys have against you? You really ticked someone off there. It seems like half the reason of starting that forum was to mess with you. I missed the joke though?

I have no idea, there are alot of children masking as adults clinging to each other in a co-dependant manner with the incesant need to be right 57 seconds of every minute of every hour of the day.

I have no idea either but i have "wriiten" some epic threads @ HC/GAB ect ...

My guess is {?}

It's usually the same 6 or 8 butt-buddies full of bullshit and short on substance stirring the pot over there.

It wont be long til "internet forum disorder" will be a recognized Psychiatric affiction.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

HC still around? God I hated that place after a short while and glad the good guys defected here

 

[83stratman]

I haven't played a Mex Charvel yet, but I have played a couple Mex EVH and a Mex Jackson. If the EVH and Jackson are any indication, then these Mex Charvels will be just as nice as the Japan ones IMO. I do prefer the USA over the Japan necks. The Mex EVH neck felt very similar to my USA production Charvel.

 

[IceMan]

I so happens, I JUST got a San Dimas (see-thru red burst) on Monday of this week and thought I'd weigh in. First off, for a sub-$1,000 guitar I'm impressed. The tone is VERY good and the SD pickups....well, they speak for themselves. There is a reason the combo of a JB/'59 is as popular as it is and I am very pleased with the output/tone. The neck/fretwork is AWESOME with zero rough edges to speak of and the bare sanded neck feels silky as my wife's panties. The Floyd on this guitar is VERY good as well as I have yet to need to retune following the initial setup I did after I got it - which really only consisted of adjusting bridge height and trem-spring tension. That was really all that was needed to get it to where I like the action. I've been playing the hell out of it this week and have been really having a lot of fun.

A few cons: There is a slight variation, or "hump" in the volume pot tension - starts off smooth, gets a little more taut - then gets smooth again...but does not impact the tone/volume swell. I could swap out the pot, but not really a big deal for me. If one does a lot of pinky-swells with the volume it might be an issue if this is true for all their pots.
The truss rod situation (need to remove neck to adjust) is admittedly not ideal, but I have to say that I'm kind of surprised at the reaction by some. I guess I'm kinda shocked that some have to adjust their necks as much as they do. I've played guitar for over 25yrs and live in Minnesota and we're kind of known for some pretty impressive swings in the weather. And I have to say that I RARELY ever need to adjust the truss rods on ANY of my guitars after I have them setup to my liking, save the OCCASIONAL tweak - and I'm talking about anything from $3,000 Les Pauls to sub-$500 ESP LTD's. But, in my opinion, many players have their action set so freak'n low that any tiny change in temp or humidity causes them to fret out. I like my action low as well, but not so low that I can't lightly strum without all the strings buzzing. ADVICE: Move your action up a SMIDGE! You'll benefit from a slight boost in tone (sound is fatter) and your neck can shift a tiny bit with the weather without you really noticing.

I admittedly rolled the dice a little on this Mexi-Pro Charvel - but again, for the money, it's not a disappointment. If it's not your thing, it's not your thing. But if you don't have $$$$$$$ to spend on USA Customs, etc. - it's a great playing, great sounding axe for not a lot of change................

thanks for the review! I'm going to have a look around the stores tomorrow to find out if there's any about yet

No problem! Good luck in your quest....hope you find one that is to your liking.

 

[IceMan]

I haven't played a Mex Charvel yet, but I have played a couple Mex EVH and a Mex Jackson. If the EVH and Jackson are any indication, then these Mex Charvels will be just as nice as the Japan ones IMO. I do prefer the USA over the Japan necks. The Mex EVH neck felt very similar to my USA production Charvel.

The neck on this baby totally blew me away. I mean this thing is FLAWLESS. The frets are smooth and the edges are rolled off to perfection. I've pulled $2,500 Fender Select models off the wall at GC and they are not as nice as this neck. I don't know if I just got really lucky or what, but for me, that's worth the price of admission alone.

 

[charveldan]

Get a good Custom 80's San Dimas or MIJ Charvel and be done with it / thread.

Adjusting the TR on a 2013 guitar at the heel is retarded IMO.

 

[Racerxrated]

I so happens, I JUST got a San Dimas (see-thru red burst) on Monday of this week and thought I'd weigh in. First off, for a sub-$1,000 guitar I'm impressed. The tone is VERY good and the SD pickups....well, they speak for themselves. There is a reason the combo of a JB/'59 is as popular as it is and I am very pleased with the output/tone. The neck/fretwork is AWESOME with zero rough edges to speak of and the bare sanded neck feels silky as my wife's panties. The Floyd on this guitar is VERY good as well as I have yet to need to retune following the initial setup I did after I got it - which really only consisted of adjusting bridge height and trem-spring tension. That was really all that was needed to get it to where I like the action. I've been playing the hell out of it this week and have been really having a lot of fun.

A few cons: There is a slight variation, or "hump" in the volume pot tension - starts off smooth, gets a little more taut - then gets smooth again...but does not impact the tone/volume swell. I could swap out the pot, but not really a big deal for me. If one does a lot of pinky-swells with the volume it might be an issue if this is true for all their pots.
The truss rod situation (need to remove neck to adjust) is admittedly not ideal, but I have to say that I'm kind of surprised at the reaction by some. I guess I'm kinda shocked that some have to adjust their necks as much as they do. I've played guitar for over 25yrs and live in Minnesota and we're kind of known for some pretty impressive swings in the weather. And I have to say that I RARELY ever need to adjust the truss rods on ANY of my guitars after I have them setup to my liking, save the OCCASIONAL tweak - and I'm talking about anything from $3,000 Les Pauls to sub-$500 ESP LTD's. But, in my opinion, many players have their action set so freak'n low that any tiny change in temp or humidity causes them to fret out. I like my action low as well, but not so low that I can't lightly strum without all the strings buzzing. ADVICE: Move your action up a SMIDGE! You'll benefit from a slight boost in tone (sound is fatter) and your neck can shift a tiny bit with the weather without you really noticing.

I admittedly rolled the dice a little on this Mexi-Pro Charvel - but again, for the money, it's not a disappointment. If it's not your thing, it's not your thing. But if you don't have $$$$$$$ to spend on USA Customs, etc. - it's a great playing, great sounding axe for not a lot of change................

I'm with you..born and raised in Mn but live in Wi now..been gigging out since 86 and I've had my Hamer USA since 92..NEVER had to adjust anything on that or any guitar other than the action when I feel like it. And yes we have shit winters followed by summers of 98+ with all the humidity lol...damn I need to move..

 

[Motorpud]

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.......

I would never live somewhere that messed with my guitars wood so much that it required me to adjust the truss rod 6 times a year.