NCGD!!

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harddriver

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Here's my new Charvel Pro Mod San Dimas guitar day. Well... since music items really aren't selling locally around me and I don't wish to get screwed by PP or Ebay who offer 90 warranties on used gear I've turned to trading items with fellow musicians. I have played the EVH stripes guitars but I didn't care for the Basswood for my own personal reasons, I ended up not liking my EBMM axis because of the basswood (but the maple cap does help) I got rid of as well so the alder body of this San Dimas interested me greatly. Fast Forward all my music playing life I've never owned a Charvel, I'm more of a vintage Kramer guy that are my favorites with Poplar bodies and big chunky 12" radius C and U shaped necks, but I digress. This 7 month old San Dimas popped up on CL where I have some items up for sale, contacted the seller and we made a trade. It was still basically new, he just wasn't a Floyd rose kinda guy. Got it home tweaked it some so here is my review...

I agree with Scottosan the alder bodies on these really resonate nicely and is acoutically loud(which I love) and has some nice weight to it and looks like a two piece body, the neck is a thin D shape which I don't really care for but it is playable and the rolled fret and neck edges feel very nice very much on par with EBMM feel and the frets look and feel like my 6100 jumbos on my re-fretted Kramers. The neck's satin rubbed urethane finish feels clean and fast similar to my Axis. The Korean Floyd feels a little cheap but again not horrible, the guitar is intonated great and stays in tune perfect. Maybe it's the thinness of the two piece neck or the graphite truss rod it doesn't feel say like a EB axis kind of quality, but it's also not in that price range. Since I've never played a USA made Charvel I can't compare, it doesn't have that substantial solid kind of feel my old 80's Kramers have or my Warmoth/Musikraft builds but it may be the neck profile giving me that feel.

If I ordered it for full price of $ 850.00 I would be a little disappointed but I expect alot...I feel this is more a $600 to 700 guitar, I guess with todays prices it might be priced right. I almost couldn't part with $1200 in 2001 when I got my EBMM axis years ago which I loved for a long time but it never unseated my number one Kramer Pacer. If you like thin D shaped necks you'll probably love it, I'm not sure if the neck profile is close to an early 80's Charvel I always thought they were somewhat thicker. We all know guitars can be a crapshoot if you don't play them first, but my experience seems to be inline with Scottosan's concerning the San Dimas models. All in all I like the guitar so far we'll see how it settles in with time.
 
I love a white body with maple neck, just something classic about it. Congrats.
 
I see these already in the used market 500 to 600. For that pricepoint I think it is a fantastic guitar. Had I not traded for this one the $550 price is reasonable for the quality level.
 
I have one of these coming Friday, paid retail but cut a deal (right at 700 tax and all). I’m okay with thin necks in some cases but after playing my tele almost exclusively for the past 2-3 years, it might be tough going back to a thin shredde guitar. I went hard tail though. Thanks for the review!
 
Actually when you think about you can't build one much cheaper and then you have to put it together, paint it, then set it up and you will have 600 - 800 in a build easy if you use quality parts. I mean it's got good Seymour Duncan pickups, the electronics seem fine, the finish is flawless, the build quality is right up there I have no complaints on how it plays or how it sounds. I'm just set in my ways about the neck profile but it's a non-issue really. I love the fact they used Alder instead of the cheap go to Basswood. I know some basswood can be alright but alot of my experiences basswood was be muddy or dead with no resonance with the exception of my EBMM Axis that has the maple cap.

I have played the EVH striped series and it was alright. I wouldn't say the quality was above this charvel, the neck profile was more of a C shape which I liked and I guess you are paying a premium for the EVH paint schemes...fair enough. Without a maple cap eventually the Floyd post holes will fatigue and egg out because straight basswood is so soft it might take 10-20 years but you can count on it.

I like a resonant body and this Alder delivers... I think you will like your Charvel when it comes in if it anything like this one.
 
I recently got a newer MIM Charvel SoCal in the metallic black and it’s an awesome guitar. I’ve had several Charvels in the past (MIJ, early MIM, also USA custom shop) and this one is my favourite. The custom shop was definitely more substantial feeling but there was something in the tone I didn’t really like. I also didn’t like the classic position of the volume knob and much prefer the 2016+ versions where the knob is moved down a bit out of the way.

Some drawbacks... the floyd nut seems kind of small with sharp ends on it. When I slam down on a chord on the first fret I feel like I’m stabbing my hand. The Floyd Rose bridge feels light and cheap, low e string as a result feels a little plinky as it rings a bit. I replaced the stock SD Distortion set for a JB/Jazz combo that works much better for this guitar.

The body and neck feel nice, so with a little work, you can make it a great guitar.
 
I always change the saddles out on the Korean Floyd 1000's with the genuine German saddles,for me makes them so much better..I too like the White with Maple neck,very nice Charvel..I had a Charvel MIM Dinky 6 months ago in Chlorine Burst,and overall I liked the guitar,but the un-finished neck on back just didn't work for me,but like a dumbass I sold it without lightly sanding it down,like I always do,I am curious if your Charvel here has that unfinished feel on the back of the neck ? I would like to try these out if not,and I too would buy it white w/maple neck,Floyd..
 
I think those things are a steal, great deals right now on Sweetwater clearance too. Congrats on the new fiddle.
 
riffermadness":1crivmrw said:
I always change the saddles out on the Korean Floyd 1000's with the genuine German saddles,for me makes them so much better..I too like the White with Maple neck,very nice Charvel..I had a Charvel MIM Dinky 6 months ago in Chlorine Burst,and overall I liked the guitar,but the un-finished neck on back just didn't work for me,but like a dumbass I sold it without lightly sanding it down,like I always do,I am curious if your Charvel here has that unfinished feel on the back of the neck ? I would like to try these out if not,and I too would buy it white w/maple neck,Floyd..
Click to expand...

I like unfinished necks/gunstock oil finished like what EBMM uses on their axis. The rubbed urethane feels great, I don't feel any difference really between it and my oil finished necks and the neck finish/feel I am very particular about for me to like a guitar. Short answer is yes, it has that unfinished fast feel to it. I have been enjoying playing it and it definitely holds it own playing and tonewise own against my old Kramers and Musikraft/Warmoth builds.

This is one guitar that I have been pleasantly surprised by...and that doesn't happen too often. :thumbsup:
 
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