Opinion: Charvel sucks now

[Racerxrated]

I'm glad the quality has improved a ton since they moved production to Mexico...those first MexiCharvels were God Awful. Sorry.

 

[napalmdeath]

I'm not saying their guitars are not good, but they're just all over the place with their stylings on the pro mod models now. Can't find just a simple guitar with a variety of colors, black p'ups, etc... They force styles and combinations of components on you now. Want a black guitar with black p'ups? Sorry, we are only offer a black guitar with gold harware and white p'ups. I don't like a single thing they've introduced this year. The direction they've taken is for the worse IMO.

I suppose you can buy a Jackson - Fender gets the sale, either way. I'm sure, being under the Fender umbrella, they call the shots.

 

[milkchickenbomb]

So Charvel sucks because you don't like the color of certain pickups or hardware combinations? LOL

I’m had the same reaction. Plenty of reasons to say a guitar maker sucks, but color combinations has to be at the very bottom of the list.

So if that’s the only real gripe, then Charvel is doing everything right. Everything that matters, that is.

 

[mooncobra]

one of my greatest guitar regrets, selling my favorite charvel custom shop, alder body, maple neck, rosewood board, Olympic white, super v bridge pup, Floyd rose, just an awesome playing and sounding guitar. man, I miss that guitar!! that guitar most definitely did not suck.

 

[Crunchity]

one of my greatest guitar regrets, selling my favorite charvel custom shop, alder body, maple neck, rosewood board, Olympic white, super v bridge pup, Floyd rose, just an awesome playing and sounding guitar. man, I miss that guitar!! that guitar most definitely did not suck.

Same here man. I had a custom shop san dimas and foolishly sold it at some point....to this day, no neck (the back side) has come close to feeling as smooth and comfy.

 

[Whowantsamustache]

Charvels use to be good?

 

[Crunchtime]

What I'd love to see is a run of HSS SoCals in the classic Fender colors like Shell Pink, Sonic Blue, Surf Green etc.

 

[romanianreaper]

one of my greatest guitar regrets, selling my favorite charvel custom shop, alder body, maple neck, rosewood board, Olympic white, super v bridge pup, Floyd rose, just an awesome playing and sounding guitar. man, I miss that guitar!! that guitar most definitely did not suck.

I had a Slime Green San Dimas back when they were made in the US and now those same guitars are being made in Mexico for more than I got mine. I think mine was like $799 from Chubtone. I kick myself for selling that. Played great, stayed in tune, etc.

 

[technomancer]

Anyone know where the satchel model is made? For $1399 I’d hope not mexico

They are made in mexico, USA you'd be looking at a $3k guitar... pups alone are $300, what do you expect? They sell it at the pro mod price? Satin paint job is also a nightmare from what Ive been reading and is labor intensive to get it right as it can't be buffed, has to be laid down right from the start

Who told you that, someone in marketing from a manufacturer trying to upsell satin as a premium feature? Satin is substantially easier and less labor intensive than a good gloss finish because it doesn't need buffed out to a smooth shine. You spray it on and that's it.

 

[stratjacket]

What I'd love to see is a run of HSS SoCals in the classic Fender colors like Shell Pink, Sonic Blue, Surf Green etc.

And with a fixed bridge I'd be all over that in a heartbeat.

 

[shred-o-holic]

I don't agree. I like what they are doing. The other stuff has been done to death. Welcome to 2018.

 

[Chris O]

Charvels use to be good?

They still are.

 

[Chris O]

Quit yer phucin cryin...

Hey, you're right. It's just my opinion.

I wish lots of companies would make things just like I want them, but they don't, so I go as close to getting what I like and mod from there. It's the nature of the beast. That said, for $899, I can afford a few changes, rather than paying $3K to (hopefully) get exactly what I want. Not a big deal, especially to the extent that an entire brand "sucks now". Pretty short-sighted, IMHO...

 

[romanianreaper]

Quit yer phucin cryin...

Hey, you're right. It's just my opinion.

I wish lots of companies would make things just like I want them, but they don't, so I go as close to getting what I like and mod from there. It's the nature of the beast. That said, for $899, I can afford a few changes, rather than paying $3K to (hopefully) get exactly what I want. Not a big deal, especially to the extent that an entire brand "sucks now". Pretty short-sighted, IMHO...

I know you and I both owned that same DeMartini USA (still regret getting rid of it!!!). The Mexican San Dimas guitars won't replace a USA made but from what I've read they seem to be a great buy and worth the money. I've always loved a Charvel neck. That alone is worth $899.

 

[Crunchtime]

What I'd love to see is a run of HSS SoCals in the classic Fender colors like Shell Pink, Sonic Blue, Surf Green etc.

And with a fixed bridge I'd be all over that in a heartbeat.

That's what I said. So, I made one but not HSS, only HS.

 

[SFW]

I personally love my 2017 San Dimas pro mod. For the money, I think they are the best thing going. Now if Ibanez would bring back the basswood RG470 with dot inlays... life would be good. I know I’m in the minority’s, but I love the recessed Floyds on the newer Charvels.

 

[PBGas]

I have 2 Charvel Govans, one 15 and 17. Absolutely amazing guitars! The neck on these things is worth the price of admission alone. Love everything about it. Looking at getting another Charvel. I have always wanted one since the early 80s but they were really not available up here for quite some time.

 

[romanianreaper]

I have 2 Charvel Govans, one 15 and 17. Absolutely amazing guitars! The neck on these things is worth the price of admission alone. Love everything about it. Looking at getting another Charvel. I have always wanted one since the early 80s but they were really not available up here for quite some time.

Yeah, most of us that salivate over Charvels were ones that wanted Charvels back in the 80s but couldn't even dream of owning one. My first guitar was an Aria-Pro II "The Cat", then an Ibanez Roadstar II, then Washburn, etc. finally moving my way into the Gibsons and Fenders. I was going thru a midlife crisis by the time I got my first Charvel. LOL!

 

[thiswaythatway]

Fractal Axe-2 used to be good. In the past 9 hours they've suddenly been littered all over the classifieds.

 

[romanianreaper]

Fractal Axe-2 used to be good. In the past 9 hours they've suddenly been littered all over the classifieds.

I'm keeping mine....at least until G.A.S. happens...