Question about feel between 2 same model guitars......

[Racerxrated]

I've been through probably 30 Charvel USAs, with 3 Custom Shops in the mix. All were great players, good tone...some had great tone. All had that great Charvel neck and play well. 2 in particular though, were phenomenal.....
I had a SD1 that just about played itself. It was candy blue, and I got it from GC and should have kept it but it had a good chunk out of the back and I thought it was too much money for the flaw. So I returned it. Regretted it, after how good it played....
3 yrs later I struck gold again and nabbed a USA SoCal in Plum that plays as good as that candy blue I had. Never will it leave...makes me feel like I'm able to play the same stuff note for note that I used to. Lol. So, I was able to find an almost NOS Ferrari Red USA SoCal for a great price and it landed today, I set her up exactly like my Plum in every way. Same action, level Floyd, strings, everything Identical.
But it feels kinda stiff compared to the Plum...both guitars are 09 USA SoCals one batch apart.

Just the way it is...but why? If everything is set up the EXACT same, strings, action etc AND it's the same model how can they feel that different? What magic does the Plum have that the Red is lacking?

BTW the Plum is soo good the Custom Shops were sold pretty quickly.....

 

[ChurchHill]

My first thought is the tremolo springs, guessing they're not hardtails. Maybe the new springs are more or less stiff than the old ones. I'm assuming that you're using the same brand, type, and gauge of strings, as well as the same setup. Could also be just manufacturing tolerances in the strings or in the guitar itself (not sure, but +/-5% is fairly standard in some industries, varies by company and their QC policies). Could be a different angle over the nut, too. Without seeing it, it's hard to tell. These are just some of the first things I thought of.

 

[K-Roll]

Does it have a regular nut (so no FR locks or such)?

Cause in my experience the nut makes a world of difference.
I bought a PRS SE SVN, the nut was not carved enough and it played stiff and somehow the sound was always sharper than I'd like it to be. And I hated the way it played under my hands.

Invested $20 where a tech had to file down 6 out of 7 string shafts.
It's a totally different guitar now, plays like butter, responds to every nuance, the sharp attack is gone to a point where everything sounds a lot nicer and even.

 

[paulyc]

It’s a mass produced item, bound to be differences when you consider how many variables there are on a guitar. Tolerance stack up. I’ve had that experience with guitars of all makes and types. The BEST Les Pauls I ever played were 2 factory seconds one late 70s Deluxe that was beat to shit and an early 80s Custom. Both had “it” and I went home to sleep on them, next day both gone. Someone else recognized it too, and was smarter than I was. I played a ‘58 Gibson Byrdland that was awesome, blew away a 60s model and a 70’s model. Same guitars in the same store set up by the same old guy. Lastly, I played a 60s Strat at a GC once, tagged at $15,000, stupid price but man, what a player. Literally the perfect strat. .

 

[Racerxrated]

Thanks guys. It's an 09 Charvel SoCal so it's the strat version with the pickguard, and Floyd. I think everyone here has gone through some LPs and realized the HUGE differences between them, I think moreso than any other brand/style. Maybe I'll try the trem spring switch and see if that does it.
Kinda interesting though, necks feel exactly the same, same exact strings and action, and both Floyds are level with the body. This is probably one age old question that there is really no answer to.
Some guitars have it, and some almost have it...lol

 

[rottingcorpse]

Some guitars have it, and some almost have it...lol

This is your answer.

Its the 10/80/10 thing. Play 100 identical les pauls as they come down the assembly line. 10 will rule,80 will be good,and 10 will be "meh".

And feel is purely subjective. But thats why rock stars that get tons of signature guitars from a manufacturer will always have a favorite amongst the hoard. And like your favorite now,it will be the one that doesnt argue with them. It just lets them be loose and comfortable.

 

[PRS]

I had 4 San Dimas charvels, the white SD just smoked every other charvel I've had.

 

[lespaul6]

When I have two identical guitars that feel different I look at these two areas:

- slot shape of the nut and/or saddles that 'prevents' gliding of the string (eg less smooth, less round, with sharp break point in slot's bottom)
- steeper break angle at nut and/or saddles (eg. neck angle with LPs that is too high, causes bridge that is too high and then this)

 

[Racerxrated]

When I have two identical guitars that feel different I look at these two areas:

- slot shape of the nut and/or saddles that 'prevents' gliding of the string (eg less smooth, less round, with sharp break point in slot's bottom)
- steeper break angle at nut and/or saddles (eg. neck angle with LPs that is too high, causes bridge that is too high and then this)

It's got a Floyd, I'm gonna sit both the Plum and Red next to one another and try to match up the bridge exactly. Saddles and all. It can't be pixie dust man, there's GOT to be an explanation...


I'm just setting myself up for a letdown..the Red plays well but this Plum is the cat's ass...

 

[lespaul6]

When I have two identical guitars that feel different I look at these two areas:

- slot shape of the nut and/or saddles that 'prevents' gliding of the string (eg less smooth, less round, with sharp break point in slot's bottom)
- steeper break angle at nut and/or saddles (eg. neck angle with LPs that is too high, causes bridge that is too high and then this)

It's got a Floyd, I'm gonna sit both the Plum and Red next to one another and try to match up the bridge exactly. Saddles and all. It can't be pixie dust man, there's GOT to be an explanation...


I'm just setting myself up for a letdown..the Red plays well but this Plum is the cat's ass...

if you want to get really crazy... swap necks and see if the feel follows the necks!

 

[ewill52]

It's made from a medium that is inconsistent by nature. 2 body blanks of identical dimensions made from 2 different trees of the exact same species can have weight and density variances.

Some of 'em got the mojo.....some don't.

 

[Racerxrated]

When I have two identical guitars that feel different I look at these two areas:

- slot shape of the nut and/or saddles that 'prevents' gliding of the string (eg less smooth, less round, with sharp break point in slot's bottom)
- steeper break angle at nut and/or saddles (eg. neck angle with LPs that is too high, causes bridge that is too high and then this)

It's got a Floyd, I'm gonna sit both the Plum and Red next to one another and try to match up the bridge exactly. Saddles and all. It can't be pixie dust man, there's GOT to be an explanation...


I'm just setting myself up for a letdown..the Red plays well but this Plum is the cat's ass...

if you want to get really crazy... swap necks and see if the feel follows the necks!

Man, I know what would happen...I'd try it, no change, then I'd put it back on the Plum and it would be WORSE!
I would then go out back and jump off that 3 ft cliff we have.....

 

[Racerxrated]

It's made from a medium that is inconsistent by nature. 2 body blanks of identical dimensions made from 2 different trees of the exact same species can have weight and density variances.

Some of 'em got the mojo.....some don't.

Yeah, I think I'm barking up that invisible tree like my dog....

 

[psychodave]

It’s funny hearing this as ALL of the people who own late 50’s Les Paul’s and Strats will tell you they are all good.

 

[FourT6and2]

I had three Les Paul Custom Silverbursts. '79 and two '84s. They all played differently. I currently have three Mayones Duvells. One Koa Limited, and two Master Builder Buckeye Burls. Same thing. They all play slightly differently. Just the way it is.

 

[CrazyNutz]

No two pieces of wood the same. I've had this happen to me, got rid of one guitar because it needed a re-fret, bought the same model new. Forever kicking my ass now because the old one played, and sounded way better than the new.

 

[Racerxrated]

It’s funny hearing this as ALL of the people who own late 50’s Les Paul’s and Strats will tell you they are all good.

Like every old Marshall is great...I love Marshalls, but some are just good, not great......every Charvel USA has been good but a few have been GREAT. Feel wise that is. Some have been tone dogs though. Although, every SoCal seems to be very resonant. SD1s are hit/miss. Custom Shops are always resonant in my experience.

 

[Racerxrated]

I had three Les Paul Custom Silverbursts. '79 and two '84s. They all played differently. I currently have three Mayones Duvells. One Koa Limited, and two Master Builder Buckeye Burls. Same thing. They all play slightly differently. Just the way it is.

Yeah, I still wonder though if I can get everything to match exactly can I get them close? I spent some time last night measuring everything, and now gonna break the new strings in for a few weeks and see if I can close the gap.

 

[Racerxrated]

No two pieces of wood the same. I've had this happen to me, got rid of one guitar because it needed a re-fret, bought the same model new. Forever kicking my ass now because the old one played, and sounded way better than the new.

That candy blue SD1 that I returned to GC was the one that haunts me...the candy plum plays as nice so I have a great one but life would be perfect if I could score that one again.....honorable mention to a black 2 hum 86 Jackson with a Kahler that I sold to a RTer...that one was a smooth player as well.

 

[FourT6and2]

I had three Les Paul Custom Silverbursts. '79 and two '84s. They all played differently. I currently have three Mayones Duvells. One Koa Limited, and two Master Builder Buckeye Burls. Same thing. They all play slightly differently. Just the way it is.

Yeah, I still wonder though if I can get everything to match exactly can I get them close? I spent some time last night measuring everything, and now gonna break the new strings in for a few weeks and see if I can close the gap.

I don't know to be honest. I figure let each guitar speak for itself. I don't need three of the same thing