The "XSSIVE" collection (pic heavy)...

[XSSIVE]

thanks guys.

Juggernaut...the color, the no inlay and the no diamond inlay on the headstock really got me when i first saw it and i had to have it. as for price, rather not talk $ here.

guitarnate2000...yup, i remembered that you have the snake. what happened to the headstock? how'd the skin get unglued like that? if you were closer i'd fix it for you but in reality it should be real simple to glue back down on your own.

dfrattaroli...yeah it's a 3120 and it's my main amp. i love that thing, despite the low price that sucker really delivers! plus playing it through a real cab with some good guitars both untypical of the usual guitar center they're found in really makes it sound good.

-Mike

 

[Stramm8]

yup, Clone #011 is being rescued by Chris since that finish has seen better days...poor thing but it's in good hands now and will be great when it's done that's for sure!

-Mike[/quote]

My Bad I'm glad to hear that it's getting revived. My wife was making my daughter a guitar-shaped birthday cake and decided to use #11 as a model. That was all well and good until my 1-year old son got a hold of it It ended up with some dings on the top and what appeared to be a molar-sized bite mark in the tummy route he didnt have a whole lot of teeth though...The thing that pissed me off was that there were two other guitars that were completely beat to hell but she grabbed the only mint one, and most rare I might add. Post up some pics when she's all done

 

[Ayrton]

That is hilarious!

Actually the reason for the repaint has nothing to do with that, but an issue with the paint itself.

As soon as I can get this Charvel off my bench, we can move on to the others.

guitarnate2000, you can send the snakecaster to me of course.

 

[XSSIVE]

yeah it wasn't so much the dings it was a paint issue in that it seemed to never fully cure. i thought it was good when it left me since i tore the guitar down and buffed it out before it left and it was looking just about as perfect as a black guitar could but after seeing pics of it now it seems like it still had a problem where it would swirl and scratch way too easy. it was an oddball curing issue that i never had happen before...i don't paint my own guitars i should note, i outsource to other painters since i have no where that i can spray.

-Mike

 

[Deleted member 3860]

...

 

[XSSIVE]

well it's not that scary i just didn't want to take the thread in the direction of for sale and talking prices since it's not about that.

-Mike

 

[jhale667]

well it's not that scary i just didn't want to take the thread in the direction of for sale and talking prices since it's not about that.

-Mike

Just go ahead and tell him he can't have them, Mike.

Hey, but meant to ask - are the majority of those Charvel production bodies you've refinished, or are the "mutts" you mention parts from other manufacturers too (besides the aforementioned GMWs)? I'm on a big Musikraft and KnE kick lately, so I'm curious...


Also, what kind of blocks are you sporting in (at least) the two stickered ones, btw? And do you have a range of pickup selections, or are you one of those "this is my pickup, it goes in ALL my guitars" guys? I noticed one with EMGs, but do you have fave humbuckers/singles you use the majority of the time or do you try everything?

 

[XSSIVE]

they're actually all quite different and some are mutts, some refin' pro-mod charvels. this may get lengthy but i'm home sick with nothing better to do so i'll go through them all...

flame charvel...tuned to E...custom shop that i ordered a few years ago built and painted to my specs. alder body 1/4 sawn neck, dimarzio tone zone.

chartreuse sparkle...tuned to E and drop D...pro-mod charvel neck and neck plate, 2pc alder musikraft body, Suhr aldrich

gold sparkle...tuned to E and drop D...refin 7th batch fiesta red pro-mod charvel with german floyd, rerouted neck pocket to have floyd rest flat on the body. JB in the bridge (may be trying a zebra Custom 5 though)

2 tone relic burst...tuned to E and drop D...pro-mod charvel neck and neck plate, 2pc alder musikraft body, nitro finish by my boss Cris Mirabella, relic work by me. nickel covered Custom 5 bridge and Dimarzio stack (virtual solo i think...i actually forget since i had 4 different neck pickups in it looking for just the right one)

black relic Clone #014...tuned to E....heavy 2pc alder body (on purpose), 1/4 sawn maple neck (actually has a different neck now than in the pics), nitro finish by my boss Cris Mirabella and relic work and checking by him, screamin' demon beridge hum (different in pics) HS2 middle, HS3 neck and the tone knob is no load since i really don't like tone knobs, it's just sorta there for the look.

white charvel...tuned to E....pro-mod with hardware swapped to german floyd in black, gotoh tuners, neck pocket routed for dive only. JB bridge 59 neck

green charvel...tuned to E...pro-mod with hardware swapped to geman floyd, schaller tuners, neck pocket routed for dive only. 59 bridge 59 neck

magenta and gold...tuned to E and drop D...pro-mod neck and neck plate, musikraft body basswood with maple cap (went for the EBMM and Suhr tonal vibe), Suhr Aldrich hum.

purple charvel...tuned to Eb and Drop Db...pro-mod so-cal, hardware swapped to german floyd in chrome, cool purple and black tuners (no idea on brand), neck pocket routed for dive only EMG 81 and S.

GMW...tuned to Eb...actually a mutt, the neck is GMW but the body is a real light weight 2pc alder musikraft (i still have the GMW body, just wanted a change), color is actually more orange/tangerine in person. duncan custom 5

deep red charvel...tuned to Eb and drop Db...pro-mod neck and neck plate, musikraft body basswood with maple cap...again going for that EBMM tone and more so the EVH tone since i used a Tone Zone bridge and Air Norton neck hum.

copper 1 of a kind les paul custom..EMG 85 and EMG 85...tonepros hardware with lightweight tail

2004 Les Paul premium plus 7.4lbs...tonepros hardware with lightweight tail...Custom 5 and Pearly Gates


i think that covers them all.

my go to pickup is the Custom 5 but as you can see by the others i tend to go for A5 magnet hums since A2 are too saggy and ceramic a bit too harsh in most cases. for neck hums i dig the 59 but my favorite neck pickup is actually the cool rails which i currently don't have in a guitar right now (i had it in my #1 which is the 2 tone relic but wanted a bit more of a stratty sound from it hence the dimarzio stack)...i have a spare cool rails i may put in the chartreuse sparkle making it a hum/single but i'm not sure yet.

for brass blocks they're all from floyd upgrades and only on guitars without rear trem cavity covers. GMW, the two relics, chartreuse sparkle and magenta. i have this odd thing about loving them with no cavity cover but not liking them with cavity covers as much. i think it has to do with the way the cavity cover creates a sort of "tone chamber" for lack of a better word in back making the guitar resonate different and when combined with the brass block they get a bit woofy sounding but without it the blocks add a nice bottom and sustain. it could just be me and one of those typical crazy guitarist things but that's what i do, big blocks with no covers, covers and stock blocks.

-Mike

 

[jhale667]

Very cool breakdown dude, love the detail, thanks - and hope you feel better!

I too like to go coverless for my trems. And all of mine have FloydUpgrades blocks.

So, you're one of the (apparently few) guys that digs the C5 in SuperStrats, huh? I've heard they're so scooped that they're great for Les Pauls, but not much else, so was curious. Though a couple of Duncan forum bros have suggested I might want to try one in my Koa Strat instead of the CC (that it's not quite as "push over the cliff" as an A8) ... I actually just recently won a couple of A5s (and a Jazz neck pu) in a raffle a dude started over there, so probably will be trying it soon, no excuse not to now!

 

[XSSIVE]

i've heard a bunch of guys that have said (or wrote on forums) that they like the C5 in charvel style guitars. i guess since i boost my amps almost all the time with a screamer type pedal (more level than gain to shape the tone more so than to add more distortion to it) the mid push from that makes up for any lack of mids in the C5. the CC on the other hand i hate, i tried it in so many guitars of different woods and just never got along with it. too much honk and not enough low end for me. i can't say i gravitate towards more scooped pickups because i also really dig the aldrich and am cool with a good ol' JB too and those both have plenty of mids (the aldrich less of course).

-Mike

 

[jhale667]

i've heard a bunch of guys that have said (or wrote on forums) that they like the C5 in charvel style guitars. i guess since i boost my amps almost all the time with a screamer type pedal (more level than gain to shape the tone more so than to add more distortion to it) the mid push from that makes up for any lack of mids in the C5. the CC on the other hand i hate, i tried it in so many guitars of different woods and just never got along with it. too much honk and not enough low end for me. i can't say i gravitate towards more scooped pickups because i also really dig the aldrich and am cool with a good ol' JB too and those both have plenty of mids (the aldrich less of course).

-Mike

Interesting. Suppose I could dial some mids back in with the Boogie's EQ, but not sure I'd want to go that route. Think I still may try the C8. Decided I could live with the CC in my Koa Strat for the time being, and I have a regular Custom in the Ash one. Still up in the air on what's going in the latest build.

Wouldn't mind checking out an Aldrich pu though! Loooove that guy's tone. He has one of THE coolest-sounding modded Marshalls I've ever heard (in person) in my life!

I meant to say though, I LOVE what you did with the Purple So-Cal and the Sunburst one...didn't think I'd like S/H setups with pickguards, but yours are cool!

 

[Stramm8]

So you like the aldrich in an alder body? Also, I had no idea you had to re-route the neck pocket in the production model Charvel for dive only Is that because it's angled??

 

[XSSIVE]

i'd like to try the C8 too, may be interesting.

the aldrich is cool in alder but i like it better in the magenta charvel which is basswood with a maple cap. i do like it in the alder one too it's just a hair brighter, not bad mind you i just like the touch more warmth the basswood maple one has over it but they both work for me.

i love hum/single with a guard, actually more than without for some reason. although i'm thinking of doing a no guard hum/single mutt soon.

stramm8...see above for aldrich thoughts. as for the neck pocket yeah they have a crazy steep angle from the factory making the floyd sit a foot off the damn body and that drives me nuts. so i route them to a shallower angle where i can get the floyd to rest on the body dive only. it's amazing how much better they sound after that since there's more contact from the bridge to the body to transfer string vibration. they ring out louder, resonate more, have more low end and sustain longer every time i do it. a floating floyd has two contact points that are tiny at the knife edge to pivot post and form the 3 springs through the claw etc and that's it VS the back edge of the trem touching the body at rest along with those original contact points....it's a nice difference.

-Mike

 

[jhale667]

i'd like to try the C8 too, may be interesting.

the aldrich is cool in alder but i like it better in the magenta charvel which is basswood with a maple cap. i do like it in the alder one too it's just a hair brighter, not bad mind you i just like the touch more warmth the basswood maple one has over it but they both work for me.

i love hum/single with a guard, actually more than without for some reason. although i'm thinking of doing a no guard hum/single mutt soon.

stramm8...see above for aldrich thoughts. as for the neck pocket yeah they have a crazy steep angle from the factory making the floyd sit a foot off the damn body and that drives me nuts. so i route them to a shallower angle where i can get the floyd to rest on the body dive only. it's amazing how much better they sound after that since there's more contact from the bridge to the body to transfer string vibration. they ring out louder, resonate more, have more low end and sustain longer every time i do it. a floating floyd has two contact points that are tiny at the knife edge to pivot post and form the 3 springs through the claw etc and that's it VS the back edge of the trem touching the body at rest along with those original contact points....it's a nice difference.

-Mike

Primarily a dive-only guy, huh?

I like both set ups, recessed and free-floating; I have a couple of non, but not fully blocked (in the dive-only sense of the word) they still have a little upwards play, but probably only a half-step if that. Tending to favor non-recessed for recording rhythms lately. Agree it does sound a bit fatter.


OK, but the neck-pocket thing sounds like a pain in the a**, and even if I didn't set it for dive-only (and I probably wouldn't...lol) a "foot" - I know you're kidding but if you said anything it's noticeable, I'm betting - would probably drive me nuts too! Must admit I haven't checked out the Production models, but that doesn't sound like a good thing...


I went back and re-read your in-depth description when I got home from the office and noticed you had a couple more C5s in things than I initially thought...sounds like I need to give it a try.
Also, looks like you swapped out the Floyd on the Purple production one...(don't they normally come with black hardware)? And did it have anything to do with the Production model's MIK Floyd, or was it purely a cosmetic decision?

 

[XSSIVE]

yeah i'm not at all a fan of floating floyds but i love dive only floyds. i rest my hand on the floyd so on a floater i can push it sharp along with a truckload of other reasons why i like dive only vs a floater. the dimebag style squeals are cute now and again as is the red beach style flutter but the cons of a floater out weigh my want to do those things.

the pocket thing is easy for my to fix but is something average joe would need a tech or luthier to do for sure. they're pretty high off the body to start.

yeah i have quite a few C5s and may be swapping in some more since they really do seem to work for me.

i swapped the hardware on every production model i have to german floyds, and the tuners from those horrid grovers to gotoh or schaller. those korean floyds are nowhere near up to my picky ass standards. the zinc blocks and sloppy trem arms (they never get tight...i've had 7 or 8 of them and all were loose) right away turn me off. plus when the finish wears off the knife edges on the trem itself and the posts you can clearly see copper colored metal which i'm told is a clue towards lower quality steel being used that has a high copper content. a german floyd is silver (higher quality steel) where any paint may wear off. i just don't trust them so i ditch them.

since i got my first one i've said the same thing...they're great platforms for killer guitars.

-Mike

 

[jhale667]

yeah i'm not at all a fan of floating floyds but i love dive only floyds. i rest my hand on the floyd so on a floater i can push it sharp along with a truckload of other reasons why i like dive only vs a floater. the dimebag style squeals are cute now and again as is the red beach style flutter but the cons of a floater out weigh my want to do those things.

the pocket thing is easy for my to fix but is something average joe would need a tech or luthier to do for sure. they're pretty high off the body to start.

yeah i have quite a few C5s and may be swapping in some more since they really do seem to work for me.

i swapped the hardware on every production model i have to german floyds, and the tuners from those horrid grovers to gotoh or schaller. those korean floyds are nowhere near up to my picky ass standards. the zinc blocks and sloppy trem arms (they never get tight...i've had 7 or 8 of them and all were loose) right away turn me off. plus when the finish wears off the knife edges on the trem itself and the posts you can clearly see copper colored metal which i'm told is a clue towards lower quality steel being used that has a high copper content. a german floyd is silver (higher quality steel) where any paint may wear off. i just don't trust them so i ditch them.

since i got my first one i've said the same thing...they're great platforms for killer guitars.

-Mike

I hear lots of people complain about not being able to rest their palms on floating Floyds without raising the pitch - I must have a lighter touch than I think or something, dunno...

Interesting (but not surprising) to hear your take on the MIK Floyds...haven't seen one, but I notice a glut of them on Ebay for some reason, figured that gearhead Production Model owners might be a contributing factor...
Also good to hear you dig Musikraft (and have had success with their) stuff too...currently hoarding a 1-piece Ash body for a future Natural or Stain project.


So... what's the next creation gonna be?

 

[XSSIVE]

it's not like i push it sharp all the time on a floater but it's the fact that i can once in a while if i really get into the song and am not paying attention. my main guitar about 10 years ago was an ibanez S series with a floater so i can play them, i just know i like dive only MUCH better after years of trying different guitars and trems and no trems etc etc.

yup, i've had great luck with musikraft bodies over the years, much better quality wood than warmoth i've found for both bodies and necks. plus the musikraft charvel bodies are pretty darn correct to modern charvels, there's a few subtle differences which makes it so i can spot them but nothing really big enough to worry about...even the charvel cavity covers fit them which is cool.

up next...i just put two pro-mod charvel bodes up for sale one spare i had kicking around along with the slime green one i posted in this thread and will be turning that into a mutt using a new body, still haven't decided 100% what yet.

-Mike

 

[ke2]

I love the sunburst with chrome bucker and D-tuna!!

After reading more of the thread, so does everyone else, it seems!!
Dan, Scott, Pete at least.

 

[jhale667]

it's not like i push it sharp all the time on a floater but it's the fact that i can once in a while if i really get into the song and am not paying attention. my main guitar about 10 years ago was an ibanez S series with a floater so i can play them, i just know i like dive only MUCH better after years of trying different guitars and trems and no trems etc etc.

yup, i've had great luck with musikraft bodies over the years, much better quality wood than warmoth i've found for both bodies and necks. plus the musikraft charvel bodies are pretty darn correct to modern charvels, there's a few subtle differences which makes it so i can spot them but nothing really big enough to worry about...even the charvel cavity covers fit them which is cool.

up next...i just put two pro-mod charvel bodes up for sale one spare i had kicking around along with the slime green one i posted in this thread and will be turning that into a mutt using a new body, still haven't decided 100% what yet.

-Mike

Yeah, I can't necessarily do Townsend-style windmills with a floating Floyd w/o a little warble, that's for sure, but it's not usually an issue... And none of my cover bands have done "Cemetery Gates" (which seems to be everyone here's go-to recessed Floyd reference...hahahhaa) but I still like having the option.

Musikraft's Charvel-copy accuracy was what grabbed me about them (I have two full Warmoth builds) - like you said, minor differences, but still very cool! The KnE copies are really close too (and slightly cheaper, though not as many wood options, etc.), you might wanna check them out down the road, too...

http://www.kneguitars.com/

As for the new stuff, can't wait to see 'em! Again, killer collection.

I love the sunburst with chrome bucker and D-tuna!!

After reading more of the thread, so does everyone else, it seems!!
Dan, Scott, Pete at least.

Yeah, go ahead and count me on that list too!

 

[rupe]

Cool stuff as always Mike. I hadn't seen the gold sparkle yet...very well done! I don't spend much time anymore where I normally see your projects so I'm glad to see these over here!