Why are decent Charvels so hard to find?

[GraySlo]

Last I looked GC had 2-5 on their used site, 13-1900. Check em out.

Aside from the flattop mentioned earlier, would you seriously buy any of the others?

 

[jkdsteve]

I've been wanting a Tangerine SoCal for so long, yet they are never available when i can afford it. Then i got the Charvel endorsement thingy and they gave me this wonderful USA San Dimas, i lusted after the tangerine socal even more. So I was just looking again last month. Nothing. So i paid bills instead and of course, a tangerine SoCal shows up for sale a day later. I give up.

I have exactly the same love affair with the Candy Tangerine (ProMod)....actually found one a few years back for $800....UPS banged that sucker up in transit and I had to send it back

 

[GraySlo]

So any opinions on the MIM? Have to admit, that turn wheel for truss rod adjustments is a pretty nice feature.

 

[Racerxrated]

Last I looked GC had 2-5 on their used site, 13-1900. Check em out.

Aside from the flattop mentioned earlier, would you seriously buy any of the others?

Yeah, it takes just one to like em I guess. Don't know why people order those funky ones, whats wrong with Black? Or Blue? Oh well...It's their 3-5K.

 

[Racerxrated]

So any opinions on the MIM? Have to admit, that turn wheel for truss rod adjustments is a pretty nice feature.

I would only buy a MiM from a vendor with a good return policy. The 4 I've tried were not very impressive compared to the earlier USA and MiJ.

 

[atrox]

So any opinions on the MIM? Have to admit, that turn wheel for truss rod adjustments is a pretty nice feature.

Honestly, Charvel gave us two guitars. They gave me the USA San Dimas, because i'm not a huge fan of floating trems. Jim took the MIM SoCal. I set them both up and played them both extensively. They felt and sounded pretty much the same to me. However, as new as they are, they are both 2009 models.

 

[Anonymous]

I find great deals on Charvel Custom Shops all the time. I don't see an issue with that personally...

Steve

 

[metalmaniac93]

The MIJ SoCals are nice...As nice as a CS? Nope, but still killer for the price.

 

[GraySlo]

The MIJ SoCals are nice...As nice as a CS? Nope, but still killer for the price.

No doubt the MIJ are nice, but people generally ask about $800 or so for them. That's only about $200 or so less than an MIA, and only about $700 or so less than a used custom shop. For that relatively small difference, think the CS is the only way to go.

 

[mooncobra]

I just bought a brand new 2016 SoCal (metallic black, with black pickguard) and loving it so far.
I've had them all, MIA, MIJ, MIM, custom, even a Jackson Adrian Smith, and this SoCal is my favourite. Has all the features I want, neck that I can adjust without taking it off, volume knob in a better out of the way position, and a tone knob. Wasn't sure about the recessed Floyd but no issues so far. I'll provably swap out the Duncan Distortions because they are a little bright and harsh for this type of guitar. Neck and fretwork are great for this level of guitar.

I had a Music Zoo custom, and while it was easily the best built and most solid, I didn't get along with the neck profile and the whole guitar was very dry sounding. My Jackson was nice too but I got tired of the HSS setup and after many upgrades, German Floyd, brass block etc, I still wasn't happy with overall sound.

You never know what you're going to get, but I'm super happy with my 2016 MIM so far. Take a chance online or try out as many as you can till one speaks to you.

I had a Jackson Adrian Smith and it ruled!!!

 

[metalmaniac93]

The MIJ SoCals are nice...As nice as a CS? Nope, but still killer for the price.

No doubt the MIJ are nice, but people generally ask about $800 or so for them. That's only about $200 or so less than an MIA, and only about $700 or so less than a used custom shop. For that relatively small difference, think the CS is the only way to go.

Good luck with the CS find. They are out there , but not in abundance.

 

[GraySlo]

The MIJ SoCals are nice...As nice as a CS? Nope, but still killer for the price.

No doubt the MIJ are nice, but people generally ask about $800 or so for them. That's only about $200 or so less than an MIA, and only about $700 or so less than a used custom shop. For that relatively small difference, think the CS is the only way to go.

Good luck with the CS find. They are out there , but not in abundance.

Thanks, and that blue MIJ is a beautiful guitar!

 

[metalmaniac93]

The MIJ SoCals are nice...As nice as a CS? Nope, but still killer for the price.

No doubt the MIJ are nice, but people generally ask about $800 or so for them. That's only about $200 or so less than an MIA, and only about $700 or so less than a used custom shop. For that relatively small difference, think the CS is the only way to go.

Good luck with the CS find. They are out there , but not in abundance.

Thanks, and that blue MIJ is a beautiful guitar!

Thanks!!! I do not play it as much as I have two CS Charvel's and a Luxxtone, but I will probably not part with it unless I have to. It is a great guitar.

 

[Rock Bodom]

OP, good luck on your quest, as others have said, nice CS ones are out there. Just need some patience depending on how specific a one you're looking for, and where you are willing to flex pricewise. Lots of great pro mods as others have said too, I still have a couple of the old USA ones, one in particular hangs rather nicely with my CS models in terms of quality (the other less so).

And I'm not usually into anything too modern when it comes to these (I'm a "stuck in the past" guy all the way), but this one below is rather stunning!!

Ive got this one on hold at the moment. Just hesitant to finalize the deal today as I have to let one of my Anderson Angels go to bring it home

Holy Crap! What the? Where? Oh my!!!

Thats what I said when I first saw the picture of this one from the Namm show 2017. Ive been waiting a few months for this one to pop up for sale from whatever retailer got it. A few weeks ago Wild West got the sister guitar to this one in white, then this guy finally popped up the other day. Its a straight up Red Dave built custom shop and probably amazing, but like I said, I am giving up one of my Anderson to bring it home. Just a little nervous

 

[Anonymous]

$1600 and Killer! (There is also a Custom Shop Natural Series Mahogany and a Custom Shop Jake for less than $1700)

You could probably get it for $1500 and the shipping price can be negotiated too as it's ridiculous:

https://reverb.com/item/4580733-charvel-spider

 

[GraySlo]

$1600 and Killer! (There is also a Custom Shop Natural Series Mahogany and a Custom Shop Jake for less than $1700)

You could probably get it for $1500 and the shipping price can be negotiated too as it's ridiculous:

https://reverb.com/item/4580733-charvel-spider

I appreciate that, I actually emailed the guy a couple of weeks ago and he bypassed my question about it being previously up for sale. I agree, though, that's a very cool guitar.

 

[GraySlo]

OP, good luck on your quest, as others have said, nice CS ones are out there. Just need some patience depending on how specific a one you're looking for, and where you are willing to flex pricewise. Lots of great pro mods as others have said too, I still have a couple of the old USA ones, one in particular hangs rather nicely with my CS models in terms of quality (the other less so).

And I'm not usually into anything too modern when it comes to these (I'm a "stuck in the past" guy all the way), but this one below is rather stunning!!

Ive got this one on hold at the moment. Just hesitant to finalize the deal today as I have to let one of my Anderson Angels go to bring it home

Holy Crap! What the? Where? Oh my!!!

Thats what I said when I first saw the picture of this one from the Namm show 2017. Ive been waiting a few months for this one to pop up for sale from whatever retailer got it. A few weeks ago Wild West got the sister guitar to this one in white, then this guy finally popped up the other day. Its a straight up Red Dave built custom shop and probably amazing, but like I said, I am giving up one of my Anderson to bring it home. Just a little nervous

Thanks man, I appreciate it.

 

[Racerxrated]

So any opinions on the MIM? Have to admit, that turn wheel for truss rod adjustments is a pretty nice feature.

Honestly, Charvel gave us two guitars. They gave me the USA San Dimas, because i'm not a huge fan of floating trems. Jim took the MIM SoCal. I set them both up and played them both extensively. They felt and sounded pretty much the same to me. However, as new as they are, they are both 2009 models.

I didn't think Charvel started making them in Mexico until 2012 or 13? If they are 2009 they should be USA or very early Japan I would think..

Anyway cool guitars!

 

[GraySlo]

So any opinions on the MIM? Have to admit, that turn wheel for truss rod adjustments is a pretty nice feature.

Honestly, Charvel gave us two guitars. They gave me the USA San Dimas, because i'm not a huge fan of floating trems. Jim took the MIM SoCal. I set them both up and played them both extensively. They felt and sounded pretty much the same to me. However, as new as they are, they are both 2009 models.

I didn't think Charvel started making them in Mexico until 2012 or 13? If they are 2009 they should be USA or very early Japan I would think..

Anyway cool guitars!

Yeah, they moved production to Mexico due to the earthquake/tsunami (which I believe was in 2011).

 

[atrox]

Sorry guys. Yeah. Mine is a USA 2009. Has it written in the neck pocket. No markings in the Mexican one. It's just obviously before the new truss rods were implemented. My bad.

They were brand new old stock. I guess Charvel got sick of them laying around or something.