Tell me what you don't like about the new SoCals

[Matt_B]

I hate that the truss rod nut is located at the heel. I've never liked that design on any guitar because, IMHO, it is antiquated. I probably would have bought 2 Pro Mods if it weren't for the truss rod nut issue. That is a definite showstopper for me.

Is there a tonal reason for doing that? If it sounds better doing it that way, I'm all for better tone.

I don't mess with the truss rod every few minutes, so I don't see why this would be a show stopper.

While some folks may feel that the location of the truss rod nut affects the tone in some way, I do not. That said, a representative of Charvel has stated on these boards that due to the profile of the Pro Mod neck, the truss rod nut had to be located at the heel. While that may be true, I find it interesting the Musikraft offers Strat necks with and SD profile that do have the trus rod nut at the headstock so it can be done without ill effect, at least in the opinion of some folks.

I typically have to tweak my necks a few times a year and when I do, I don't want to have to loosen all the strings and loosen neck screws to do it. IMHO, those are extraneous steps.

[The Rossness]

That I don't have more than one

The neck is to die for!! I am strongly considering a new neck for my '82 I like it so much. They're great guitars. Maybe in time, I'll pop a chrome floyd on mine(mainly aesthetics, i don't buy that bs about chrome ringing and sounding better than black)

I hear ya. I just sold my EBMM Axis- a guitar I thought I'd never part with-. I LOVE my SoCal. I reversed the PU selector and volume knob locations on mine. Other than that, I couldn't be happier.

[DonP]

That said, a representative of Charvel has stated on these boards that due to the profile of the Pro Mod neck, the truss rod nut had to be located at the heel.

Sounds strange to me too.

Is this a one piece maple neck, or does it have a separate maple fretboard?

My HM Strat's maple neck is pretty thin, but the truss rod is at the nut. But it's a maple neck with maple fretboard and a skunk stripe.

I've only held a Promod once - a used one at a GC. It didn't last very long...

[vondran]

One suggestion I'd make to Charvel on the SoCal is cut the pickguard so you can take the pickguard off without having to take the neck off. That said, my SoCal is great and has replaced many high priced guitars as my number 1.

[Mr.Shreddy]

I love mine, but the only thing that I would change would honestly be the pickguard. It "stands up" on the edges and is a little distracting, I love the beveled look, but it's such a little thing. Above all it sounds killer!

[Matt_B]

Sounds strange to me too.

Is this a one piece maple neck, or does it have a separate maple fretboard?

Your post made me question what I remembered so I looked up the old thread and my recollection was incorrect.

http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90112&highlight=truss&page=2/

The truss rod nut is at the heel because:
- It is a one piece neck.
- Quartersawn maple is considered more stable so therefore a neck made from it should require less frequent adjustment
- It is the traditional Charvel spec.

I can understand how a 1 pc neck is less expensive from a manufacturing standpoint and I agree that QS maple is more stable than non-QS maple but as for tradition, I say "So what". It's not turkey on Thanksgiving, it's a tool to make music with it and it the traditional method is inefficient than it should not be done.

[markD]

i think it defeats the "charvel" purpose, but i would prefer a recessed floyd. the pickguard seems cheap to me, but other than those things, i dig them.

[Matt_B]

i think it defeats the "charvel" purpose, but i would prefer a recessed floyd.

I understand why some folks prefer a non-recessed trem but Charvel could almost give the best of both worlds by installing a Tremol-no at the factory.

[85 San Dimas]

Your post made me question what I remembered so I looked up the old thread and my recollection was incorrect.

http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90112&highlight=truss&page=2/

The truss rod nut is at the heel because:
- It is a one piece neck.
- Quartersawn maple is considered more stable so therefore a neck made from it should require less frequent adjustment
- It is the traditional Charvel spec.

I can understand how a 1 pc neck is less expensive from a manufacturing standpoint and I agree that QS maple is more stable than non-QS maple but as for tradition, I say "So what". It's not turkey on Thanksgiving, it's a tool to make music with it and it the traditional method is inefficient than it should not be done.

Tradition is the whole purpose that the brand exists.

This is Fenders "version" of a Charvel. These guitars are "reinterpretations" not "reissues" so they pick and choose what features or specs to adhere to based upon what they want to spend to build the guitar and the target market. It is what it is because that's what's offered on a "take it or leave it" basis to keep prices down.

They aren't so close to the original to have someone come out and say "we do it that way because that's the way it was done in 1980". An ass would say that. They do it so it it makes the guitar "look" like a pre-pro Charvel, not because they are doing it for some performance reason.

But, I would have to disagree with a suggestion that FMIC should change the build style (rather than tweaking minor features) of these particular guitars. if they did so then there wouldn't really be any reason to build them at all. In the CS you can get whatever you want, but the world already has Jackson, ESP, and Ibanez.

A lot of this "duh" stuff, but I really don't think you can change the build style on these. It's the reason they exist.

One post was right, it's inconvenient for the truss adjutment to be at the bottom, but if you aren't tweaking all the time..............................my 2 cents.

[Rich#6]

I wonder how many people complain about the specs of these guitars didn't give their opinion when charvel had the different surveys up on their site looking for what people wanted.

[Predator1]

The one thing that the Charvel CS will not do on a Strathead is to put the truss adjustment at the head. I was told by Mike Kotzen himself that is not an option. Even if you request a two piece neck/board. They will however build you a 24 fret Charvel using a PC1 neck if you want it.

[Grandturk]

I hate truss rod adjust at the nut on stratheads. Lazy fuggers!

[Matt_B]

Tradition is the whole purpose that the brand exists.

Eh, the brand exists because FMIC can make money on it and they will do as little as possible to make as much profit as possible but that's business and I understand that.

Anyway, I'm not really bitching about the truss rod issue because in the end I really don't care. I can pick up used SD reissues for $1000 - $1100 that are just as good if not better. Sure, I'd like a Strat head Charvel with a top load truss rod nut but if they won't make it, it won't stop me from playing.

[Matt_B]

I wonder how many people complain about the specs of these guitars didn't give their opinion when charvel had the different surveys up on their site looking for what people wanted.

IF the survey had mentioned anything about the truss rod nut, I know how I would have responded.

[wilkinsi]

The truss rod can only be adjusted from the heel? As they say in Dragons' Den, I'm OUT.