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

[Evol]

I'm with the others on the non-recessed Floyd issue.

Some of us are whammy abusers!

That's the ONLY thing that keeps me from owning some of these, everything else is fine to me, personally.

[Newc]

So where's the problem with cutting out a recess yourself like Vai did? Are you guys operating under the delusion that these are Holy Relics that must be kept in pristine condition?

Jesus, people, grow some nuts and take matters into your own hands.

[Vass]

So where's the problem with cutting out a recess yourself like Vai did? Are you guys operating under the delusion that these are Holy Relics that must be kept in pristine condition?

Jesus, people, grow some nuts and take matters into your own hands.

I agree with this. These are a PERFECT platform for tweaking. The price is right, so if you f it up, seriously, the bodies go for not that much parted out on Ebay (the necks seem to be a different story...).

I haven't picked one up yet- just jammed a few @ GC & Sam Ash. Not because I don't think they're worth it but because they're EVERYWHERE and I know I'll be able to get one, probably at a price less than I'm willing to pay, when I want to. Seems as though every time I have guitar $$$ something else comes up that won't be around forever.

In a few years, or less, they'll be a ton of em out there and you'll be able to grab them up at $500. So mod the f00ker!

Make yer own freakshow to your own taste and play the shit out of it! Who cares about resale value- It ain't going to go for enough to retire on anyway.

If Vai didn't kick the shit out of Green Meanie she would have just been another nice Charvel. Now we all know her name.

[Soap]

No, I'm NOT gonna read this entire thread.
However, in regards to the original post...

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

There have been threads about this numerous times just use the search engine.

With that said, consider four things.
1. For a production guitar at a affordable price they can't be beat.
They are what they are, a good solid production guitar at an affordable price.

Beginners to veterans have bought and been happy with them.
Yes, there are many who have bought them and ridiculously nit pick the living snot out of them. Some folks aren't happy no matter what even if they had the perfect custom made guitar built to THEIR OWN specs, they would find something to complain about.

These people need to get a life and understand its a guitar. Don't get me wrong, life for me without my guitars would be bad at best. I love music and guitars. Alot people can't see past the fact as to what these guitars are, see number 1. I seriously doubt half the people that have gave idiotic negative comments (if truth be known) are just bedroom and apartment players. Yet they review the thing like their going take it out on the road. Idiots, ignorance should NOT breed. Idiots have NO right to an opinion.

2. This in itself is a good thing for Charvel.
For the longest time they did custom shop stuff but NOW with these production SoCals things in general has improved for Charvel.

3. If you play any guitar for that matter including SoCals through a small 8 inch speaker practice amp. It will NOT sound like Johhny's who plays his SoCal through a 2x12 combo amp or a 4x12 cab and a Marshall amp head. It's a no brainer, its just not gonna happen.

4. Who gives a soft flying neon butterfly what anybody has to say about the guitar. You considering it? Hit youtube and type SoCal in the search engine. THEN, find a local place where you can try one out.
What one claims to be a piece of utter junk is a goldmine to another and vice versa. Find a color and pickup configuration you like and buy one.

For a production guitar they are excellent. The guitar does and handles both bedroom gigs and touring gigs well.

[bombtek]

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.

How often do you have to access the truss rod nut?!?

On some of my guitars ...after they've been set up, I haven't touched the damn thing (truss rod nut) in prolly two years.

[skintaster]

My SoCal has proven itself to be an excellent guitar. It's easy to nitpick, but mine stays in tune and sounds great.

[wilkinsi]

To combat this truss rod thing, can't a hole be cut into the front of the pickguard? How much space is there between the neck pickup and the neck - enough to get a hex key into the truss rod, or is the TR blocked by wood? I'm not nitpicking, this is a genuine concern.

[Zaneus]

There's about a cm of wood in the way and on top of that the fretboard extends out to cover that area of wood so it just wouldn't be possible to add that hole anyway.

Its not too much of a bother anyway, the quartersawn wood makes truss rod adjustments infrequent. Perhaps twice a year at most, unless you're moving between climates often which can happen when you're touring. It's not that much of a process anyway and you dont even have to take the neck off completely. Just loosen out the neck screws and lift the neck up, saves a little bit of trouble

[Grandturk]

To combat this truss rod thing, can't a hole be cut into the front of the pickguard? How much space is there between the neck pickup and the neck - enough to get a hex key into the truss rod, or is the TR blocked by wood? I'm not nitpicking, this is a genuine concern.

Not a hex key - need a screwdriver

[Evol]

So where's the problem with cutting out a recess yourself like Vai did?

Well for starters I personally do not own a router.

Also, the floyd would have to be replaced with the one with the shorter sustain block, and the neck angle would have to be made straight.

It's much nicer to have these come from the factory like that ready to rock. There's no real reason why we can't have some already recessed, these are modern times after all, there should be no need to hack a hole in the back of the guitar as you're suggesting.

All I want is the option, I don't need a whole different guitar.

[toejam]

Also, the floyd would have to be replaced with the one with the shorter sustain block, and the neck angle would have to be made straight.

No, it wouldn't. You wouldn't have to recess the trem itself... you'd just route behind it so you can pull up. Some old Model series Charvels had non-recessed trems with pull-up routes.

[Grandturk]

Hell, why not just shim the neck and raise the bridge up? Boom - all the pullback you could want.

[toejam]

That's too easy for some people.

[Grandturk]

That's too easy for some people.

Lazy fuggers. Probably would complain if the pickup rings came in a different color...

[Evol]

No, it wouldn't. You wouldn't have to recess the trem itself... you'd just route behind it so you can pull up. Some old Model series Charvels had non-recessed trems with pull-up routes.

But I WANT a recessed trem. That's the whole point. I don't want a pull-up route. I like the strings closer to the body anyhow.

It's not a big deal to make them like that from the factory, a recessed and non-recessed model of each type would cover alot of players who prefer them either way. Charvel would even pick up some more modern guitar players along the way, Jackson, Ibanez and ESP have been doing a recessed route for how long? 20+ years now?

It's a preference, and a popular one, I don't wanna hack up a new guitar, I just want it how I like it.