considering an exchange

[veniculum]

Hey guys...could sure use some opinions here.
A couple weeks ago I picked up a San Dimas Style 2 'Telly', and right from the minute I plugged it in, I fell in love with it. In all honesty, it plays and sounds as good if not better than any guitar I own (and I have some nice stuff right now)
So last week, I went back to the same shop and picked up a So Cal strat. I liked the way it sounded, however, it was obviously on the shelf for a while...the strings were a bit worn/corroded...so the first thing I did was replace the strings...hoping it might sweeten the tone a little.

Now don't get me wrong...the SoCal plays great...just as good as the Telly...but in all honesty, it doesn't sound as good tone-wise. (it still sounds good...just not as good) It's hard to explain in words...the Telly just sounds tighter, tougher, and just all-around better.
So now I have a bit of a dilemma. I have this guitar, and I have 10 days to exchange it. I'm going to be in the area of the music store I picked it up at this weekend. This is my one and only chance to make an exchange before the 10 days are up. I'm just not sure if I should make the exchange...I want a strat version Charvel regardless...so if I were to make an exchange, I wouldn't be getting another Telly...I'd be exchanging a So Cal for a San Dimas Strat. The only significant difference that I can see is the pickup selection.
So I guess my question is (particularly for those who are familiar/own both a Telly and a So Cal) is the tone difference due to the body style, or the pickups....or a combination of both. With that said, if I exchange a So Cal strat for a San Dimas strat, do you think my tone will be closer to the Telly...or will the San Dimas strat sound more like a So Cal strat.

I really would appreciate any suggestions you might have...I only have a few days left to make the final decision. I just want to make it clear...I still love this So Cal...just not as much as my Telly.

Thanks guys!
Todd

[The Rossness]

Todd-
I've been through 4 different sets of PU's on my SD1. I've got a Dimarzio Super 3 and a PAF Pro in there now. I love the way my socal sounds, feels and plays. I thought the duncans in the SD1 sounded so-so.

In my eyes, you have a few options-

1) Just return the SoCal, get a refund and play your SD2.
2) If you like the way your socal feels, just replace the pups.
3) If you want a guitar in between the SD2 and a socal, try to find a used Peavey Wolfgang.
4) If you bought the socal new, You could return it and buy 2 SD2's on ebay.

[Rich#6]

I loved my socal and should never have sold it! The tone was unreal to me. I have read other people say their sd2 sounded better than their others, probably because there is more body mass. The pickups are opposite tone wise too, the JB in the sd2 is very bright and a little hotter than the tonezone.

[DonP]

Change the pickups or get rid of it. There might be a reason it sat in the store so long or was traded in. Some guitars are just tone turds. Or, you could say a guitar needs to find it's owner/player.

This happens all the time, and with all guitars. I have some shit guitars that sounds fabulous and some high end stuff that sit in the case more than others. The difference is, for some of my guitars, they eventually come around and get into high rotation. But sometimes it takes years before this happens (before I "rediscover" a guitar).

[AndyK]

I think you are comparing apples to oranges. The Duncan and Dimarzios sound very different, and if you like the SD2 with the JB and 59, you should like the SoCal with the same Duncans.

[Spivonious]

^ Yep I find that there are Duncan people and there are DiMarzio people. Swap the pickups if you like how it plays.

[Capelo]

Have you checked the Guitar World video on Charvel's web page? It is not the same as going to a shop and trying all three but it can give you an idea of how each of them sound.

I also agree with the comments above. If you like how the SoCal plays, just change the p'ups and play the crap out of it.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

I had a Tone Zone in my Charvel mutt, and that guitar sounded fantastic, as did my Pro Mod when I had an SH5 (Duncan Custom) in the bridge. And, I think the JB sucks...

Point being, what one guy things sounds great another might think "sucks."

Given two mass-produced guitars made of the same kind of wood, with the same neck, same construction method, etc. I'm reluctant to believe one of them will sound that much better than the other. Some new pickups may just be what you need.

[veniculum]

Thanks everyone for the replies...I really appreciate it. I must reiterate...the So Cal still kicks f'in ass...it sounds great...and personally, I think I like the way it plays even better than the S2...I like a strat body better than a telly..personally...at least in terms of how it feels on my lap..or strapped over my shoulder. I prefer the thin body to the (relatively) thick body of the telly. Despite all of these pros for the So Cal...I just can absolutely hear a difference in the tone between the two. (yes..I did read the guitar world article) I think the post above....'the duncans are a little hotter' is definitely the case...which I typically tend to like better...especially on a hot rod guitar like this. At the same time, I have an Ibanez Prestige J Custom...with Dimarzios...and that thing sounds completely killer. So it's safe to say I don't prefer one pickup over the other...it depends on the guitars they are in.

So I'm a little torn right now...and I'm wondering if the answer is simple....I know I don't want a second telly style...at least not without having a strat model....the san dimas strats have the duncan pickups...which I obviously like a little better than the Dimarzios (on these particular guitars). Seems like a no-brainer...bring the So Cal back before the exchange period ends, and get a San Dimas strat.....BUT ...as always, there's a 'but'...I'm a bit of a guitar whore...in other words, I really like having all kinds of different guitars. If you see my collection, you can tell that I'm in no way a one brand guy. I think every guitar has it's own unique sound and personality, and I like that....a lot. I'm wondering if it's just that I have to take a little time to learn to love this guitar. It's certainly happened in the past.

Of course, I could just go buy ANOTHER strat (san dimas style)....and pay a really terrible price when I show up at home with a third guitar in just as many weeks. Of course there is always Atlantic City.

Thanks again guys. I have 2 more days to decide, so keep the comments coming.

Todd

[jmh151]

IMO it's a combination of the pickups and body shape. I tried both, and the Tele's sounded better than the SoCal. I didn't get a chance to compare a Style 1 to a Style 2 (Tele) to see if the body shape made that much of a difference with the same pickups. The Style 2's I played were thick and chunky in tone. The Socal's with the Dimarzio pickups, sounded more like an Ibanez- thinner, flatter, and not as much character.

[veniculum]

IMO it's a combination of the pickups and body shape. I tried both, and the Tele's sounded better than the SoCal. I didn't get a chance to compare a Style 1 to a Style 2 (Tele) to see if the body shape made that much of a difference with the same pickups. The Style 2's I played were thick and chunky in tone. The Socal's with the Dimarzio pickups, sounded more like an Ibanez- thinner, flatter, and not as much character.

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!

[jmh151]

Not that there's anything wrong with the SoCal- IMO it sounded like an 80's Ibanez Jem compared to the Style 2. Not bad, but more Steve Vai as compared to EVH/ Demartini.

[veniculum]

So I noticed that the neck on my SoCal needed an adjustment...a "new" guitar. I was starting to have some suspicions...not that the guitar was used...but that perhaps, someone bought it and returned it. The strings were old, and I changed them. In the end, I was still having a problem keeping it in tune...between that, the neck, and the fact that I still didn't know if I liked the Dimarzios, I made the exchange.
I actually wasn't going to. I brought it back and told them about my concerns, and they were more than happy to make everything right...so I filled out the work order, and planned on having a trem block put in....but instead of walking out the door, I dragged my wife over to the guitar wall, and there it was...brand new to the shop...a tan/wood San Dimas with the HSS setup. It was really nice...and I just couldn't get used to the red/black So Cal. I had two days left to decide on making the exchange, and my wife saw the look in my eyes. I couldn't be happier with my decision. Not only is the looks of it much more my speed...but it has the sound that my Telly has...which i love. No offense to the Dimarzios...I just like the Duncans better.

So I just wanted to say thanks again for all the comments. They were all very helpful. In the end, I got the best of both worlds...I got the Strat body I wanted, with the pickups I wanted. And as a bonus, I got a 100 discount on the SoCal a week earlier. I thought sure I'd have to make up the difference on this new(er) San Dimas. But nope...the sales guy gave me an even swap. Big props to Toms River Music. Great shop and a great bunch of guys working there!

Here's the new one...pics just don't do it justice

Todd

[RCM78]

You did the right thing!!! Thats a nice lookin guitar!

[veniculum]

You did the right thing!!! Thats a nice lookin guitar!

Thanks bro....I think so too...I couldn't be happier