Where the hell are all the cool Charvels?

[tonemonster]

IMO the CS charvels were way overpriced to start with. I mean you can buy a Jackson soloist with binding, shark fins, neck thru body, and a trans maple finish for about $1000 less than those CS Charvels sold for. to me thats just insane. the value is clearly in the soloist. way more features for way less money. one thing that really gets me is you have to take the damn neck off a charvel to adjust the frickin truss rod..... that alone pisses me off to the point I wont buy one. (I know, the Warren model has an adjustment on the bottom). but that really puts me off. To me its all about value for the dollar and I just didnt see it in the Charvels.

[surfreak]

Sad as it might sound, Charvel CS also got outplayed by other makers which are building better guitars, similarly styled, with a similar price point, and no horror 2 years wait. Think Suhr, Anderson, Tyler.

I've always been very fond of Charvels, I have owned 4 TMZ naturals, a EVH BY and still own a great 1984 real San Dimas. But I've played many new Charvel CS side by side with Suhr, and there is no comparison: the Charvel invariably feels and plays "cheap" compared to the Suhr.

[tonemonster]

Sad as it might sound, Charvel CS also got outplayed by other makers which are building better guitars, similarly styled, with a similar price point, and no horror 2 years wait. Think Suhr, Anderson, Tyler.

I've always been very fond of Charvels, I have owned 4 TMZ naturals, a EVH BY and still own a great 1984 real San Dimas. But I've played many new Charvel CS side by side with Suhr, and there is no comparison: the Charvel invariably feels and plays "cheap" compared to the Suhr.

Thats interesting. I played a a few new Suhrs a year or so ago and I wasnt impressed. I thought the quality was not reflected by the price. they were much more than you can buy a neck through soloist for, and they were bolt on neck, had a pick guard. I just couldnt see the value. when I played it next to a soloist, there was just no reason to buy it. the soloist played just as good (IMO it played better) and it was built better. the Suhr didnt even have a OFR on it. it was a knock off brand floyd. I wont pay $2500 for a knock off floyd, bolt on neck, and a pick guard.

[loud_and_dirty]

i don't think Charvel has even come close to running it's course. Charvel has barely started...or should i say "restarted." 90% economic. At every shop i know they aren't even selling cheap guitars right now. Our distributors are begging us to take guitars, even offering them at 1/2 the normal wholesale prices, buy now pay later deals, etc. The owner said he's NEVER seen it this bad and he's been operating since the late 80's.

[toejam]

the Suhr didnt even have a OFR on it. it was a knock off brand floyd.

They use Gotoh Floyds. A lot of people have been saying the quality of the Gotoh is better than a real Floyd these days.

[coloradoman25]

They use Gotoh Floyds. A lot of people have been saying the quality of the Gotoh is better than a real Floyd these days.

Take them apart side by side if I had to call out any differences it would be sharper edges on the gotoh's. Thats about it.

[j2379]

i dont know maybe if the promods had more of the old charvel neck profile it would have compelled some people to buy a custom shop. i think a lot of peoples first experience with Charvels were the promods due to cost, but they dont compare to the CS or even the reissue pointy's. i dig my promod, but compared to my older C/Js its just not the same.

[SATCH1967]

Yeppers

[tonemonster]

They use Gotoh Floyds. A lot of people have been saying the quality of the Gotoh is better than a real Floyd these days.

THat is a hard one for me to wrap my mind around. I heard that from the guy trying to sell it to me in the store, but I havent heard it anywhere else. I would like to see someone that has done a good side by side comparison to a current German OFR. I had a Gotoh Floyd once, it wasnt impressive. but they Suhr fanboys sure rave about the Gotoh. the ones I played I couldnt see where they were better than a OFR.

[Chad]

I've read John Suhr's commentary on the problems he's had with recent production OFRs, but I personally haven't experienced the same. More specifically, I've owned, setup, and played on qty. 4 German Floyds that were made in recent years. No problems at all.

I've also had two of the Korean Floyds they put on Pro-mods. One had a loose trem arm, but other than that zero problems.

My only experience with Gotoh was a 1998 EBMM Axis.....I believe those are re-branded Gotohs. It worked fine as well. I'd say Gotohos are fine, but nothing has lead me to believe that they are all the much superior to an OFR. In my experience an OFR is still hard to beat.

[Hellbat]

This is why the Suhr fanboys like the gotoh...

http://www.hugeracksinc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30597&hilit=gotoh+floyd&start=15

[The Rossness]

I use Gotoh floyd's on my charvel's. I've never had a problem with them, and I like their feel more than OFR's.

As for the Suhr thing... Their Reb Beach model is fantastic! It's one of the best bolt on guitars I've played. The rest of the line is alright, but seems overpriced. I never had a great mojo with a suhr besides the Reb Beach model. If I'm going to spend that kind of money (not on a charvel) I'd look at an Anderson or Vigier. Also on a side note, Suhr's amps, the ones Bob Bradshaw designs, are incredible! So is the Riot pedal.

[Rich#6]

the best feeling tremolo I ever had was a Gotoh on an old usa gunslinger. I'll take a gotoh over an ofr anyday.

[tonemonster]

This is why the Suhr fanboys like the gotoh...

http://www.hugeracksinc.com/forum/vi...floyd&start=15

you got that right. he was sure bashing the OFRs. Personally, I think he is as full of shit as a christmas goose. I have never seen ANY of those issues with OFRs. that sounded like well placed propaganda to me.

[tonemonster]

I use Gotoh floyd's on my charvel's. I've never had a problem with them, and I like their feel more than OFR's.

says the man in the argyle sweater.