Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Popularity

[hippietim]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

In 1984 I paid $1183 out the door for a Rhoads Custom w/Rising Sun graphic and a Kahler. In 2003 dollars that is $2084.20 according a couple inflation calculators I tried.

That same guitar would have to be a Custom Shop run so I'm sure it would be substantially more than that. Compared to the going price for an RR1 new, the price today isn't so bad.

[TheUntalentedOne]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

[ QUOTE ]
Keep in mind that this whole thing is new and FMIC has done some REALLY cool things with this line already. I guarantee the San Dimas reissues and EVH models are just the beginning. The Charvel name was dragged through the mud and FMIC is bringing back a brand name that was dead for years. That can't be an easy task to pull off.

Just my opinion...

Matt

[/ QUOTE ]

I applaud FMIC for what they have started with the Charvels and hope '05 continues the trend .I hope I can order what I am personally after in '05 and hope Charvel goes from strength to strength.
Thanks for the insight Matt

[mattsmusiccenter]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

If that guitar was built in the custom shop today, it would have a suggested retail of about $4000.00. After figuring in inflation it's probably 15% more than it was back in 84.

[shreddermon]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

In 1986, I paid $1,300 for my first Jackson - a custom ordered Soloist. Adjusted for inflation, that is about $2,120 in 2003 dollars.

Compare that to what it would cost to custom order a guitar with the same specs today ($2,200 to $2,400-ish, depending on dealer discount). Or - say - the SL1 ($1,500 to $1,600-ish), which is a comparable USA production guitar.

From a price perspective, not too much to complain about over the years, IMHO. Pricing for custom orders is fairly comparable. Maybe 10 to 15% higher over nearly 20 years. (About the same as what Matt just figured above.) And USA Selects - which weren't even an option back then - are a downright bargain. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[shreddermon]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

Edit: Come to think of it, although I received the guitar in '86, I placed the order around the summer/fall of 1985. So if you adjust for inflation back to the year of pricing, it's $2,196 in 2003 dollars.

[mattsmusiccenter]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

So that's even less of an increase. I wonder how this compares to say, automobile prices over the same time period...

[hippietim]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

Comparing automobiles isn't *quite* the same but it's still an interesting data point. The vehicle you get today is dramatically more sophisticated than one from 20 years ago. It is safer, more fuel effecient, more reliable, etc. A Jackson built today is going to be pretty much the same (you can debate that but speaking simply they are about the same).

I don't know what the average price for vehicles is or was back then. If I were betting though, I would bet that the cost of vehicles has dropped when you consider inflation.

[mattsmusiccenter]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

Good point. Guitars aren't really safer, more reliable or more fuel efficient now, are they. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[RR05xx]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

[ QUOTE ]
You should see the shellacing Charvels get on other forums. People are not amused. We think they are the bee's knee's, but the rest of the guitar world ain't buyin it. Literally.


[/ QUOTE ]

I must admit that I do not go to other guitar forums (besides CC - what can I say, I like what I like), but that does not surprise me.

However, I willl share this:

When I took my '83 SD (No. 2900) for a set up (thanks again Monte!!) the tech made a point of telling me that he was really IMPRESSED (his word, not mine) with how it played (even with the Kalher flat mount [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]). I did not ask his opinion and I know he is a fender/gibson guy by nature.

[hippietim]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

[ QUOTE ]
You should see the shellacing Charvels get on other forums. People are not amused. We think they are the bee's knee's, but the rest of the guitar world ain't buyin it. Literally.

I applaud Fender for doing this, cause from what I see, if the company was only concerned with the bottom line, Charvel would already be history. Again.

[/ QUOTE ]

Right on Chuck. I hang out at the TDPRI (Telecaster) board a lot. Those guys slam Charvel/Jackson any time it comes up. Hell, most of the guys slam the Stratocaster [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] These guys get excited every single time some posts yet another picture of a butterscotch Tele with a black pickguard. [img]/images/graemlins/sleep.gif[/img]

Almost every other forum I visit has the same response to Jackson's.

Even the guitar forum at work. They give me **** about my guitars all the time - making fun of them being 80's guitars. Of course these guys like 50's guitars and get excited every time one of them gets yet another tobacco burst Strat with a white pickguard.

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

well I'll buy into the inflation factor between 1984 to 2004 however is the quality the same as it was back then? That is what is question and I would tend to think not!

[hippietim]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

Shawn, it's hard to say isn't it?

I know most around here consider the SD stuff to be the holy grail and all. However, I remember trying those things out brand new and just being amazed how different they all felt. I had an SD Charvel Explorer that really sucked ass. I got it at a Veneman Music May Day sale really cheap. I came to find out why they were blowing it out - it was not a good guitar.

My SD Rhoads on the other hand was just smokin'. If I ever run across that one again...

Anyhow, my point is now things are probably a lot more consistent than they were in 1984. I wouldn't argue that the detailed workmanship was better in 1984 - clearly it was.

[shreddermon]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

Agreed. There are good and bad ones from every era. I can't say that I've ever truly played a "bad" one yet, but some have been better than others.

Also, isn't it a little unfair to compare quality on the USA Select line - production guitars - to SD customs? Or any era's customs, for that matter. Especially when you look at the inflation-adjusted price difference.

[YetAnotherOne]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

Not really. Back then the customs were the production models whereas today (correct me if I'm wrong) the customs are built by the same folks building the USA Selects. I don't see where a quality difference should arise in that scenario. If OTOH there were a completely separate custom shop today filled with the creme de la creme of the shop it would be tough to compare. Since that's not the case it seems that comparisons shouldn't really pose any issues.

[shreddermon]

Re: Charvel San Dimas Custom Shop Guitars Populari

I don't agree. When you look at the huge price difference between USA Selects and custom orders, you can understand how the guys in the custom shop can (and should) afford to take their time to ensure tippity-top quality on customs. Sometimes, they may not have quite that much of a luxury in finishing up a USA Select, especially since they're built in batches and have tighter production schedules.

From that perspective, I do think SD customs vs. USA Selects is a bit of an unfair comparison. That's not to say there isn't a close relationship. My point being that just because it's the same people doesn't necessarily always equate to the exact same level of quality.

That said, every USA Select I've ever played was very high quality. Any flaws I've seen were minor nit-picking type stuff. And custom or no, everyone's bound to have a bad day every once in a while.