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Well, my first legit serialized one, at least. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] My EVH came in yesterday! [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] Lots o' pics, then some words...
I've only got about 45 minutes playing time on her so far, so here's some early first impressions.
Neck: The backshape is pretty nice. I really like it. With time, I might even grow to love it. I definitely prefer thin and wide pointyheads more, but this is very comfortable. Comparing it to another well-known Cali. boutique maker [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] , it's somewhat similar. You certainly wouldn't mistake the two for each other, though. The EVH has an offset profile, so it's fatter on the bass side and a hair thinner on the treble side. I would consider it a Charvel relative. Not in the immediate family, but maybe like a close cousin that you've always liked. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] BTW, it's a one-piece neck.
The fretwork is immaculate. Seriously. I could not find a flaw. Surprisingly, though, they're not the standard J/C jumbos! A little skinnier, but about the same height and shape. Medium jumbos, maybe? To my hand, I noticed the "feel" difference with the frets on my old Y2KV much more than this EVH. Not a drastic difference at all. Actually, IMHO, the appearance difference was more noticable than feel.
I dig the 1 & 5/8ths nut. Maybe I'm not so set in my ways, but the difference vs. an 11/16ths neck is not a big deal IMHO. I can easily switch between the two. Otherwise, the neck feels standard Charvel coolness: nice rolled edges; smooth, slick and fast.
Body: The basswood is nice. Sure, I'd prefer alder or ash, but this has a very decent tone, too. Maybe I just got a heavier piece but, weight-wise, mine sure feels similar to an alder body.
The graphic is killer. My wife - who usually yawns at my guitar obsessions - remarked "that is way f**kin cool", when I pulled it out of the case. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
It seems like they intentionally went with thin coats of paint and clearcoat. (...Possibly trying to not "smother" the wood's natural tone?) In fact, it's transparent enough that you can see some of the stripe layers underneath each other. I don't recall seeing that in other folks' EVH pics. It's kind of cool.
My only gripe is here, though: the buffing job done on the body was subpar. It's definitely not the standard J/C poly buffed out to a fine sheet of glass. Not anything to send a guitar back for, mind you. You've got to have your eye right up to the body, and angle it to shine a reflection and notice it. But a minor disappointment, nonetheless.
Pickup: It's kind of weak. ...But I don't mean that as a negative comment! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Seriously. This is not a balls-to-the-wall pickup. It's a very open-voiced, ringing chord to-hear-each-string / singing solo harmonics kind of pickup. You know...a pickup that makes the amp work for you. Not vice-versa. Think old broken-in PAF or '59. It REALLY nails the old-style VH tone closely, IMHO. An excellent job by the FMIC PU guys.
Set-up: It's very good. The action was a little on the high side, so I'm going to lower it a bit. (And there's not a buzz anywhere, so I'm sure it'll take it easily.) Everything else was damn good.
Bottom line: It's a great axe. Very worthy of the Charvel name. Kudos to the guys in the custom shop for building yet another killer piece. [img]/images/graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img]
And many thanks to Matt's Music for yet another great deal with awesome service. [img]/images/graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img]
...OK, I'll shut up now. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
I've only got about 45 minutes playing time on her so far, so here's some early first impressions.
Neck: The backshape is pretty nice. I really like it. With time, I might even grow to love it. I definitely prefer thin and wide pointyheads more, but this is very comfortable. Comparing it to another well-known Cali. boutique maker [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] , it's somewhat similar. You certainly wouldn't mistake the two for each other, though. The EVH has an offset profile, so it's fatter on the bass side and a hair thinner on the treble side. I would consider it a Charvel relative. Not in the immediate family, but maybe like a close cousin that you've always liked. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] BTW, it's a one-piece neck.
The fretwork is immaculate. Seriously. I could not find a flaw. Surprisingly, though, they're not the standard J/C jumbos! A little skinnier, but about the same height and shape. Medium jumbos, maybe? To my hand, I noticed the "feel" difference with the frets on my old Y2KV much more than this EVH. Not a drastic difference at all. Actually, IMHO, the appearance difference was more noticable than feel.
I dig the 1 & 5/8ths nut. Maybe I'm not so set in my ways, but the difference vs. an 11/16ths neck is not a big deal IMHO. I can easily switch between the two. Otherwise, the neck feels standard Charvel coolness: nice rolled edges; smooth, slick and fast.
Body: The basswood is nice. Sure, I'd prefer alder or ash, but this has a very decent tone, too. Maybe I just got a heavier piece but, weight-wise, mine sure feels similar to an alder body.
The graphic is killer. My wife - who usually yawns at my guitar obsessions - remarked "that is way f**kin cool", when I pulled it out of the case. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
It seems like they intentionally went with thin coats of paint and clearcoat. (...Possibly trying to not "smother" the wood's natural tone?) In fact, it's transparent enough that you can see some of the stripe layers underneath each other. I don't recall seeing that in other folks' EVH pics. It's kind of cool.
My only gripe is here, though: the buffing job done on the body was subpar. It's definitely not the standard J/C poly buffed out to a fine sheet of glass. Not anything to send a guitar back for, mind you. You've got to have your eye right up to the body, and angle it to shine a reflection and notice it. But a minor disappointment, nonetheless.
Pickup: It's kind of weak. ...But I don't mean that as a negative comment! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Seriously. This is not a balls-to-the-wall pickup. It's a very open-voiced, ringing chord to-hear-each-string / singing solo harmonics kind of pickup. You know...a pickup that makes the amp work for you. Not vice-versa. Think old broken-in PAF or '59. It REALLY nails the old-style VH tone closely, IMHO. An excellent job by the FMIC PU guys.
Set-up: It's very good. The action was a little on the high side, so I'm going to lower it a bit. (And there's not a buzz anywhere, so I'm sure it'll take it easily.) Everything else was damn good.
Bottom line: It's a great axe. Very worthy of the Charvel name. Kudos to the guys in the custom shop for building yet another killer piece. [img]/images/graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img]
And many thanks to Matt's Music for yet another great deal with awesome service. [img]/images/graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img]
...OK, I'll shut up now. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
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