San Dimas basics.

[zeegler]

Let's say I found a guitar in a pawn shop that looked like it might be a San Dimas. How would a clueless person such as myself be able to tell one from just a regular old Charvel.

So far from reading threads on this site I have deduced the following things (and please correct me if I'm wrong).

1. Small control cavity.
2. Metal cavity plates.
3. 3-a-side guitar logo.
4. Skunk stripe.
5. 12th fret dots spaced close together.
6. Brass plate control cavity shielding.
7. 4 digit serial number.

Am I forgetting anything, or is anything incorrect. Please let's hear what everyone has to say on this subject.

[diablomozart]

Re: San Dimas basics.

hmmm...there were some with a 5 digit numbers as well...very early...but i think all the rest looks right...d.m.

[WAR IN D]

Re: San Dimas basics.

You forgot one very important thing.. The location of the pawn shop!! [img]graemlins/brow.gif[/img]

Email me privately with that info, as just like in real estate.. Location, location, location.. is the important thing.. I could tell you if it's real just by knowing where it is.. [img]graemlins/nono.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/poke.gif[/img]

J/K man, keep that a secret until you can determine.. or it'll magically dissappear faster than you can say.. "Where the hell did it go!!"

Sounds good, and with a skunk stripe.. it's screamin' strathead!! If you can, take some pics (carefully not showing any hint of where it is.. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ) and the experts here can tell you for sure.

Good luck!!

[Chuckracer]

Re: San Dimas basics.

http://www.sandimascharvel.com/startpage.htm

[zeegler]

Re: San Dimas basics.

That's another good point. I'm assuming all stratheads have the skunk stripe. What about pointy's?

[yogadork]

Re: San Dimas basics.

very early models had a shiny plastic CC cover

[straycat]

Re: San Dimas basics.

The cavity cover thing everybody talks about I just dont know.I had the next to last san dimas strat head 5490 it had a plastic cover kinda thick too.I know of an early ontario strat that has a plastic cover too.Small san dimas rout.ser num 14xx. [img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

[zeegler]

Re: San Dimas basics.

Originally posted by Richard:
The cavity cover thing everybody talks about I just dont know.I had the next to last san dimas strat head 5490 it had a plastic cover kinda thick too.I know of an early ontario strat that has a plastic cover too.Small san dimas rout.ser num 14xx. [img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">From what I understand, the early San Dimas guitars had the shiny plastic covers, but as far as I know, late serial numbers should have the aluminum covers.

[Manyaxes]

Re: San Dimas basics.

No skunk on the pointies! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Toby]

Re: San Dimas basics.

Originally posted by ManyAxes:
No skunk on the pointies! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Afaik, some few of the early pointies had skunk stripes.

[xenophobe]

Re: San Dimas basics.

SD Charvels for dummies at a glance:

Pointys:
it usually says "Made in USA"
gold Charvel neck plate
brushed black aluminum cavity covers (common on later model, plastic on early models)

Stratheads:
prepro w/ blank brass neckplate with tiny headstock logo possibly 21 fret neck, plastic covers
Charvel neck plate 22 fret neck, plastic covers
one string keeper (usually) or a string tree (uncommon)
Truss hole at headstock plugged with darker wood.
Skunk stripe.

As far as the small cavity, some imports had them too.

If it has any of these features it's most likely not SD:
white logo with 6 inline tuners (import)
Jackson Logo'd trem

There are ALWAYS exceptions to the rules though. There was a Japanese Charvel Strathead that had the correct skunk stripe, 3 per side logo, small cavity, correct 12th fret spacing, etc...

[ November 10, 2003, 12:55 PM: Message edited by: xenophobe ]