Charvel Ltd. Edition "Naturals"

[surfreak]

So what do you think of the ltd. edition custom shop run ordered by Music Zoo?

Oiled mahogany body, strathead, 1 hum. pickup, OFR... definitely a departure from the usual Charvel flash, but I like the idea very much, so I put my name on one.

Tonally, the combination of a maple neck with mahogany body on a 25.5" scale has always been my favorite, it retains the strong fundamental tone of mahogany and the snap of a long scale maple neck.

Opinions?

[neilli]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

I think they should be really cool, especially for the price. The original specs stated a direct mounted zebra humbucker, which I'd have preferred, but I could live with the new specs....

Also, if you get bored with the appearance, you could get a pro spray job and still have a total that's alot less than a custom order strathead [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[pagemalicious]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

Wow, i didn't even know about this. It does look pretty nice although i really like the look of natural KOA than any other wood [img]/images/graemlins/drool2.gif[/img]

[Chrisb]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

Very retro kind of guitar, I agree about the Koa but I think it would be neat to have done this guitar in a chambered Indian Rosewood body. But the classic mahogany is a very cool idea. Is the neck birdseye because then it would remind me of the SD Reissues a little bit. Why didn't they get the pups direct mounted? I agree that would have been awesome!

[Big D]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

I was going to order one but decided not too at the last minute. I just don't know if I like the unfinished mahogany as well as some other naturals I've seen. Plus I really wish they spec'd it with a single in the neck.

That said though, I'm sure they'll be great players.

[neilli]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

[ QUOTE ]
I agree about the Koa but I think it would be neat to have done this guitar in a chambered Indian Rosewood body

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess the mindset was to create an affordable, no-frills guitar, and Koa or semi-hollow would have added alot to the price....

[shreddermon]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

Kind of cool, but the single hum and unfinished body are not my bag.

[Chrisb]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

[ QUOTE ]
guess the mindset was to create an affordable, no-frills guitar, and Koa or semi-hollow would have added alot to the price....

[/ QUOTE ]
While I can understand that, I think its kinda not the right choice with a custom shop. I mean if you want no frills why not go with a Charvel Standard? I actually think the intent was to recreate an old style natural guitar. At least based on the specs that would be my guess. I mean if price is the issue then a custom shop is probably not the place to be looking. And Koa would not have added much to the price.... Rosewood most definitely, no idea on the upcharge but I would guess 350+ and then unless you want to be hauling around a freaking log you would need to chamber it for weight, and I am sure there is a decent upcharge for that.

[neilli]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

True, but you can't get a strathead without going to through the custom shop - that isn't a standard option....

[Chrisb]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

Forgot about that, originally there was word that it was an option but that was proven false.

[surfreak]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

I think the issue here is pure tone, not looks or price.

If there is one "wrong" or objectively improvable element in the usual Charvel, that is the thick poly lacquer and paint they're coated with. It just kills the natural resonance, but I'd say that is not a concern raised by many SD's fans, as it appears that these Charvels are acclaimed for their looks, 80's vibe and playability, more than pure tone.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Charvel classic flashy graphics, but at least for me, tone will always come first: if the SD's were lacquered with nitrocellulose, there would be a noticeable tone improvement in my opinion.

Even better, an oiled mahogany body and unfinished neck (from what I've seen, the neck is plain maple, not birdseye), without a drop of thick poly. Not to mention the obvious tonal advantages of the strathead shape...

[Chrisb]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

[ QUOTE ]
Not to mention the obvious tonal advantages of the strathead shape...

[/ QUOTE ]
Are you serious? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I really doubt the finish on the body was an issue. Of the things that affect tone I would probably rank the coating dead last. And Charvels are acclaimed for their pure tone..as well as playability and looks. Your coating argument would be much more valid IMO if it were an acoustic guitar we were talking about where the guitar itself is reponsible for the majority of the tone.

And if you want the best tone and coating is an issue then why not go for rosewood. It requires no finish at all and its one of the most resonant woods. Nah I think price was an issue I just don't think it was the primary one. I think it was more about bringing back the old school.

[surfreak]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Not to mention the obvious tonal advantages of the strathead shape...

[/ QUOTE ]
Are you serious? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]



[/ QUOTE ]

I'll let you decide [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I don't dispute the reason why they decided to make this run, I simply stated what is my reason to get one...

Incidentally, I used to own a solid rosewood Tele, just like George Harrison's, and it was absolutely dead tonally!
In terms of resonance, I tend to agree with Allan Holdsworth, lightweight woods (swamp ash, basswood, alder, even mahogany at times) sound better to my ears.

Anyway, I'll post a review once I get it! [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[XSSIVE]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

the idea actually started with the music zoo and Wayne guitars when Wayne was still using dealers. the zoo asked if Wayne would make a no frills oiled mahogany guitar at a lower price. Wayne was so-so on the idea but went with it and the monster series was born. then Wayne quit using dealers so the zoo couldn't order more. so as soon as charvel could use the strathead they decided to do it again with them since the monsters from Wayne sold well. this is what i was told from Tim at the zoo when i asked about it.

i think it's a cool idea. i have 2 guitars that have mahogany bodies (1pc) and maple necks and they sound killer. one is a wayne mutt that was oiled which is now at paint (got bored of the oil look), the other is a parts mutt/Clone that is also painted. the mahogany adds a nice amount of low end and warmth to the typical floyded "super strat".

these should be pretty cool no frills guitars when done!

-Mike

[Chrisb]

Re: Charvel Ltd. Edition \"Naturals\"

[ QUOTE ]
Incidentally, I used to own a solid rosewood Tele, just like George Harrison's, and it was absolutely dead tonally!
In terms of resonance, I tend to agree with Allan Holdsworth, lightweight woods (swamp ash, basswood, alder, even mahogany at times) sound better to my ears.

[/ QUOTE ]
I can believe this, I did alot of research on rosewood for my eventual Charvel custom. And here is the problem with rosewood. Its dense and very heavy as you noted, its also oily. All those things make it good in that you don't need to do much to it finish wise. However all those things can make for a very mushy sounding guitar. So the solutions most experts suggested was to chamber the body, this decreases the weight, allows the wood more room to breathe and increases the sustain and resonance. The weight of the wood doesn't have much to do with the sustain or resonance though if anything I think heavier is better (hence Les Pauls). But I think its more to do with highs and lows, sounds like you respond better to tonally brighter woods. Because Ash and Mahogany both can vary weight wise, some types of ash are heavy. And some types of mahogany are lighter.

Xssive, that sorta confirms what I thought, though it wasn't a throwback to a retro Charvel but rather to Wayne guitars. Still its always cool IMO to do those sort of "reissue" type runs. I'd like to some day do a limited run based either from the SD IV (cept this with a true strathead) or maybe a prepro type all birdseye Strat. Or a bound flatop. Something along those lines.