Would you buy a modern Charvel strathead?

[hippietim]

What's better, grape or cherry? :ROTF:

Vanilla.

[hippietim]

Hey Chuck and Pat, I have but one thing to say to you two:






































































































Denny Crane

[BLOOD SPLATTER]

So I guess I've made Chuck's shit list now, for whatever reason. Thanks for the snotty response and pot shot, Chuck. Not sure why I deserve it. That's disappointing, esp. coming from someone I still consider a "bro", despite our disagreements on this issue.

In any event, my point was just that whether you believe the "mojo" stuff or not - old or new - it's kind of hard to hold that kind of statement against him. It should be expected, as it's part of his job.

Whatever.

Not at all Pat....if you were on my "shit list"....or if I had one lol....I'd say so....!!We're cool afaic!!

[BLOOD SPLATTER]

oh....& Joe Scott & Tim....re: what's the best Kool-aid??....none!!

[atomic charvel guy]

best kool aid - an air conditioner, the earlier made ones-lol

[hippietim]

oh....& Joe Scott & Tim....re: what's the best Kool-aid??....none!!

Black Cherry is the best.

[jwoods986]

back to topic - yes, I would consider buying a new Charvel. I haven't had much opportunity to play them, just a couple EVHs which I love! I also briefly played a new copperhead, H/H pointy at GC back in May but didn't care for the too-thin neck or the rosewood board. It's gotta be maple and a little more beef on the back - like the EVH

[toejam]

oh....& Joe Scott & Tim....re: what's the best Kool-aid??....none!!

Oh, you're one of those Hawaiian Punch guys, huh?!?

[toejam]

I also briefly played a new copperhead, H/H pointy at GC back in May but didn't care for the too-thin neck or the rosewood board. It's gotta be maple and a little more beef on the back - like the EVH

Yeah, I wish my '05 Star had a slightly thicker, rounder neck, but it's not bad. It's supposed to be similar to the King V "speed neck" profile. It's still thicker than my old '94 string-thru Dinky HX. Overall, I dig it.

[tanpsi]

I would rather have a Strat Head than the pointy, but I personally don't see the point in the modern type tremelos, for me it's either Fixed or Floyd.

And if new ones sold for 800 or even 1,000 that would be a great deal!

[RR05xx]

best kool aid - an air conditioner, the earlier made ones-lol

I must bow down to you Tommy! Good timing and delivery.

BTW - I have played new ones (and have bought and returned them, that is another story) and I own a new one, and I own old ones and have played a ton of them (geography has its privileges).

The new pointy profile is dead on IMHO to one of the roughly 3 pointy profiles they made (I know Chuck, you say more like 5 oz., but I say its 3 oz. of cool aid! LOL!), yes its the thin one (they made a thin, a medium and one that is really thick), but I have an 83 with same thin profile and I have played them head to head. Its the same profile that is one the GX Bullseye that everyone thinks is the cats ass BTW (big surprise there) - I playued a GX head to head with a Dweezil as well. I personally think the new ones "feel" like they should (or at least I thought they did), minus the 20 years of playing and gunk.

Another thing that I have noticed is that I think that the people's subtle complaining about the thinness of the earlier new pointies may have sunk in, the ones that I have played [and own(ed)] that were made in the last year or so tend to have a slightly thicker profile that I think is really nice!

Now back to the original thread:

That sounds cool and may be good to try to market to expand the Charvel appeal to others today, but, I can say that I would not buy one as it would not be a Charvel to me. That said, it may be the kind of action that fender may need to take to get things really going if Charvel is going to take off again. I do not think that marketing to us geezers is going to really line fender's coffers at the end of the day, and isnt that what big business is all about anyway.

My $0.25

[Mickey_C]

I hated my anniversary charvel the moment I pulled it from the box. The thing was like this toy - this shiny little guitar with a slick little neck that felt nothing like the originals I owned. But, having spent the money, without any haggling, and facing the fact that I was going to take a real beating on it if I turned and dumped the piece of crap Charvel imposter, I did what is unusual for me: I set it up with some new strings, and intonation, and trem adjustment, and sat and played it for a few hours.

And then a few more. And then the next day. And then all night.

And I couldn't stop, and still haven't. It is a toy, and that's its most disarming achievement. It's too easy, too slick, too perfect. Playing it is effortless and mindless, endless fun. It's got a crazy focused sound, with punch and clarity, and a really fundamental note to its sustain. It's kick-f'ing-ass.

So I sat and thought about this phenomenal instrument, and had a realization. Our mind so often measures by what is bad, more than what is good, because our mind takes note of the areas we struggle in, and not those things that are second nature. So the little guitar doesn't feel Charvel, and gets written off. Plays too easy.. neck not wide enough.. not enough stretch.. sound too perfect. It's transparency becomes it's downfall. I betcha Stradivarius's are the same way. When you play them, they just disappear and it's you and your music, and your "playing" with your "toy", having childlike fun. The problem is we keep our eyes so screwed on backwards we don't see the new stuff for what it is until its 10 years behind us, and we're wondering why we didn't line our walls with the stuff while we could. If Charvels were thought so perfect back then, why'd we all sell them? See the point?

So I went and bought an HRF.

And now I am considering a bullseye.

And I think I am going to order a Jolly Roger with three single coils, rear mount, like the NAMM HRF.

And maybe one of those bitchin' polka dot ones too.

I'm going to buy as many as I can, and keep them this time.

Is it a recreation of the old school Charvel strathead? NO.

Is the latest 'Vette true to its old 50's car? NO. Thank god. Manufacturers can at least learn something in the intervening years.

Once I yanked my head out of my arse, I could see the new stuff is awesome, and this time I'm stocking up.

My .02

Mickey

[83SanDimas]

Peedenmark7 wrote..."but if you dont tell the chef your steak was over/under done he has no way to correct the problem in the kitchen...
nor is it the restaurant managers job to tailor that customer opinion to the chefs liking.
sometimes the chef needs to hear it straight from the customers mouth. I love these guitars dearly... I know and have had great working relationships /ultimate respect over the years with/for the gentlemen building them...

but this company desperately needs to RE-figure out what the term
"san dimas " means before they put refer to any instrument they send out as that"

I agree and must say that my biggest concern is what I feel is the dismissal of the customers complaints, or the downplaying of the issues in the past. I think it is handeled better now than in the past but not to the level that would make me comfortable ordering a custom shop. I say this because I love the brand and want to see it as number 1 and you have to be the best to be #1.


Kevin Maynard wrote..."I see older collectors constantly talk about mojo. Mojo wasn't created at the factory, it was created by all the guys beating down the path to their dream at every sleazy smoke filled, alcohol induced dive they could play to make a name .. that's mojo... To equate mojo to something walking out of the factory gives a false sense of product build periods. The fact is for every few awesome charvels built from that time period there are dogs as well.

I agree that they need to take a hard look at quality and I've been assured they are doing that. I love C/J prouct as much as any of the oldtimers and I don't want to see it fail because then a little bit of all our glory days fades away ...

Bottom line ..please post things on your own merit and don't worry about the administration ..."

Amen brother, but with love you can teach a dog to fetch...


Jimmy B said "After all these years as a "custom" builder, Charvel should be hanging on the same racks with Anderson, Grosh, Suhr, etc..."

That is what I am driving at. This is where I see Charvels and think it must evolve. The past is the past.



Tanpsi wrote "I would rather have a Strat Head than the pointy, but I personally don't see the point in the modern type tremelos, for me it's either Fixed or Floyd.

And if new ones sold for 800 or even 1,000 that would be a great deal!"

Sure, floyds and fixed... if we were the only ones buying. But a boutique shop hi quality guitar needs to be innovative and consistent. I see another alternative for the Suhr/Andersen crowd here... I also think the guitar I invision will have to sell for more than 1k and would command that easily



Mickey_C wrote.. "I hated my anniversary charvel the moment I pulled it from the box. The thing was like this toy - this shiny little guitar with a slick little neck that felt nothing like the originals I owned. But, having spent the money, without any haggling, and facing the fact that I was going to take a real beating on it if I turned and dumped the piece of crap Charvel imposter, I did what is unusual for me: I set it up with some new strings, and intonation, and trem adjustment, and sat and played it for a few hours.

And then a few more. And then the next day. And then all night.

And I couldn't stop, and still haven't. It is a toy, and that's its most disarming achievement. It's too easy, too slick, too perfect. Playing it is effortless and mindless, endless fun. It's got a crazy focused sound, with punch and clarity, and a really fundamental note to its sustain. It's kick-f'ing-ass.

So I sat and thought about this phenomenal instrument, and had a realization. Our mind so often measures by what is bad, more than what is good, because our mind takes note of the areas we struggle in, and not those things that are second nature. So the little guitar doesn't feel Charvel, and gets written off. Plays too easy.. neck not wide enough.. not enough stretch.. sound too perfect. It's transparency becomes it's downfall. I betcha Stradivarius's are the same way. When you play them, they just disappear and it's you and your music, and your "playing" with your "toy", having childlike fun. The problem is we keep our eyes so screwed on backwards we don't see the new stuff for what it is until its 10 years behind us, and we're wondering why we didn't line our walls with the stuff while we could. If Charvels were thought so perfect back then, why'd we all sell them? See the point?

So I went and bought an HRF.

And now I am considering a bullseye.

And I think I am going to order a Jolly Roger with three single coils, rear mount, like the NAMM HRF.

And maybe one of those bitchin' polka dot ones too.

I'm going to buy as many as I can, and keep them this time.

Is it a recreation of the old school Charvel strathead? NO.

Is the latest 'Vette true to its old 50's car? NO. Thank god. Manufacturers can at least learn something in the intervening years.

Once I yanked my head out of my arse, I could see the new stuff is awesome, and this time I'm stocking up.

My .02

Mickey"


Damn fine words. My 25th puts a smile on my face every time I play it. I bouth it expecting to sell it the next week and I get a kick out of it every time I play it.



I guess my thoughts on Charvel is that it was rushed to market. Could still be an industry leader, and needs to expand the customer base. Fender should embrace this boutique step child and let it grow. It has to break out of the limited market and attract the best players on its own merrit, like it did years ago. Nostalgia is not enough, years ago it was done with innovation.

[~K~]

Is the latest 'Vette true to its old 50's car? NO. Thank god. Manufacturers can at least learn something in the intervening years.

BINGO!! The new guy gets it!!

[peedenmark7]

kevin,
THANK YOU !!
I am glad you and others understand as this is extremely frustrating for me....

I really didnt wanna post further.... but.... this is really healthy and appears to be heading in the right direction. !


Q: would I buy a modernized version of a charvel ?

A: f^cK yea ,and morgtage my house to buy multiples, PROVIDED the boutiquey small run quality as charvel once was known for was there.
I'm talking teens charvel serial range


I'll further by saying, though I friggin love the thought of being 21, its time at least for me to leave the crossed swords, blood skull and lynch tiger/camo sub days behind.
had the real ones, love the repop idea,and still buy in the rare event they are made available to me.

man, there is so much happening out there guitar wise today... !!!!!!!
todays upstarts are again pushing the big 2.


I am glad we have stratheads [told ya]...and I am glad c/j still will do whatever we can dream up .
[price a hamer or dean and look at those upcharges for the simplest of options]...
but dont just do what I/we want, make me wanna keep it for life...

man its a drag trying to bible pump guys today how good those/these guitars are/were when you see 20 new ones being resold for dirt cheap on ebay.

hell, I still have 2 of the first 3 charvel or jackson guitars that I bought new from '84-86.. I will be buried or torched with J 0705

"this upstart grover minded company is no longer on the cutting edge...
and just maybe that is our fault for not letting them be/do so...
I'll say I am not in touch with these guys like I once was.. but they've all said it does get boring rehashing the past."

many today dont necessarily want locking muchless recessed trems, graphics UNLESS their own design, after all thats what graphics are all about, making your statement......
but hey they do sell to a nostalgia audience and thats A.O.K.

trends do come and go...but "playing naked" [without trems and glitsy effects,paint jobs] transcend time.


I'd personally like to see, more exotic woods on any body theme from jackson or charvel, I believe theyre tomorrows broadcaster,earl gibby explorer,V ,futura collectible etc.

long term , over time nothing beats the look of wood....exotic cutting bans are becoming common place, you wont be able to get wild wood forever........so this is where I have ventured.

I am not saying go out and spend $4-5k for a solid flamed koa soloist, but hey resale 20 yrs from now will likely be stronger than any artwork..

what it boils down to is this... you can put whatever name you want on a headstock.
if it plays great, you'll keep it forever and make it your own and leave many women for it,.....
thus adding the mojo ,tears, spilled beer and pizza that only playing it often can do , It will become your best friend and your whipping post.
20 yrs later your ex band mates will talk about that guitar with your kids.

if it sucks, youre gonna piss and moan about it not being the godlike
treasure you read about, thus sending it to 2nd hand land and moving on.

we're all very different , with regard to guitar wants and needs, yet we all individually want our guitar compainies to be successful .

enough for me...thanks for the open ear guys....
P7