No new Charvel porn lately? A sign of things to come?

[Predator1]

I have not noticed to many new Charvel pic's lately? I fear we will see even fewer with the new prices and the hoops one must jump through to get one. Has the rebirth of the Charvel brand already seen it's peak? At close to $3000.00 a piece I think FMIC has just about naile the coffin shut. Sorry just a Rant!

[Bengal65]

That's it. It's all she wrote. I was going to buy my first American made Charvel, but now......?

[petedz]

They seem to have delusions of grandeur. I have a guitar from one of the finest custom shops in the world which I picked up last year for less than 2G, albeit used. That guitar has flawless materials and workmanship, and was entirely "masterbuilt" by one guy.

As much as I love Charvels and Jacksons, I'm having trouble seeing the value proposition here. Who are they marketing these things to?

[gtrbuyer]

the other thing to consider is the amount of time it takes to get these custom orders completed (often in excessive of 14 months). I am currently waiting on 2 Charvels that I ordered. The long waits might also explain why we are not seeing many news ones, maybe folks are waiting.

[rjohnstone]

Are they hand carving these things with a dull 2" pocket knife?
I still don't understand why it takes so damn long to build a guitar.
I mean seriously.

[shreddermon]

the other thing to consider is the amount of time it takes to get these custom orders completed

+1. How often do you see a custom shop Jackson? I mean a true custom order, not a USA Select production guitar. Same situation, pretty much.

Remember, Charvels are custom order only now. So, unless you see a dealer sticking his neck out ordering custom guitars for stock (which is fairly rare), all that's being produced now are individuals' custom guitar orders. And, with few exceptions, those pre-ordered guitars aren't going to show up on dealers' web sites for all to see.

Otherwise, if folks are waiting for a nice example to just show up in a dealer's stock, they should expect a long wait. Guitars like that will likely be few and far between. And, even then, they might get grabbed up quickly. The recent price hike certainly isn't going to help that situation, either. Dealer stock will be even more rare now. Just MHO.

[VinceV]

At those price points and wait times. I would be hard pressed to order another J/C guitar. By far the nicest guitar I own in terms of quality and workmanship is a Hamer CS I had made for me about 2 years ago.

1 piece Korina body, ultimate quilt top, ebony board, backplate cut from the korina body so it matches perfect, and a few other personal touches.

Waiting time from the day I inquired about it(quotes took 1 day to get, revisions took 1 day to get, was even able to be in contact with Hamer directly) to the day I received it 3 1/2 months. Price, let's just say a huge bargain, less than any J/C CS order I had made before the price increase.

Oh and it showed up in perfect condition. 1 of my CS Jacksons wasn't even wired up. I plugged it in and all it did was hiss, both have backplates that don't even fit flush with the cutouts. Look at the wiring in my Hamer, now that's workmanship

[markD]

a couple of years ago these guitars (jacksons mostly) were a steal new, because they were wonderfully UNPRICED for what you would get. i was buying new ones all day at 1399 with graphics, or 1100 for solid colors. fmic has tried pricing them where they THINK they are worth. problem is, we are all used to buyig them cheaper so the prices seem (well are) insane.

custom shop is different....they have always been a bit pricier, but you are getting something unique...

i hope this came out how i am thinking of it...

[shreddermon]

Hey Vince - if you wouldn't mind, could you PM me which dealer you used for that Hamer and how much it was? I've seriously thought about going with Hamer for a roundhorn V order, but have no experience with them at all. Thanks.

[hippietim]

Vince, that Hamer is stunning. Congrats!

As for ordering a custom guitar these days, there are some truly remarkable instruments being made by a number of builders. Some of them are actually somewhat reasonably priced. At this point, unless you *have* to have exactly a Jackson/Charvel guitar there are no real limitations as to what you can get. In fact, with the new restrictions the options elsewhere are looking pretty darn good!

[daisp]

Love it Vince!

[69buickman]

Defanitly a different color for the hamer, but hey what ever floats your boat. I myself ordered a Jackson Custom shop with the Redrum graphic and was extremly pleased with the craftsmanship, but i suppose its all who builds it in the shop.

[VinceV]

Defanitly a different color for the hamer, but hey what ever floats your boat. I myself ordered a Jackson Custom shop with the Redrum graphic and was extremly pleased with the craftsmanship, but i suppose its all who builds it in the shop.

What you don't like the Goldfish?

I didn't mean to hijack the thread with my pics. My point was that probably what you paid for your Redrum Jackson CS and who knows how long you waited. There are other companies that will get you guitars such as my Hamer for around the same pricepoint/even less now and considerably shorter wait times.

[Joe_Steeler]

They thought we were bullshitting when we said bye!!!........

I am laughing all the way to Suhr

[gtrbuyer]

I am curious to know with many folks going elsewhere does that mean my Charvel orders will be built faster??