New Chavel Website

[rjohnstone]

Well, they still make them in japan:

http://www.jacksonstars.com/charvel07g.html#model_c

but importing them is another story, plus I know that one has a dinky body and 24 frets, not totally traditional, and the uglyist headstock in guitar history.

And they come with REAL Floyds!!!
I love the Model C. I can live with the headstock... looks just like my PC1.

[shreddermon]

Japan doesn't provide the huge labor cost savings that it did back in the late 80s. That's why you see other companies farming out their current import lines to plants in Korea, Indonesia & China. Not to mention that the last MIJ Charvel line pretty muched flopped after only a couple of years.

IMHO, if they're going to do an import Charvel line, MIM would probably be much more likely.

Not saying there's actually going to be Charvel imports, mind you. Just saying that - if they do - the workers are more likely to be eating burritos for lunch, rather than sushi.

[YetAnotherOne]

... and the uglyist headstock in guitar history.

Second ugliest maybe.

[tanpsi]

Well, there's something about that Charvel one, maybe because it's so close to a strat, that's kind of strange, but yeah that James Tyler is pretty odd!

[rjohnstone]

Them mexi-strats are pretty decent. IF they were to bring the Model line back and IF they were to be built there, I'd buy one.

[tanpsi]

Japan doesn't provide the huge labor cost savings that it did back in the late 80s. That's why you see other companies farming out their current import lines to plants in Korea, Indonesia & China. Not to mention that the last MIJ Charvel line pretty muched flopped after only a couple of years.

IMHO, if they're going to do an import Charvel line, MIM would probably be much more likely.

Not saying there's actually going to be Charvel imports, mind you. Just saying that - if they do - the workers are more likely to be eating burritos for lunch, rather than sushi.

I would try that if I were Fender, just really pay attention to the design of necks, because to me that's the one of the things that set Jackson/Charvels apart. If they just paint flames on a Standard Strat, I don't think that would go over too well. It be nice to throw in a real Floyd too!

[GodWentPUNK]

I have a MIM strat and upgraded the pickups to the Vintage noiseless one and this guitar now rocks.

joe...

[jrnic]

Them mexi-strats are pretty decent. IF they were to bring the Model line back and IF they were to be built there, I'd buy one.

I agree. I would love to see that. A nice line of Charvel Model series guitars that you don't have to sell off your first born to afford!!!

[CharvelRocker]

Japan doesn't provide the huge labor cost savings that it did back in the late 80s. That's why you see other companies farming out their current import lines to plants in Korea, Indonesia & China. Not to mention that the last MIJ Charvel line pretty muched flopped after only a couple of years.

IMHO, if they're going to do an import Charvel line, MIM would probably be much more likely.

Not saying there's actually going to be Charvel imports, mind you. Just saying that - if they do - the workers are more likely to be eating burritos for lunch, rather than sushi.

The reason I was leaning towards Japan is Charvels were traditionally a Japanese buitl guitar, and Fender currently owns the Jackson plant there. It would probably be cheaper for them to make them out of the Jackson plant in Japan where the Pro/X/MG series are made, as you could probably make bodies and necks for both out of the same plant, and badge them Charvel or Jackson.

[hippietim]

The new site has just as much up to date information as the old site.

[tanpsi]

The reason I was leaning towards Japan is Charvels were traditionally a Japanese buitl guitar, and Fender currently owns the Jackson plant there. It would probably be cheaper for them to make them out of the Jackson plant in Japan where the Pro/X/MG series are made, as you could probably make bodies and necks for both out of the same plant, and badge them Charvel or Jackson.

You're right, in this case they have a lot in place to start producing Japanese Charvels, since I think it's the same factory they may even have the plans for the Model series sitting in a filing cabinet somewhere!

The $600 DK2 (made in Japan) is a very good deal, I know some companies sell Korean made guitars for a lot more than that.

[jackson1]

About the "re-fueling" thing... remember Eddie at the January NAMM, commenting on the his Fender / Charvel relationship?:

..."This is only the beginning. This is only the top of the ice cube. Wait till we get to the iceberg!"

I wonder when that will play out...

[Learn Guitars]

By saying they are Refueling...Does it mean they are out of gas?

[max]

The reason I was leaning towards Japan is Charvels were traditionally a Japanese buitl guitar,

Absolutely, they should go back to where Takahashi Charvel, the famous Japanese guitar builder, started it all: the small Japanese town of Sano Dimaka! This is the place where he built the first Charvel, the legendary Model 4, which he immediately started selling used on Ebay with so much success.

scnr

[Jeff Albertson]

Well, I bought a buttload of Charvel stuff over the last few years and I'm fine with putting things a lid for a little while. Look at all those dealers that dumped NOS stuff on Ebay for nothing. USA Stars were going for $600.
If they could keep steady with economical custom runs that would be great. Look at what TMZ & GCDL has been doing. They have a steady flow of decent guitars coming thru and the prices are pretty reasonable. They don't need to make 10000000000000 guitars per year.
This is a perfect brand to keep a lid on the production line.
You know the curve....production low price is high..production meets demand price levels...production exceeds capacity price increases.
Persoanlly, I wonder if they'll try to fuk up a good thing. They'll sell 2,000-3,000 guitars a year easy. No need for a huge marketing budget or artist sigs. Just keep it as a well oiled custom shop and let it be.