Charvel USA Production Model Series

[waylay00]

Mike, I just want to say thanks for filling in a gap in the guitar market that has been empty for a while. It's been hard to find a non-used, good quality, performance ("shredder" if I may say) guitar at this price level for a LONG time. Props to Charvel!

[Chubtone]

Yeah Mike, thanks for clearing this up. BTW, I have a 1980 preproduction guitar that has a 4-pc mahogany body. I know it's the real deal too because I bought it at a pawn shop in 1985 or 1986 when nobody was even thinking of faking these. Why fake a $300 guitar? LOL Also, if you old timers remember there was a few years there when nobody wanted strat heads. It was all about Randy Rhoads and his pointy headstock.

My favorite old Charvel is a 2-pc alder body. My best sounding guitar is a 3-pc Warmoth body.

As I type this, Jay is busting out "Children of the Grave" on his SD2 in the shop here. I just told him Mike is wondering why people are hating on his knob. He just said, "I like the knob now. After getting used to it the grip is awesome." If anything it should be good for sloughing off dead skin and calluses. I may put mine in the shower to use on my feet.

[savage]

Y Also, if you old timers remember there was a few years there when nobody wanted strat heads. It was all about Randy Rhoads and his pointy headstock.

dont remind me!:
That was the time to score as many of the stratheads as possible and i did not

[Hellraiser6502]

Hey whatever, to each their own...and as I already said it's a decent guitar at a fair price point. It will fill a niche in the 'Charvel' market.

However...

You'll never convince me that this is nothing more than a Charvel logo'd Fender....because I know the difference.

Strictly speaking for myself, I'm just not interested in a Fenvel.

Your mileage may vary.

[savage]

Hey whatever, to each their own...and as I already said it's a decent guitar at a fair price point. It will fill a niche in the 'Charvel' market.

However...

You'll never convince me that this is nothing more than a Charvel logo'd Fender....because I know the difference.

Strictly speaking for myself, I'm just not interested in a Fenvel.

Your mileage may vary.

no saracasm intended but do you own any old originals?

[hippietim]

You'll never convince me that this is nothing more than a Charvel logo'd Fender....because I know the difference.

Please articulate the differences between these so-called Fenvels and the equivalent "real" Charvel.

[Charvel Rocker]

Got my Charvel USA 1-2H Today

All I got to say it is Bad Ass!!!!The neck is awesome ..Ducan's are Bad Ass and the Floyd is just as good if not better than the German Floyd...

[savage]

All I got to say it is Bad Ass!!!!The neck is awesome ..Ducan's are Bad Ass and the Floyd is just as good if not better than the German Floyd...

yeah these are the meanest most evil "fenders" i have ever laid eyes on!

[Chubtone]

no saracasm intended but do you own any old originals?

I do. I've owned at least 20 originals and my employee Jay here has owned another 30. I've played tons of them. I've played several of the new Custom Shop models.

I think these new guitars are killer. They play as well as any of my best playing Charvels ever and the necks are right. They feel nothing like any Fender I have ever played. If they did..... I'd own a lot of Fenders.

[Hellraiser6502]

no saracasm intended but do you own any old originals?

I've been buying, selling, collecting Charvel/Jackson since 1984.

To answer your question.

Currently I own 6....but I've owned 50 or more over the last 24 years...in addition, my current collection of Jacksons includes at least 50 San Dimas made guitars.

The difference between the current guitars and the San Dimas originals is night and day in feel, appearance, fit & finish. If you had one of each side by side for one hour, the differences would be obvious.

Again, not saying the current Charvels (including Custom Shop models) are bad guitars...they're just different.

Any longtime Charvel collector/player will agree...I'm sure.

[quiksilver]

I am really stoked about these new Charvels. They are just about perfect, as far as I can see. I have one of the Music Zoo "Naturals," and the neck on that is probably the finest neck I have ever felt. If these new Charvels have the same profile and rolled edges (as I suspect), they are going to be unstoppable.

[hippietim]

I've been buying, selling, collecting Charvel/Jackson since 1984.

Me too. I've probably not owned quite as many as you but I've owned a lot of them.

The difference between the current guitars and the San Dimas originals is night and day in feel, appearance, fit & finish. If you had one of each side by side for one hour, the differences would be obvious.

Appearance? Really? What looks so different about a 2-hum Strat compared to an old one?

Feel - that's pretty tough to say isn't it? It's not like the old Charvels all felt the same. Plus when was the last time you played a brand new original Charvel? I've spoken with a few folks that I personally know that have been doing this as long as we have and they have each said the necks have that old school Charvel feel.

I would like to hear more details from you on the feel - the feel was always the thing that separated Charvels from the rest IMO.

Fit & Finish - what are some examples where the new ones differ? I've only seen pics on the web so it's really hard to tell.

Any longtime Charvel collector/player will agree...I'm sure.

Perhaps you are right - I'd really like to find out for myself. Unfortunately I don't have a store nearby that carries Charvels.

[Ralph E.]

Hi all, Thanks for all the interest in the new Charvel's. I have been popping in and out of the forums looking at the feedback and I have tried to correct any misconceptions as they occur. This is killer week.

The last few posts seem to revolve around a couple of things.... Is this just a Fender with a different Headstock Decal? ... and body construction vs. old Charvel Body construction... here is some info...

1. This is simply not a Fender with a Charvel Decal slapped on the headstock.. here are just a few differences, 1 pc, Quartersawn Neck with Compound Radius and rolled edges... the Charvel Neck Shape/Profile, DiMarzio's and Duncans, CTS Pots..., Grover Tuners, Jumbo Frets, Floyd Rose Bridge... get the picture? …anyone want to jump in? There are a host of differences…

2. Yes, these guitars are spec'd out with a three piece body. Charvel Custom shop guitars have used 1,2 and 3 pc body's from the beginning. There were many instances where CUSTOM shop guitars were built using 3 pc bodies. … I only point this out because the fact that we are using 3 pc bodies on this model should not preclude it from being a “real Charvel” in anyone’s eye.

These guitars sound and play killer… IMHO

Due in part to feedback from the JCF forums & because we feel it's the right thing to do, we have made available a pretty affordable Charvel made from the right recipe. We labored over every detail, believe me, in order to bring you this mix of model's.

There are some extremely knowledgeable Jackson/Charvel members in the forums. We appreciate the positive & negative feedback... we really do. There is a tremendous amount of value in listening to the hard core devotees when the criticism is valid or constructive.

While we are on this, I thank you for the feedback on the setup’s…

I hope this helps.

-Mike

ONE MORE THING... LEAVE MY KNOBS ALONE!!!!

Mike,

Thanks for presenting the FACTS for us.

I have owned a large number of original Charvels and San Dimas Jacksons thru the years (including the George Lynch Booger, Chris Holmes Harley Star, 2 Jake E. Lee Ontario era Jacksons etc.). I have always said, and continue to say, that there are good and bad examples of both, period.

Anyone who says otherwise is only trying to protect the value of their "collection of oldies" imo. You will never convince them otherwise. Just realize that the majority of us appreciate what you guys are doing with this series. I look forward to some additions like a tele headstock on the tele, and some maybe a hardtail along the way!

p.s. I just sold a "new" Charvel relic that had a neck that was as good as ANY old Charvel I ever owned. So I certainly don't agree with the "feel" argument at all.

[toejam]

ONE MORE THING... LEAVE MY KNOBS ALONE!!!!

FWIW, the knob is a bit rough but not a deal breaker. I kinda dig the easy grasp.

Keep it up!

Knobs, rough, easy grasp, keep it up?!? :ROTF:

[Robert Hendrix]

I've been buying, selling, collecting Charvel/Jackson since 1984.

To answer your question.

Currently I own 6....but I've owned 50 or more over the last 24 years...in addition, my current collection of Jacksons includes at least 50 San Dimas made guitars.

Well... Touch you....

The difference between the current guitars and the San Dimas originals is night and day in feel, appearance, fit & finish. If you had one of each side by side for one hour, the differences would be obvious.

Really? It would take that long to tell the difference? The way you were spouting off I would think it would be immediatly obvious. I guess they aren't that bad after all.

Again, not saying the current Charvels (including Custom Shop models) are bad guitars...they're just different.

Any longtime Charvel collector/player will agree...I'm sure.

Bottom line.... They just don't make em like they use to. Who does? Dude, Chill out! It's already been made pretty clear that these guitars arent for the Purists. If you don't like them, then the only suggestion I can give you is to grab yourself a cookie and go drool over your 50 or so San Dimuses and leave the more affordable alternative to those who actually appreciate the fact that Charvel is actually taking a marketing step forward instead of decaying into oblivion.