Charvel USA Production Model Series

[savage]

Going to get me So-Cal today that I pre-ordered.

keep us posted

[ADR]

Going to get me So-Cal today that I pre-ordered.

[SEAN RAF]

These Charvels won't be in the UK until end of September, early October...I can't wait that long. I've ordered a red Style 1 from the Music Farm in Ohio, should be with me here in sunny Stoke next Friday.

As soon as it's here, I'll post pics, even though you'll all be sick of the sight of them by then.

[savage]

lol, i`d rather everyone bitched and hated these guitars and refused to buy them. More for the rest of us to buy then

These new FENVELS suck ass!
everyone that has one should sell them fast before the real truth comes out and no one wants them! these are assured to become firewood after that!

















Ps, let me know if you have a black SD style 1 to sell?

[Rupe]

These Charvels are not for collectors or those wishing to relive 1982. These Charvels are for those in the market for a decent guitar with a lineage reaching back to the days of old. They were never meant to compete in the space of the vintage Charvels or even with the custom shop, custom built Charvels of today.

Great quote and spot-on accurate.

[wibble]

i CAN'T believe there are STILL people bitching about these. i am glad A LOT of you are supporting these guitars and see what FENDER (for all you whiny dicks) has done and given in the course of a few years.

something i learned a long time ago helped make me a lot happier....IF YOU HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY (or you don't like something) SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

lol, i`d rather everyone bitched and hated these guitars and refused to buy them. More for the rest of us to buy then I`ll not say i`m not concerned about not being able to get my green style 1 when they`re released because of high demand. Haters work well for us outside the US that get the leftovers lol we need more of em.

[quiksilver]

Yup, that was Thumper's mom that said that, and she was right.

Bret, thanks for a concise, informative historical summary that was very enjoyable to read.

FMIC, thanks for advancing the Charvel brand and giving us great Made In USA guitars at a great price. When your most frequent complaints involve a knob and a gig bag, both of which can be replaced in about 5 minutes, you're on the right track.

[markD]

these guitars look like awesome deals at their price point and they have what EVERYBODY (pretty much) was bitching about when fender first bought jackson - a PRODUCTION MODEL STRATHEAD. these guitars have "name" partsd - dimarzio, OFR, etc....i CAN'T believe there are STILL people bitching about these. i am glad A LOT of you are supporting these guitars and see what FENDER (for all you whiny dicks) has done and given in the course of a few years.

something i learned a long time ago helped make me a lot happier....IF YOU HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY (or you don't like something) SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

[shreddermon]

These Charvels are not for collectors or those wishing to relive 1982. These Charvels are for those in the market for a decent guitar with a lineage reaching back to the days of old. They were never meant to compete in the space of the vintage Charvels or even with the custom shop, custom built Charvels of today.

As a player, collector, and interested party in the brand, image, history, and story...anytime we can extend the Charvel name and associate them with a USA made product is a good thing.

+1

[slo100]

This yet another fascinating chapter in Charvel lore of madness, insanity, and profanity!!!

Cliff's Notes for major milestones in Charvel's history of discontent:

1979 - 1982/3 - Charvels are the Suhr/Anderson/Tyler guitars of their day. The best, every pro had to have one.

1983 - 1986 - Jackson style necks released. Fender necks phased out (for the most part) Players point to reduction in quality, crappy Jackson necks with scarf joints, everyone wants an 'old' strathead. Kramer and Ibanez begin to take over the mass market.

1986 - Charvel goes overseas, bolt-ons become Jackson branded. Everyone says "these were better when they had "Charvel" on the headstock." Original stratheads become even more desireable, now "Charvel" branded bolt-ons' stock goes way up.

1987/8 - Charvette: 'nuff said. Jackson goes overseas. C/J brand now completely diluted. San Dimas Jackson models' stock goes up. Move to Ontario.

Early 90's - "San Dimas" series released with blob headstocks. Great quality guitars but have features and aesthetics not commonly associated with Charvel guitars. Original strathead values skyrocket, Anything made in the San Dimas (Glendora) factory highly prized. Clamor really sets in for original, unmodified San Dimas guitars.

Late 90's/Early 00's - Jackson barely survived. Lots of corporate shuffle between IMC/Akai ownership. Ultra-cheap Korean Charvels appear. Internet forums push demand for old school guitars. We see some special runs of SD styled guitars. Collectors paying close to five figures for prized original strathead guitars. Debates rage over value, worth, and desireability of these guitars. Everyone wants a strathead, lots of fakes, GMW clones, and logos regularly appearing on ebay.

Fender Acquisition - Everyone wants a strathead. 25th anniversary, EVH, and custom shop stratheads appear. Lots of complaints about price. EVH slammed for cashing in with Charvel. Custom shop stratheads are well over $2K. Quality issues and complaints abound. Players plea for cheap stratheads. "Pre-Fender" qualifiers appear in classifieds for Jackson and Charvel auctions and classifieds. Original San Dimas models continue to be sought after.

Current State - Charvel releases a line of budget strathead Charvels for the masses. Healthy mix of acceptance and complaint. Some people still not satisfied.

My take on these new Charvel guitars is that Fender made an appropriate response to the market demand for affordable strathead Charvel guitars. They did it in such a way that might conflict with the original Charvel mantra of custom built, super high quality guitars but the mantra has changed...as all businesses must do to survive.

These Charvels are not for collectors or those wishing to relive 1982. These Charvels are for those in the market for a decent guitar with a lineage reaching back to the days of old. They were never meant to compete in the space of the vintage Charvels or even with the custom shop, custom built Charvels of today.

I am happy to read reviews that these guitars stand up as good instruments that play and sound good. At this price point, we may even see them start to appear on local stages and in the hands of more players which will serve to evangelize the Charvel brand...and USA Charvels at that.

As a player, collector, and interested party in the brand, image, history, and story...anytime we can extend the Charvel name and associate them with a USA made product is a good thing.

Bret

[SEEGERMANY]

You have a point.

[nhspike]

I like my suburban ('99)
but
I like my Lexus better (and it's a '94)

[DHardmanJr]

Given that the Suburban is a GM product, the poor alignment and shoddy tires should have been standard.

off topic, but I see a lot of people bashing GM, but I have to say ... although I do not now and never have owned a GM, the ones I have seen lately seem to be of much better quality than years past.

Dave

[savage]

If you look at the Fender Strats that would have been in most people's hands when Charvel started making guitars, these Charvels (like the originals) are radically different than those guitars.
The feel of the neck and fret size on current production American Standard Stratocasters are, to me, influenced by the "super strat" movement ushered in by Charvels. Saying these Charvels are "Fenderized" due to similarities to relatively current model American Strats just doesn't make sense to me.
.

yeah IF ANYTHING fender "copied" charvel and other super strat designs over the years
fender never used to have a buckered strat,a floyd strat,etc
companies like charvel jackson got that ball rolling to the publics likes

[JDouglee]

The 'Original Floyd Rose' is being made by Gotoh now.....

Huh?