FIRST ONES HERE! Charvel SoCal pics!

[Big D]

Got my gold Tele today, just got home with it. Will post a pic and short review later tonight. So far with about 15 minutes of playing time, I'd say WOW these are a bargain. Can't tell a difference from my custom shops.

BTW, my local dealer has stock on all models and they're willing to ship. They have the Tangerine SoCal and I think every other one. They're good guys to buy from although I have no clue if they'll be discounting the price at all, PM me if you want their name/number.

[SEEGERMANY]

I have a question/observation for the JC experts. Were you expecting kidney bean shaped tuners? I've owned a bunch of Jacksons and a few Charvels (both US and Japanese) and none of them had these style/shape tuners.

[Ralph E.]

The guitar needs to be setup BAD

Wow, what a surprise...

that describes just about 100% of any FMIC product i've ever bought new.

[dg]

I have a question/observation for the JC experts. Were you expecting kidney bean shaped tuners? I've owned a bunch of Jacksons and a few Charvels (both US and Japanese) and none of them had these style/shape tuners.

The Grovers have been a known issue for a while (since the first pics were released). I'm not fond of them, and I don't see how they saved much money using them instead of Gotohs or Schallers. I guess they help to differentiate the production models from the high-dollar guitars, along with the 6-digit serial #s.

[chrisolson]

No biggie on the setups -- every guitar I get I set up to my liking anyway, regardless of the factory setup.

[chrisolson]

I *like* Grover tuners. Huh. Whaddya know.

[Newc]

Wow, a complaint. :yawn:

I got news for you, every new USA Jackson I've owned - including 2 Custom Shops - not to mention the dozen or so USA production Jacksons I've owned had to be set up.........to MY personal preference, which seems to be the part that's being ignored here.

If you cannot provide honest, accurate info, go play another brand.

EVERY guitar needs a setup to individual preference, and yes that includes a fret polish/dress/whatever.

I'm assuming you're basing the "need" of a polish job based on the feel of your Customs and your used/years-old guitars?

And the knob doesn't feel like the barrel knob they've used since....79??

And....?


Seriously people, let's not berate this series over nitpicky bullshit.

Take it for what it is, give a totally honest opinion without leaving out important/relevant details, or STFU and patronize another brand.

Charvel doesn't need you to survive, they have tons of other people standing in line with money in-hand to replace you.

They did what they had to do to keep a USA-made guitar at the price everyone agreed on. Where is the problem?

[GinSonic]

Nice!
I was out perusing the local pawnshops and music stores today. Pawnshops had crap, but one had a nice lefty Jackson DK2. I'm a righty though.

So I go to the biggest music shop in town and they've got this lightning sky San Dimas hanging there. I grab it, play around with it a bit and wow! That neck is thin! I wasn't expecting that at all.

I didn't expect the price to be so high either; $2350.00! Used at that???!?!?!??!??
The salesman saw me putting it back and then referred me to the other wall with the new guitars. To my surprise, he pointed out to me these new Charvel SD's. I knew they had a release date today, but I didn't pay attention to the date today and fully expected that they'd have been delayed coming to my local. I was wrong!

I'll tell ya'; these be sweet guitars. I tried out all three models. Just acoustically. Not through an amp.The neck feel was very different from that lightning sky SD. More meatier, if you will, but still easy to play. To tell you the truth, I preferred it!

He quoted the same price as in the Charvel ad; $999.00. I was very surprised at that because guitars always were about 30% more than listed US prices up here. I guess our strong dollar is finally paying off.

I'm seriously thinking of scoobying up that gold Tele. I like the red Strat too. Damn!!! Decisions, decisions.
g.

[savage]

congrats rob on your score!
I got to grab a style 1 now!

[savage]

Nice!
I was out perusing the local pawnshops and music stores today. Pawnshops had crap, but one had a nice lefty Jackson DK2. I'm a righty though.

So I go to the biggest music shop in town and they've got this lightning sky San Dimas hanging there. I grab it, play around with it a bit and wow! That neck is thin! I wasn't expecting that at all.

I didn't expect the price to be so high either; $2350.00! Used at that???!?!?!??!??
The salesman saw me putting it back and then referred me to the other wall with the new guitars. To my surprise, he pointed out to me these new Charvel SD's. I knew they had a release date today, but I didn't pay attention to the date today and fully expected that they'd have been delayed coming to my local. I was wrong!

I'll tell ya'; these be sweet guitars. I tried out all three models. Just acoustically. Not through an amp.The neck feel was very different from that lightning sky SD. More meatier, if you will, but still easy to play. To tell you the truth, I preferred it!

g.

the lightning sky was it rosewood or a maple board?

[skorb]

wow that is nice.

congrats mang!

[RobRR]

Wow, a complaint. :yawn:

I got news for you, every new USA Jackson I've owned - including 2 Custom Shops - not to mention the dozen or so USA production Jacksons I've owned had to be set up.........to MY personal preference, which seems to be the part that's being ignored here.

If you cannot provide honest, accurate info, go play another brand.

EVERY guitar needs a setup to individual preference, and yes that includes a fret polish/dress/whatever.

I'm assuming you're basing the "need" of a polish job based on the feel of your Customs and your used/years-old guitars?

And the knob doesn't feel like the barrel knob they've used since....79??

And....?


Seriously people, let's not berate this series over nitpicky bullshit.

Take it for what it is, give a totally honest opinion without leaving out important/relevant details, or STFU and patronize another brand.

Charvel doesn't need you to survive, they have tons of other people standing in line with money in-hand to replace you.

They did what they had to do to keep a USA-made guitar at the price everyone agreed on. Where is the problem?

Was this comment aimed at me? I better not have been...

Anyway, I am providing 100% honest and acurate info. No complaints, just observations. Im stating every last detail Ive noticed about this guitar, because no one has had their hands on one yet and Im sure normal, reasonable people are interested and would like to hear about it. Im letting people know what to expect when they get theirs.

Yes, it NEEDED a setup, the floyd was leaning forward about 1/4" and the action was high. The frets NEEDED polished, they were simply dull and you could still see some crowning marks. The knob is a personal opinion... I could care less, Ive got 40 knobs laying around plus the one Im responding to right now.

And if you expect to have to dress/polish the frets on a new custom, you have even lower standards than I thought you did based on your response from my SL2H fiasco thread.

ANYWAY, to get back to the guitar. I plugged it in at the store, he had me play through a Kirk Hammet sig Randall SS amp... and the guitar sounded GREAT! I like the Tone Zone ALOT better than the JB. Easy harmonics, even with the action high it played like buttah. I was really surprised about the neck, its definitley thicker than I thought it would be, but its VERY comfortable. It measures .825" at the first, and .855" at the 12th.

[savage]

Was this comment aimed at me? I better not have been. If it was... well, we'll get to that.



Anyway, I am providing 100% honest and acurate info. No complaints, just observations. Im stating every last detail Ive noticed about this guitar, because no one has had their hands on one yet and Im sure normal, reasonable people are interested and would like to hear about it. Im letting people know what to expect when they get theirs.

Yes, it NEEDED a setup, the floyd was leaning forward about 1/4" and the action was high. The frets NEEDED polished, they were simply dull and you could still see some crowning marks. The knob is a personal opinion... I could care less, Ive got 40 knobs laying around plus the one Im responding to right now.

And if you expect to have to dress/polish the frets on a new custom, you have even lower standards than I thought you did based on your response from my SL2H fiasco thread.

ROB, i for one am real glad you are telling it like it is about these new charvies.
it is good to know what i may face with one of these
thanks man!

I was really surprised about the neck, its definitley thicker than I thought it would be, . It measures .825" at the first, and .855" at the 12th.

Wow that is a bit of a let down for me but no real biggie i still want one

[RobRR]

Some more in-depth pics for the curious!

I also found it VERY strange that there was 3 short neck bolts and one long one! Never saw that one before! Savage, also keep in mind that I never played an original San Dimas, so I didnt know really what to expect. The neck isnt "thick" but its not super thin either.

[GinSonic]

the lightning sky was it rosewood or a maple board?

Rosewood.
G.