Kramer Crusader vs Charvel So Cal

[zakky_venom]

I'm guessing the Crusader is an import.

could just be a firesale

[The Rossness]

Are you looking specifically for a maple fretboard and H/H configuration? If not, then look into the BC Rich Gunslinger Retros.

http://www.bcrich.com/gunslinger_retro.asp

http://www.bcrich.com/gunslinger_retroBlade.asp

ESP offer's maple fretboard super strat models as well.

ESP

http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_wilton.html

http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_m2.html

I saw some Nuno Bettencourt Washburns on eBay with Bill Lawrence pickups and maple fretboards too. I don't think they make import signature model Nuno's anymore with maple fretboards.

Of course, so does Fender.

I've got the red slinger'. It's an awesome axe, great tone and feel. It's got a super smooth neck, great for shredding. I think the Floyd is Korean built, but I have yet to have a problem with it. Still, i've been saving for a charvel, i'd go with the charvel as in the OP. As for the LTD wilton- played it once at sam ash in manhattan, nice guitar. cool dimond inlays-eh, it plays nicley too. If you go with GK, get the delta wing- that sucker is f*cking cool looking! Don't bother w/ the washburn n61. neck shape isn't the same as the usa models. M2's are great as well, provided you can find a cheap used one.

[Sinistas]

Are there any other hot rodded strat type production guitars which offer serious competition for the Charvel USA production series?

How do the Schecter Hellraiser C1 FR or the LTD M1000 measure up? I'm not so sure they do? Maybe some of the similarly priced Ibanez superstrats stack up?

Alan

The Carvin Bolt/Contour series should be put into the equation as well.

[thetruthguy]

When the production series came out, I debated heavily whether to get a Charvel or another Carvin. I had a Carvin bolt and the kit but never a bolt plus, which would be the most comparable. I liked the bolt, but I really wanted SD pickups, a compound radius (or would that be radii?) neck, and the aesthetics of the strat body and headstock shape. Granted, the bolt plus has some features I like, too (such as reverse headstock option, pointy head option, any hardware color, coil taps, etc.). But the Charvel (two of them, actually) won out, because at the same price point, it's just a better sounding/feeling/looking guitar to me. Saying all that, if they hadn't come out with the production models, I would have went Carvin all the way, because I'm not going to spend over $2000 for a hot-rodded strat. To me, Charvel did the right thing by offering these guitars at this price point. But if someone wants more (minus graphics, of course) and doesn't want to pay custom shop prices, I'd say Carvin can't be beat.