San Dimas Retro Update

[Hamner1]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

Not to start anybody off on a rant, but what is the issue with the nut width? Is it because it is not true to the original San Dimas Charvels, or is it just personal preference.

I do think the pointy star is cool, but it needs a Floyd before I would consider getting one... [img]graemlins/idea2.gif[/img] maybe that is the idea to flash us back to the '80s. Get a standard trem and have it modded for a Floyd. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[shreddermon]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

Originally posted by Hamner1:
Not to start anybody off on a rant, but what is the issue with the nut width? Is it because it is not true to the original San Dimas Charvels, or is it just personal preference.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The 1 & 3/4 nut width is correct for some early-ish strathead necks. Most later ones were the smaller 1 & 5/8ths, though.

For pointy head Charvels, 1 & 11/16ths would be more correct. This has been the standard J/C width for many years, BTW. And, yes, we're talking about a difference of 1/16th of an inch in each direction. [img]graemlins/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] But preferences matter, of course.

This is also why I'm interested in getting the neck dimensions for both the Retros and USA Standards. The backshape for stratheads was different than pointy heads. Pointies had a thinner and flatter profile. And, IMHO, the neck profile is a much more important factor of "feel" preferences.

[mattsmusiccenter]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

Has anyone ever mentioned that you're a picky bunch of guys? Sheesh!

Matt [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[neilli]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

Just thought you'd like to know: Kevin Easton just mailed me and said they're getting 50 hum/single, OFR loaded Jackson's with maple / maple necks and strat headstocks! Woohoo!! (he didn't say what body styles though, but I'm assumming dinky or strat...)
Fender are obviously chilling out a bit with the headstock thing!
Cheers
Ian

[shreddermon]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

Originally posted by mattsmusiccenter:
Has anyone ever mentioned that you're a picky bunch of guys? Sheesh!

Matt [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">[img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] You're just noticing that now? [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Seriously, to clarify, being perfectly dead on true to the originals will be a big deal for a few people. Although I may be giving the impression otherwise, I'm not one of them. [img]graemlins/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

The nut width isn't my preference, but certainly won't stop me from buying. IMHO, though, getting the neck profiles (yes, plural for stratheads and pointies each, respectively) reasonably close is important. For me, the feel of the neck is what defines pointy-headed Charvels. It's what I love about them most. ...Again, though, "reasonably close" matters. Not perfection.

[hammer84]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

I was ready to pounce on bullseye strathead, but I think I 'll pass now. I agree with Greg, 2k will be the going price. Way to much for me to spend on a guitar that is not spec'd the way I like. I would rather buy one the GuitarXpress bullseyes.
I'm kinda bummed because I have pass a few really nice guitars the last week or so hoping to get one of the stratheads.

Sorry, I'll stop whining now....................

[slo100]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

I'd like to dispute the claim that the majority of later Charvel stratheads are 1 5/8" at the nut.

I disagree with this.

Shreddermon...can you substantiate this claim?

Also, strathead neck profiles vary widely but based on the stratheads I own and have played...they are generally more slim in shape than the standard Jackson style neck (what you are calling 'pointy' headstock neck). This, of course, is not without exception but generally holds true in my experience.

What nut width are they using on the new Charvels with Jackson (pointy) style necks? Is it not 1 11/16"?

Greg, I need to talk to you ASAP...did you get my email? What is your email address these days?

[shreddermon]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

Originally posted by slo100:
I'd like to dispute the claim that the majority of later Charvel stratheads are 1 5/8" at the nut.

I disagree with this.

Shreddermon...can you substantiate this claim?

Also, strathead neck profiles vary widely but based on the stratheads I own and have played...they are generally more slim in shape than the standard Jackson style neck (what you are calling 'pointy' headstock neck). This, of course, is not without exception but generally holds true in my experience.

What nut width are they using on the new Charvels with Jackson (pointy) style necks? Is it not 1 11/16"?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hey, I was just trying to answer the guy's questions. Anyway...

Re: 1 & 5/8ths stratheads. I respect your disagreement. You could be right. But, to the best of my knowledge, no-one can substantiate one way or the other with hard and true facts how many stratheads were 5/8ths vs. 3/4, or 11/16ths even. So, sure. To clarify, it's educated guessing based on what I see and hear from others. That being: some 1 & 3/4s, more in the early years like prepros, but more afterwards seem to be 1 & 5/8ths. ...Also, a certain well-known firm makes 1 & 5/8ths the standard width for its strathead replicas. ...But, hey, I conceed that this might not be totally accurate. Without the specs of each and every strathead Charvel ever made, we'll never know for sure. But maybe a quick and dirty survey can be taken of CC strathead owners to give some better "real numbers" sampling for all?

I'm sorry, but what little I've seen and heard of actual neck measurements, pointyheads have a thinner and flatter profile. That has been consistent with my own experience of "feel", as well, but - granted - it's been a fairly long time since I've played a strathead. On occassion, Hoss has posted neck measurements of his own stratheads that - perhaps not coincidentally - are pretty similar, if not the same as the new 25th Anniversary guitar's. And those measurements are thicker than pointyheads. (Actually, it surprised me how close they both were to a PC1's neck, which I and many others consider on the beefier side.)

And, according to the new price list, the new pointyhead Charvels (i.e., USA Standard models) are 1 & 3/4.

It's all cool. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[slo100]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

I'll never understand why Lee makes 1 5/8" the standard for his guitars. I guess I could ask him.

Anyway, from the sampling of guitars we have in our collective collections, the vast majority of them are 1 3/4" at the nut. There are a scattering of 1 5/8" and claims of 1 11/16" stratheads even! FWIW out of my stratheads ranging from 81 - 86 they are all 1 3/4". Tracy's mighty collection of stratheads are nearly all 1 3/4" as well. Anyway, everything with early Charvel guitars is really up for debate but from what we've seen, the orignial guitars were built mostly with wide nuts!

I find it really weird they'd make the new Jackson style necks 1 3/4" at the nut. They were always 1 11/16" as were the Jackson guitars. Why the change?

Interesting!

[Ralph E.]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

Just to add to the debate, out of the 15 or so early stratheads I owned at one point, only 1 or 2 was 1 3/4" the rest were 1 5/8".

Go figure.

R

[Greg Crowe]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

I've seen a lot of 1 5/8" strathead necks and even pre-pros with 1 5/8". I know Brett has more than I will ever see but I've seen more 1 5/8" necks than 1 3/4". You could order them either way, they just vary.

All pointy headstock necks on both Charvels and Jacksons since 1983 have had 1 11/16" nuts standard. Sure there are some custom orders with something different but 1 11/16" has been standard forever. I can't for the life of me see why FMIC used a 1 3/4" nut width on the new pointy Charvels.

Strathead neck profiles seem to be way more diverse than pointies. Pointies are fairly consistent, thin and flat. Stratheads range from super thinto Les Paul-like. I don't think you can pinpoint a "strathead neck profile". There just wasn't one that was standard.

Brett, try emailing me at [email protected]

[LarryL]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

You could always ask Mike Shannon for a more definitive answer.

I wouldn't think the width of the reissues should be an issue other than personal preference. The originals varied.

[slo100]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

Greg, except for the Lynch guitar which is paper thin, all the necks of my stratheads are very similar in radius, backshape, and contour. Plus they are all 1 3/4". Even among the 22 fret guitars vs the 21 fretters they are similar in fit and feel.

Ralph, my memory is severely failing me. I remember you had a bunch of holdsworths...I thought they had 1 3/4". I almost bought the red and black and I was sure those did. What were your others?

It is definitely a preference thing...maybe I got lucky that mine are all similar. Now only if that dang seafoam tele head was 1 3/4" DOH!

Bret

[~K~]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

Of the several I've own most were 1 5/8 with 1 being 1 11/16 .. remember these were custom back then so there really wasn't a standard.

With that stated I sent an email off to Brian about the pointies and they are discussing this issue now. They are definetly paying attention and want to get it right. There's always going to be bumps in the road but the end product will reflect what it should ..

[shreddermon]

Re: San Dimas Retro Update

Cool info guys. Thanks for contributing. [img]graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

And FMIC just continues to impress me with their ability to want to give a s**t. [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] j/k [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]