Virtual Charvel

[charvel750]

I'm sure you guys are familiar with Fender's "VG" Strat. It uses some Roland technology without the need for extra or special cables. Excellent USA made guitars. So, with the help of a JCF member, I bought a MM neck with Charvel logo and bolted it on, great fit. I think GC is still selling these for a grand, check 'em out. You can play acoustic guitars, 12 strings, full humbucking modes, Tele tones, and alternate tunings like: dropped D, G, and baritone, among others:

[6string40]

Looking good brother...thanks for the smooth transaction. Glad you could put it to use.

And even though it's a decal, the Charvel logo just looks so much cooler than the Fender one would!

[straycat]

At least you can lock the nut now and use the trem, looks good.
Trim the string ends please.

[charvel750]

Actually, the Fender USA Strat stays in tune reasonably well without a locking nut, I was surprised. They're using a phenolic or graphite style nut which allows the strings to move completely across it when the trem is depressed or pulled up. So nothing gets hung up on the nut. Of course, I can now lock it down, but then there's no fine tuning (although the 1st Floyds were like that, ala Brad Gillis) and it's not locked at the bridge end anyway. Still, stays in tune reasonably well. Just can't do Vai style moves, but you can be pretty aggressive with it.

[Carbuff]

So, its kinda like a variax?

[charvel750]

I guess so, but it doesn't need any special cables/pedals, just uses a Roland pickup and can mimic the sounds of alternate tunings and various tonalities. I don't know if I could be seen with a Variaxe though...

[Carbuff]

Cool, does it need a battery?

[charvel750]

4 AA's, which last about 10 hours.

[Matt_B]

4 AA's, which last about 10 hours.

Bingo, that's the show stopper right there for me. At least they could have taken a cue from Line 6 and added an XLR connector on the guitar so it could run on phantom power because I don't like to dick with batteries, even rechargables.

[Carbuff]

Will it play just like a regular strat too? As in does it need the battery to just use the 3 pickups.

[Jack Napalm]

When in Strat mode it plays just like a USA strat with one tone knob. The modeled strat sounds just like a USA strat but no 60 cycle hum. Totally silent. Great guitars and pretty versatile. Just got to change the batteries.

[Grandturk]

So you ditched a USA neck for a $100 Mighty Mite neck?

[broken_fusion]

I played with one of those in the store when I was Strat shopping. Cool to play with but unless I joined like U2 or something I don't think I would ever use it. You can turn that stuff off and use it like a regular guitar.The guy at the store said it would work like a normal strat even if the battery was dead. I plugged in and nothing.He put in a new battery and it worked. I opted for a US deluxe for about $200 more. They stopped making them and are pretty much having a fire sale on them.

[charvel750]

So you ditched a USA neck for a $100 Mighty Mite neck?

I didn't ditch anything. Just swapped 'em out. I still have it:



The original Fender neck has a rosewood board. I can't tell a difference in tonality, it's only a cosmetic difference.

The battery thing isn't a big deal, really. You can play about 3 gigs before recharging. And yes, of course it works without batteries but only as a normal guitar, none of the Roland modes come in. It has a blue LED that begins to blink slower and slower until it's drained. So when it starts blinking you have about 30 minutes remaining.

I'm digging it because of the dropped D tuning function (for those Collective Soul numbers), the acoustic tonalities and the 12 string. Plus, it's cool on a few songs to get a true Tele tone out of it, not to mention full blown humbucking. It's like having 3 or 4 guitars but all in one single instrument. I was surprised how good it all sounds.

[j4vice]

VG's discontinued but Best Buy has them for 999.99
the possibilities are vast, yet stream-lined electronics.
I think these guitars will stand up in ten years.

except for the batteries