Desolation Revealed

[rjohnstone]

I have a MIC LP copy and short of the electronics (which were replaced), the guitar is a monster player.

I won't knock a guitar simply because of where it was made.
I've had some U.S.A. Jacksons that were absolute turds.

I dig the DS-1 FR... just not the price.
I'll have to play one (provided I can find a local dealer that actually sells them) before I pass judgement.

[wanthairspray]

MIC is nothing bad nowadays.

The Fender Classic Vibe series are MIC and kick serious ass, won magazine awards.

The Suhr Rasmus series are built in China, I believe.

This is not 1996 anymore. China can do GREAT guitars.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

I agree with this...I very clearly remember buying a US Kramer...probably cost me close to a grand back in 88/89. Around that same time, there was a small music shop near my house, and they had 150-200 dollar Kramers on the wall. I bought one, being naive, and saying.."well...it says Kramer on it"...turned out to be the biggest piece of shit in the world. It was Japanese made.

I'm betting the "US" Kramer was actually an ESP Japan guitar (assembled in USA) and the 200 dollar Kramer was a Striker, which was made in Korea.

By the late 80's we were well into the era of good guitars commonly coming in from Japan.

[RacerX]

These are not Charvels to me at all. I understand the desire to target a different audience but wish they would have branded a new name for these models .

Yeah, like Charvette maybe

[TKEblue]

to me hair metal is a specific sound. Its not someone who had "fancy" hair. But I really dont feel like charvel was only filling a certain niche. I think it seems that way because they disappeared for so many years so the last time they had big endprsees was in the 80s. Look at ibanez, became popular in the 80s, signed people up, signed more people up, never really changed any models and are they still popular today? Yup.

[SignoftheDragon]

I've always hoped they would reissue the surfcaster, but I am completely underwhelmed by the skatecaster. It looks like the crappy Jackson surfcaster/outcaster abominations that gave the surfys a bad name.

Damn. I'm sure I'll give it a whirl if I see one in the store, but my first impression is unfavorable.

Damn.

[Rockinloud]

These are not Charvels to me at all. I understand the desire to target a different audience but wish they would have branded a new name for these models & left the Charvel name to what we have known & loved for years. Was really hoping for expanded features/models within the promod series like more hardtail/string though versions, finishes, etc...not a complete overhaul that seems to ripoff LTD & Schecter.

[G333]

At the semi-reasonable price point their quoting why don't we all just get one and play it out in an effort to support and promote the brand - I know I will.

[iliketea]

I wish they'd just make something more 750xl-like so that I can give them all my money.

[veniculum]

Hell yes, man. I remember in the 80's there were "Jap guitars" and they weren't too great, not as good as the old US of A guitars, and then all the sudden, after a few years, they were often better, for cheaper. For example... Charvel model series guitars.

I agree with this...I very clearly remember buying a US Kramer...probably cost me close to a grand back in 88/89. Around that same time, there was a small music shop near my house, and they had 150-200 dollar Kramers on the wall. I bought one, being naive, and saying.."well...it says Kramer on it"...turned out to be the biggest piece of shit in the world. It was Japanese made.

Japan now makes some of the highest quality guitars in the world...in many cases, higher quality than US made...and at a lower cost. Still...I think that it took quite a while before die-hard US-made guitar buyers would even consider buying a Jap-made guitar. I know it took me close to 20 years before I would consider it. Now that I own them, I think they're great.
It's probably the same with Chinese made. I'm sure they have the capability to do it. The question is, is quality control as strict in China as it is in Japan...I suppose that depends on who's running the factory. The other issue is....the older, more traditional buyers here in the US...myself included...we'll always buy US-made stuff...and now the Japanese stuff as well...but it's going to take some time before we are convinced that China is capable of putting out quality stuff. I mean, lets face it...when you see "made in China"...it doesn't exactly scream "quality". Matter of fact...in many cases, it screams..."knock off", "cheap junk", etc etc.
Still...I hope that these things do well...one..because I'd like to see Charvel have a larger market share...and two...just because I kinda dig these things. Perhaps in 2025, we'll all be talking about how great the Chinese stuff is...and questioning the stuff coming out of Somalia

[memphiskat]

Though I would've liked to black hardware and maybe a maple fretboard on some

I like the Single Cuts! LP body, but "long" scale with 24frets I like. Not a fan of the Abalone though.

They all list "black nickel hardware" but the pics look chrome. BUT, click on some of the models and scroll down a little and in some of the detail pictures the hardware looks black. Particularly this one....

http://www.charvel.com/guitars//search.php?partno=2931021557

It's probably just the way it's reflecting in some of pictures that make them look chrome, then again maybe not. I think they would look much better in the larger full guitar shots if the hardware "looked" black.

[church2224]

As long as they still make the Pro Mods I will be happy with whatever else Charvel does. Those are great guitars and hopefully they will never take those away.

[JediHalen]

Metal FTW!

Metal = Priest - nuff said

BTW- the Pro Mods are used by a bunch of different players. Metal, Shred, Fusion, etc etc. My buddy is a blues man and loves his ProMod SoCal.

[toejam]

What are you talking about? This is the apotheosis of Metal:

Metal FTW!

[toejam]

I don't know about Jake, he did have that earring and some poofy hair, but he was no match for Robbin and Warren back in the day...

Jake was actually in an early version of Ratt, though!