Desolation Revealed

[TKEblue]

My MIC epiphone LP isn't bad. My mik c1 is twice the guitar tho for only a little more money tho. It's the only guitar I've ever regretted buying and it's gotten almost no play time since I got it. And my MIJ jacksons are 10 times the guitar of either of the others. I don't doubt that these charvels will be great guitars because all I've ever heard about charvel is they're quality instruments. But the prices are what throws me. They're going to be only slightly less in cost to the schecter hellraisers with most of the same features but the schecters are apparently made in korea and come with ofr teems and coiltapping emgs.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

Talent is talent, it makes no difference where it is located - But the thing is, I'd rather my money stayed here, that's the only thing that bugs me about Chinese stuff.

[MetalHeadMat]

I'm actually really happy.

[eaeolian]

I agree with this...I very clearly remember buying a US Kramer...probably cost me close to a grand back in 88/89.

That "USA" Kramer was made of parts made by ESP. In Japan.

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.

That had to be a Korean Aerostar for that price.

Japan turned the corner in the mid '80s, and Ibanez led the way, along with Charvel. Hell, the Japanese Fenders I owned then were better than the USA ones, although that really reflects more on Fender than other US companies. The domestic Japanese market got most of the cool stuff, though - and by '89 ESP's ripping off of Jackson was in full swing.

Regardless, your point is made, even with the wrong timeline. Other countries can make good guitars. The Chinese Fender Vintage Style guitars kick the crap of the Mexican ones, for example - I have yet to play a bad one (I've played about 20), which shocks the crap out of me for a $400 guitar.

[Nightbat]

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.

Woops, didn't notice that in the specs

but the pics on the main page are definitely chrome hardware

[vondran]

... There are USA versions coming out of the Custom Shop. By the way, I have the original single cuttaway proto that Mike Shannon built... it's AMAZING. When you touch or play these guitars, you will know that we spent our time making it right. ...

These are growing on me.

Bionic, I do wish you came out with the USA ones first, as I would like a USA Les Paul style guitar with a floyd. Surfcasters are cool too. Openning with the China models I think hurts the image at the get go.

[veniculum]

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.

That's a good question...it was a Kramer Nightswan...you know..the Viv Campbell model. It said "made in Neptune, NJ" on the neck plate. But I had heard at one point that this was questionable. And of course, Kramer was dead not too long after.
The other one was a Striker I believe...you're right. And it was shite...a real stinker.
I purchased a used Charvel Fusion Deluxe (Hot Pink!) in around 1990...that was an import, and was a good guitar....not great..but good. So I guess Japan had started doing decent stuff by the late 80s. But they sure still had a lot of crap. I don't know if there's any crap coming out of Japan now...at least not that I know of.

[eaeolian]

That's a good question...it was a Kramer Nightswan...you know..the Viv Campbell model. It said "made in Neptune, NJ" on the neck plate. But I had heard at one point that this was questionable. And of course, Kramer was dead not too long after.

Pure ESP, at that point - they got away with the "Made in NJ" thing because they assembled it there from ESP parts.

[algeriet]

Gaytarded.

[toejam]

That's a good question...it was a Kramer Nightswan...you know..the Viv Campbell model. It said "made in Neptune, NJ" on the neck plate.

Did it actually say "made in Neptune, NJ"? I've got a Kramer 600ST, and the neckplate does say Neptune, NJ, but not "made in". Kinda like the Fort Worth, TX on the Charvel Model series...

[GuerillaPete]

I know my fellow JCF'ers are all about "where's the hot-rod attitude" or "where's the US-made models...etc.etc."; my main concern is where's the 'Hottie' that used to model the charvel guitars AND the tight T-shirts?
Marketing 101: Can't sell anything w/o some sweater-puppies!

[Tekky]

Is there a Jackson rep on this board?

Not sure if Bionic's new counterpart on the Jackson side is here yet. I'll ax someone.

[Carbuff]

i know my fellow jcf'ers are all about "where's the hot-rod attitude" or "where's the us-made models...etc.etc."; my main concern is where's the 'hottie' that used to model the charvel guitars and the tight t-shirts?
Marketing 101: Can't sell anything w/o some sweater-puppies!

this!!!!

[Nightbat]

this!!!!

Please, I still have Jenna Jameson nightmares, so beware of what you wish for

[Rich#6]

jenna's nasty