Why no Japanese stratheads now?

[CharvelRocker]

I'd be happy if they brought back the Model series pointy or strat heads.

Exactly. If they brought Charvel overseas production back though, I could see them having kind of a "flagship" model with a Strat head, and maybe the rest model series. That will never happen, but it would be sweet.

[skorb]

Not trying to argue or to be a J/C apologist, just playing devil's advocate here. The aftermarket neck companies just make necks, not whole guitars. As far as I know, J/C is the only manufacturer of complete guitars allowed to make stratheads, and the fees that they pay for that may be much higher than what Warmoth, Musikraft, etc. have to pay. I agree with most of you, & still think it's probably all BS, but that's the argument I've heard for the high upcharge.

that IS BS. I don't buy that for a second and neither should you (you seem to know this intrinsically since you also called it out as likely BS).

if you were told that, that seems like a tall tale spread by someone at JCMI who wants to rationalize that absurd gouge of a headstock upcharge.

You can get a full Fender lic'd body and neck from Warmoth. You don't see them sticking on a $300 headstock "licensing fee."

it's all bullshit guys. a huge steaming pile.