Which charvel ?

[FrankD77]

I love the Ibanez series.
Have 2 jems and several RGs.
But also want something else

Someone pointed me towards charvel as a great addition as a fast alternative.

The new ones look great but i like a more vintage instrument. Im new with charvel so wondered what model should i look for.

Should be floating bridge and at least a humbucker in the bridge.

Price range 700-1000 euro.
I know it's personal

 

[RFR]

I’d go with a vintage USA made model.

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

I have a Pro Mod San Dimas model and a Pro Mod SoCal model. The San Dimas is the better of the two and one of my favorite guitars - not only that I own now - but that I've ever owned. I play it a lot and absolutely love it. Beautiful neck on this thing for the dough. These are MIM guitars. Both were purchased for approx $8-900. They both have Floyds. This model line can be a little hit and miss, going by my experience and what I've read others say. My SoCal has required a little work to get it squared away and how I want it. They come with "hot" Seymour Duncans pups. The one thing I do really like about the SoCal model is that it has a push/pull volume pot that allows me to go single coil or humbucker on the fly. It's versatile in that sense.

Like Ralph said above... I recommend spending a little more and getting a USA model. I think I'll be going that route soon myself. There's a couple of different models I've got my eye on. I'm hearing the quality on these is very high at the moment.

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

This is the same year model as my San Dimas. Mine is identical to this except mine is blue.

 

[FrankD77]

Thanks.
Tried one in a store yesterday. Really liked the neck and feel. Only the trem felt a bit weird and less smooth. But i always do a full setup myself and this one was straight of the rack.

Think indeed a MIJ or MIM will be on the table. The USA i see are a lot more expensive.

 

[Papanate]

Price range 700-1000 euro.
I know it's personal

Definitely out your price range- Charvel USA Art Series EVH XB 1H -
but these are great guitars.

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

Definitely out your price range- Charvel USA Art Series EVH XB 1H -
but these are great guitars.

I have an interest in a guitar like that - with those specs. I just don't want that paint job.

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

Thanks.
Tried one in a store yesterday. Really liked the neck and feel. Only the trem felt a bit weird and less smooth. But i always do a full setup myself and this one was straight of the rack.

Think indeed a MIJ or MIM will be on the table. The USA i see are a lot more expensive.

There were some issues with the floyd on my SoCal when it was new (among a couple of other things that needed to be corrected). At first I thought I might return it - but I had gotten a pretty good deal on it at the time and decided to keep it. Two things that seem to have helped a lot: 1) I applied Rene' Martinez GraphitAll to the bridge saddles and the two pivot points on the bridge posts - and 2) worked the trem liberally for a couple of months. That seemed to help break it in and stabilize the return-to-pitch issue. And make it feel smooth. But yeah - the necks on these guitars are excellent. <--- the single most important thing to me when it comes to playability. How that things feels in my left hand, how it feels when fretting notes and chords.

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

I like the specs and look of this one. Dig the "caramelized" maple neck.

I'm also interested in one with the pau ferro fingerboard. <---like this San Dimas. The aged/relic'd thing I could pass on - but I've never cared as much about appearance - playability and usefulness is key.

Very, very interested in a hard tail too. One of these great necks paired with a fixed bridge is very attractive.

But yeah - these are good guitars for the money, imo.

 

[DrewPeterson7]

I love the Ibanez series.
Have 2 jems and several RGs.
But also want something else

Someone pointed me towards charvel as a great addition as a fast alternative.

The new ones look great but i like a more vintage instrument. Im new with charvel so wondered what model should i look for.

Should be floating bridge and at least a humbucker in the bridge.

Price range 700-1000 euro.
I know it's personal

Sounds like one of the Angel Vivaldi models could be your speed - he was an Ibanez player before signing with Charvel, so they're probably a little more RG-like than most.

Looks like the only one currently in production is his seven string, but I always liked the look of this six, and they're still available secondhand:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...a-firemist-with-caramelized-maple-fingerboard

 

[FrankD77]

Really like the looks on that one
Saw one with a floating bridge but couldn't find it anymore.

 

[FrankD77]

How about the dka-115 ?

 

[FrankD77]

Hit buy
Dka115
Bridge is replaced by a Duncan djc

 

[Eric V]

View attachment 151838
Hit buy
Dka115
Bridge is replaced by a Duncan djc

Congrats @FrankD77 !I used to own a Charvel a long time ago, and I would be surprised if you like it more than the Jems, But times and guitars change.

 

[FrankD77]

I strongly believe I will prefer the jems
Don't know if there is anything better.
But it's always nice to play different guitars and I love vintage gear especially japanese guitars

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

Nice. Hope it works out and it's a winner.

(It's got the cool old school Charvel logo)

 

[FrankD77]

I was looking at the fender style but somehow i love the logo and shape better on this one. Funny you mentioned the same

 

[DrewPeterson7]

Really like the looks on that one
Saw one with a floating bridge but couldn't find it anymore.

I don't know the line well enough to give you a model number, but it definitely exists. If you're into seven strings, his current model does come with a Floyd.