Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

[jhale667]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Here's how the Gotoh looks like (click for the full res picture)

Visually its' shape is different (and, IMO, better looking) but the dimensions are an exact fit and at the very least I can tell you that the string lock screws are interchangeable since in my Gotoh I used the OFR screws as they were a tad shorter and cleared the Schaller route in my guitar whereas with the Gotoh screws it (barely) did not

BTW, yeah, I'd be very interested to know how these OFRs fair compared to the Ping OFR and even how they do with today's Schaller OFRs...

Thanks. Though I'd have to agree to disagree with you that it's better-looking. I kinda want to check out a Ping Floyd on something just to compare and contrast, was going to put one on a Kramer I'm rebuilding to essentially be a beater, but it was only like $30 cheaper than a real OFR! :rant: What's anyone's motivation to use that one, unless you're in a pinch and need a Floyd AND a pizza RIGHT NOW...:haha:

And for what it's worth, I bought a brand-new OFR several months ago, and it seems fine... (Also scored a pristine older one on Ebay for less than a Benjamin recently as well as an uber-cheap OFR baseplate, and... )

The 2-hum rear-loaded production model is really starting to look interesting...

 

[Sirion]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Some photos stolen from eBay:

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

I SO like the So-Cal!!!

with OFRs I think that it's the tolerances that've become more loose.
Not an expert but it's not like I've noticed a difference in the quality of the materials...

In any case, I've tried both Floyds from the mid-to-late 90s and today's Floyd (mainly in Korean guitars like the Hellraiser) and did notice some differences in feel (when using it) and how they stayed. Not on how the looked or felt (when touched )

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Thanks. Though I'd have to agree to disagree with you that it's better-looking. I kinda want to check out a Ping Floyd on something just to compare and contrast, was going to put one on a Kramer I'm rebuilding to essentially be a beater, but it was only like $30 cheaper than a real OFR! :rant: What's anyone's motivation to use that one, unless you're in a pinch and need a Floyd AND a pizza RIGHT NOW...:haha:

Dunno man, I like how it's more low profile (with the Schaller I'd bang my hand on the fine-tuners) and slicker looking.
But yeah, taste is a subjective thing.

Now about the Ping, after-market I guess no-one, but I'm guessing it'd be pretty darn nice for manufacturers (particularly Asian based ones) to cut corners

 

[ColonPowell]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Again, no disrespect to John meant in any way, but here our opinions are completely different

That said: Mondays and SNAFUs have always existed

Sure absolutely, however it seems almost the rule rather than the exception these days. Stop and think about how many per month Suhr sees, goes thru, fixes, and ultimately has to send back to Floyd Rose. It becomes too costly & time consuming. Not to mention the effect new OFRs have on your tone.

I've used OFRs since they first came out, and loved them. I'm totally bummed the quality has tanked. I think it's a wise business move Floyd seems to be using other builders than Schaller of late. I'm going to check out the new Charvels and see what's up. If Korea can build a better Floyd than Schaller...well that's kinda saying something there.

 

[jhale667]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Sure absolutely, however it seems almost the rule rather than the exception these days. Stop and think about how many per month Suhr sees, goes thru, fixes, and ultimately has to send back to Floyd Rose. It becomes too costly & time consuming. Not to mention the effect new OFRs have on your tone.

I've used OFRs since they first came out, and loved them. I'm totally bummed the quality has tanked. I think it's a wise business move Floyd seems to be using other builders than Schaller of late. I'm going to check out the new Charvels and see what's up. If Korea can build a better Floyd than Schaller...well that's kinda saying something there.

I've never noticed any tonal variance among my Floyds of various years yet, but lately I've Big-Blocked them all, so probably couldn't notice anyway...would most probably do the same to one of these, assuming the baseplate is as sturdy as a pre-QC issue OFR, and the bar will set to stay in one position...

Actually, scratch that...I Big-Block everything, there'd be no "most probably" about it...LOL :haha:

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

So I test drove a couple today. I don't want to beat a dead horse, I think XSSIVE covered most everything in his review, and from my limited experience today, I think he was dead on.

Example: one So. Cal I tried seemed to have no issues. The one San Dimas Style 2 I tried had an input jack that was messed up (had to literally jam the cord in there to get it in), and had a loose volume nob that rotated all the way around. The San Dimas Style 2 also had a narrower space between the heel and the neck, so when I'd vibrato on the upper frets my hand would whack the heel which I didn't like.

Still, not bad guitars for the money at all, just don't expect them to be Jackson USA or equivalent type feel and quality. My 2 cents anyway!

 

[gainfreak!]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Excellent Post! Thanks for taking the time to do this.


~R~

 

[lpmarshall]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

I hope to get my review up next week, I sliced my pick hand index finger and I haven't been able to give it a good run yet, it is just starting to heal up.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

ahh, i know what you mean, it's amazing how hard it is to play with a band-aid on your index finger of your picking hand. i had a bad blister from sanding on my index finger of my picking hand that popped and was all raw and nasty so i put a band-aid on to try and play and i couldn't play for crap. you would think it would be no big deal, all that finger does is hold the pick but without the feeling of the pick i just couldn't play.

-Mike

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Ping Works is a Chinese company, they make the cheap tuners and hardware for most Fender products, and others.

 

[lpmarshall]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

ahh, i know what you mean, it's amazing how hard it is to play with a band-aid on your index finger of your picking hand. i had a bad blister from sanding on my index finger of my picking hand that popped and was all raw and nasty so i put a band-aid on to try and play and i couldn't play for crap. you would think it would be no big deal, all that finger does is hold the pick but without the feeling of the pick i just couldn't play.

-Mike

Same deal here. I might give it a go tonight, the cut finally started to seal off. It's not as bad when I broke my index finger on my fretting hand, although I could use the bottom of the splint as a slide lol

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

I hope to get my review up next week, I sliced my pick hand index finger and I haven't been able to give it a good run yet, it is just starting to heal up.

SRV used super glue... Man up boys... hahaha

 

[jhale667]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Ping Works is a Chinese company, they make the cheap tuners and hardware for most Fender products, and others.

Supposedly they are NOT Pings (and they don't have the Ping logo by the bar attachment from pics I've seen) ...they're being sourced from Korea, I heard?

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Supposedly they are NOT Pings (and they don't have the Ping logo by the bar attachment from pics I've seen) ...they're being sourced from Korea, I heard?

IDK, but it isn't a Schaller OFR, thats for sure....its not horrible, but mine might get changed out yet.

 

[jumbowolfe]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Thank you for a very objective review. I had wondered about those when I first heard about them, and thats about what I expect out of a $1000 guitar on the market. That being said, as a Kramer fanatic, I made an early purchase on the Pacer Imperial "reissue" at the Kramer Expo this year, and it is one OUTSTANDING guitar.

Allbeit, Kramer won't be able to flood the market like Charvel because of Gibson/Epiphone's lack of interest in Kramer, however, it is an amazing recreation of the 80's Pacers. They should hit the market in the Fall, I'd be interested in hearing the exact same review from you (Mike) about the Imperial to compare - objectively since I'm obviously swayed by the Kramer brand.

Thanks again,
Mike
(vintagekramer.com)

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

I don't like the knobs a whole lot but other than that it's one BEAUTIFUL guitar!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Thank you for a very objective review. I had wondered about those when I first heard about them, and thats about what I expect out of a $1000 guitar on the market. That being said, as a Kramer fanatic, I made an early purchase on the Pacer Imperial "reissue" at the Kramer Expo this year, and it is one OUTSTANDING guitar.

Allbeit, Kramer won't be able to flood the market like Charvel because of Gibson/Epiphone's lack of interest in Kramer, however, it is an amazing recreation of the 80's Pacers. They should hit the market in the Fall, I'd be interested in hearing the exact same review from you (Mike) about the Imperial to compare - objectively since I'm obviously swayed by the Kramer brand.

Thanks again,
Mike
(vintagekramer.com)

Mike,
Dang, why beak??? Why not pointy?? This an R5? I LOVE the pacer imp I bought off of Amerturk.. If I could get a new one with that neck..
Whats the body wood?? Projected price??

thanks

Gotta get a G zer for a Charvel and come up with more by fall... the guitar industry is trying to break me... hahaha

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Thank you for a very objective review. I had wondered about those when I first heard about them, and thats about what I expect out of a $1000 guitar on the market. That being said, as a Kramer fanatic, I made an early purchase on the Pacer Imperial "reissue" at the Kramer Expo this year, and it is one OUTSTANDING guitar.

Allbeit, Kramer won't be able to flood the market like Charvel because of Gibson/Epiphone's lack of interest in Kramer, however, it is an amazing recreation of the 80's Pacers. They should hit the market in the Fall, I'd be interested in hearing the exact same review from you (Mike) about the Imperial to compare - objectively since I'm obviously swayed by the Kramer brand.

Thanks again,
Mike
(vintagekramer.com)

wow... isn't this simular to the Kramer model Joe Satriani used? I hear he recorded most of Surfing with a 83/84 era Pacer....

 

[jumbowolfe]

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Re: Charvel Production Model..IN DEPTH…

Actually, its a B series model of a Pacer which would be pretty darn close to his original Imperial he had.

Its an amazing guitar, Kramer/Epiphone really nailed this one.

Mike