Charvel question. US Vs Pro mod?

[BloodRose]

I have a question. (search function turned up info on the MIA vs japanese pro mods) My question is this. Are the US made Charvels (like the Dimartinis and such) head and shoulders better than the promods? Im sure they are better and have better wood and all, but I wanna know if they are two and a half times the price better? My pro mod (with added Duncans and a big trem block) is absolutely killer! The sustain and unplugged tone just kill.
Im wondering that if this one is this good, should the top line ones be mind blowing?
One thing about the top line ones is that I really dont want a sig model and the non sig models are usually some kind of natural wood ones. Plus, the price. But, if they are that much better.....

Thoughts?

 

[jmh151]

Re: Charvel question. US Vs Pro mod?

The finish I've seen on the Promods is very thin and chips off easily. You can see the seams in the 3 piece bodies through the finish. I've seen Promods with good and bad setups. The big difference in price, is the amount of time spent in the final assembly and setup.

Many Promods I've seen haven't had proper neck angles, and shimming wasn't optimal, and was inconsistent. You could take the extra time and take the guitar to a lutheir and have him correct the neck angle and do a proper setup, grind and polish the frets, and you could get it so be close to a USA model. All of this costs money. Good lutheirs- like Custom Shop lutheir, are alot more expensive than guys on the assembly like performing setups, so that is where the difference in price really goes- it's the attention to detail.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Charvel question. US Vs Pro mod?

I wouldn't pay Custom Shop prices for essentially the same guitar you could get off the standard production line, albeit with some aftermarket tweaking, but that's just me.

While you could take it to a luthier to have the frets done and the neck heel and pocket tweaked, that could be done at your leisure over time, as expenses allowed. You might end up paying the same amount as a CS over a period of some months, but that would give you time to evaluate whether the work was truly necessary of if you were just being nitpicky.

However, that's comparing CS to USA ProMods, obviously. I owned 6 of them at once and did not have the troubles that many people have stated i.e. bad frets, etc etc.

If you're going for a specific woodworking change that simply cannot be duplicated in a ProMod, such as a short-scale, or baritone, or fancy inlays, or something to do with the body, then your only option would be the CS.

If you simply want a H-S layout, get a SoCal and a replacement pickguard, or the H-S-S SanDimas Wildcard and don't use the middle pickup.

Then of course there's the 2-year wait on Customs.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Charvel question. US Vs Pro mod?

not that I could afford a custom, but do they still make them to order?? On the charvel site, the options are the Warren D's, promods, wild cards and then the desolation (desecration) line.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Charvel question. US Vs Pro mod?

not that I could afford a custom, but do they still make them to order?? On the charvel site, the options are the Warren D's, promods, wild cards and then the desolation (desecration) line.

Yes, they still make them to order, The Music Zoo regularly has limited runs, and if you want to order one you can call them, as well as a number of other dealers. They're made in the corner of the Fender factory with the EVH and Jackson guitars. Matter of fact, I recently played a Japanese made EVH Special, and aside from the vintage size frets, the neck felt alot like my Charvel

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Charvel question. US Vs Pro mod?

Yes, they still make them to order, The Music Zoo regularly has limited runs, and if you want to order one you can call them, as well as a number of other dealers. They're made in the corner of the Fender factory with the EVH and Jackson guitars. Matter of fact, I recently played a Japanese made EVH Special, and aside from the vintage size frets, the neck felt alot like my Charvel

Musiczoo and those places usually always have them in stained woods and stuff. I want a painted one. or a fancy stained top. MZ I think it is, has a sweet limited run of jackson soloists with a smaller headstock and some throwback goodies.