Charvel San Dimas verification

[Brian Griffin]

Anybody in the forum familiar with a San Dimas Japan-made? I am thinking about buying this particular guitar and about 99% sure of its authenticity but second opinion doesn't hurt. My thing is the tuners which are Grovers. I thought they are supposed to be Gotoh.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Charvel San Dimas verification

I have the exact same one. Tuners are Grovers indeed.
Probably the most comfortable neck I've ever played thanks to the big ass frets and rolled edges.

 

[Hairmail]

Re: Charvel San Dimas verification

Yep, it's legit, I'm sure the MIJ Charvels have only ever carried Grovers, and I think the older MIA ones carried them too, though the new MIM ones carry own branded tuners. I've got exactly the same guitar. If you do pull the trigger I wonder how these will measure up with your Ibanezes, I fell a bit out of love with the Wizard neck cause of the ones on the Charvels, they're really to die for.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Charvel San Dimas verification

The MIA one that I have has grover tuners. The MIA and MIJ Charvels have pretty much the same neck profile on them . . . and it's awesome!

 

[Brian Griffin]

Re: Charvel San Dimas verification

Yep, it's legit, I'm sure the MIJ Charvels have only ever carried Grovers, and I think the older MIA ones carried them too, though the new MIM ones carry own branded tuners. I've got exactly the same guitar. If you do pull the trigger I wonder how these will measure up with your Ibanezes, I fell a bit out of love with the Wizard neck cause of the ones on the Charvels, they're really to die for.

Thanks for the verification! I don't really care about the neck but I am not sure if a Wizard can be beat, at least the one on my RG3XXV cause it's so thin and fast it feels like a toy guitar.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Charvel San Dimas verification

Already answered, but yes, Grovers are authentic. The US Custom shop ones usually have Gotoh, but the imports and the US production ones before those, came with Grover. I have one of the Japanese ones (So-Cal) and its freaking amazing!! I had one just like this one you are looking at too, and it also was amazing, but the neck was thicker for some reason than the other one and so I sold it.

Plus, the Japanese made ones come with an incredible case! I wont buy one of the new ones. Dont like the features as well and have heard the build isnt quite as good.

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Charvel San Dimas verification

I have the exact same one. Tuners are Grovers indeed.
Probably the most comfortable neck I've ever played thanks to the big ass frets and rolled edges.

I have that exact guitar and it's a total inspiration to play. The first time I recorded with it in my home studio, I laid down the best version of Bark at the Moon (instrumental) I've ever done. It just seemed like the natural thing to do. :smokin:

I think of it as my Jack E. Lee/Warren DeMartini go-to guitar.

 

[Brian Griffin]

Re: Charvel San Dimas verification

I finally got to meet this baby (someone managed to buy it before I did and now he is selling it). I was surprised to find the fret edges protruding out of the fretboard, falling short of Indonesian made Ibanez. Plus, the whole neck including the fretboard isn't covered with clear lacquer, providing a fertile ground for sweat and grime and dust to build up overtime.

 

[Hairmail]

Re: Charvel San Dimas verification

The protruding fret ends is most probably due to heat shrinkage on the neck. That guitar was made only a bit after mine, I've got serial number 525, it hasn't really got that problem, I suspect its because until I picked it up it was in an air conditioned store. As for the oiled neck, there's not much you can do about it. Every time I change strings I wipe the gunk off my fretboard and scrape off the buildup on the back of the neck, personally I prefer the feel of an oiled/satin neck so I don't really mind cleaning it up.

That shrinkage could happen on any guitar from the Charvels and Ibanezes, to cheap Chinese made guitars, to $3000 Gibsons and PRS guitars.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Charvel San Dimas verification

I finally got to meet this baby (someone managed to buy it before I did and now he is selling it). I was surprised to find the fret edges protruding out of the fretboard, falling short of Indonesian made Ibanez. Plus, the whole neck including the fretboard isn't covered with clear lacquer, providing a fertile ground for sweat and grime and dust to build up overtime.

Fret sprout is due to the neck being dry, but nothing a little clean up can't handle. Charvel necks are finished in Watco Danish Oil, no lacquer, no poly.

 

[SATCH1967]

Re: Charvel San Dimas verification

the natural oiled charvel necks are the best around, especially the USA ones from the 80's and the legacy run, 25th etc. i have played the imported ones and they are very nice for what they are.