NAD: Bonafide shred-stick w/a Floyd....sky blue 80's-style shred machine!

[Phantasmagoria]

Ok so about 90% of my axes fit that description (except for the shy blue part)...but the FGN/Fujigen axe I bought last has a regular Strat-type bridge ..so not quite there , mad shredelicious shredding machine though it undoubtedly is.

So now we have a triumphant return to the glory day's of olde with a spanking new Charvel Pro Mod Dk24 FR E in infinity Blue .... and yeah this one ticks all the boxes: SD Full Shred bridge, 2 stacked SD singles in the middle & neck, Floyd 1000 series, alder body, compound radius shredder's neck (thin but not Wizard thin), big fat sexXxy Jumbo frets w/ rolled edges, massively thick ebony fingerboard, graphite reinforcement for the neck, beautifully carved neck joint for the hands-down best upper fret access I've ever come across on a guitar etc etc. This is about as good as an HSS superstrat can get for me :bigthumb:

Plus I got it for about $200 off it's list price....why look away?

It was set up reasonably good though with a hair higher action than I consider ideal for me. I will do a complete setup in day or two to get things right the way I want them. It already plays extremely well though..

While not as visually stunning as the FGN ...it's nevertheless a pretty sweet looking "workhorse/shredder" kinda axe & the black hardware on the blue body turns heads & drops panties..

[imghttps://i.postimg.cc/zXw9FT48/Blue-Charvel-3.jpg[/img]

The full shred is a kick-ass bridge pup and lives up to it's name. I absolutely love it :bigthumb:



Straight out of the box with my AMT Stonehead amp (tuning was passable but not great...same goes for the playing )

More to come :bigthumb:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

That error 304 or w/e thing is a right PIA... second pic did'nt get posted so..

 

[Mincer]

That is a fantastic color.

 

[jeremy]

i agree, that color is fantastic! if i needed another superstrat, i could rock that thing

 

[Phantasmagoria]

A couple of years ago I was on a Blue guitar kick after not owning one foor the last 30 years...I must still have a hangover :laugh2:

Though tbh....this axe could've been just about any colour and it would have called out to me based only on features/price.. it's a shredder's wet dream

 

[AdrianSD]

Enjoy it in good health, I like it! How is the fretwork? My MIM Charvel San Dimas fretwork was pretty average from the factory, but once done properly by a luthier it plays exceptionally smooth.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

THread title should have said NGD not NAD.....it's so confusing these days. The lines are getting blurred..

I'm sitting on way too much gear...2025 really needs to be a dry year

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Enjoy it in good health, I like it! How is the fretwork? My MIM Charvel San Dimas fretwork was pretty average from the factory, but once done properly by a luthier it plays exceptionally smooth.

Thanks! Can't complain about the fretwork at all ..it's flawless. Plays like butter. The whole thing is actually very well put together ...so can't complain.

This is actually my first MiM guitar of any sort & I have to say I'm pretty impressed :bigthumb:

 

[Ascension]

i agree, that color is fantastic! if i needed another superstrat, i could rock that thing

Looked at a US Jackson Soloist in that color. Same color as my Kiesel Delos and that is a cool color. Congrats.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

I spent last night setting it up (minor truss rod adjustment/pickup/bridge height mostly) and have it just about where I want it now. It plays and sounds phenomenal!

The Full Shred is an incredible pup, crisp, clear, crunchy, precise, yet still with a chunk of musicality/harmonics & even warmth despite the bright, sharp spatial high's (that never get harsh). It really is the quintessential 80's shred tone. I think I have it right in it's sweet spot for now...sounds ****ing brilliant!

Same clip as above this time after the set-up & w/ my JVM 410

What a sweet, killer, shredtastic axe :bigthumb:

Damn! It sounds incredible if I do say so myself :laugh2: :bigthumb:

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I've wanted to try a MIM Charvel for a while. What are the necks on those like? Are they Ibanez-y? Jackson-y? Or more Fender-y?

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Def not Ibanez-like. I guess Jackson would be closest given it's a compound radius...

It was slightly thicker than I was anticipating, especially since my MIJ Chavel Traditional Pro has a really skinny/Wizard-like neck. But this one still feels very comfortable & fast though to be honest I get along w/ just about any kind of neck & I'm not fussy. What blew me away was the 1/4 inch thick ebony fingerboard. I know you are'nt crazy about ebony fretboards ...but the point is...there was no cutting corners. I've never seen one that thick before...

Overall I was more than impressed with the finish and quality of this axe. I've heard both good & bad about MiM axes & my own experience w/ this one has been absolutely 100% positive... :bigthumb:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

I mean ffs ..would you look at ^^ :eyecrazy: that!

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Having some fun w/ Mr. Crowley....

Somehow both my Charvel's want to make me reach for the whammy bar & give it a good wiggle :bigthumb:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Same kinda thing w/ better mic positioning..

But mostly cuz it's a fun guitar that's hard to put down :bigthumb:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

And since I just got the single coils height adjusted....a heart wrenching ballad w/ the neck pup :bigthumb:

Some deeply emotional divebombs, flutters & other 'lite' whammy trix & some tasteful (7 not 8) finger tapping to keep all the emotion from being overwhelming...

 

[Phantasmagoria]

And just cuz it's made 2 shred does'nt mean it can't rock n roll :bigthumb:

Some really nice clanky bridge/middle notch position tone w/ my JVM410...

​

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Def not Ibanez-like. I guess Jackson would be closest given it's a compound radius...

It was slightly thicker than I was anticipating, especially since my MIJ Chavel Traditional Pro has a really skinny/Wizard-like neck. But this one still feels very comfortable & fast though to be honest I get along w/ just about any kind of neck & I'm not fussy. What blew me away was the 1/4 inch thick ebony fingerboard. I know you are'nt crazy about ebony fretboards ...but the point is...there was no cutting corners. I've never seen one that thick before...

Overall I was more than impressed with the finish and quality of this axe. I've heard both good & bad about MiM axes & my own experience w/ this one has been absolutely 100% positive... :bigthumb:

I always supposed the quality is around the same level as the MIM Fender stuff which is solid from my experience.

I kinda want one of those red Strat-looking Charvels. Or one of the Tele-looking ones. I just haven't been able to try one to know what the neck is like.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Yeah, nothing wrong w/ those ^^ either :bigthumb:

The Tele to me is one of the ugliest guitars ever made :lmao:

Having said that a lot of the non - Fender one's these days are'nt nearly quite as bad w/ the body sculpting/attempt at ergonomics & dual humbuckers....

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Neck-middle notch position w/ my Laney IRT120h...