NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

[Phantasmagoria]

After waiting a week for it to be delivered, the rather cool Fernandes Vortex pro V I'd recently ordered online from a local store turned out (surprise..surprise ) to be 'currently unavailable/sold out' ..which was pretty disappointing to say the least. My quest for a V (and a sustainer) is put on hold yet again ..it's a curse lol.

Anyway, universal balance, yin/yang etc..stuff like that probably came into play haha.. and from out of the ashes of that crappy experience came this...a brand new/mint 2002 MIJ quilted cherry sunburst Charvel Traditional Pro (Alder body/Hotrails/Coolrails/Custom-5 pup's) which I was lucky enough to find for a very cool price (cheaper than the Vortex Pro flying V) :bigthumb:












Really happy about this one ...it's my first/only Charvel

 

[kramersteen]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

Welcome to the charvel club.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

It coud've done with sharktooth inlays & a pointy headstock ...but I'm not complaining

 

[kramersteen]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

It coud've done with sharktooth inlays & a pointy headstock ...but I'm not complaining

Nar this is more classy man and deserves the reserved dots. My only gripe is i wish the headstock was more strat like at the end. But you know i would never mod it its too special.

There's a sweet project fusion i want but i don't have the spare money at the moment.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

I was (half) joking..I agree..it's just fine..I like the dot's/jellybean headstock the way they are.

The money for this has been bouncing around from store to store for months lol ..all the best with your fusion.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

Congrats, man! That is a sweet find!

On a side note: I had a Fernandes Vortex Deluxe for a while. Absolutely great playing guitar. However, my wife constantly made fun of how small it looked on my 6'4" frame, so I sold it, ha ha!

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

Thanks! :beerchug:

haha really? ..well I'm 6'1" ...& not really getting any younger (or trimmer) lol.. so maybe it was for the best (my missing out on the Vortex) :lmao:

The main draw for me was the sustainer, but maybe I'd be better off just buying/installing one in one of my other guitars and put my V dreams to rest. My wife would probably have a field day if she saw me rocking one too (she laughs at my Ironbird) :laugh2:

 

[DankStar]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

wow

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

.... It finally came in yesterday

Looks amazing & it's in mint condition/never been played.

The customs fleeced me (as usual lol) & I had to work on it (truss rod/intonation) quite a bit to get rid of some back-bow & fret buzz (probably from being stored detuned/without strings..) but it's way better now. Low action & plays smooth as butter. Sustains for hours too. There's still a slight bit of buzz from the 9th to 12th frets...but I 'll see if that disappears in a day or two, or else something might need a bit of leveling. It's not bad as it is though, I'm just spoiled because none of my guitars buzz at all. The Custom 5 sounds awesome in the bridge...fat, sweet, tight & punchy ...going to leave it in there and the same goes for the Hot & Cool Rails. They sound great as well. I think this thing is just perfect as it is! Now I need to get jamming and post some clips

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

.... It finally came in yesterday

Looks amazing & it's in mint condition/never been played.

The customs fleeced me (as usual lol) & I had to work on it (truss rod/intonation) quite a bit to get rid of some back-bow & fret buzz (probably from being stored detuned/without strings..) but it's way better now. Low action & plays smooth as butter. Sustains for hours too. There's still a slight bit of buzz from the 9th to 12th frets...but I 'll see if that disappears in a day or two, or else something might need a bit of leveling. It's not bad as it is though, I'm just spoiled because none of my guitars buzz at all. The Custom 5 sounds awesome in the bridge...fat, sweet, tight & punchy ...going to leave it in there and the same goes for the Hot & Cool Rails. They sound great as well. I think this thing is just perfect as it is! Now I need to get jamming and post some clips

Super sweet! I see you have an early '90s MIJ 475 Exotic also? I have one of those, and a San Dimas I USA with a similar headstock to your newer Charvel. Two of my favorites, for sure. :cool2:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

Thanks! I'm really happy with it....it plays so well The only problem with it right now is a raised 12th fret that's causing some buzzing, I'll have to either file that down myself or find someone to do it. As for the other guitar, it's actually a modded MIJ Jackson DK2S Dinky from the same year as my new Charvel (2002) which I bought minus it's electronics a few years ago & now has a pair of Duncan's in the middle/neck (Hotrails) & a Lace Alumitone Deathbucker in the bridge. Definitely one of my favorite guitars!

 

[DankStar]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

My OCD says put a rail type humbucker in it to match the other rails.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

Nice.

Tip for future reference: never adjust a guitar's neck the day it arrives. Even if it comes without strings, or they're completely slack (which is dumb), string/tune it up and let it sit for at least 2 days, maybe 3 depending on how drastic the climate change is (say from South Texas to Manitoba) before adjusting the rod. That gives the neck plenty of time to acclimate. Otherwise, you'll spend a few weeks working the rod as it fights both nature and string tension.

And I believe Maniac Music still sells the Sustainiac that was made for the DK2S directly. It's a fine unit, IMO, but I'm not sure how it compares to the Fernandes or Floyd Rose models.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

My OCD says put a rail type humbucker in it to match the other rails.

haha...yeah, I get that...but aesthetics apart, I was very pleasantly surprised with the Custom 5 that's in there...they knew what they were doing ..it sounds amazing! It's staying where it is

Nice.

Tip for future reference: never adjust a guitar's neck the day it arrives. Even if it comes without strings, or they're completely slack (which is dumb), string/tune it up and let it sit for at least 2 days, maybe 3 depending on how drastic the climate change is (say from South Texas to Manitoba) before adjusting the rod. That gives the neck plenty of time to acclimate. Otherwise, you'll spend a few weeks working the rod as it fights both nature and string tension.

And I believe Maniac Music still sells the Sustainiac that was made for the DK2S directly. It's a fine unit, IMO, but I'm not sure how it compares to the Fernandes or Floyd Rose models.

Thanks! ...& nice tip regarding the neck...I'll keep that in mind It's actually just perfect now. The back bow's gone & the neck's straight with minimal relief and a very low action. Plays like butter apart from the buzz in the center from that raised 12th fret (only place it's buzzing).

I've often thought of getting a Sustainiac back in there..but never really got around to it. They are'nt cheap (I paid just a teeny bit more for the Charvel hehe..) and I've always ended up picking something else up instead...new pickups or a pedal or something. Maybe one day :laugh2:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

Off topic in my own thread lol ...but my Ibanez SA160FM BBT just came in as well!

Plays really well out of the box ...nice fit & finish/sweet looking top/nice smooth neck/great fret job & it keeps tune well. I lowered the action/bridge pup slightly & swapped the tacky silver control knobs for black..looks a lot better to me now. Pups are'nt bad for stock ones...very usable tones. I'll probably end up changing them though ...but tbh it does sound pretty decent the way it is right now. All-in-all not a bad sounding/playing/looking axe at all :bigthumb:

 

[BloodRose]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

congrats on the new pair!! Being a Charvy fan, I scoped those out back when they came out but never had the cash for one. Wasnt crazy about the kinda bland h/s, but was easy to overlook.

I have a couple axes with Cool rails neck and middle. Sound pretty cool, but Im working on splitting them on one of the guits.. wired it wrong first time and family issues keep me from having time or patience to tear it down again..

enjoy!!

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

congrats on the new pair!! Being a Charvy fan, I scoped those out back when they came out but never had the cash for one. Wasnt crazy about the kinda bland h/s, but was easy to overlook.

I have a couple axes with Cool rails neck and middle. Sound pretty cool, but Im working on splitting them on one of the guits.. wired it wrong first time and family issues keep me from having time or patience to tear it down again..

enjoy!!

Thanks man!

I saw them back then myself & they gave me GAS (I actually like/prefer the snubby headstock to the Fender type ...not crazy about those on a superstrat lol) but I could'nt afford one back then either. I think this one fell off a truck or something haha...could'nt believe the price he wanted (and shipping was dirt cheap too...old school postal rates haha). It was up on eBay for 3 days and the guy kept getting offers he did'nt accept. I can't for the life of me see why it was'nt scooped up right away for the measly asking price ($299) he'd listed it for. He had'nt mentioned (international) shipping costs & I thought that's where the catch was lol..but then when he PM'd me about that (cheap!) ...I grabbed it straight away. The Ibby SA up there cost more than it (Charvel) did with shipping...and it's absolutely mint/new....same as the Ibby (which was boxed).

I've never tried Cool Rails before though I have a Hotrails in my Dinky neck...wired to be splittable (and it's quite a usable tone). I'm quite impressed with the Cool Rails in the middle it sounds really sweet and combines great with the n/b pups too...

 

[BloodRose]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

Back then I ONLY liked Pointies on Charvels too.. Still prefer em, but I love charvels so much I dont the the fender headstock detract..
$2friggin99????? Holy moly!!! Amazes me people are still going to under offer on that. sheesh.. Last few times I sold guits, I got STUPID offers.. Hey man... Tell ya what..I know you are asking $600 plus 50 shipping. How bought you pay me 50 and Ill take it off your hands for you?? Deal?? I kept getting insultingly low offers.. My last sale I even put in the description.. ALL lowball offers will be refused.. And I STILL had a couple messages sent..

Great score !!

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

$2friggin99?????

I kid you not

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121959952167/

Holy moly!!! Amazes me people are still going to under offer on that.

I can see a lot of those dudes kicking themselves lol..

sheesh.. Last few times I sold guits, I got STUPID offers.. Hey man... Tell ya what..I know you are asking $600 plus 50 shipping. How bought you pay me 50 and Ill take it off your hands for you?? Deal?? I kept getting insultingly low offers.. My last sale I even put in the description.. ALL lowball offers will be refused.. And I STILL had a couple messages sent..

haha....that sucks man. I've never sold a guitar online, now I'm never going to :laugh2: On the other hand, most of my offers are like $10-20 lower than asking ..& I still have them rejected :lmao:

Great score !!

Don't I know it! I literally rubbed my eyes when I saw that price ...and what was more amazing was that it went on as long as it did with like...30 or so folk "watching" it. By the time I picked it up there were just about 2 hours left to end-time. It had been up for three days @ $299 ...amazing!

 

[Aceman]

Re: NCD (New Charvel Day) ...like a phoenix from the ashes...

Mmmmm….Cherry Burst…..