New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

[BloodRose]

I have a Japanese made Pro Mod and love it. Im wondering how the new ones compare as they are no longer made in Japan? Same, better, worse? If better or worse, why?

I had NO problem getting a Japanese made one, even though the original issues were USA made. (The Japanese ones are of great quality and came with a fantastic case!)

Im just curious how the new ones compare as they have switched country of build again..

 

[Hairmail]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

I have no experience with the MIM Pro Mods, I'm yet to see one over here, all I know is that there's a couple spec differences, namely:

-Recessed Floyd Rose

-Mounting rings on the San Dimas

-Charvel tuners instead of the Grover ones

-Black hardware on all models

-Duncan Distortion set in the So-Cal instead of the Dimarzio Tone Zone/Evolution pickups they came with before

-No hardcase! :17:

I'm pretty sure they play identically, lots of smaller differences though.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

I have a rebuilt/customised MIJ Model 3 plus a project MIJ Model 4 underway.

My local Fender dealer has several of the new Charvel and EVH guitars in stock.

In the hand, the necks feel different. The MIJ have gloss poly varnish and a meaty D section. The MIM stuff feels skinnier. The satin varnish feels different. This is not to say that one is better than the other. Whatever suits your taste.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

Awww . . . gross, they changed the neck on them? That was the one thing that everyone who played those so-cals mentioned liking. There is no poly at all on the MIA ones, I thought that the MIJ were the same?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

I have a MIJ San Dimas Pro Mod. like it a lot...outside of the same thing happening with the FR collar on the arm (so I bought an old style arm for it)...but that's a FR issue.

from what I understand, the move to MIM is about $. same as the mover from MIA to MIJ. companies will look for more cost effective way to produce a product. I know that doesn't speak to the quality, but I have only my MIJ as a reference. I have heard the MIJ are better than the MIA, but that's just what I've heard. at the end of the day, it will come down to if the person paying for it likes it or not.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

hmm... I really love the neck on my MIJ one, its very close to my CS one. Slightly thinner would be ok too. I just fear a radical change. Like the diff tween my Japanese promod vs my Japanese model 4. the Duncan pickup change is good, as I ripped the Dimarzios out of mine really quickly. I too understand the reason behind the move ($$), but seems odd to me that they would change so many things. recessed trem, etc..

 

[darthphineas]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

I keep the MIJ San Dimas Pro Mod on the rack next to my 1990 Fender American Standard Strat and my strat-head Jackson PC-1. sort of keeping it all in the family, so to speak. the old toothpaste logo Charvel Predator is in there as well. anyway, I find the San Dimas to be a whole lot like the American Standard neck. I did leave the Jazz in the neck, putting a polished A4 mag in there. it currently has a BKP Holy Diver in the bridge, but that was more of a need to find a home for the HD than anything...I'm thinking of putting a S-Deco in there. I loaded the FR with a titanium block and titanium saddles, so it sings real nice. I am also a fan of the recessed trem and that's what I prefer, but I'm accustomed to both options. the only challenge I'd like to see different is the truss access in the heel of the neck. I don't care for pulling the neck to tweak. too many other options that are more convenient and less prone for someone to mess up something.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

Thanks again darth! yeah, I have my Charvel US and MIJ models loaded with big blocks, Ti saddles and they sing like a LP. Im assuming the quality tween the Japanese vs new ones is probably similar, just the recessed Floyd being the key difference. I kinda like the top mount as I have a D-tuna on my MIJ one with no issues. But my US CS model is not top mount. So I can work with either. Just mostly just concerned about the neck shape

 

[darthphineas]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

have you been to JCFonline?

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

I just answered this on another forum actually...

Unfortunately the Mexivels are worlds away from the USA and Japanese Pro-Mods. The fret work alone is pretty horrible, done with a lack of care and ending with a neck that feels different than any other Charvel due to it. The USA and Japanese Pro-mods had the frets beveled and dressed on the ends nearly the same way as the custom shop guitars just with a little less time spent on them than a custom to speed up production. They also had the tangs clipped back short and the end of the slots filled with wood filler just like a custom shop Charvel to help prevent fret poke. The Mexivels frets do not have the tangs clipped back and slot filled and they're just hastily way over beveled (not a good thing) and hardly dressed just like any Mexican strat unfortunately. They're about as far from a real Charvel as the 80's pointy head Japanese imports are. FMIC has watered down the brand to make an extra buck and it shows, the move to Japan for the pro-mods was bad enough but at least the quality was still there.

You can see the frets on the Mexican here how crazy far the bevel is with tangs that are way out past the playing surface of the fret...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Charvel-Pro...177?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2c7ecd0421

and compare them to the USA here that has much more playing surface with frets that cover the whole width of the board...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Charvel-USA...640?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item258b702988

 

[Ayrton]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

I have only held a MIM model, and I thought hardware and finished were junk. The frets, paint and finishing the MIJ was top notch, but I can't say I care for the MIJ on the headstock.

Charvels are supposed to be USA, like hotrods and apple pie.

Sure am glad I never sold off my USA promods.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

have you been to JCFonline?

Im a member over there. Just havent been there much and will need to get my pw reset . If Xssive hadnt post what he had, Id prolly gone over there for more info, but I think Ive got all I need now.. Thanx!

I have only held a MIM model, and I thought hardware and finished were junk. The frets, paint and finishing the MIJ was top notch, but I can't say I care for the MIJ on the headstock.

Charvels are supposed to be USA, like hotrods and apple pie.

Sure am glad I never sold off my USA promods.

Thanks! Yeah, this is exactly why I was asking and what I was afraid of. Second time in hist they have completely diluted the brand... @#!@#$%!# I agree that Charvel to me really is the USA hotrods, But, in both the model series (which I thought were blasphemy back when they first did it) and the MIJ ones of the recent series, have been extremely well built and a more cost effective alternative.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

I just answered this on another forum actually...

Unfortunately the Mexivels are worlds away from the USA and Japanese Pro-Mods. The fret work alone is pretty horrible, done with a lack of care and ending with a neck that feels different than any other Charvel due to it. The USA and Japanese Pro-mods had the frets beveled and dressed on the ends nearly the same way as the custom shop guitars just with a little less time spent on them than a custom to speed up production. They also had the tangs clipped back short and the end of the slots filled with wood filler just like a custom shop Charvel to help prevent fret poke. The Mexivels frets do not have the tangs clipped back and slot filled and they're just hastily way over beveled (not a good thing) and hardly dressed just like any Mexican strat unfortunately. They're about as far from a real Charvel as the 80's pointy head Japanese imports are. FMIC has watered down the brand to make an extra buck and it shows, the move to Japan for the pro-mods was bad enough but at least the quality was still there.

You can see the frets on the Mexican here how crazy far the bevel is with tangs that are way out past the playing surface of the fret...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Charvel-Pro...177?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2c7ecd0421

and compare them to the USA here that has much more playing surface with frets that cover the whole width of the board...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Charvel-USA...640?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item258b702988

Thanks for the input Bro! Exactly what I needed to know, and exactly what I was afraid would happen. History repeats itself. Dang shame that they would do this a second time to this brand.. Infuriates me.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

Now that the MIM Charvels have been out awhile, Have more of you played them? And are you finding that the fretwork and build is lacking over the MIJ and MIA ones? Im wondering if they take any special care when building any of the limited run models?

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

I had one of the neck through Soloist copies from the 80's or 90's. It was a very nice guitar.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

Now that the MIM Charvels have been out awhile, Have more of you played them? And are you finding that the fretwork and build is lacking over the MIJ and MIA ones? Im wondering if they take any special care when building any of the limited run models?

still not laid hands on one. or heard anything for that matter. I give it another few years before they move production to another country. places are always looking for that mix of acceptable quality and affordable labor.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

I only have the neck of a promod, I think its a promod anyway i always forget. Its mij and its flawless.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

That's a cool setup!

 

[eaeolian]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

I've played five of them. One was a total dog like the one Xssive posted, one was meh, and the other three were pretty damn good guitars. So they're still kinda spotty.

 

[Archer250]

Re: New Charvel Pro Mods vs Japanese ones?

Now that the MIM Charvels have been out awhile, Have more of you played them? And are you finding that the fretwork and build is lacking over the MIJ and MIA ones? Im wondering if they take any special care when building any of the limited run models?

Played two. Both were very light. Their necks were fine, the PUs were good. Everything else was "meh". The Floyd felt as if it was going to break under my hand. Fretwork was mediocre and the finish was bland considering one can buy a DK2MQ at a similar price.