New Charvels

Re: New Charvels

I agree that the so cals are killer, but being a pointy axe fan, I've always found those stars to have viagra type results. And I really loved the LTD gus g I had.. I also like the black flame soloist, except the inlays.. Im not really sold on the desolation stuff either.. Seems like a cheaper line of stuff.
And dangit.. EMGs in everything... Sick of that!!!
 
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Re: New Charvels

They really need to offer the So-Cal with the JB/'59 setup. I would get a Star, but why are they all EMGs?
 
Re: New Charvels

These guitars are the epitome of what a Charvel isn't. They're cheap import Jacksons with Charvel logos on the headstock to compete with the horrid and tacky abalone loaded LTD and Schecters.

This is worse than the Charvel model series debacle of the mid to late 80s. At least the model series sort of followed the Charvel formula.

They make no sense to me. The reason there are two companies Jackson and Charvel is to differentiate between the guitars based on the players needs and wants. This just blurs the line for the sake of a different headstock logo.

24 frets...not Charvel.
Set neck or neck through...not Charvel.
Abalone all over...not Charvel.
Tacky inlays....not Charvel.
Recessed floyds...not Charvel.
String through bodies with T-O-M bridges...not Charvel.
Stop tails and T-O-M bridges...not Charvel.

All those things are inherent Jackson traits that give purpose to their being two separate brands under the same ownership. This just makes a mess of it all and is a disgrace to the Charvel name just like the model series was in the mid to late 80s which killed the brand.

Charvel took a Fender strat and tweaked it... (the basics) humbuckers, floyd or kahler, simple control layouts, flatter radius, bigger frets, wider nut and perhaps no pickguard in most cases. So it was an evolution on a classic making it better for certain types of players.

Then Grover was scared to put his name on the wild Concorde design RR came up with so the Jackson portion of the company was born where things with pointy headstocks, neck through, 24 frets, floating floyds, string through bodies, T-O-M bridges, Binding, fancy inlays and wild shapes etc would have a home without messing with the Charvel name which already established itself as the best hot rod version of a Strat.

There was no need for the brand to go in this direction, these could have just been a line of Jacksons and done just as well for the parent company Fender. Perhaps the Skatecaster (horrid name BTW) as a bolt on Charvel but the rest? Why? $$$ I guess since tradition and keeping the dignity of an important name in rock guitar history obviously means nothing to them. It was bad enough when they moved an iconic San Dimas USA made guitar to Japan for the production models to raise profits but this is just sad.
 
Re: New Charvels

regarding the stars with one passive pickup and floyds:

BooHeung BO-102JB Humbucking Pickup (Bridge)

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? some sort of korean knock off of an HB102??
 
Re: New Charvels

This is worse than the Charvel model series debacle of the mid to late 80s. At least the model series sort of followed the Charvel formula.

Debacle? These are GREAT, cheap guitars. My M4 is my best playing guitar and it's 23 years old. Neck's never moved and she's just fantastic. I have two other model series assembled from bits and they sound huge too.
 
Re: New Charvels

I'm all about these:

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Re: New Charvels

A swing and a miss for the one bucker stars! I would have went for a pro mod star but these 24 fretters with a recessed floyd, I will pass:28:
 
Re: New Charvels

Pierre, back then, the model series was considered sacrelidge cuz the "american hot rods" were being mass produced in Japan. Lucky for us, the Japanese made amazing guitars!! But still, the idea was not well rec'd. Same with Kramer and the Focus series. (even tho ESP were ghost making many "american" models. )

it was shortly after that they both went downhill and were getting made cheap and everywhere.

I do like the look of the Star, but I dont like the desolation series as a whole because as Mike said, they are already cheapening the name and all . The first couple of runs were US production. Got us primed and excited and brought the brand back.. Then they went to Japan.. Still well made. but didnt take long to who-- em out to the masses
 
Re: New Charvels

Pierre, back then, the model series was considered sacrelidge cuz the "american hot rods" were being mass produced in Japan. Lucky for us, the Japanese made amazing guitars!! But still, the idea was not well rec'd. Same with Kramer and the Focus series. (even tho ESP were ghost making many "american" models. )

it was shortly after that they both went downhill and were getting made cheap and everywhere.

I do like the look of the Star, but I dont like the desolation series as a whole because as Mike said, they are already cheapening the name and all . The first couple of runs were US production. Got us primed and excited and brought the brand back.. Then they went to Japan.. Still well made. but didnt take long to who-- em out to the masses

Well said bloodrose! I agree they should have stayed with the MIA pro mods and then introduced the star body. as far as those desolation models i have NOTHING to say bout those:28:
 
Re: New Charvels

No tone knob? I like the body shape on the Soloists, but that's about it. At a very brief first glance, they look all right. Then I realized it's got no tone knob. Then I realized the inlays are abominable. Then I realized they have EMGs. Three strikes, baby.
 
Re: New Charvels

I'm on the fence......the abalone purfling has been so overdone between Schecter and LTD over the years now Charvel, EMG's on everything....no passive pups as an option, HOWEVER I must give the Desolation Series credit for one feature that I have never seen on any other Imported Guitar. Oil Finished Necks!!! I hope other companies jump on the bandwagon and offer that feature in the near future.
DV016_Jpg_Large_H77161.001_trans_red_back_close.jpg
 
Re: New Charvels

Same mistake all over again.

"Debacle" because it diluted the brand and eventually killed it.

EMG's because most of the younger players checking out a "badass" guitar are expecting flamethrower pickups, and if they hear any other kind of sound out of it, the guitar will be quickly dismissed at "lame", "weak", "junk", "crap".
 
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