Difference between Fender Strat & Charvel San Dimas bodies?

[Thunkful]

Not talking about routing, neck pocket etc, but the body contours and shape. At least to my eye it seems that Fender bodies are more contoured from the edges than Charvel and Charvel bodies seem to be narrower sideways. Anyone who has noticed anything like this?

 

[XSSIVE]

The perimeter shape is mostly the same it's the edge radius (aka "roundover") that's different. A Fender Strat is rounder with a 1/2" router bit used for its edge radius and a Charvel "Strat" body has a sharper edge radius with a 3/8" bit used for it. Fender Strat body perimeters and the angle, shape and location of the forearm and tummy cut change over the years so when compared to a Charvel 50s, 60s and 70s Strats will all differ in different ways. The one static difference is the edge radius being sharper on the Charvels from the 80s and the modern ones too.

 

[Thunkful]

The perimeter shape is mostly the same it's the edge radius (aka "roundover") that's different. A Fender Strat is rounder with a 1/2" router bit used for its edge radius and a Charvel "Strat" body has a sharper edge radius with a 3/8" bit used for it. Fender Strat body perimeters and the angle, shape and location of the forearm and tummy cut change over the years so when compared to a Charvel 50s, 60s and 70s Strats will all differ in different ways. The one static difference is the edge radius being sharper on the Charvels from the 80s and the modern ones too.

Lots of great info there, thanks!

What about the wideness of these bodies? Is San Dimas body horizontally narrower than a standard Strat body? At least in the pics it looks like it.

 

[Rdodson]

The original template that Linn Ellsworth used to cut bodies for Wayne (Charvel) had a bit different shape most easily perceived in the upper horn area, but the basis for that template was a 70s Strat. And the above re: edge radius is 100%.

The idea was to provide parts with higher wood quality and Gibson playability. So instead of the narrow Fender dimensions you had 1 11/16th" or 1 3/4" at the nut, ~ 0.80 neck depth, and 2 1/4" butt width just like an SG. Furthermore, there was a close association with DiMarzio who made a Fender style bridge but with Gibson string spacing.

 

[Thunkful]

The original template that Linn Ellsworth used to cut bodies for Wayne (Charvel) had a bit different shape most easily perceived in the upper horn area, but the basis for that template was a 70s Strat. And the above re: edge radius is 100%.

The idea was to provide parts with higher wood quality and Gibson playability. So instead of the narrow Fender dimensions you had 1 11/16th" or 1 3/4" at the nut, ~ 0.80 neck depth, and 2 1/4" butt width just like an SG. Furthermore, there was a close association with DiMarzio who made a Fender style bridge but with Gibson string spacing.

Solid info here as well, thanks!

That's probably the reason why they feel kinda different on your lap, the standard strat shape works better for me.