EVH vs. Jackson, Charvel, etc..

[napalmdeath]

Im looking into a non-tremolo, hardtail and specifically, the EVH Stealth has gotten my attention. Especially an ebony board! I'm really not into maple fingerboards, either. I loved the San Dimas hardtail I had, but the maple was too snappy for me.

I understand the EVH Special Stealth has Tonepros hardware? How are the pickups? Are they a cheaper version of the USA pickups, or are they the same??

Of course, Charvel and Jackson both offer Seymour Duncans and rosewood boards.. However, if the EVH pickups suck, I have a Custom/Jazz set I can put in it!

 

[Steinmetzify]

Chinese ones have different pickups than the MIJ versions, which should be the same as the USA pickups. If you can find a used one go MIJ, those pickups rule and that's one of the best values for a used guitar ever. Ebony board, SS frets, neck is awesome, light weight and sounds like a monster in everything from standard to drop A.

It does have TonePros hardware...the bridge is kind of like the old TP-6's on Gibsons in that you can change the tuning just using that. Handy. Locking nut too, which is awesome. Really stable tuning.

It's really a fantastic guitar, one of my favorites out of all the ones I've been thru in the last few years.

 

[napalmdeath]

Chinese ones have different pickups than the MIJ versions, which should be the same as the USA pickups. If you can find a used one go MIJ, those pickups rule and that's one of the best values for a used guitar ever. Ebony board, SS frets, neck is awesome, light weight and sounds like a monster in everything from standard to drop A.

It does have TonePros hardware...the bridge is kind of like the old TP-6's on Gibsons in that you can change the tuning just using that. Handy. Locking nut too, which is awesome. Really stable tuning.

It's really a fantastic guitar, one of my favorites out of all the ones I've been thru in the last few years.

I refuse to buy Chinese. Last 3 Chinese made guitars I bought were quickly returned with major quality issues.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Really only option then is a used/NOS MIJ or a USA. Usually a couple of the MIJs floating around forums or Reverb, it has a sticker on the back of the headstock. Price jump to the USAs is massive tho...grabbed my last MIJ as NOS for like $600, and the USAs are well north of $1k.

Worth it tho, for real. They're badass guitars.

 

[cardinal]

I think a lot of the newer Jackson Pros are MIM? and have ebony boards.

 

[jlb32]

Of the most recent models I have played I'm really liking the Charvels over Jackson and EVH. I'm sure there are great guitars in whatever you choose but personally the latest Charvels I have played have been pretty killer. Even the cheaper import models.

 

[rstites]

I wish I could find one of the newer Charvels to try. I haven't played any of them since Charvel started putting out the pro-mods and such several years back. Nobody around carries them.

I have a bunch of old Charvels from "back in the day". If the new ones are even close, I'd love to pick up a hardtail one. Unlike the OP, I like the maple fretboard.

 

[cecilbag]

I wish I could find one of the newer Charvels to try. I haven't played any of them since Charvel started putting out the pro-mods and such several years back. Nobody around carries them.

I have a bunch of old Charvels from "back in the day". If the new ones are even close, I'd love to pick up a hardtail one. Unlike the OP, I like the maple fretboard.

Please post pics of the old Charvels

 

[rstites]

This is my one plated, serial-numbered Charvel. I've had it forever. It's a 1984 with solid flame maple body. Originally, it was a vintage trem, but professionally (by Charvel?) installed Floyd. When I bought it, someone had stuffed an EMG into the bridge and had the little toggle to turn it on/off. The rest is original - original SD 59 in the neck. It plays like butter. I've had guys want to use the neck to profile custom builds.

This is my other plated, serialized guitar, but as you can see it's a Jackson. It's just after the move to Ontario but with a San Dimas plate. It's my strat, loaded with Barden pickups. I changed it from a Jackson/Schaller Floyd to an Original Floyd. It's one of those with the Kahler lock nut and Floyd.

Mutt #1: pre-pro body or Boogie Body or similar. It was a 1 H guitar that's been heavily modified after-market. It's well done, but not a professional shop. It has a GMW neck on it, cut to original Charvel specs.

Mutt #2: Jackson woodburn neck on a Chandler body. I love this guitar, but have never gotten the electronics 100% sorted on it, so it's the least played of any of these. The other three have been heavily played over the years.

I have another Charvel body w/ a Warmoth body......but don't really count it. I'm willing to lump Charvel necks on other bodies in here, but not the other way around!

 

[kunos]

I got a lemon with one of those new MIM hard tail Charvel. I ordered online but the guitar was filled with issues and went back after a couple of days. The nut was cut wrong and the D string would "buzz" when played open, perhaps the slot was too wide. I was prepared to fix it myself with a new nut but then I notice the pickup selector would buzz like crazy when touching the blade, suggesting another problem so I gave up on it and returned.
That's sad because the neck was one of the best feeling neck I've ever tried.

 

[riffermadness]

Of the most recent models I have played I'm really liking the Charvels over Jackson and EVH. I'm sure there are great guitars in whatever you choose but personally the latest Charvels I have played have been pretty killer. Even the cheaper import models.

The maple neck on my Jackson MIM DK2QM Pro series plays outstanding,and overall the guitar is just a nice overall guitar,stays in tune with the Floyd.I would like to check out one of the San Dimas Charvels.

 

[maddnotez]

The stealth looks like a killer guitar. I'd go that route if I was choosing a Hardtail out of these three.

The guitar I have been eyeing is a Charvel with Ebony but it's a floyd. I must have Ebony boards now days. This thread has me second guessing the Charvel though because the price, the Stealth looks killer and from what Steiny said about them.