Music Zoo Charvel Nitro's coming back.

[Stramm8]

I get confused by the amount of threads with guys celebrating their new Tom Anderson or new Suhr or new Fender Custom Shop guitars and people rarely go off on rants about how expensive they are. Heck people buy made in Japan ESP's all day long for more than a regular Charvel custom shop costs. People still want it to be 1985 when it comes to Charvel Custom Shop pricing. These guitars were $1200 in 1985. I think paying a little over $2k for a standard color Charvel Custom Shop is not that bad in comparison.

Also, there's one thing that most people don't know since that custom shop is not very good at marketing or self promotion. Mike Shannon, Masterbuilder extrordinaire, shapes every single Charvel neck that comes out of that custom shop and he does it by hand, holding it against what I believe is called a spindle sander. He just keeps feeling the neck until it feels right to him. He's been doing these necks since Randy Rhoads had his V's built. I think maybe, just maybe he's got more history in his hands than Warmoth's CNC machine has.

Didn't Warmoth used to be Boogie Bodies (Lynn Ellsworth)? If so, I would think he would have a lot of history that could be plugged into those CNC routers without the variability, of course

FWIW, I think those nitro-aged charvel's look killer. I'd love to buy one (used) but I don't think I would jive with that nut width. Those guitars are what inspired me to build my own relic super strats. You may never get your money back out of a home-built guitar but the one's I've built have killed any production Charvel or EVH Special or Striped Series I've played. Can't speak for the custom shop stuff though. Never played one

 

[Doughboy]

I get confused by the amount of threads with guys celebrating their new Tom Anderson or new Suhr or new Fender Custom Shop guitars and people rarely go off on rants about how expensive they are. Heck people buy made in Japan ESP's all day long for more than a regular Charvel custom shop costs. People still want it to be 1985 when it comes to Charvel Custom Shop pricing. These guitars were $1200 in 1985. I think paying a little over $2k for a standard color Charvel Custom Shop is not that bad in comparison.

Also, there's one thing that most people don't know since that custom shop is not very good at marketing or self promotion. Mike Shannon, Masterbuilder extrordinaire, shapes every single Charvel neck that comes out of that custom shop and he does it by hand, holding it against what I believe is called a spindle sander. He just keeps feeling the neck until it feels right to him. He's been doing these necks since Randy Rhoads had his V's built. I think maybe, just maybe he's got more history in his hands than Warmoth's CNC machine has.

Didn't Warmoth used to be Boogie Bodies (Lynn Ellsworth)? If so, I would think he would have a lot of history that could be plugged into those CNC routers without the variability, of course

FWIW, I think those nitro-aged charvel's look killer. I'd love to buy one (used) but I don't think I would jive with that nut width. Those guitars are what inspired me to build my own relic super strats. You may never get your money back out of a home-built guitar but the one's I've built have killed any production Charvel or EVH Special or Striped Series I've played. Can't speak for the custom shop stuff though. Never played one

Boogie Bodies was basically Warmoth back in the VH days, so when people claim that their San Dimas Charvels are so much better than a Warmoth, I just kinda

And yes, building your own dream guitar will always end up in you losing money when you sell it, since it's a no name brand, but you're building these things to full fill your own dream guitar fantasy, not to make money later.

 

[yngzaklynch]

Oh seriously people... Name one, just one big name guitar player who has used these one of these... charvels????!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Boogie Bodies was basically Warmoth back in the VH days, so when people claim that their San Dimas Charvels are so much better than a Warmoth, I just kinda

My friend, you are mixing two different eras...

When Wayne Charvel owned Charvel, they were basically selling Boogie Bodies parts and putting together a few guitars and finally picked up some equipment to make their own bodies and necks. EVH bought some parts from Wayne and had a few guitars assembled by him.

The era of the Charvel that we know today didn't really start until AFTER Wayne Charvel had sold the business to Grover Jackson. Grover Jackson is the father of the 80s Charvels and Jacksons that spawned the current Charvel Custom Shop. They made their own bodies and necks at this point and did NOT use Boogie Bodies. The same guys with the same equipment from that time build the Charvel Custom Shop guitars today, only without Grover at the helm and Fender owns it.

The 80s Charvels that everyone knows and loves had NOTHING to do with Boogie Bodies. Neither do today's Charvel Custom Shop guitars. So you can think whatever you want, but the assertion that San Dimas Charvels are basically Warmoths because you think they were just assembled Boogie Bodies pieces is completely false... They are made from bodies and necks made by Charvel (after Wayne was gone) by the same guys that make them for the Charvel Custom Shop today...

Steve

 

[Chubtone]

Didn't Warmoth used to be Boogie Bodies (Lynn Ellsworth)? If so, I would think he would have a lot of history that could be plugged into those CNC routers without the variability, of course

FWIW, I think those nitro-aged charvel's look killer. I'd love to buy one (used) but I don't think I would jive with that nut width. Those guitars are what inspired me to build my own relic super strats. You may never get your money back out of a home-built guitar but the one's I've built have killed any production Charvel or EVH Special or Striped Series I've played. Can't speak for the custom shop stuff though. Never played one

There's something to be said for putting your own guitars together for sure. I did it for years and years and years. Between 1985 and 2005 Charvel didn't build anything I really wanted. So I put mutts together or ordered parts from Warmoth. When the Pro Mods came out in 2008, I found a guitar for the same money that finally had the right neck shape and was easily as good as my Warmoth builds were. And If I bought one for $900 and went to sell it today...... I'd get $900 or more. Heck, I got $1100 for this one and had a list of people who wanted it:

 

[nevusofota]

Really diggin' those nitros. May have to give my current custom shop a sister

Never miss an opportunity to show her off

 

[shgshg]

Boogie Bodies was basically Warmoth back in the VH days, so when people claim that their San Dimas Charvels are so much better than a Warmoth, I just kinda

Have you seen what the VH Frankenstrat - made of Boogie Bodies parts - was like? That thing was a piece of shit. Just by looking at the pictures you can tell that it must have been close to unplayable. How EVH ever managed is beyond me.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

21 frets? You cant sound like VH 1 without a 21 fret neck . Jeez
$2499 for these? Not sure. Still think they look killer.
Little too much Charvel hate and Luxxtone love going on
Arent Jackson/Charvel's made by the same people?

What is so hard to for you to understand that people have personal preferences for guitars and that preference may or may not be different than your and VHs? Not ever player is wiping EVH jizz off their faces either . I happen use 22nd fret regularly, bending the 22nd fret on high E string to the high E note. Sweep me a D minor arpeggio and tell me how smooth and fluid it is bending the high E 21nd fret up a 1/2 step. 22 frets are important to me...if not to you I don't really care lol

eff that guys...dont buy CS Charvels because some dude says the $719 EVH's models are the better because he says so...whateva

 

[Shawn Lutz]

I get confused by the amount of threads with guys celebrating their new Tom Anderson or new Suhr or new Fender Custom Shop guitars and people rarely go off on rants about how expensive they are. Heck people buy made in Japan ESP's all day long for more than a regular Charvel custom shop costs. People still want it to be 1985 when it comes to Charvel Custom Shop pricing. These guitars were $1200 in 1985. I think paying a little over $2k for a standard color Charvel Custom Shop is not that bad in comparison.

Also, there's one thing that most people don't know since that custom shop is not very good at marketing or self promotion. Mike Shannon, Masterbuilder extrordinaire, shapes every single Charvel neck that comes out of that custom shop and he does it by hand, holding it against what I believe is called a spindle sander. He just keeps feeling the neck until it feels right to him. He's been doing these necks since Randy Rhoads had his V's built. I think maybe, just maybe he's got more history in his hands than Warmoth's CNC machine has.

I'm a frugal buyer and usually don't buy new unless its a blow out deal I can't refuse but in my opinion on those who bash prices or higher end USA guitar are those who have no money in their pockets and/or are just jealous of others buying exactly what they wanted

 

[Jer]

mmm, Olympic white...put some brass fine tuner screws on...bad ass.

Do you get to choose hardware/pickups on the Nitros? I thought these were stock in that sense. e.g. Color choice only.

If so, I don't get the starting at $3k bit. Are they priced on demand?

 

[R45VT]

Doughboy- the price of the Custom shop guitars is reflected in the labor building them. If its not worth it to you to have your guitars hand built in he USA then don't pay for it. You sure can get cheaper guitars with good features and playability these days.

USA Jackson's/Charvels are beasts. I'd much rather have a USA built model than an import. I've owned over 20 Jackson's and my favorite by far have been the USA models.

Nothing wrong with Warmoth, it's just if I want a Jackson KV-2 I'm going to get a KV-2 built by Jackson and not pieced together by CNC'd parts at 1/3 the cost.

To each their own. It all comes down to if its worth it for you. Obviously not in your case and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[R45VT]

mmm, Olympic white...put some brass fine tuner screws on...bad ass.

Do you get to choose hardware/pickups on the Nitros? I thought these were stock in that sense. e.g. Color choice only.

If so, I don't get the starting at $3k bit. Are they priced on demand?

He means talk them down.

 

[texasturner]

Here's my original White Music Zoo Charvel Nitro. My #1! Friggin' AWESOME guitar!:

Steve

Steve I saw in an old thread on the other forum the gear page where George Lynch once played one of your Charvels. Was that the white Nitro Relic?

 

[Anonymous]

Here's my original White Music Zoo Charvel Nitro. My #1! Friggin' AWESOME guitar!:

Steve

Steve I saw in an old thread on the other forum the gear page where George Lynch once played one of your Charvels. Was that the white Nitro Relic?

No, he played the Robin's Egg Blue one in that picture, which I no longer have...

Steve

 

[83stratman]

$3k too much? Maybe, but everything is expensive these days. And to the 1/3 the price Warmoth guy, I just did a price out of buying and specing the equivalent setup as the Charvel nitros. Your at $1089.20. Keep in mind that doesn't include...

Assembly (even if you DIY, time is money)
Fake Charvel logo
Shipping.
Strings.
Fret level/grind/polish (if you think you don't need this on a Warmoth to get the type of playability the Charvel custom shop offers...)
G&G hardshell case (this must be included to make a true apples to apples comparison)
And the BIG one...
Nitro and reliced body finish. If you can DIY that and not have the relic job look like a POS, then good for you, but again, time is money. If you need to send it out, you will pay.

So conservatively, you are between $500 - $1000 or so difference from buying a Charvel with a warrantee (if that matters!). Doesn't sound so over priced now, does it? Of course you can get the Warmoth cheaper if you spec the neck plan jane, but I am doing a apples to apples comparison here. Also, don't throw out the "I can get used parts from ebay" routine either. I could get a used Charvel on ebay cheaper too.

 

[83stratman]

Oh, and to add... I have a buddy with a first run Charvel pointy reissue and a Custom Shop. I also have another buddy with a first run pointy reissue. All three of those guitars are among the best playing guitars I have EVER played. If a Charvel fit my musical tastes and style at this point in my life, my USA Pro Mod (which is no slouch, BTW) would be out the door for a custom shop, no doubt.

 

[Viesczy]

Really diggin' those nitros. May have to give my current custom shop a sister

Never miss an opportunity to show her off

That is GORGEOUS!

Derek

 

[lessthan12]

You're paying the sticker price solely for the honor of having that Charvel sticker on the headstock. I'm sure it's a godo guitar, but maybe at less than 1/2 the price.

You could get the exact same guitar made from Warmoth parts for about the 1/3 of the price & the quality would be better imo. Then again, it wouldn't have the cool Charvel sticker.

I just got a Charvel Custom shop guitar and its by far the best guitar I've owned after owning some high end pieces. Im sorry sir, but you're just plain incorrect at this point lol