Opinions on the MIJ Charvel Pro Mods

  • Thread starter Thread starter jcmtone1
  • Start date Start date
J

jcmtone1

Active member
Does anyone play the new Charvels that are made in Japan? How do they compare to the USA models?
 
I just got one at Sam Ash on a whim. Played it next to a USA made one. Not much of a difference to me. The MIJ was set up alot better than the USA model so it felt better to play. I didn't even know realize they were different until I saw the MIJ was cheaper and came with a hardshell case.
 
I have probably 6 or 7 old Charvels from japan...I love them. I dig the newer ones as well...very well made. They are very underrated and often a smokin' deal compared to their made in USA counterparts. I recently put an older shark inlay neck I had from a model 4 that is pretty mint onto a newer Pro Mod body. It plays and sounds awesome, especially after tweaking the stock JB with a new magnet.

Brian
 
Nicer fit and finish than the USA standards. Rounded fret ends, great setups, Dimarzios and Duncans, same trem, same neck.

Great deal. Noone knows how to trump their own shit and screw up a good thing like Charvel.
 
Scuba200ft":26dp18am said:
Nicer fit and finish than the USA standards. Rounded fret ends, great setups, Dimarzios and Duncans, same trem, same neck.

Great deal. Noone knows how to trump their own shit and screw up a good thing like Charvel.
Click to expand...

If they are better than my 3 USA Standards than we are going to see a shit load of USA CS charvels on the blocks because the three USA standards I bought from Curt were set up dead nuts on and the necks are sex.
 
I really like them. I've got a red San Dimas on the wall that I'm going to modify and make look a little more old school. It sounds great and plays great. The only negative I would say is that the finish on the necks is a little sticky out of the box and needs about 5 minutes worth of #0000 steel wool rubbed all over them and then they get smooth as glass and feel great.

At first they weren't selling very well, but as the word is getting out, they are starting to move pretty well. I don't think they are better than the USA Pro Mods were, but I think the fretwork is nicer right out of the box and the set up is nicer from the factory too. I think a good one of these is as good as a good USA one was.
 
Chubtone":2k3fnswy said:
I really like them. I've got a red San Dimas on the wall that I'm going to modify and make look a little more old school. It sounds great and plays great. The only negative I would say is that the finish on the necks is a little sticky out of the box and needs about 5 minutes worth of #0000 steel wool rubbed all over them and then they get smooth as glass and feel great.

At first they weren't selling very well, but as the word is getting out, they are starting to move pretty well. I don't think they are better than the USA Pro Mods were, but I think the fretwork is niver right out of the box and the set up is nicer from the factory too.
Click to expand...

If the fret work is better than the slime you sold me I would be impressed.
 
My USA SoCal Pro Mod does have a touch of a sharp fret end issue but that could be my climate. Easy fix however.
 
I would prefer that they be made in the usa. That being said, I like the way that the jap pro mod looks cosmetically better then regular usa san dimas. I like the chrome hardware and direct mount pickups without the rings better then the black hardware with the pickup rings. I played a nice red pro mod at sam ash and it played and looked really nice. Sometimes they make the first batch really nice and then slowly slip the quality down. I hope that they stay nice.
 
I still feel that in the long run the usa models will hold their value better then the jap ones. I see some great prices on the usa ones now and feel I should snatch one up while they are still available new and cheap.
 
joepete77":1vl27e63 said:
I still feel that in the long run the usa models will hold their value better then the jap ones. I see some great prices on the usa ones now and feel I should snatch one up while they are still available new and cheap.
Click to expand...


That's only if you're interested in flipping it. I've got one coming from Curt, and I don't plan on selling it. :thumbsup:
 
I've read that the San Dimas MIJ model comes stock with a 250k pot (which makes perfect sense IMO....alder, floyd, maple neck + JB)? Has this always been the case (US made as well)? I assume the So-Cal (both US and Japan) come w/500k.
 
The direct mount pickups make the guitars look like they should be sold at Musicyo.com!

I'd take my '08 USA Charvel Pro Mod any day of the week, without a case!
 
AndyK":21fdgf3k said:
The direct mount pickups make the guitars look like they should be sold at Musicyo.com!

I'd take my '08 USA Charvel Pro Mod any day of the week, without a case!
Click to expand...


EVH Agrees.
 
AndyK":2klakc9b said:
The direct mount pickups make the guitars look like they should be sold at Musicyo.com!
Click to expand...

That is a $6 fix. I'm putting pickup rings on the MIJ Pro Mod one I'm modifying and when that 15 minutes is up :rock:
 
I'm not here defending the MIJ's because I have one. Nor do I own a Pro mod. But I do own a big pile of Custom shops, and I am here to tell you, the Pro mods and the MIJ are equals. With a nod to the MIJ's for having fretwork that beats EVERY one of my custom shops, at least when I got them. Except the art series EVH's. For some reason, they came to me perfect in every way.
 
Slightly OT question. I'm going to get a tremel-no for the my MIJ Charvel. Should I get the the small clamp or the pin? Anyone know which works best?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top