Charvel 625C-12

Some dear friends ? who knew I was lusting to replace my former, late 12-string ? helped me buy "Abrazo" through Musician's Friend about 8 years ago. It was my first electric-acoustic, and I used it pretty often in both roles. It's got a laminated top, which proved to be its doom. The rest of the guitar ? rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck ? is still beautiful, though if it still had some years left in it, I'd invest in some better tuners. And I gotta admit, with its narrow waist and wide hips, it's definitely a sexy machine.

I play and sing nearly all Jesus music, both solo and with a praise band. Amplified, it rocks. You can wail with this baby, whether chording or leading. Usually I've just plugged it into the house sound through a direct box, cause I love the acoustic sound, and it stays true. When attrition took the band down to a quartet, with just my guitar, I tried beefing up the sound through a Behringer V-Amp. It added the desired effect, but I sure have missed that clear acoustic feel. At home, in small groups, and in solo concert, I don't plug in. When I recorded my first CD in concert ??I'm a songwriter as well ? I just played into a mike and kept the bright and mellow sounds of some strumming and mostly finger-picking. I have never had anything bad to say about the sound of this Charvel. It wooed my wife, comforted my dying mother, put babies to sleep and led hundreds of people in praise.

Set-up has stayed great, even when the bridge started pulling up. I down-tuned it and played with a capo, and eventually it started buzzing a little. Nary a flaw in the finish -- smooth as silk at every connection, though a couple of frets could use some sanding down on the thumb end. I know: Segovia says only a Philistine would wrap his thumb around the neck, but I was self-taught and picked up lots of bad habits over my 40-plus years. Besides which, how else are you gonna grab that F# on the D chord?

Eight years of pounding, two bridge repairs, one broken heart repair, maybe a million chords ... I definitely got $500 worth of joy out of Abrazo. It really got me, though, when the luthier said the top is delaminating and it can't be repaired. I've learned my lesson: If you're planning a lifetime love affair with a guitar, make it a solid-top. This Charvel is now retired from public service, but I'll keep playing as long as I can ? strictly finger-picking and lots of lullabyes. Probably the next couples of songs will be written on this one. I wouldn't buy another ??'twould spoil the good memories. Next guitar probably a Martin, or whatever solid-top 12 I can afford. This one, after it has played its last song, will have a place of honor on my wall. It's a work of art, and the memories of playing it will live forever.

No warranty. Had all repairs done through trusted luthiers.

Other guitars are a Martin Backpacker ("Half Martin") and a no-name electric ("Alias Paul"). Kinda tricky buying a guitar by mail order, but I wasn't disappointed in the least. At that time, I didn't know about the inherent weakness of laminated tops on a 12-string. All the 12's I had owned before had gotten stolen or worn out in other ways before the bridge started succumbing to the half-ton of stress.

made early 90's
24 frets
spruce top
volume/3way eq/tone
honey burst finish
sealed tuners

Sounds great for group settings (acoustic) carries well
Equally suited for amplified settings, clear tone
Rich/Full sound, bright with light bronze strings

Good Action
no flaws...

The neck is straight... no lift at the lower frets as is common to 12's

Good hardware,
Good finish
solid strap button at end, where cord goes in

First of all the features are great on this guitar. I don't remeber when I picked it up, maybe early 90's to mids 90's? It has the basic acoustic/electric features, except it's a 12 string! A feature that is rare on acoustic guitars is that this one had rear alobony inlay completly around the edges of the guitar and around the sound hole. Charvell must have good people when choosing the wood for this guitar. It is flawless. Excelent wood grain.

It sounds perfect. The best 12 string acoustic that I've ever played. Action was setup nicely. Stays in tune flawlessly. On stage I either plaug it into my second Marshall that is set up for it, or have it mic-ed up, depending on the size of the stage to fit all of my gear. Unpluged it has a rich full crisp sound to it. It sounds like 2 guitars playing at once, it 's great. When pluged in and amps are set up correcty, this thing sounds amazing. It may sound really bright at first, but just adjust the onbaord preamp, and everything will be fine. I love every thing about this guitar!

this guitar was the best i've seen, No flaws, A1 +++++

Never had a problem with it. I break a few strings, but I think it's cause i play to hard or the fact that they were 9's. But i've never had to bring her in for a tune up or nothing.

Never, ever had to deal with jackson or charvel

All I say is that you should try it. You will surely be speachless as like i was. If you get a good deal on one get it, you'll never regret it, trust me. If it were lost and stolen, i'd grab the insurance money and buy it agian even if it were twice the price at $1,600. I say this because guitar has paid for it self for being so great and dependable.