Product: Charvel Allan Holdsworth
Price Paid: US lots!!!
Submitted
10/07/2004
at
12:35pm
by
Anonymous
Email: info<at>surfreak dot com
Features
:
10
This is a review of the famous Charvel "Tonesworth" # 3223, made in 1984 in San Dimas, CA.
Its unique specs were designed by Allan Holdsworth and Grover Jackson:
- Body: basswood, very lightweight.
- Neck: Maple, gloss finished, with ebony slab fingerboard, 22 jumbo frets, 1.75" wide nut, original '80s Charvel red fiber nut. The fingerboard radius is quite flat.
- Electronics: 1 Seymour Duncan '59 bridge humbucker, 1 volume control.
- Hardware: DiMarzio vintage style steel tremolo bridge, black sealed tuners.
In terms of features the key here is quality, as in how well thought they are, not quantity. A straight-forward, subtly unique rock machine. Brilliant!
Sound
:
10
This Charvel is a 100% original, fully documented piece which is well known for being exceptionally resonant and toneful.
The wood combination, with a very light basswood body, and a stiff, well seasoned maple neck, makes for a loud acoustic tone, as loud as a semi-hollow guitar for sure.
There is an interesting old Guitar Player article where Allan Holdsworth digresses on the acoustic properties of lightweight tonewoods, and the design of the Charvel AH: http://archive.guitarplayer.com/archive/artists/holdsworth82.shtml
The Seymour Duncan '59 pickup is a perfect match for this choice of woods, very aggressive, with a slight mid bump, fast attack and strong overtones - sustained notes bloom like a good PAF - and the fundamental tone is bright but not shrill.
What really amazes me is every element in this guitar was chosen on purpose, even if not in line with popular trends, knowing exactly how it would contribute to the final tonal result: for example, a Seymour Duncan JB, which is a more popular choice for a rock bridge pickup, would have sounded definitely too trebly and nasal.
It would be very hard to find a 1-pickup guitar just as responsive on any amp setting, clean/medium crunch/hi gain.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
San Dimas Charvels are renowned for their build quality and playability, and this one is no exception.
The neck is dead straight, with basically no relief, and the action is extremely low, with no buzzing.
The frets are smoothly dressed and have no wear, even after 20 years of playing, and the bridge is clean and perfectly functional.
Interestingly, this guitar displays the typical Charvel red fiber nut, a great sounding material which is as smooth as modern graphite, but warmer sounding.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
This guitar is made with top quality woods and parts, very simple in design, so there is very little that can go wrong.
It has withstood 20 years and at least three different owners, with some cosmetic wear, several finish checks, dings and scratches, which only add to its vintage vibe.
Cosmetically, it looks in between a "closet classic" and a "relic" finish, except for this is real, honest wear, not artificial aging.
Structurally, the guitar is flawless and totally reliable as a professional instrument, live or in the studio.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
The Charvel company of old is gone, and this guitar has no relationship or similarity with either the FMIC Charvel new production or the Wayne line of guitars.
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing for 25 years, and I own several contemporary and vintage pieces, most of them are keepers which I have selected through many years of collecting.
This Charvel Allan Holdsworth # 3223 is truly a special piece, which stands out even among the famous San Dimas production. It looks very unassuming, almost humble in its simplicity, yet what sets it apart is its incredible tone.
I have been looking for one of these for a long time, I bought it as a player, and the fact that it's rare, 100% original and in great shape makes it quite valuable and a sound investment.
