Charvel San Dimas

Mine is a USA Made single pick-up type with the Jackson style headstock. It has a maple neck that is well broken in and has a bit of an oily dirty look to it. The body is a Mahogany Strat type that is very thick, heavy and has a Mirror Black finish. Original Floyd Rose Tremolo and (not sure what type)but an extremely hot Seymour Duncan in the bridge position. It has a single metal Volume knob that is a set screw diamond cut type. It has mini Schaller Tuners that have an S in the middle and say Made in Germany. The Headstock Logo is the Charvel Made in USA Guitar Type and it has the three a side headstock(not 6 in line which is a Jackson Logo) The Neck Plate is a 4 Digit Newer style(thick and black over chrome)and it says Made in USA, with a San Dimas address. It's not a 80's collector, but I have documented it to be a newer model Made in USA San Dimas. I'll give it a 5 on features because it is just a bare bones player's guitar.

This is a Player's Guitar. It will do what ever you ask of it! I have an American Strat, a 60's Strat, a Gibson Hollowbody, a Dean ML, a Epiphone Les Paul and a Shecter Damien FR and I play all my music exclusively with this guitar through a Peavey Prowler(which is probably the best amp that has ever been made by any amp company!) This guitar is a bit bright with the hot bridge and maple neck, but I can switch to the clean channel of the Prowler(which I have set to a pretty warm tone) back off the volume ever so slightly, set the reverb to 4, stomp on the Ts9 Tubescreamer, and I've got instant SRV Bliss. Tap the tubescreamer off, roll off the volume just a bit more, and you've got an incredible acoustic tone. Or, roll up the volume and listen to the Prowler come alive with saturated natural tube overdrive. Great clean sounds if you set your rig up right. Now, lets get to what this Axe was meant for, screaming lead and brutal rhythm. With the Prowler set at mid gain on the lead channel, you can reproduce any 80's metal tone you want, great rhythm crunch and awesome lead tones. However, if you set the amp with over the top gain(which this amp can do extremely well!) you will get a searing distortion from the Seymour Duncan that will threaten to melt your face off!!! Pinch Harmonics are available at any given time and sound incredible. VAN HALEN IT CAN DO!!!! It can also do just about any Metal rhythm you've ever heard, from Early Metallica to Modern metal such as Lamb of God. If you add a Delay Pedal to the signal, it will produce probably the hottest lead tone you will ever hear!! I love this Guitar. It has a look that will fit any genre or age group, and the sounds to back it up.....buy one if you ever have the chance.

I got the Guitar at Guitar Center and it was all to hell. The Floyd was raised up to point of no return because some dumb ass didn't know how to adjust the springs as you tune. Therefore, the action was as high as a walmart special. The pick up had been raised to compensate for the string action and was about to pop. However, I could tell that it had a wonderful neck and the thing still sounded great through one of the Marshall's I was playing it through, not to mention the fret wire was practically unplayed and the finish was immaculate. So I bought it. Took it home and put new strings on it, adjusted the Floyd correctly, put the pick up where I wanted it and there you have it. It now has super low action without any fret buzz and screams like a demon. Everything else is a great fit and finish. I'll give it a 5 because Guitar Center never even touched it(except to put a price tag on it and hang hi on the wall)

I would and have gigged with this guitar without a back up. It will hold up to a lot of hard playing and never even threaten to come out of tune. The hardware is top notch, it has strap locks on it and the paint seems very durable. This is probably why so many famous players have used these on the road...they're simple, to the point, and very trustworthy.

Don't know, never dealt with them and probably never will. There is no warranty and the way this thing is....you would've probably never needed one!!!! I'll give them a 9 because I see no problems ever occurring with this simple beast.

Like I said, I have several guitars and I have several amps(tube and solid state) and I choose to play this guitar along with the Peavey Prowler Tube amp. Simple is better when it comes to these things. I like being able to cover any thing I want with one great sounding, smooth playing guitar, and not have to need a guitar and amp for every sound out there. My San Dimas and Prowler will never leave my possession. It is a fantastic value and you should give one a try. And while you're at it, do yourself a favor and go hunt down a Peavey prowler before they're all gone, and see for yourself why I say this amp will smash all but the most expensive Marshalls or Mesa's, and make a Fender Tube Snob weep when he or she hears the pristine clean of this amp.....then again if you do, you'll have my signature tone, so forget everything I said before........

Mahoganny Body, Maple Neck, one duncan pup, floyd rose original tremolo, one volume control. Not very versatile but you know that going in.

I play mostly rock, lead guitar style. This guitar is made for lead guitar. The mahoganny body combined with the maple neck give a nice mid-range sound to the guitar. The warmth and compression of the sound is very cool. With good overdrive it will give plenty of cool harmonics and it seems to be well balanced with a very rich low sound but can be bright and crispy as well. I am not going to deduct points here for lack of versatile sounds, it's a one pickup guitar and it is not fair to say you wish it could get more sounds or stuff like that. It has one pickup and gets one sound...rock, so I have rated it on that one sound.

Unfinished maple neck...very nice feeling neck that is built for speed. The action was nice and low with a slight buzz noticable on the low E string (when played open). The frets seemed thin and low profile. The neck reminded me of a cross between a standard strat and an Ernie Ball Axis (EVH). The body was not painted and had a rubbed finish, so it looked like a nice piece of wood. The neck fit tight with the body and the guitar felt overall solid. The fret work was also very clean and looked good.

This guitar seemed more than ready for the stage. The harware is top notch and the strap buttons were beefy and solid. I would be comfortable using it in concert without a backup, however that is unlikely because it is a one-sound guitar.

No contact with customer support.

Been playing for over 20 years. This guitar is solid but it is not a good value at its current price point. This is basically a $800-$1,100 guitar that is being sold to people, longing for the 80's to come back, for $1,500-$2,000. All us kids of the 80's are now grown ups and have day jobs, so now we can finally afford a guitar like our guitar gods had. This guitar company knows that and are now charging 2-3x's more for a guitar that is no longer hand made. An equivalent guitar could be built from on-line parts dealers, for pennies on the dollar. The neck is fast but I found that I couldn't really let go on it, the frets are so tightly spaced, I just couldn't get comfortable with it (obviously, this is all subjective). I will say that I tend to lean toward slightly wider fretboards found on LP's and most 24 fret guitars, so maybe that should be considered by you when reading my review. I bought this guitar and returned it the next day. I have an older 80's japanese strat that I could slap a warmoth neck on and probably have basically the same guitar. If you are all nostalgic and can afford to spend the money on a very basic guitar, by all means go ahead, like I said it is a good guitar, but it is way over-priced. I really wanted to love this guitar but it fell short for me and I buy guitars to play them not hang them on the wall as art.

S.N. 1424 made in 1982 U.S.A.
22 frets(6105 wire) Candy apple red with a maple/maple pointyhead(non original) neck. H-H Floyd(recessed) factory three way toggle switch. Pickups are duncans. JB in the back and a custom up front. I have no idea what the body construction is. Original Jackson or Charvel tuners. Neck seems on the thicker side...but quite nice. Better than the original ebony board with curly maple back(mishap and cracked). Came with a case, but I had to sell it due to it was for a strathead. It now has an older Jackson case.

It's very good and flexible. It goes through my marshall or the practice amp. I enjoy playing it acoustically as well.
Silent operation,you want to hear a sweet guitar...this is it! Very thick rhythm, shredding leads and bright harmonics. On the front pickup it does jazz(with a chorus in line) VERY well!
I've had it since I was 15 so apparently I like it :) The finish is a bit beat, but for it's age it looks pretty good. I think a re-finish in Ferrari red will take place some day. The candy apple is ehh.

Again, the neck has been replaced. I love the maple/maple pointyhead versus the curly maple/ebony strathead that was on it and broke. The pickups and entire guitar are tenderly set-up a few times a year by a caring luthier. It's had it's share of flaws..but again for a guitar of it's age it looks pretty good.

I've played out with it several times. Never missed a beat. You're on pins and needles a little with floyds...but I am not a maniac with bends nor do I break strings frequently. The finish has been on there for over twenty years. From five feet away it looks terrific but of course when you get up close it shows scratches etc. I Replaced the buttons with schaller strap lock buttons. I HAVE depended on it and it NEVER let me down. Yes, I'd use it on a gig without backup...cautiously!

Never dealt with them. It's been repaired but not by Charvel. No Warranty.

20+ years I've been playing. It has a 2006 candy blue single hum charvel as a stablemate(I think the new one is a little better seeing the neck feel and finish to me is better) along with two jackson soloists(one import one u.s.a.) and a kv2 u.s.a. I also have three model 3DR imports which I love. If ANY of my axes we're stolen or lost, I'd be crushed. I'd like to try sanding the neck down and trying the new specially formulated oil finish on it. Lots say not to, but I am never 100% satisfied. I compare it to my new san dimas and it doesn't stand up to it quite as well. I wish I hadn't recessed the floyd back in the 80's. Originally it was a non-recessed install.

2006 U.S.A. San Dimas-Candy Blue pearl. Single hum(SH-4) with a black floyd rose. 22 frets, maple maple oil finished(Whatever the hell they did to this neck to make it feel this way, sometimes I want to sell the rest of my axes and go with these!) ULTRA smooth and fast neck. I have an '82 san dimas with also a maple maple 22 fret pointyhead, and I swear the new one kills it.

Not too sure which type of wood it's constructed from. Somewhat heavy. Standard tuners with 6100 fretwire(I like these). Included a case(has that sweet chocolate smell!)

Suits my style well, a little limited with the single hum, but if I want CLEAN sound, I turn the volume knob down a smidge and that solves the raspy break up.

It goes through a marshall 4X12.

VERY thick chunky rhythm with cutting leads. Again, it can be soft and jazzy if you turn the volume knob down.

I like everything about it. Wish it we're a little lighter though.

It had a decent factory set-up. My luthier tweaked it a little upon taking it home(He never sets the action LOW enough, so I dropped it a bunch).

The pickup was raised a bit for that killer sound.

Guitar came through with a pebble beach show car quality finish! VERY satisfied.

Everything is on the $ with this guitar.

It'd withstand live playing in a heartbeat. It's a Charvel! Need I say more?

I'd use it by itself if it we're my only guitar for certain.

Never dealt with them. Warranty, I think is a year?

I've been playing for a lengthy amount of time(20+ years).

If it we're stolen or lost, I'd cry seeing I waited over six months to get this guitar and it's a run of the mill san dimas, not a custom order. I don't know HOW people wait a year or longer for a guitar...I don't care what it is, nothing(to me) is worth waiting that long for.

It is the best of the rest. I compare it to the other guitars(Charvel usa, imports, Jackson soloist and King v2) it blows them away. Something about it. The total package!

If I could, I'd probably sell a few of my imports, order one or two more of these(one with a twin hum) and keep the jacksons along with maybe three u.s.a. new one's total.

This guitar was made in 2005 and is an H/S/S with passive Seymore Duncan pickups. Black/Cherry in color with an Alder body, Maple neck and Rosewood fretboard with Seymore Duncan pickups and a Floyd Rose. This one that I am using is rented and I have placed an order for a custom San Dimas from Charvel. This guitar will take about 3-4 months to arrive. I have changed the woods and pickups on my order.

This guitar rocks. Great for heavy rock. It really screems.The standard Seymore Duncan pickups are very nice also but not what I have chosen for my custom built San Dimas from the factory as they don't give me that bell clean tone that my strat does. I replaced my stock Fender pickups in my Fender Strat with 1 Seymore Duncan Staggered 1 Vintage and a little 59er. It rocks so I have decided to get the staggered 1's in my ordered Charvel instead of the stock singles that it comes with, which I am not sure what they are.

Fantastic feel. I love the unfinished neck. The finish is just incredible. Never seen a nicer finish.

This is a great guitar for live playing. I play everything from hard rock to jazz and blues. I generally bring my Fender Strat along to gigs for the Clean stuff and Ritchie Blackmore tunes. The Charvel that I have on order should replace the need for 2 guitars as the Staggered Vintage pickups should give me that clean bell-like tone that I can't get from the rented San Dimas.

N/A

I have been playing professionaly for over 20 years and write for Capital Records. I first rented a stock Charvel before ordering mine from Charvels custom shop, which has not arrived yet. The one I rented had an Alder body with a rosewood fingerboard and maple neck. The one that I have ordered has a White Koroni body with a Koa neck and Ebony fretboard with abalone rectangles. Early 50's Gibson Flying V's and Explorors were made with Koroni wood. Koroni wood's oil can be poisen to the touch and was used by Indians for spears many years ago. Otherwise I would have gone for a Black Koroni unfinished neck also. It has a Floyd Rose original tremelo. The bridge pickup is a Seymore Duncan SH4 Jeff Beck model double and the two singals are Seymore Duncan Staggered 1 vintage pickups. They give me that Robert Plant "Ship Of Fools" sound.

1984 San Dimas Ser.nr. 3903
made in USA, 1 volume, no tone, 3 switches, H/S/S, ash body, maple + rosewood neck, di marzios, Jackson-Type headstock, added schaller floyd, neck (of course) not varnished

big variety: Perfect for metal, rock, hardrock, blues, crunch, maybe clean sound. No use for jazz (no tone-control-poti).
Killing high gain sounds.

Perfect !
Set-up is great, pickups adjusted perfect, best wood quality.

Made for being played. I allways play without backups.

This guitar was never sent back to the Customer, cause it has allways been perfect. Warranty? I didn't ever need it.

This guitar is wort every buck! Early charvels are extremly fast guitars with unbelievable sounds. But no guitar-junkie like me would ever sell it.

Alder body, kahler pro trem, rosewood fingerboard and fast playin neck.

This guitar is the king at what it's made for and that is rock! It has that early eddie van halen brown sound when plugged into a 100 watt marshall tube head.There is no better guitar for this style of music.

If anyone has every truly played a real san dimas there is no question as to their playability. These things shred! I have 2 of these, one is the early fender head stock 21 frets the other has the 22 fret jackson pointy headstock. I like my pointy neck better because it has 22 frets and is faster than the other.

I bought my pointy headstock san dimas brand new in 85 and still have it! I have always liked this guitar too much to sell it. It is a very rare tobacco sunburst color which I like because most of these guitars were red,black ect. The finish has held up beautifully and it has aged gracefully. I can always depend on her. The fender style headstock sa ndimas I purchased used in 88

Never needed it

I have been playing a long time and have owned many instruments over the years. The 70's and 80's where the greatest times. You could walk in a music store and 90% of the guitars where made in the usa now days 90 percent of the guitars music stores carry come from other countrieS. I have tried some of these guitars for kicks and there is no comparison, the usa made guitars are sooooo much better!!If you can find a real one get it and hold onto it!But Beware of fakes!

1984 San Dimas, made in USA, ser.-nr. 390X
24 frets, 1 Volume, no tone, 3 Switches, H/S/S,
Ash body, maple + rosewood neck, di marzios, Jackson-type headstock,
added schaller-floyd. 22 frets.
neck (of course) not varnished

metal, rock, hardrock, blues, crunch, clean sounds - extremly much variety. no use for jazz because of no tone-controll-poti.
Killin' high gain sound.

Perfect.
Set-up is great, pickups adjusted perfect, best wood quality.

Made for being played.
I allways play without backups.

This guitar was never sent back to the Customer, cause it has allways been perfect. Warranty ? I didn`t ever need it.

Yeah- early charvels are expensive. But they are worth every buck !
If you see a jackson-type headstock charvel below 1000 $ buy it !
If you see a fender-Type headstock charvel below 2500 $ try to do too !
Early charvels are extremly fast guitars with unbelievable sounds.
But who would be so XXXX to sell ?

It`s a original 1982 San Dimas - charvel
(Please Note: All original USA - Charvels of the San Dimas - type are made from 1981 to 1986, the serial-Nr. is between 1001 and 5491 !! If your Guitar doesn`t agree with this it is either a rare pre-series (no ser.-nr.), a later Japan-modell (Fort Worth-PO-Box) or a later type SanDimas I, II, III)
My guitar is made in USA. Ash-body, birdeye-maple neck with rosewood, early active EMGs H-S-S, strat-headstock, brass-tremolo,
Ser.-Nr.160X, red, one volume, no tone (That`s typical), three mini-switches, the neck is not varnished.
I bought it in Germany (where I come from), a lot of early San Dimas - Guitars were exported to Hamburg (importing Shop called No.1) so I had luckl to get one.
I payed nearly 3000 $, which unfortunally is the standard price for early fender-headstock modells. (Price-guides mention 2500 to 3500 $, the ebay - Prices are about 3000 $, but these guitars are not offered often).

I do play electric guitars since 1980.
I prefer blues, rock, hardrock, metal.
All the "guitar-heroes" of rock (Ed van Halen, Steve Vai, Gary Moore, Dokken etc) of the 80s once played a early charvel, for example: Eddies main guitar was a charvel for 6 years, Vai played a self modified model for 4 years.
I use a Marshall full stack (JCM800 head, JCM800 4x12 1960A-Box, JCM900 1960B-Box), combined with a Marshall Valvestate S 80 for better trebles when playing quiet.
No effects at all, just pure sound.
The guitar sound is real unbelievable. I played several Gibsons, Fenders, ESPs, Ibanez, a Anderson but nothing compares to that guitar.
No use for beginners because that guitar makes you hear everything you play including mistakes, goofs. If you can`t play this will be discovered. But if you are able to play well this guitar makes you take off.
The sounds are made for rock. Of course you can also play things like Dire Straits, but the clean sounds only are good average. It's like drivin'a Ferrari with 10 mph (I mean: Possible but what a waste).
Blues, crunch up to high gain metal, that`s what this guitar is made for.

I`ve never seen a early charvel, whichs set-up was not perfect.
Wayne Charvel started in the 70es as a professional fender-optimizer.

Well, it`s a professional guitar and it`s made for professionals and for being played as often as possible.
But remember: It`s an 1982-guitar, which means that nobody knew big strap buttons, Floyd Rose was unknown.
Except for that the charvel is a dream to play. I made about 200 gigs over the years and the charvel has always been a absolut reliable, dependable partner.

Charvel-owners are a worldwide community. And tht`s necessary. The company has never been the fastest and the customer support has never been the best. Since Charvel was bought by fender things get better (even though everybody regretts that sell-out).
Repairs can and will last months.
Everyone there is friendly, they do know everything about guitars but I think they should be faster.

It`s a dream-guitar. Unfortunally it is an expensive joy an it is not easy to find a early Charvel but if you get one you will never sell again.
After all: Excuse my english, I`m german and I did my best...

It was made in '95 in USA, The guy who sold me this guitar told that it was made at Jackson Custom Shop, but I'm not sure if he was right. I bougt it in 2001 (I guess). It's a superstrat with a solid alder body with white poliurethane finish. Maple, bolt on neck has a rosewood fingerboard and 24 frets. It has one DiMarzio PAF Pro and two Joe Barden Hot Rails. One Volume, one tone, five position switch. Passive. The bridge is two point fulcrum tremolo, it has also locking sperzels. 25,2 scale. Nice, fast neck (but not to wide). Original SKB Jackson/Charvel case included.

It's a rocker because of electronics and construction. Realy nice sound. There's no noises at any volumes. Rich, full sound. Only thing I dont like is I can't get a strat sound because of pickups (three hubuckers).

I bougt it used, so it was set-up excellent, so only thing that I changed was strings. Everything was great.

It's a workhorse. No problems. GREAT!

I'm playing for 13 years. I've been working at few music stores and for few music distributors. I've owned a lot of guitars and played a thousands. It's really hard to find as good guitar as this one for this money (even used, of course). If I could choose I would prefer transparent finish, flame AAAA grade maple top, gol hardware, birdseye maple neck and painted headstock, but even if it's not a good looking guitar it's built well and it sound good. And that's the reason I bought this guitar. And look? If it has all the features I wrote before I couldn't afford this guitar.