Charvel have gone mad

[Transcend]

To me a charvel is meant to be

bolt on
superstrat
not too glitzy
alder/basswood

whilst these are

neck thru
monstrosities (other than the LP even if it looks a little weird)
too pimped out
mahogany.

It seems like Gibson aren't the only company who wants to ruin their traditional image

[Madsakre]

Rip charvel

[shobet]

Not too glitzy! Have you actually seen some of the finishes on the early prepro charvels?

[Transcend]

Not too glitzy! Have you actually seen some of the finishes on the early prepro charvels?

was the fretboard blathered in abalone like these?

[Simon D]

I've no problem with a company going a bit off piste and trying something that isn't perhaps at the core of what they're known for - PRS have done it a few times, with varying degrees of success and without putting many potential buyers off a Custom 24. Plus Charvel were beloved of a lot of players on the 80s glam rock scene.

But that said, I don't think these are particularly great looking guitars. The tops aren't brilliantly matched and there's way, way too much pearloid/abalone for my taste! The LP style looks the 'best' to me, but I'm not wild about any of them.

[Transcend]

I've no problem with a company going a bit off piste and trying something that isn't perhaps at the core of what they're known for - PRS have done it a few times, with varying degrees of success and without putting many potential buyers off a Custom 24. Plus Charvel were beloved of a lot of players on the 80s glam rock scene.

But that said, I don't think these are particularly great looking guitars. The tops aren't brilliantly matched and there's way, way too much pearloid/abalone for my taste! The LP style looks the 'best' to me, but I'm not wild about any of them.

The LP type one looks best to me too but that fretboard looks set way too far in

[Simon D]

I've no problem with a company going a bit off piste and trying something that isn't perhaps at the core of what they're known for - PRS have done it a few times, with varying degrees of success and without putting many potential buyers off a Custom 24. Plus Charvel were beloved of a lot of players on the 80s glam rock scene.

But that said, I don't think these are particularly great looking guitars. The tops aren't brilliantly matched and there's way, way too much pearloid/abalone for my taste! The LP style looks the 'best' to me, but I'm not wild about any of them.

The LP type one looks best to me too but that fretboard looks set way too far in

Yeah it does. It's tough to tell with the odd inlays, but could it be a 24-fret?

[Crunch]

I thought Jackson had about gone mad with this one...
http://www.jacksonguitars.com/products/products.php?group=Dominion-Body&page=1&product=2910515382

...but, it turns out that it's right up my alley.

Much better representation of the "Skatecaster" design, if you were to ask me.

[JacksonRR]

I actually like the first two a lot, but they should have used ebony fingerboards.

[Philly Q]

They do seem overly blingy in a Cort/Michael Kelly kind of way.

Interesting that they've (almost) resurrected the Surfcaster headstock.

[Jonny]

They look like a mutated child of Cort/Schecter/ESP (inlays and finish).

Still, I prefer the superstrats. Nothing else. Oh and the old Stars, of course.

[Philly Q]

I thought Jackson had about gone mad with this one...



...but, it turns out that it's right up my alley.

That's just about the only Jackson design which appeals to me.  Nice mix of traditional and modern, and it looks like it would be comfortable to play.   I do hate the squashed-together controls, though - I'd be happy with just one volume, one tone.

[Crunch]

That's just about the only Jackson design which appeals to me.  Nice mix of traditional and modern, and it looks like it would be comfortable to play.   I do hate the squashed-together controls, though - I'd be happy with just one volume, one tone.

I'm of that opinion, now that I'm out of high school.
The controls are okay with me, as I like to make crazy wiring jobs (inspired by Jimmy Page and Buckethead) but hate routing.
You can actually get a good grip on the neck and the chambered body gives a delicious midrange Santana would be content with.

[MrBump]

I quite like them.  Remind me of Shecters somehow.

[WezV]

the first one should look more like this