Thinking of building a Charvel So-Cal clone vs. buying the real deal

[Neo Fender]

Why?

(1) As long as I stay away from away from any figured neck or body woods or transparent finishes, I think I could spec some upgrades (e.g. stainless steel frets, abalone dot inlays) and still keep the total parts cost well under $1,000.  Street price on a So-Cal is $899, including a nice SKB hard case. 

(2) More color options

(3) I can spec pickups, tuners & trem

(4) Charvel compound radius = 12” – 16”, Warmoth = 10” – 16”.  Floyd Rose nuts have a ~ 10” radius. 

(5) I think Pro Mod production is now Japan based only but this is not much of an issue to me.  Assuming that everything on the interwebernet is true, I’ve read that the Japan-built Pro Mods are at least as good if not better than the US models (that I think are no longer being built).

Questions:

Many who have played the So-Cal and its sister, the San Dimas get all excited about Charvel (OK, now they’re FMIC) necks and how they have a “broken in” feel.  Other than maybe rolling the fretboard edges, what else are they doing?  Is it the profile or ???  Also, the corners and body end of the fretboards are squared off.  It’s a nice look.  Any other reason for this or is it just for aesthetics?  Is the neck pocket still like a typical Strat or ???

The necks are oiled.  Any long-term issues of not having a “hard” finish?

Anything else?

Thanks.

 

[Orpheo]

too much questions for me to answer all at once, but I'll try.

the necks have a worn in feel, but I don't know how or why. just a feel. maybe a lack of finish and rolled edges? Don't know. just love my pro mod USA (not a japan-guitar.).

neckpocket is just like a strat.

a charvel can be had supercheap, but if you can get a warmoth for little money




Oh well, who am I kidding? both are on the same level. period. it just depends on how much the charvel costs vs the warmoth. I have a nice warmoth strat that doesn't feel subpar to my USA charvel, they are both kickass. that having said, the warmoth was less than 500$ all in. thank GOD for ebay

 

[line6man]

Orpheo and I have USA Production Model So Cals.

I think it would be more expensive to build a Warmoth. I got mine for $700. :dontknow:

Raw necks are always preferable to finished ones, but the oil finish on my Charvel is very nice. If you intend to do a Warmoth build, however, an oil finish will not satisfy the warranty.

 

[Tipperman]

Orpheo and I have USA Production Model So Cals.

I think it would be more expensive to build a Warmoth. I got mine for $700. :dontknow:

Raw necks are always preferable to finished ones, but the oil finish on my Charvel is very nice. If you intend to do a Warmoth build, however, an oil finish will not satisfy the warranty.

I will third the So-Cal love. I have not owned one, nor will I ever, but they are fantastic high-quality instruments. The USA ones are the only ones I've used to date, and they are superb guitars. The best in their price range.

That being said, I would suggest building a Warmoth, as you have choice over woods, a USA floyd (Though the Floyd on the Charvel So-Cals seems very, very solid.) and the choice of a raw neck vs the Oil finished one. You can have that awesome aesthetic, and a raw canary neck, etc. Go with Warmoth if money is not a concern.

 

[line6man]

As a side note, I prefer the Schaller Floyd to the OFR. That's what I'd do on a Warmoth build.
And definitely a Canary neck, if aesthetics allow.

 

[Tipperman]

Aesthetics will certainly allow. So will tone. I think it would look BETTER with a raw Pau Ferro/Pau Ferro neck or a Canary/Canary neck. It would certainly look unique, and sound great to boot.

 

[Ace Flibble]

I can't imagine how a Warmoth build could be up to par with a Charvel and cost less, unless you do the finish yourself maybe. I'm not intently familiar with the US shop prices nor have I done the number-crunching on all the Warmoth upcharges and whathaveyou, but I know that I bought my Charvel (American made) San Dimas Style 2 for about two thirds of what any of my Warmoth builds have cost me, not including their shipping.

And truth be told, I love my Warmoth builds with their fancy woods and stainless steel frets and custom electonics and everything, but I'd be lying if I said they are better guitars in total than my Charvel. I don't typically like all-maple necks, nor oil finishes, nor 25.5" scale, nor Floyds, nor compound radius fretboards (either Warmoth's, Charvel's or any other), but somehow it all comes together on my San Dimas and it's by far my best-playing best-sounding, most fun guitar to use, despite it theoretically being my least suitable.

If you want to deviate from the Charvel build and have custom inlays and raw woods and whatever then obviously Warmoth (or to be honest, Musikraft - they even do the Charvel headstock) is the way to go, but for what it's worth I can't find a single flaw with my Charvel, nor have I found any flaws with any other MIA or MIJ Charvels. Perhaps I'm just lazy, but I find it hard to encourage making a parts build to replicate something that is great right off the shelf. So I think you should base your purchase on just how much you intend to change the design from the norm.

As for the MIA/MIJ thing, MIJ handbuilt guitars have been on-par with MIA handbuilt guitars for a long time now and their production stuff is superior, at least on average. Quality control is the #1 priority in Japan and nothing but the most perfect, laser-cut inlays and tightest neck pockets will do. And just look up the Japanese ESP Custom Shop to see the crazy stuff they pull off that American manufacturers and luthiers don't even attempt. I really don't think the country of origin should factor into your decision here. Hell, there's stuff coming out of Korea and Poland now that gives American stuff a run for its money.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

I've got a project in progress that's basically exactly what you're thinking of doing. Charvel just absolutely refused to make a guitar in the exact configuration I wanted, so I'm making my own. I only have the neck so far but the body should be here in 6 weeks or so.

It's meant I can have the exact pickups and switching system I want, and stainless steel frets, but I've kept everything else very similar, including going with a satin maple neck (not popular round these parts but I do actually like them).

Here's the blog I've been keeping:

http://www.jumbleguitar.com/

It is going to work out more expensive than a SoCal though - although to me, that is mitigated by the fact that I can buy the parts over time rather than all in one go. The only expensive thing I have left to order is the FR bridge & nut.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

Also yeah, really don't worry about Japan. I'd very very happily have a Japanese guitar. I consider the "Japan" and "USA" badges absolutely equal in all respects now.

 

[duosonic]

The Charvel's are really nice for the price point.  Build one if you think you can make one as good or better.  No sense making a sub par guitar.  If you buy a Charvel most of the decisions are already made for you.  If you're going to go for the Charvel neck feel I would recommend Musikraft for the neck.

 

[keeper006]

I'm going to build one of these too! Mine for the usual reason, because I'm lefty. If you want it on the cheap, I think a charvel, if you want it to be "yours", build it.

 

[keeper006]

Their site only has red, white, or blue ones now. How patriotic. What happened to those cool copper and green ones? Obviously that's rhetorical, but I thought those were sweet.  :rock-on: