Charvel has new models!

[Katastrophe]

The Desolation series. The singlecut is drool worthy...

http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/charvel-launches-desolation-series-electric-guitars-487286#!5

[stingx]

Cool. Bought a pro mod last December. Great guitar.

[marnold]

Very cool. I like that they have some mid and low-end models too. I'd be interested to hear some reviews. The singlecut looks like the marriage of a Les Paul and a Jackson which might be right up my street. It even appears that the back of the neck is unpainted and given a satin finish. That's always been my main beef with Les Paul-style guitars. That and beefy necks.

http://www.charvel.com/guitars/?section=desolation&bodyShape=Single%20Cutaway

*Edit* Even better! From the specs on the DS-2 ST: "Neck Finish: Oiled"

[marnold]

World Music Supply (no affiliation) has them listed on their site. http://www.worldmusicsupply.com/Charvel-Desolation-Series-Guitars.html

The DS-2 ST that I referred to above is selling for $349. The DS-1 with the Blackouts and abalone inlays is $599. The transparent finishes are $50 more.

A rep from Charvel was on the Jackson/Charvel forums. He said that the entire line in Made in China. There will be some USA models from Charvel's custom shop. Many of the natives on the J/C forums are restless, either because of the MIC issue or because they aren't superstrats. Some complain the new models look like ESPs or Schecters.

[Tig]

Some complain the new models look like ESPs or Schecters.

This.

[marnold]

This.
I can't disagree with that. The one thing I keep coming back to is the neck. An LP with a Jackson/Charvel neck . . . well, it's like someone was reading my mind!

[guitarhack]

Nice!

[Tig]

Yep, that does count for something!
I think the abalone overload is what bothers me. Perhaps something a few clicks down on the bling meter would work better, like the $330-$499 DS-2 and 3 models.

DS-2's:
http://media.fmicdirect.com/charvel/images/products/guitars/2931021550_frt_wlg_001.png
http://media.fmicdirect.com/charvel/images/products/guitars/2931021557_frt_wlg_001.png
http://media.fmicdirect.com/charvel/images/products/guitars/2931021590_frt_wlg_001.png
http://media.fmicdirect.com/charvel/images/products/guitars/2931021586_frt_wlg_001.png

DS-3's:
http://media.fmicdirect.com/charvel/images/products/guitars/2931031503_frt_wlg_001.png
http://media.fmicdirect.com/charvel/images/products/guitars/2931031590_frt_wlg_001.png

[Katastrophe]

If anything, they look like PRS SE singlecuts to me... The doublecut model with the Floyd looks a lot like the PRS SE Torero (albeit with a more offset body shape, and at half the price).

These will be worthy of a guitar store trip to play one and see how well Charvel did... I predict a winner in terms of playability, though, regardless of what the hardcore Jackson / Charvel faithful think.

[Eric]

If anything, they look like PRS SE singlecuts to me... The doublecut model with the Floyd looks a lot like the PRS SE Torero (albeit with a more offset body shape, and at half the price).
I agree -- the first thing I thought they looked like was PRS SE guitars. I can see the ESP comparisons though on the ones with the abalone binding.

[marnold]

That red DS-2 ST is beckoning me. Even the flat black looks cool. So much for the "I haven't had GAS in forever" comment. I've got to try one. My only concerns would be the balance with a 25.5" neck and if the neck is really as Jackson/Charvel-like as it sounds. If they had a goldtop I'd probably explode.

[sunvalleylaw]

Not into the LP clones that much. They look just like another LP clone, and I don't prefer those colors. I kinda like the skatecaster models though.

[MAXIFUNK]

pro-mod wild card number 6 has me drooling and gassing all day long. http://www.sweetwater.com/guitargallery/electric/all/sJC11000900/