USA Charvel - Pricing/Resell Value

[SonVolt]

I've never owned a Charvel but I'm interested in one of their USA Select Dinkys. How much would you expect to spend on the used market for one in mint condition? It retails for $3,649 new.

There's one on Reverb for $3,100 + $150 shipping, but IMO is too close to the retail price. Especially sigh-unseen / non-local etc. Thoughts?

USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM, Caramelized Flame Maple Fingerboard, Satin White

The Charvel® USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM is an exquisite USA-made instrument designed for modern players with discerning tastes. Harkening back to Charvel’s roots and born on west coast soil, the USA DK24 is meticulously built by the Charvel team at the Custom Shop in Corona, California, so...

www.charvel.com

 

[SonVolt]

 

[PaulHikeS2]

No first hand experience with Charvel, but my rule of thumb is not to go over 70% of retail for used, unless there is something inherently rare/collectable about it. If I wanted that guitar, I'd offer $2600.

 

[Bull Rock]

Just a thought...I've owed a few. The Japanese and non usa are just as good. Seriously. Quality is insane. Good luck

 

[Derek S]

They're pretty killer guitars IMO, even the MiM models (probably a little more hit and miss there however). I own several Charvel's (US custom shop San Dimas, US pro mod San Dimas, MiJ DK24, MiM DK24) and use them often, especially in recordings.

Can't comment on pricing, all I can say is I have a MiJ version of a very similar DK24 (especially the guts/hardware it seems) and it's a sweet playing/sounding guitar! Those hand rubbed necks literally feel like silk, no other guitar I've ever owned has a neck that feels that refined and buttery smooth as the Charvel CS, not even my Suhr. My Japan model set me back around $2,500 (new) and it came with the same humbuckers of which I had to swap out one (the neck model is great but I didn't care for the Full Shred in the bridge) and no case, just some sort of hard formed gig bag. Hopefully you'll love the pups it comes with and won't have to spend another dime on it if you go for it. Still, pound for pound I'd put my MiJ model right up there with my Suhr Modern Pro in terms of play, build quality and tone.

 

[SonVolt]

They're pretty killer guitars IMO, even the MiM models (probably a little more hit and miss there however). I own several Charvel's (US custom shop San Dimas, US pro mod San Dimas, MiJ DK24, MiM DK24) and use them often, especially in recordings.

Can't comment on pricing, all I can say is I have a MiJ version of a very similar DK24 (especially the guts/hardware it seems) and it's a sweet playing/sounding guitar! Those hand rubbed necks literally feel like silk, no other guitar I've ever owned has a neck that feels that refined and buttery smooth as the Charvel CS, not even my Suhr. My Japan model set me back around $2,500 (new) and it came with the same humbuckers of which I had to swap out one (the neck model is great but I didn't care for the Full Shred in the bridge) and no case, just some sort of hard formed gig bag. Hopefully you'll love the pups it comes with and won't have to spend another dime on it if you go for it. Still, pound for pound I'd put my MiJ model right up there with my Suhr Modern Pro in terms of play, build quality and tone.

The seller just dropped the price to $3,000 + $150 shipping.

How does the MIJ compare to the USA models? I've read/watched mixed reviews on the MIM Charvels. Suspect fret jobs, crude routing/cuts etc.

 

[Derek S]

The seller just dropped the price to $3,000 + $150 shipping.

How does the MIJ compare to the USA models? I've read/watched mixed reviews on the MIM Charvels. Suspect fret jobs, crude routing/cuts etc.

The US Custom Shop neck is a notch or two nicer, especially the back side, the feel is simply smoother...but for a lot of players, that's probably not a deal breaker, it's just somthing you notice when playing. Honestly, that's the only significant difference with mine, the fretwork, finish, components, etc are all otherwise on par with one another (USA and Japan). The necks on the US Pro Mod and Mex DK24 are nice but a tier down from the US Custom and MiJ models, but they're still great (when you find nice ones which the majority of them are IME - there's always clunkers in most all brands).

 

[SonVolt]

The US Custom Shop neck is a notch or two nicer, especially the back side, the feel is simply smoother...but for a lot of players, that's probably not a deal breaker, it's just somthing you notice when playing. Honestly, that's the only significant difference with mine, the fretwork, finish, components, etc are all otherwise on par with one another (USA and Japan). The necks on the US Pro Mod and Mex DK24 are nice but a tier down from the US Custom and MiJ models, but they're still great (when you find nice ones which the majority of them are IME - there's always clunkers in most all brands).

Not sure if there's a real answer to this, but here goes... So what makes these USA Select Charvels essentially the same price point as the Suhr Moderns? The Surh's have a lot more bling - quilted tops, natural binding etc. While the Charvels are more "basic" looking (which I like).

 

[saxon68]

MIJ are amazing. Look at used prices of the 80s model series, model 2,3,6 are going up and up.

Gotta be really careful, I see lots of them that have wrong parts.

My favorite was the model 2. Single pup and one knob. Get ‘er done. Sold mine in 2010 for 300 (same price I paid brand new in 1989) and kicking myself ever since.

Wild card series are great also.

My DK24 is MIM and the neck is great on it also.