Credited with being the pioneer of the “SuperStrat,” Wayne Charvel found himself in the right place at the right time. In the mid 1970s, Charvel had a guitar shop adjacent to Los Angeles in suburban Asuza. Initially a repair shop, it became iconic for modifying instruments, notably for Eddie Van Halen who lived close by in Pasadena. Guitar modifications became stylish and necessary in the mid ‘70s due to the high performance that shredders like Van Halen and Randy Rhoads required. As demand increased for hot rod Strat variations Charvel became synonymous with 1980s hard rock and metal musicians. The early “San Dimas” models had high-output humbucker pickups, custom paint jobs, Floyd Rose tremolos, and customized Strat-style bodies.
Owned by Fender Music Corporation since 2002, the Charvel guitar line continues to honor the spirit of the original ‘80s guitars. The Charvel Pro-Mod Plus So-Cal Style 1 HH FR CM electric guitar is billed as a “modernized take on the classic So-Cal shred machine (that) packs even more cutting-edge features for lightning-fast playing.” A high-performance “SuperStrat” guitar designed for speed and technical playing, it does not disappoint.
MC’s review sample weighed in at 8.2 lbs., the same as a light Les Paul and 2 lbs. heavier than a traditional Strat. This weight is consistent for a Strat with the humbucking pickups and a Floyd Rose tremelo. With an alder body and 22 fret caramelized dark maple neck, the guitar is nicely balanced and resonant. The build quality is excellent, and the guitar feels good to the touch. The 4-bolt neck includes graphite reinforcements to aid tuning stability. The neck has a 12”-16” compound radius consistent with the SuperStrat style. At the Nut (12”), the fretboard has a more noticeable curve for your hand to wrap around when playing chords or rhythm. At the Higher Frets (16”), the fretboard flattens out significantly allowing you to perform deep string bends without the note choking out. By contrast, a vintage-style guitar usually has a single, round radius all the way up. The compound radius is a more sophisticated “best of both worlds” design for modern players. The treble side cutaway is contoured to increase access to the upper frets with no restriction.
Tones are handled by a pair of Seymour Duncan Distortion high output humbucking pickups with oversized ceramic magnets. Duncan has an established history of making the finest pickups and they sound great not only for shredding and meaty distortion but can also provide sparkling clean tones. A 5-position pickup selector enable humbucking sounds in position 1, 3, and 5, and traditional single coil tones in positions 2 and 4, eliminating the need for separate coil tap toggles and preserving the clean look of this beautiful guitar. There is just a single volume and tone control, and in the fully on position of the tone is automatically bypassed. All hardware is matte black including the anodized aluminum pickguard.
The Charvel Pro-Mod Plus So-Cal Style 1 HH FR CM is manufactured in Ensenada, Mexico. While marketed for heavy metal and shred guitar, the guitar is so well made and versatile that any style of music can be played on it. Available in Blue Burst and Black. Includes Charvel® Multi-Fit Gig Bag. $1,299.99
