Charvel 2013 Pro Mod San Dimas Hs Hardtail Review
There'southward no doubt that Charvel offers an enormous corporeality of pick to the modern rock guitarist, and this no-nonsense duo comprises 2 of the most contempo additions to the make's United mexican states-made Pro-Modern Series. Though the model names may initially appear confusing, they are not too difficult to decode; the HSS HT E Sassafras is a hardtail in Satin Black while the HSS FR Grand is equipped with a Floyd Rose and comes in gloss Platinum Pearl.
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Sassafras isn't a tonewood that we run into too frequently but it has pedigree, as information technology was used in very express quantities in the early days of Fender. More recently, the visitor has been considering information technology every bit an alternative to the increasingly scarce swamp ash supply, which has been plagued both by climatic change and the emerald ash borer beetle.
Sassafras's aesthetic similarity to swamp ash is obvious and, here in the Charvel family, the HT E'south Satin Black finish accentuates its deep grain. This instance is wonderfully low-cal, as well, with an overall weight of a little over 7lb. The 12-16-inch compound radius ebony fingerboard suits the modern cord-stretcher's needs and black hardware completes the stealthy await.
The FR M shares the hardtail model'southward chemical compound radius fingerboard geometry and its slim C neck profile with a hand-rubbed satin urethane end and rolled 'board edges, but this time the fretboard is maple. The recessed Floyd Rose 1000 Serial double-locking vibrato span comes with a brass block and, naturally, a locking nut to match. Hardware is chrome, which combines with the Platinum Pearl finish to give this instrument a much fresher and less overtly metal aesthetic than its sibling. However, the boosted hardware and alder body add together an extra half-kilo in weight.
In utilise
Seymour Duncan is the designated pickup provider and both models have the ubiquitous JB TB-4 in the bridge, with Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 single-coils in the middle position and reverse wound, reverse polarity versions at the neck. It'south no surprise, and then, that we head straight for the Diezel VH4 preset on our Axe-Fx Iii.
Plugging in the HT East, the tonal properties of sassafras manifest themselves immediately. It'due south a kind of a eye ground between alder and swamp ash but with additional low-end heft. This depth becomes more credible on the cervix pickup and, in conjunction with slight spike in the upper mids, we discover ourselves firmly in Nuno Bettencourt-style percussive stone rhythm territory. Switching to the span, we're treated to full-throated rock, which once again favours the upper mids. Simply that sense of depth lingers and lead sounds just sing without the need for whatsoever additional boost.
Somewhat predictably, the Floyd Rose model has a fiddling less sustain than the cord-through HT East, while the FR Grand's alder body and maple 'board project a trebly snappiness that requires a little taming. Through similar-for-like amplifier settings, the HT E delivers the more than strident rock tone but, once we punch in a petty more gain, the FR M proves that information technology tin get every bit hateful. Meanwhile, on cleaner settings, information technology delivers some pretty authentic Hendrix-style tones in the neck position. And, if y'all want to expand the palette further, positions two (span inner coil and middle pickup), iii (span outer roll and neck pickup) and four (middle and neck pickup) take plenty of spank on tap.
Both instruments feature the currently stylish no-load tone control, which removes itself from the circuit entirely when broad open and doubtless contributes to the unbridled sonics on offering from either instrument. In contrast, the book controls take a much lower friction feel, and information technology's like shooting fish in a barrel to roll off a fair bit of gain past accident until you lot get used to the position of the controls.
That pocket-sized quirk aside, both HSS instruments look set to exist popular additions to the Pro-Mod Series and the sassafras model in particular brings something genuinely new to the tabular array. Ultimately, whether in a recording or alive environs, these guitars demand to be heard.
Key Features
Pro-Mod San Dimas Fashion i HSS HT E Sassafras – 9/x (Editor's Choice)
- Toll £959
- Clarification 6-string double-cut electric guitar, made in United mexican states
- BUILD Sassafras body, bolt-on graphite-reinforced maple neck with 12-xvi" chemical compound radius ebony fretboard, 22 jumbo frets, black plastic nut
- HARDWARE Charvel die-cast locking tuners, Charvel HT6 string-through-torso hardtail bridge
- ELECTRONICS Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 humbucker (bridge), Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 unmarried-roll (middle) & Custom Apartment Strat SSL-6 RWRP unmarried-coil (neck), 5-way blade selector switch, main volume, no-load tone control
- SCALE LENGTH 25.five″/648mm
- NECK WIDTH 43.6mm at nut, 52.7mm at 12th fret
- Neck DEPTH xx.0mm at 1st fret, 21.3mm at 12th fret
- Cord SPACING 52.7mm at bridge, 36.8mm at nut
- WEIGHT 3.2kg/vii.05lb
- LEFT-HANDERS No
- FINISH Satin Black
- VERDICT In every sense, the Sassafras body adds new depth to the San Dimas Superstrat audio
Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HSS FR M – 8/10
- PRICE £1,059
- DESCRIPTION 6-string double-cutting electric guitar, made in United mexican states
- BUILD Alder body, commodities-on graphite-reinforced maple cervix with 12-16" compound radius maple fretboard, 22 jumbo frets
- HARDWARE Charvel die-cast tuners, Floyd Rose 1000 Series double-locking vibrato bridge and locking nut
- ELECTRONICS Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 humbucker (bridge), Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 unmarried-curl (middle) & Custom Apartment Strat SSL-half-dozen RWRP unmarried-coil (cervix), v-style blade selector switch, master book, no-load tone control
- Scale LENGTH 25.v″/648mm
- NECK WIDTH 44.4mm at nut, 53.6mm at 12th fret
- NECK DEPTH 20.1mm at 1st fret, 21.1mm at 12th fret
- STRING SPACING 52.9mm at bridge, 36.2mm at nut
- WEIGHT three.7kg/eight.16lb
- LEFT-HANDERS No
- FINISH Platinum Pearl gloss
- VERDICT A consummate 1980s rock machine with Charvel'due south customary scything tone
- CONTACT charvel.com
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Source: https://guitar.com/review/electric-guitar/the-big-review-charvel-pro-mod-san-dimas-style-1-hss-ht-e-sassafras-hss-fr-m/