I have one of these as my main guitar and it's like someone designed the perfect guitar for me. Even the low friction volume pot I find really useful. I also like the pickup combination, the full shred in the bridge sounds great for the aggressive stuff, and the alnico pro in the neck can give great Jazz tones. As someone who plays a bit of everything, this is really useful.
Difficult to see it as the ultimate super strat under 1k given the number under 1k that are as well specced and also have stainless steel frets. Compared to Cort this is expensive. Compared to Ibanez Premium it's under specced. It seems to me for any of these guitars there's no ultimate one - it's all about what compromise(s) you want to make when buying a guitar.
I got one about 1 and a half years ago, and it is the guitar that just really playd itself. I did my first gig with this thing and it just gives me so much confidence.
I'm buying it for the parallel mode but might just fall in love with the humbucker series mode. As I've only played p90 and single coil this is a very interesting guitar
I've had my dk24 pro mod for a year. It needed a setup when I got it but it was a floor model. I really love the neck, I think it's one of the most comfortable I've played on with the rolled edges and thinner profile (but not overly thin like my schecter c1 SLS elite). If it had SS frets I'd be happier. I really agree that the series/parallel switch offers many extra usuable tones.
I purchased a promod style 2, T type with fishman fluence pickups, and I love it. When I first got it, I thought the neck was the best I’d ever felt, but I still go back to my tele mostly. I had a bad pickup in mine straight from the factory, but the warranty covered that. No complaints now, and I still grab it more than the les Paul.
Love this guitar. I have the burgundy mist. The neck, to me, is extremely comfortable. Although it is thin, it's rock solid. It's always in tune. I also love the parallel sounds. I can play this in a worship band, or in a hard rock band. In the worship set-up, clicking over to the parallel settings cleans and clarifies it, and the Gotoh trem is extremely expressive. So many great features for a great price. The only thing I'm missing is stainless frets, but even that is not a big deal. There's enough on the frets for years and years, with maybe a level and polish from time to time. This is just a great guitar.
Thanks for the heads up regarding the neck profile. I grew up loving thin shreddy necks, but as I got older my hands started preferring thicker profiles. I recently sold my beloved Ibanez RG550 simply because I couldn't get on with the neck anymore. All the best!
I'm going through the same exact thing with the same exact guitar. The sad thing is I only probably bought it two months ago thinking I was going to love it and it's just almost too thin
I have had this very same guitar for a few years now. I have struggled with the tone of the bridge pickup thinking it was my bad playing style or my ears. Listening to the bridge pickup tone in your video I now realise that it is the pickup that I just don't really like. The neck pickup I absolutely love and use it all the time. Great review.
I’ve had one for three years and it’s a fantastic guitar and excellent value. The only problem I’ve had was with the tuning. It seemed to be a common problem but I read on line to try it with out using the string trees. I’ve tried it and no more problems 🙂
I agree on that guitar being the ultimate super strat gigging guitar. I slept on a good deal for it, but I did get to try it. All the splitting options are great, all of them hum-canceling. I usually go for a 3 pickup guitars for the versatility, but I think they really nailed it with the wiring. I could get almost every sound I use regularly, the only exception being the neck single coil. and many more out of it. That said, with these many options, I'd be fine in any live scenario. I prefer slimmer neck, with flatter fretboards, so it was perfect for me. I have big palms but short fingers :/ I was surprised by how much I liked the pickups. Great distorted, overdriven, AND clean sounds. Next one comes around I'm definitely snatching it. Also honorable mention for the burgundy color version ;)
I've had this guitar for a couple of months now and I'm pretty much happy with it, but I'd be lying if I said i haven't had any issues with it - the main one being tuning stability, although I will try lubing the nut with Big Bends Nut Sauce and removing the string tree for G and D strings (might even replace it with a roller string tree type, the one they used isn't a roller one). I tried cutting the nut, but it didn't help much, as I can still hear pings coming from the headstock when bending or using the trem arm. The neck took some getting used to, but it feels and plays like butter. The guitar is very lightweight and incredibly comfy, aside from the incredible looks. Last but not least, the sounds I'm getting out of it are beautiful and very useful, I almost only use the single-coily ones if I'm not shredding. I was pleasantly surprised by the sound possibilities, and I also have to say that the sustain I'm getting is sick! I'm not sure but I thing you forgot to mention the no-load tone pot, which can additionally help when dialing in a desired tone - the difference with the pot taken out of the circuit and being on 10, but in the circuit, is notable, it can help you cut through in the mix with that additional top-end, for example. All in all, a great guitar!
Tried this in London yesterday and spent about half an hour with it. Seriously keen on it now. The sustain and resonance blew me away. Full of harmonics and decent tones out of it. The parallel switch didn’t work on me, but I can see it being useful for some musicians. I can only see myself using either humbucker and maybe position 4 for clean stuff. Both pickups are double screwed so I suspect they have a darker tone than their single screw counterparts. The full shred is quite interesting but I am not so sure about the Alnico II. The neck is way too slim, but I think it is still very comfortable and has a thinner oval profile.
@@archibalddickworth6588 I've had it longer than that but yea, I still use it. I have a few guitars but when I want to play some fun 80's stuff I'd always grab the Yellow Demon!
I own that guitar and love it. The neck profile is very much a personal thing and I happen to like this one very much. I was never a fan of the Ibanez neck joint, pickups, or the neck profile. For me, this one is way better for the kind of player who wants to rock, shred, but also be able to access those strat sounds in a convincing way.
I have one...and I will sit and just look at it.. Beautiful ax...The Neck is phenomenal and it did take time to get used to the neck..Thank for this review
I feel like you're following me around the shops, John! ;-) I have the same Nick Johnston Schecter AND the Charvel DK24. Love them both but I definitely like the neck on the Schecter just a bit more. I think the Charvel has a bit more versatile pickup complement for me. Thanks for the excellent demo!
I’ve just come from your video on the JP150 straight to this one - I already have a JP150 and this video has cemented my decision to buy the DK24 tomorrow. Great video, and astounding playing. I’m not a multi-fx user (despite trying my best using a Headrush MX5) but tones like yours make me wish I’d committed to some sort of multi-fx unit.
Kind of surprised you didn't like the neck. I have the HSS version and I'm having a hard time playing any other guitar now, because I love the neck shape so much. I was supposed to buy an Ibanez AZ, but I just hated the neck and thought it was way to thick. I also have an Ibanez RG, and The RG is much thinner.. To me, the Charvel just feels like a really comfortable, slimmer strat.
Great to listen to a guitar review by someone who can actually play!!! Most reviewers playing is almost unlistenable. Thanks for review. I'll be returning...
I picked guitar back up about 9 months ago and this was my first purchase. I bought it lightly used at a local pawn shop. Although I prefer a thicker neck so far, this is still my favorite for sound and just overall playability. I love it
What neck do you prefer and how has it been to adjust? I play both a D-shape Ultra Tele...and have a full C shaped SG & Nashville Tele. The Charvel seemed to have slightly flatter back and higher 'shoulders' to it like some Epiphones.
Didn't know the importance of a neck until I tried a different guitar that I wasn't used to. I got used to the AZ neck and when I tried a Fender player series it felt too small somehow. Also, the stainless steel frets an satin neck makes it play smoother.
I’ve got the HSS version, but I can’t make it sound like that! I’ve heard tell of QC issues with them, but mine was flawless from the factory. Excellent fit and finish as well as setup. Love your content and playing, John.
Have two of them: an HSS [ swapped the Full Shred for the SH5 Custom ] in shale grey and the SSS dk22 fret version in gold. Both are flawless and incredible. I was surprised that the 2 frets difference made a great difference in the way both guitars play and sound.
I have a Charvel Joe Duplantier Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 2 (Tele style, with natural finish mahogany body), that is an absolutely killer guitar in every way. The feel, the playability, the tones, the pickups, fit and finish, everything is exceptional. Not sure how the neck profile compares to this one, but I would put it on the thin side, which I generally prefer.
I have the same guitar and loving it! I also want to express my gratitude for having such a beautiful intro and outro that took my pentatonics to the next level! Still working on speed but I got right into the groove with this one! 😁 I'd also pay 10.00 to download the full intro recording aswell! 😁
I have the same model but in the burgundy pink color. I thought I wouldn't like the neck but i can't stop playing it. Ended up getting the t-style with the fishman fluence pickups. These just feel right for me. I'm currently saving for the hss hartail. Great video.
While I never know what Charvel model I'm actually playing...I seem to always love the sound, the trems, and even how I how play. Tho, I never feel comfortable on the neck despite playing a Tele Ultra with a D-shape. It's also possible I play well because I AM less comfortable and have to stay loose.
Beautiful, smooth playing bro. Dig your vibe. BTW, I made the mistake of playing this at guitar center the other day. It’s ridiculous. And I mean that in the most reverential way. Oh, yes - she will be mine.
I've got that exact one plus the HSS pink one. I prefer my US hss Strat for versatility and comfort, but I think I have the most fun playing the hss pro-mod. It's definitely used more in a rock context or anything with more gain. The neck is certainly slimmer than a strat, but I definitely dont think its paper thin like a Wizard neck. My biggest complaint is they advertise stability with the caramelized neck, but both of mine fret sprout in dryer climage/dryer times of the year. That's what everybody claims baking a neck should do - minimalize the moisture content to reduce shrinking/expanding/moving, but these are my only guitars with sprout come winter. Still keeping them though... well at least the pink one for sure
Looking at some of the wizard neck specs, over the years they have varied a lot. But I think the Charvel is something like just under 19mm right? As for the fret sprout..Yeh that's presumably one of the things that you'd hope it would be solving? I wonder if baking maple necks is a cover for using less mature wood so that you don't have to pay for more expensive drier wood?
I got a pro mod style 2 (Tele style) a few months back and absolutely fell in love with it. Completely changed what I look for in a guitar spec wise. I think I’d describe the neck as between a C and D shape which is why you might not be getting on with it. I have a schecter which is about just as thin, but a perfect C.... I can’t say which I like more. But that roasted maple on the Charvel is just so smooth
I have one of these and love it. The toggle switch isn't a could split it's a parallel / series switch. but the parallel mode does sound a little single coilish.
ive owned mine for about 2 years, it was perfectly set up when i got it. Ive set it up in D standard with 9s, and its super fun to play. Also if you turn the tone to 10 it clicks, and complety takes out the tone pots, so yuo get that full opn bridge humbucker.. Van halen tone, Very cool guitars
Hi John ! Amazing tone and playing !! as always !What a surprise ...I have the DK24 , the HSS version, and I must say that it has the best fingerboard i've ever played !! It's true that I don't like thick necks at all,so this one is perfect for me.I have also an American PRS Classic 24-10th anniversary, which also has a very good neck,a little thicker than this one. But once you get used to play on this one is very difficul to feel as comfortable with others. The thing I couldn't get used to is the tendency it has to sound very bright,so I changed the mics for the Lace Sensor set,and even so, although it got better,I decided to sell it because of that. I think the one you're playing,has much more body,maybe because it has 2 humbuckers. Great video !!
I have the HSS shell pink DK24. I got it hoping for an HSS version of my Guthrie sig. For the price, I was surprised at how good it plays and feels, though I’m not a massive fan of the SD Full Shred pickups. The Guthrie obviously is on a completely different level and the neck profile isn’t the same, but at under half the price (more like a third, really), they’re not bad at all.
@@radio5051 It isn’t necessarily thicker, but doesn’t feel as wide, which makes it feel thicker somehow. The Guthrie neck is the most comfortable neck I’ve ever played, with the AZ Prestiges coming a close second
@@sambroxguitar that’s an interesting comment, because several people have told me the Guthrie mode has a thicker neck. Last night I was watching an Andertons interview from 2014 with the Charvel rep at NAMM. He said Guthrie played a regular Charvel neck and liked it, and that is what is on his model. I suspect the new DK necks have been tweaked since this standard neck shaped that was used for the GG model. Thanks for your opinion.
Dang I’d love one of these. My best guitar is a super strat (HSS) Kissel bolt that I picked up and put together because I just never had the funds to buy anything more expensive. I saved a lot on the labor doing the oil finishing myself and general assembly of it myself. I worked at the shop during that time so I had my buddy give it a really great setup and you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between mine and one that was sold from the line.
Would love to try one of these. I tend to like some of the flatter radius necks. I have very average sized, fairly weak hands for my size (1.9 Meters or 6 feet, 3 inches) and sometimes struggle with thicker necks.
I've got short fingers and the Gibson Slim Taper necks are most comfortable for me. Traditional older Fender necks are difficult for me due to the small radius that Fender loves large diameter of the necks. A local store carries Charvel and I never gave them a second look. These Dinkys cause they had a traditional tailpiece, so I gave one of them a try. I found this neck easier to play than many of the newer round Gibson necks. Ended up getting Dinky 24 fret SSH and the Dinky 22 fret when it came out. Now that I have lived with both guitars awhile, I am completely satisfied with the necks and fingerboards. My single bitch is with Fender style heads, the tuners are closer together, however, the locking tuners make the job easier.
I have three Charvels, a DK24 HSH, Pro Mod Style 1 FR and a Pro Mod Style 2. The Style 1 definitely has a thicker neck but the DK24 and Style 2 feel like the same neck carve. My favourite is without doubt the Style 2, probably because the Fishman pickups offer the greatest tonal variety and it's the least 'shred' looking.
Thanks for your videos! I have this exact guitar and love it. Also find the switching between single coil and HB mode quite useful. The neck is thin as you say. I like it but would also like just a bit more again like the AZ as you say (also have one of those). But I'm 6'4" with pretty long fingers.
you know the funny thing.. after years of owning this "rock" guitar... ive got a really nice classic tone i had no idea this guitar could do! .. Inspired John,, thanks
Charvel’s are awesome. I was thinking of getting the tele but didn’t because I like stainless steel frets. Check out the Harley Benton Fusion Tele. Specs are awesome for the price. Cheers mate!
The Stainless Steel frets are must. ESP Ltd 1000 series is the most affordable, Don't know if theirs is super duper Strat style. But the Charvel is nice, needs stainless steel and a Floyd Rose tho.
I‘ve tried one but it didn‘t really impress me as much as the specs did. Would definitely go for the Ibanez AZ in that price range, but nice presentation as always!
I think it'd come down to the difference in neck shape - the AZ is kind of thick for some folks (ideal for me though) - whereas I think this Charvel would probably be too thin for folks too?
@@johnnathancordy It‘s definitely a question of personal preference but additional to the neck shape I also think that they sound quite different. I was looking for a combination of clear and percussive cleans (in the Polyphia realm) and a nice and tight bridge sound for modern riffing with distortion. I compared them (HSS variants) and the Ibanez felt like it had more character to it (at least I liked it more) and sounded more balanced/coherent especially in the low frequencies. I don‘t remember the AZ being nearly as expensive as they are now though. Have they seen such a big price hike in the past years, is there other differences I don‘t know about or did I just happen to find a discounted one back then? I think it was 1200-1300€ and now they are like 1800-2000€ here in Germany.
Be lucky if you get a good one... - and good one I mean from production point of view; I have one - and got my hands on two more in a store for comparison. The quality control in Fender Mexico is very inconsistent and can be next to none... - problems all 3 guitars had - super sharp fret ends, up to the point where you ripped your fingers..., and the nut (supposed to be Graphtech) was cut in a way that the strings got caught in the slots - absolutely no tuning stability possible. I needed up filing and polishing the fret ends (easy part) and changed the nut against a real Graph Tech nut - be ready for a surprise when you try changing yours... - the bottom of the nut is not flat! It has approx. a 12' radius... - that a side, the guitar is great , the roasted neck feels great (once the sharp ends are gone). Hardware is super solid; The Duncan Full Shred Neck pickup is a great pickup - you may want to change the bridge pickup for a Pearly Gates, or Screamin Deamon if you want to stay in the Duncan realm....
I've had the HSS DK24 for about 18 months and I find the neck super comfortable, if not ever slightly too thin... especially from the 12th fret up. The pickups maybe aren't super inspiring but I'm a bit scared to change them out for something else! If anyone has any recommendations I'm all ears
I have a Bare Knuckle Silo in the bridge of another guitar, and I did some extensive A-B testing, and the SD Full Shred for rock and high gain sounds *very* close, pretty much identical. The big difference is that if you have a high gain tone and play a major or minor chord, as the chord sustains the BK keeps the flavour of the chord much longer. You can still tell it's a major or minor chord a few seconds later, while the root and fifth overtones tend to take over with the Full Shred and you lose that character. Other than that, they're pretty close, so considering the price difference, the Full Shred is great value. Maybe tinker with your amp a little?
@@Malediction99 I swapped the Full Shred for the SH5 Custom. A JB would work nicely in this guitar also. For lower output, and staying SD, I'd be interested in seeing how the Screaming Demon and 59 / Custom Hybrid work in this guitar.
I just bought one just like this. May i have your permission to decal it with "John Nathan Cordy Signature Series"? (can't afford any authentic artist signature guitars) 2:56 you make this guitar sound expensive & worth buying
That one looks like the @rickgraham signature model. I have one of these and it's so easy to play and sounds great, neck is perfect, locking tuners all the works, the 2 & 4 settings are unusable for Live but great for recording rhythm tracks (lacks body live). I'm very impressed with these guitars 🎸
I have this guitar and love the neck. Maybe my favorite neck. The body is really comfortable too. Very versatile. The 2 and 4 positions sound very strat-ish. It also surprisingly has a lot of twang.
I think it sounds great but I feel same way about the flat necks makes it feel awkward for me as well but I’ve played C shape necks most life I’m curious is the back of neck have a good unvarnished feel I can’t stand a neck that has such a thick gloss or finish on back hate the way it catches my fretting hand
How drastic or not is the volume difference when switching pickup positions? It did not seemed drastic at all but I know youtube compression messes with that.
Had an HSS DK24 for a little while, thought it was amazing from a playability point of view. Would have kept it if it wasn't HSS, I think (not a big fan of neck single coil sounds on a 24-fretter). In fact that DK24 HH in blue has been calling me for some time... When I'm in the market for a superstrat, it'll be very near the top of the list I think.
Sounds great - I played a Charvel in a store last year and didn't really get on with it, but did seem nicely spec'd (I just prefer the Ibanez neck profiles for 'super strats' as you've noted - The Wizard style neck just feels more like I want it!). IIRC Fender owns/produces Charvel, so wonder if these are maybe made in the same facilities as Player Series guitars?!
I had a DK24. I put thornbuckers in it. Lovely, but I kept bending sharp. Trem too smooth. Maybe a bit too toppy sounding. Too different from my USA strat in feel. Ended up selling it in favour of a Baja Tele.
@@johnnathancordy The trem was stable enough. Loved the quality of the Gotoh, but it felt much softer than my strat one. Perhaps I should have played around more with string gauges. I fancy a floyd rose strat now though. If it was good enough for the late Michael Casswell...........
I had the Pro Mod DK24 and a Prestige AZ for a while. The Charvel was heavier of the two but played well and was reliable, so I gigged with that and the AZ stayed at home to avoid gig disasters. IMHO the AZ was a much better player and had a much better overall feel, but the Charvel was also $1,000 less.
@@johnnathancordy whats your opinion of the jp150 vs charvel dk24?, from neck perspective and quality for the money. I think the jp150 is a little cheaper
The neck and feel is totally subjective. What suits one person won't suit someone else. Plus every guitar is different to another. I played one yesterday and it was perfect for me, I hopefully will be getting that same guitar soon.
They are really great guitars - even at a 40-50% higher price they could still compete. That thin/flat neck is an issue though. Pickups are a bit hot too. Good, but hot.
Not exactly the same guitar (mine has a Floyd Rose bridge and slightly different pickups), share a lot of specs: Charvel San Dimas (even same color). It's the most versatile and comfortable guitar I have among my 6 elec. guitar collection. Great bang for the buck (well done, Fender!). Personally I do LOVE the neck. After years having an Ibanez RG as main axe I admit that I don't use it anymore. Very rarely. In fact I almost hate its neck after discovering this one :D When it comes to shreeding or playing versatile music this is my horse. If there were a fire at home this is probably also the guitar I'd save. Regards
I really wish there was a HH shell pink version of these, love the flexibility of having a coil split HH setup but the pink on with dual humbuckers is ugly
Yesterday, I watched a 3-month old video with Guthrie Govan talking about his new Signature Charvel model. I like the more metallic paint finish than the flat paint we've seen recently on some other brands. The roasting on the neck looks a bit too much to me. The guitar sounds good, but don't they all these days.
One Error is that you said you weren't sure if you coild adapt or whatnot or something along those lines (dubbie lit 😂 over hea) but you appear to be well adjusted to that Charvel (beautiful playing)😁 I also have that same beautiful guitar! 😁
I would be interested to hear thoughts on fretwork. Ive just ordered one after playing 2 in a store but the two i played i found both, one more than the other to have slightly sharp fret edges. Maybe due to the fingerboard being rolled and the frets not rolled as much as the board. Im hoping ill get a good example or i may send it back, but i suppose i could file the fret edges slightly. Compared to my sire s7 i thought the frets were a bit sharp. Any other experiences of this? Is this common or normal, or were they just bad examples I played? Ill update here when mine comes from guitar guitar
Hello , I m between this one and a Gibson LP standard which is more expensive ....what would you do based on your playing ? Thanks ( I ll do my own thing obviously , but an opinion would help🤘🤘)
Hi! I’m not sure you’ll reply, but your presets are only for helix or other I don’t use. Is it possible to know what amp/cab models you used for tones here? Guitar sounded really good through the whole video
I have one of these as my main guitar and it's like someone designed the perfect guitar for me. Even the low friction volume pot I find really useful. I also like the pickup combination, the full shred in the bridge sounds great for the aggressive stuff, and the alnico pro in the neck can give great Jazz tones. As someone who plays a bit of everything, this is really useful.
I have one too, same feeling.
Difficult to see it as the ultimate super strat under 1k given the number under 1k that are as well specced and also have stainless steel frets. Compared to Cort this is expensive. Compared to Ibanez Premium it's under specced. It seems to me for any of these guitars there's no ultimate one - it's all about what compromise(s) you want to make when buying a guitar.
I got one about 1 and a half years ago, and it is the guitar that just really playd itself. I did my first gig with this thing and it just gives me so much confidence.
Literally my favourite player on UA-cam, you're playing honestly inspires me to pick up a guitar man, exceptional skills!
He’s really f'n good...both technically and musically.
I bought this guitar. Purchase was for humbucker, stayed for the pararell mode. Incredibly awesome piece of gear, highly recommend it!
I'm buying it for the parallel mode but might just fall in love with the humbucker series mode. As I've only played p90 and single coil this is a very interesting guitar
I returned a Fender ultra and got this instead.. That thing was a fake Fender to me. This is an awesome guitar!
I've had my dk24 pro mod for a year. It needed a setup when I got it but it was a floor model. I really love the neck, I think it's one of the most comfortable I've played on with the rolled edges and thinner profile (but not overly thin like my schecter c1 SLS elite). If it had SS frets I'd be happier. I really agree that the series/parallel switch offers many extra usuable tones.
Awesome to see you check these out. I've had a dk24 for about two years. I really love it
LOVE my DK24. Bought the exact same charvel two summers ago, it has inspired me endlessly
Also that little legato bit 10:17 - 10:22 is so nice on the ears. I like that a lot
Damn. Every video I have watched on this guitar makes me more in love. I’m getting this Friday.
OOH hope you enoy!
So did you get it? And....
I purchased a promod style 2, T type with fishman fluence pickups, and I love it. When I first got it, I thought the neck was the best I’d ever felt, but I still go back to my tele mostly. I had a bad pickup in mine straight from the factory, but the warranty covered that. No complaints now, and I still grab it more than the les Paul.
One of the best 6 strings for the money on the market. Charvel has been killing it the last few years
Love this guitar. I have the burgundy mist. The neck, to me, is extremely comfortable. Although it is thin, it's rock solid. It's always in tune. I also love the parallel sounds. I can play this in a worship band, or in a hard rock band. In the worship set-up, clicking over to the parallel settings cleans and clarifies it, and the Gotoh trem is extremely expressive. So many great features for a great price. The only thing I'm missing is stainless frets, but even that is not a big deal. There's enough on the frets for years and years, with maybe a level and polish from time to time. This is just a great guitar.
I just got the Pro Mod Style 2 a few weeks ago and i love it. The Fishman Fluence Open Core Pickups are really great!
Just picked up this same exact guitar, absolutely brilliant!! 👍
Thanks for the heads up regarding the neck profile. I grew up loving thin shreddy necks, but as I got older my hands started preferring thicker profiles. I recently sold my beloved Ibanez RG550 simply because I couldn't get on with the neck anymore. All the best!
I'm going through the same exact thing with the same exact guitar. The sad thing is I only probably bought it two months ago thinking I was going to love it and it's just almost too thin
I have had this very same guitar for a few years now. I have struggled with the tone of the bridge pickup thinking it was my bad playing style or my ears. Listening to the bridge pickup tone in your video I now realise that it is the pickup that I just don't really like. The neck pickup I absolutely love and use it all the time. Great review.
I’ve had one for three years and it’s a fantastic guitar and excellent value. The only problem I’ve had was with the tuning. It seemed to be a common problem but I read on line to try it with out using the string trees. I’ve tried it and no more problems 🙂
i found using the D`Addario friction remover sorted it out. I use on the nut and saddles of all my guitars.
Or replace the string trees
Not sure if the tuners are staggered but if they are then there shouldn't be a need for string tees
I agree on that guitar being the ultimate super strat gigging guitar. I slept on a good deal for it, but I did get to try it.
All the splitting options are great, all of them hum-canceling. I usually go for a 3 pickup guitars for the versatility, but I think they really nailed it with the wiring. I could get almost every sound I use regularly, the only exception being the neck single coil. and many more out of it. That said, with these many options, I'd be fine in any live scenario.
I prefer slimmer neck, with flatter fretboards, so it was perfect for me. I have big palms but short fingers :/
I was surprised by how much I liked the pickups. Great distorted, overdriven, AND clean sounds. Next one comes around I'm definitely snatching it.
Also honorable mention for the burgundy color version ;)
I have the same one ...It's definitely a fantastic guitar with Fender Ultra electronics etc😁 It simply needs a good setup with no complaining 😂
I've had this guitar for a couple of months now and I'm pretty much happy with it, but I'd be lying if I said i haven't had any issues with it - the main one being tuning stability, although I will try lubing the nut with Big Bends Nut Sauce and removing the string tree for G and D strings (might even replace it with a roller string tree type, the one they used isn't a roller one). I tried cutting the nut, but it didn't help much, as I can still hear pings coming from the headstock when bending or using the trem arm. The neck took some getting used to, but it feels and plays like butter. The guitar is very lightweight and incredibly comfy, aside from the incredible looks. Last but not least, the sounds I'm getting out of it are beautiful and very useful, I almost only use the single-coily ones if I'm not shredding. I was pleasantly surprised by the sound possibilities, and I also have to say that the sustain I'm getting is sick! I'm not sure but I thing you forgot to mention the no-load tone pot, which can additionally help when dialing in a desired tone - the difference with the pot taken out of the circuit and being on 10, but in the circuit, is notable, it can help you cut through in the mix with that additional top-end, for example. All in all, a great guitar!
UPDATE - lubing the nut completely fixed tuning stability issues! It's my main gig guitar now :)
Tried this in London yesterday and spent about half an hour with it. Seriously keen on it now. The sustain and resonance blew me away. Full of harmonics and decent tones out of it. The parallel switch didn’t work on me, but I can see it being useful for some musicians. I can only see myself using either humbucker and maybe position 4 for clean stuff. Both pickups are double screwed so I suspect they have a darker tone than their single screw counterparts. The full shred is quite interesting but I am not so sure about the Alnico II. The neck is way too slim, but I think it is still very comfortable and has a thinner oval profile.
I love the tones on this guitar. I had the opportunity to play one today and loved it. I think going to pick one up
I tried these when I wanted a new superstrat and I liked them a lot, but the Ibanez RG550 Genesis was just too much fun to ignore at that price point.
I am deciding between those 2. They seem to be the best super strats in that price range.
@@archibalddickworth6588 Yea I agree. 👍
@@Motownisyourtown Are you still enjoying your RG550 11 months on? I am extremely tempted.
@@archibalddickworth6588 I've had it longer than that but yea, I still use it. I have a few guitars but when I want to play some fun 80's stuff I'd always grab the Yellow Demon!
@@Motownisyourtown Awesome, thank you. Fun 80's is my poison of choice.
The Schecter C1 exotic are very interesting Superstrats too. Very special looks, and the neck is awesome (in the NJ Traditional).
CHRIST, all of this was so melodic. So stoked to get mine in a week!
I own that guitar and love it. The neck profile is very much a personal thing and I happen to like this one very much. I was never a fan of the Ibanez neck joint, pickups, or the neck profile. For me, this one is way better for the kind of player who wants to rock, shred, but also be able to access those strat sounds in a convincing way.
I have one...and I will sit and just look at it.. Beautiful ax...The Neck is phenomenal and it did take time to get used to the neck..Thank for this review
I feel like you're following me around the shops, John! ;-) I have the same Nick Johnston Schecter AND the Charvel DK24. Love them both but I definitely like the neck on the Schecter just a bit more. I think the Charvel has a bit more versatile pickup complement for me. Thanks for the excellent demo!
I’ve just come from your video on the JP150 straight to this one - I already have a JP150 and this video has cemented my decision to buy the DK24 tomorrow. Great video, and astounding playing. I’m not a multi-fx user (despite trying my best using a Headrush MX5) but tones like yours make me wish I’d committed to some sort of multi-fx unit.
Kind of surprised you didn't like the neck. I have the HSS version and I'm having a hard time playing any other guitar now, because I love the neck shape so much. I was supposed to buy an Ibanez AZ, but I just hated the neck and thought it was way to thick. I also have an Ibanez RG, and The RG is much thinner.. To me, the Charvel just feels like a really comfortable, slimmer strat.
Great to listen to a guitar review by someone who can actually play!!! Most reviewers playing is almost unlistenable. Thanks for review. I'll be returning...
I literally just got this guitar on the 17th of May. The Burgundy Mist variant. I love it!
This is my main high gain guitar, and it is the greatest one of I've ever heard. Just incredible. Nice video!!
What colour?!
@@johnnathancordy Same as yours!!
I picked guitar back up about 9 months ago and this was my first purchase. I bought it lightly used at a local pawn shop. Although I prefer a thicker neck so far, this is still my favorite for sound and just overall playability. I love it
What neck do you prefer and how has it been to adjust? I play both a D-shape Ultra Tele...and have a full C shaped SG & Nashville Tele.
The Charvel seemed to have slightly flatter back and higher 'shoulders' to it like some Epiphones.
Amazing as always man
Didn't know the importance of a neck until I tried a different guitar that I wasn't used to. I got used to the AZ neck and when I tried a Fender player series it felt too small somehow. Also, the stainless steel frets an satin neck makes it play smoother.
I have one and love the split coil I use it split almost all the time.
I’ve got the HSS version, but I can’t make it sound like that! I’ve heard tell of QC issues with them, but mine was flawless from the factory. Excellent fit and finish as well as setup. Love your content and playing, John.
Cheers for sharing your experience Ian! What colour is yours?
Have two of them: an HSS [ swapped the Full Shred for the SH5 Custom ] in shale grey and the SSS dk22 fret version in gold. Both are flawless and incredible.
I was surprised that the 2 frets difference made a great difference in the way both guitars play and sound.
I have a Charvel Joe Duplantier Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 2 (Tele style, with natural finish mahogany body), that is an absolutely killer guitar in every way. The feel, the playability, the tones, the pickups, fit and finish, everything is exceptional. Not sure how the neck profile compares to this one, but I would put it on the thin side, which I generally prefer.
I have the same guitar and loving it! I also want to express my gratitude for having such a beautiful intro and outro that took my pentatonics to the next level! Still working on speed but I got right into the groove with this one! 😁
I'd also pay 10.00 to download the full intro recording aswell! 😁
I have the same model but in the burgundy pink color. I thought I wouldn't like the neck but i can't stop playing it. Ended up getting the t-style with the fishman fluence pickups. These just feel right for me. I'm currently saving for the hss hartail. Great video.
This is my new shred axe of 3 months and it’s f’in awesome . 10 possible pickup combos !
Beautiful playing as usual.
You are a fantastic play, John.
Have this model. Great great guitar found I can use this almost as a 1 stop shop to cover many genres
While I never know what Charvel model I'm actually playing...I seem to always love the sound, the trems, and even how I how play. Tho, I never feel comfortable on the neck despite playing a Tele Ultra with a D-shape.
It's also possible I play well because I AM less comfortable and have to stay loose.
dude! i've totally missed thanks for the heads up john!
i recently got a used hsh dk 24 in orange, very comfortable but for my personal taste, i couldnt agree more on the thin wide neck!
Beautiful, smooth playing bro. Dig your vibe. BTW, I made the mistake of playing this at guitar center the other day. It’s ridiculous. And I mean that in the most reverential way.
Oh, yes - she will be mine.
Really liked you in IT Crowd but didn't know you were such a guitar player. Just jocking, awesome playing and useful review, thanks.
I've got that exact one plus the HSS pink one. I prefer my US hss Strat for versatility and comfort, but I think I have the most fun playing the hss pro-mod. It's definitely used more in a rock context or anything with more gain. The neck is certainly slimmer than a strat, but I definitely dont think its paper thin like a Wizard neck. My biggest complaint is they advertise stability with the caramelized neck, but both of mine fret sprout in dryer climage/dryer times of the year. That's what everybody claims baking a neck should do - minimalize the moisture content to reduce shrinking/expanding/moving, but these are my only guitars with sprout come winter. Still keeping them though... well at least the pink one for sure
Looking at some of the wizard neck specs, over the years they have varied a lot. But I think the Charvel is something like just under 19mm right?
As for the fret sprout..Yeh that's presumably one of the things that you'd hope it would be solving? I wonder if baking maple necks is a cover for using less mature wood so that you don't have to pay for more expensive drier wood?
I got a pro mod style 2 (Tele style) a few months back and absolutely fell in love with it. Completely changed what I look for in a guitar spec wise. I think I’d describe the neck as between a C and D shape which is why you might not be getting on with it. I have a schecter which is about just as thin, but a perfect C.... I can’t say which I like more. But that roasted maple on the Charvel is just so smooth
Yeh it seems to have quite a flattish profile with more shoulders than the NJ?
I have one of these and love it. The toggle switch isn't a could split it's a parallel / series switch. but the parallel mode does sound a little single coilish.
Yeh - in my head it's doing the same sort of thing?
ive owned mine for about 2 years, it was perfectly set up when i got it. Ive set it up in D standard with 9s, and its super fun to play. Also if you turn the tone to 10 it clicks, and complety takes out the tone pots, so yuo get that full opn bridge humbucker.. Van halen tone, Very cool guitars
9-42? How is it not a floppy mess with low gauges like that tuned to D?
@@jayz6008 9 to 54, a bit of an odd ball set,but it works for me
Ibanez Super Wizard necks (like the RG550 and RG565) has necks measured 17mm-19mm. This one is like, 18-20mm.
Hi John ! Amazing tone and playing !! as always !What a surprise ...I have the DK24 , the HSS version,
and I must say that it has the best fingerboard i've ever played !!
It's true that I don't like thick necks at all,so this one is perfect for me.I have also an American PRS Classic 24-10th anniversary,
which also has a very good neck,a little thicker than this one.
But once you get used to play on this one is very difficul to feel as comfortable with others.
The thing I couldn't get used to is the tendency it has to sound very bright,so I changed the mics for the Lace Sensor set,and even so,
although it got better,I decided to sell it because of that.
I think the one you're playing,has much more body,maybe because it has 2 humbuckers.
Great video !!
I have the HSS shell pink DK24. I got it hoping for an HSS version of my Guthrie sig. For the price, I was surprised at how good it plays and feels, though I’m not a massive fan of the SD Full Shred pickups. The Guthrie obviously is on a completely different level and the neck profile isn’t the same, but at under half the price (more like a third, really), they’re not bad at all.
Hi Sam, I’m considering the Guthrie, how does the neck compare? Is it thicker than the DK neck?
@@radio5051 It isn’t necessarily thicker, but doesn’t feel as wide, which makes it feel thicker somehow. The Guthrie neck is the most comfortable neck I’ve ever played, with the AZ Prestiges coming a close second
@@sambroxguitar that’s an interesting comment, because several people have told me the Guthrie mode has a thicker neck. Last night I was watching an Andertons interview from 2014 with the Charvel rep at NAMM. He said Guthrie played a regular Charvel neck and liked it, and that is what is on his model. I suspect the new DK necks have been tweaked since this standard neck shaped that was used for the GG model. Thanks for your opinion.
Dang I’d love one of these. My best guitar is a super strat (HSS) Kissel bolt that I picked up and put together because I just never had the funds to buy anything more expensive. I saved a lot on the labor doing the oil finishing myself and general assembly of it myself. I worked at the shop during that time so I had my buddy give it a really great setup and you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between mine and one that was sold from the line.
Love the bare look but wish I could find a pick guard for this just in case I want to switch things up 🙃
I ordered the jake e lee pro mod. Looks like I won't see it until October... The Dk 24s are beautiful 😍
I really enjoy the sound. Thanks
Would love to try one of these. I tend to like some of the flatter radius necks. I have very average sized, fairly weak hands for my size (1.9 Meters or 6 feet, 3 inches) and sometimes struggle with thicker necks.
I've got short fingers and the Gibson Slim Taper necks are most comfortable for me. Traditional older Fender necks are difficult for me due to the small radius that Fender loves large diameter of the necks. A local store carries Charvel and I never gave them a second look. These Dinkys cause they had a traditional tailpiece, so I gave one of them a try. I found this neck easier to play than many of the newer round Gibson necks.
Ended up getting Dinky 24 fret SSH and the Dinky 22 fret when it came out. Now that I have lived with both guitars awhile, I am completely satisfied with the necks and fingerboards. My single bitch is with Fender style heads, the tuners are closer together, however, the locking tuners make the job easier.
I have three Charvels, a DK24 HSH, Pro Mod Style 1 FR and a Pro Mod Style 2. The Style 1 definitely has a thicker neck but the DK24 and Style 2 feel like the same neck carve. My favourite is without doubt the Style 2, probably because the Fishman pickups offer the greatest tonal variety and it's the least 'shred' looking.
Thanks for your videos! I have this exact guitar and love it. Also find the switching between single coil and HB mode quite useful. The neck is thin as you say. I like it but would also like just a bit more again like the AZ as you say (also have one of those). But I'm 6'4" with pretty long fingers.
I Love Charvels. I have three So Cals--two MIJ and one MIM.
Im getting the hsh. I want that single coil clean sound from the middle pickup
Dude, you just made me even more glad I own one.🤠👍👍
you know the funny thing.. after years of owning this "rock" guitar... ive got a really nice classic tone i had no idea this guitar could do! .. Inspired John,, thanks
Fine guitar and awesome playing!
Lovely playing in this video. Great guitar. The bridge pickup is a bit horrid... The rick Graham signature is my dream
Charvel’s are awesome. I was thinking of getting the tele but didn’t because I like stainless steel frets. Check out the Harley Benton Fusion Tele. Specs are awesome for the price. Cheers mate!
The Stainless Steel frets are must.
ESP Ltd 1000 series is the most affordable, Don't know if theirs is super duper Strat style. But the Charvel is nice, needs stainless steel and a Floyd Rose tho.
Just get it refretted with stainless steel.
@@radio5051 for $300.00 ! that puts it out of contention for less than 1k.
@@radio5051 😂
@@zakklee2556 yes it does, unless you buy a used one and fit stainless steel frets.
Such Great Playing Thank You Could Listen All Day !!!!!
I‘ve tried one but it didn‘t really impress me as much as the specs did. Would definitely go for the Ibanez AZ in that price range, but nice presentation as always!
I think it'd come down to the difference in neck shape - the AZ is kind of thick for some folks (ideal for me though) - whereas I think this Charvel would probably be too thin for folks too?
@@johnnathancordy
It‘s definitely a question of personal preference but additional to the neck shape I also think that they sound quite different. I was looking for a combination of clear and percussive cleans (in the Polyphia realm) and a nice and tight bridge sound for modern riffing with distortion. I compared them (HSS variants) and the Ibanez felt like it had more character to it (at least I liked it more) and sounded more balanced/coherent especially in the low frequencies. I don‘t remember the AZ being nearly as expensive as they are now though. Have they seen such a big price hike in the past years, is there other differences I don‘t know about or did I just happen to find a discounted one back then? I think it was 1200-1300€ and now they are like 1800-2000€ here in Germany.
Be lucky if you get a good one... - and good one I mean from production point of view; I have one - and got my hands on two more in a store for comparison. The quality control in Fender Mexico is very inconsistent and can be next to none... - problems all 3 guitars had - super sharp fret ends, up to the point where you ripped your fingers..., and the nut (supposed to be Graphtech) was cut in a way that the strings got caught in the slots - absolutely no tuning stability possible. I needed up filing and polishing the fret ends (easy part) and changed the nut against a real Graph Tech nut - be ready for a surprise when you try changing yours... - the bottom of the nut is not flat! It has approx. a 12' radius... - that a side, the guitar is great , the roasted neck feels great (once the sharp ends are gone). Hardware is super solid; The Duncan Full Shred Neck pickup is a great pickup - you may want to change the bridge pickup for a Pearly Gates, or Screamin Deamon if you want to stay in the Duncan realm....
I've had the HSS DK24 for about 18 months and I find the neck super comfortable, if not ever slightly too thin... especially from the 12th fret up. The pickups maybe aren't super inspiring but I'm a bit scared to change them out for something else! If anyone has any recommendations I'm all ears
I have a Bare Knuckle Silo in the bridge of another guitar, and I did some extensive A-B testing, and the SD Full Shred for rock and high gain sounds *very* close, pretty much identical. The big difference is that if you have a high gain tone and play a major or minor chord, as the chord sustains the BK keeps the flavour of the chord much longer. You can still tell it's a major or minor chord a few seconds later, while the root and fifth overtones tend to take over with the Full Shred and you lose that character.
Other than that, they're pretty close, so considering the price difference, the Full Shred is great value. Maybe tinker with your amp a little?
@@Malediction99 I swapped the Full Shred for the SH5 Custom. A JB would work nicely in this guitar also. For lower output, and staying SD, I'd be interested in seeing how the Screaming Demon and 59 / Custom Hybrid work in this guitar.
Love that sound!
I just bought one just like this. May i have your permission to decal it with
"John Nathan Cordy Signature Series"?
(can't afford any authentic artist signature guitars)
2:56 you make this guitar sound expensive & worth buying
That one looks like the @rickgraham signature model. I have one of these and it's so easy to play and sounds great, neck is perfect, locking tuners all the works, the 2 & 4 settings are unusable for Live but great for recording rhythm tracks (lacks body live). I'm very impressed with these guitars 🎸
The neck of this guitar is perfect !
I have this guitar and love the neck. Maybe my favorite neck. The body is really comfortable too. Very versatile. The 2 and 4 positions sound very strat-ish. It also surprisingly has a lot of twang.
I think it sounds great but I feel same way about the flat necks makes it feel awkward for me as well but I’ve played C shape necks most life I’m curious is the back of neck have a good unvarnished feel I can’t stand a neck that has such a thick gloss or finish on back hate the way it catches my fretting hand
How drastic or not is the volume difference when switching pickup positions? It did not seemed drastic at all but I know youtube compression messes with that.
Had an HSS DK24 for a little while, thought it was amazing from a playability point of view. Would have kept it if it wasn't HSS, I think (not a big fan of neck single coil sounds on a 24-fretter). In fact that DK24 HH in blue has been calling me for some time... When I'm in the market for a superstrat, it'll be very near the top of the list I think.
I love the version hh of dk24, unfortunatelly this version is not available whit floyd rose.
I love the neck shape!
Sounds great - I played a Charvel in a store last year and didn't really get on with it, but did seem nicely spec'd (I just prefer the Ibanez neck profiles for 'super strats' as you've noted - The Wizard style neck just feels more like I want it!). IIRC Fender owns/produces Charvel, so wonder if these are maybe made in the same facilities as Player Series guitars?!
Great Playing bud!!
I had a DK24. I put thornbuckers in it. Lovely, but I kept bending sharp. Trem too smooth. Maybe a bit too toppy sounding. Too different from my USA strat in feel. Ended up selling it in favour of a Baja Tele.
Interesting, my buddy chris had a Pro Mod tele that the trem wasn't too stable on either....common thread?
@@johnnathancordy The trem was stable enough. Loved the quality of the Gotoh, but it felt much softer than my strat one. Perhaps I should have played around more with string gauges. I fancy a floyd rose strat now though. If it was good enough for the late Michael Casswell...........
I had the Pro Mod DK24 and a Prestige AZ for a while. The Charvel was heavier of the two but played well and was reliable, so I gigged with that and the AZ stayed at home to avoid gig disasters. IMHO the AZ was a much better player and had a much better overall feel, but the Charvel was also $1,000 less.
Yeh I played a prestige 22 fret AZ that I really liked, and a 24 fret AZ that I didn't like much....The "premium" AZ I had was a bit less inspiring
@@johnnathancordy whats your opinion of the jp150 vs charvel dk24?, from neck perspective and quality for the money. I think the jp150 is a little cheaper
The neck and feel is totally subjective. What suits one person won't suit someone else. Plus every guitar is different to another.
I played one yesterday and it was perfect for me, I hopefully will be getting that same guitar soon.
They are really great guitars - even at a 40-50% higher price they could still compete.
That thin/flat neck is an issue though. Pickups are a bit hot too. Good, but hot.
I have an HSH and the only thing bad about them is the body, thin no resonance which affects tone quite as bit, I think
Not exactly the same guitar (mine has a Floyd Rose bridge and slightly different pickups), share a lot of specs: Charvel San Dimas (even same color). It's the most versatile and comfortable guitar I have among my 6 elec. guitar collection. Great bang for the buck (well done, Fender!). Personally I do LOVE the neck. After years having an Ibanez RG as main axe I admit that I don't use it anymore. Very rarely. In fact I almost hate its neck after discovering this one :D When it comes to shreeding or playing versatile music this is my horse. If there were a fire at home this is probably also the guitar I'd save.
Regards
I really wish there was a HH shell pink version of these, love the flexibility of having a coil split HH setup but the pink on with dual humbuckers is ugly
Just got the DK22 SSS version!
Yesterday, I watched a 3-month old video with Guthrie Govan talking about his new Signature Charvel model. I like the more metallic paint finish than the flat paint we've seen recently on some other brands. The roasting on the neck looks a bit too much to me. The guitar sounds good, but don't they all these days.
One Error is that you said you weren't sure if you coild adapt or whatnot or something along those lines (dubbie lit 😂 over hea) but you appear to be well adjusted to that Charvel (beautiful playing)😁 I also have that same beautiful guitar! 😁
I would be interested to hear thoughts on fretwork. Ive just ordered one after playing 2 in a store but the two i played i found both, one more than the other to have slightly sharp fret edges. Maybe due to the fingerboard being rolled and the frets not rolled as much as the board. Im hoping ill get a good example or i may send it back, but i suppose i could file the fret edges slightly. Compared to my sire s7 i thought the frets were a bit sharp. Any other experiences of this? Is this common or normal, or were they just bad examples I played? Ill update here when mine comes from guitar guitar
I have one. I love it. Beautiful axe.
Ive got the burgundy mist variant. Sexy!
Hello , I m between this one and a Gibson LP standard which is more expensive ....what would you do based on your playing ? Thanks ( I ll do my own thing obviously , but an opinion would help🤘🤘)
Hi! I’m not sure you’ll reply, but your presets are only for helix or other I don’t use. Is it possible to know what amp/cab models you used for tones here? Guitar sounded really good through the whole video