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To Shave or Not to Shave - Charvel

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McLeanAB:
Hey all!

So, being gone from the forum for a while, I've accumulated 5 beautiful Charvels... 4 of which are the 2010 Wildcard series... the first one I got a while back was the hardtail ala Jake E. Lee WC #6 Dreamsicle... she's lovely, but the neck pocket was not nearly as routed out (design wise) as my other floating trem Wild Cards... so, my right hand now - compared to the other guitars - like it's WAY off the body of the guitar... almost like a Les Paul... the bridge saddles are maxed out.

This is the way the guitar was designed as I've chatted with other Dreamsicle owners... some love it, some hate it.  But having the floating Floyds in my other guitars, the right hand 'action' is so low it's amazing and makes everything seem effortless compared to the Dreamsicle... which, of course, I never noticed before getting the floating trem Charvels.

So here's my dilemma... (warning, first world problems).  I find I'm not playing the Dreamsicle hardly at all anymore, and if I do, and start to become used to it again and love it, I grab one of my other Charvels, and the Dreamsicle sits again for seemingly months...

So do I sell this beast as is to someone who loves that set up?  Or do I take it to a VERY reputable luthier (worked with Clapton and some other famous folks) here in Boston and have him shave down the neck pocket to match my other Charvels (neck pocket on all the others is significantly lower/deeper)?  If I shave it down, the only risk (if he nails it) is some possible chipped paint but a fine playing guitar that more matches my playing preferences.  BUT, I'm sure NO one would want that modded guitar should I ever choose to sell it... which I don't think I'd do if I modded it. 

Just curious what your thoughts might be, and if anyone has ever 'deepened' or routed the neck pocket on a guitar before and what's been the outcome...

Thanks ahead of time, folks!

- Adam

tomy:
Jim mouradian is the famous luthier... I'm pretty sure !
If so, he fixed my bass when I was student  at  berklee :thumb-up:

McLeanAB:
Peter is his name!
http://www.brokenneck.com

tomy:
ouch !
 
don't know him, but Boylston st, I used to live there... 20 years ago !  :facepalm: (already !)

To my opnion, a lot of great players modded  their guitar (Van Halen, Vai, Pastorius, bumblefoot etc...) and that's how they get their own tone. Even if they have a lot of reputable others guitars, they sticked with one particular instrument ( see, EVH with his striped Kramer) most of the time, this instrument looked... pretty rotten.

So, if you consider your instrument only as valuable  but not specially attached to it (and maybe decide to sell it in few years) better choose to not modding it and keep it original
 
But if that axe is "your prefered instrument", the one you decide to stick with  for long time, why not modding it the way you need.

I'm pretty sure your reputable luthier will do a smooth and nice shaving  :thumb-up:

oh ! anyway, a luthier routed a pickup on my bass ( bass pickups have a lot of different forms and need more than soldering ), no paint chip or other finish crack ; with proper tools, you'll do a good job

Tomy

McLeanAB:
Thanks man!

Those are some great things to think about... I've never been a 'but what's it's resale value' kinda guy...  I like gear, I try it, I trade or sell it, etc...

Gonna give it some more thought, but it was my first Charvel and to some degree all of them are modded with EMG's...

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