Watch On
Charvel is stepping up its game in the mid-range guitar market with the launch of its new Standard Series, which promises to deliver “San Dimas performance at an exceptional price.”
With a retail price of $569/£509/€599, the flagship model is the cleverly named Standard series style 2 SD2 HH HT, a Telecaster-inspired electric guitar that Charvel believes will “amaze you.”
What sets this guitar apart? It encapsulates the essence of Charvel’s San Dimas line while being accessible to a broader audience, resulting in a sleek, modern instrument infused with “Charvel DNA and professional-grade playability.”
To keep costs down, Charvel has introduced nyatoh, a lightweight alternative to mahogany, into its lineup. This wood is utilized in the bolt-on speed neck,which is reinforced with graphite and paired with an amaranth fingerboard featuring rolled edges.The guitar boasts 22 jumbo frets and a heel-mounted truss rod wheel for effortless adjustments.
While proprietary pickups are standard in this price range, players can expect to extract “powerful” tones from its dual high-output Charvel Custom humbuckers. The setup is straightforward, featuring a Master Volume and a three-way switch, omitting a Tone knob for simplicity. additionally, die-cast locking tuners enhance tuning stability, and the string-through-body hardtail design pays homage to Telecaster roots.
Available in Gloss Black and Satin Gray finishes, the guitar’s straightforward aesthetics reflect its no-frills design. Although it lacks high-end pickups like DiMarzio or Fishman found in pricier models such as the Select San Dimas style 2 HH FR ($2,499) or Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM ($999), it offers remarkable value for its price.
Notably, the 12″-16″ compound radius fingerboard mirrors the specifications of those higher-end models, and with its comfortable contours, it’s clear why this guitar stands out in the sub-$500 category.
“The all-new Charvel Standard Series offers legendary San Dimas performance at a price that will astonish you,” states Charvel. “this isn’t just another entry-level guitar - it’s a high-performance instrument that demonstrates you don’t have to break the bank to sound like a pro.”
The Charvel Standard Series Style 2 SD2 HH HT is now available for $569,with more models expected to join the lineup soon.
For more information, visit Charvel’s official site.
