Charvel DK24 2PT Side by Side with Guthrie Govan Models
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- I decided to put the new Charvel DK24 2PT side by side with the Charvel Guthrie Govan signature models. They are indeed different guitars, but obviously share a great deal of DNA. These new guitars are phenomenal, check them out if you can!
For that price,the DK24 Pro Mods are unbeatable,you get a lot of guitar for for your money.
I just wished they would offer more colour options and maybe some nice flame/quilt veneer tops,like on the San Dimas or H-H Pro Mods. If the H-S-H version came out in a nice Aquamarine burst or Amber,like the new Jackson Soloist SL-3 Pro Series models,I would get one immediately.
greekfreak1980 I agree, but limited colors and no veneers allows things like the Gotoh Bridge, Duncan Pickups and the roasted neck for $999. As the line expands they will likely be able to do that, but every finish means more spray booth time and the veneers, obviously are more manufacturing, etc. So they went for features over esthetics. But with the popularity how it is, it's likely the sales volume will allow for more of those features. 🤘🏻
This is what I call a perfect comparison demo video. Great playing too!!!
Eric Casper thank you so much!
Stunning review, it doesn't get any better than that! 👍🏻
Trevor John Merrilees many thanks!
This is how all demos should be. Extremely well done
Thank you so much!
Tremendous review. Very objective and liked the side by side playing as well as the discussion after. I got the Orange Crush one this week and love it! I kept hearing how similar it is to the GG signature and up popped your video - perfect! Thanks for doing this!
Thank you so much! 🙌🏻
Just the comparison I was looking for. Thanks
Ariel Lopez most welcome!
I just bought a Charvel DK24 HH and it is simply the best guitar I've ever played - at any price point. Mexico is churning out some fantastic instruments these days. If I knew who built mine, I'd buy him a cerveza or two for sure.
Yeah, the Mexican plant is making incredible stuff. When I had these, I'd considered keeping them and just refretting with stainless steel frets and swapping out the pickups. As I didn't like the stock Duncans. But because I have the Guthries, I never played them, so it didn't seem viable to invest that much into them. But if these had stainless frets, nobody would need to even try out an Ibanez AZ. When those came out, I was so excited, then I played them at NAMM. I've played them at NAMM every year and they still do nothing for me. They're "fine". "Well-made", even. But the prestige models don't feel like $2000+ guitars. And the premium feel like entry level guitars. The Mexican made Charvel dk models feel way better to me. A couple months ago I got the Rick Graham MIJ model. I love it. It's what I'd have wanted to do to the dk: stainless steel frets and the Bareknuckle pickups in it are stellar.
@@RandyWillcox Not really true is it? There's a ton of guitar players - many of them some of the best in the world playing AZ guitars - if the necks sucked they wouldn't do that. Even if you think well Ibanez, Charvel etc make an offer Guthrie or Tom Quayle can't refuse they're still not going to play something that's bad. A lot of Suhr owners struggle with the idea that Guthrie plays a Charvel now and have to convince themselves the Suhr was better and Guthrie somehow sold out. Here you're doing the same as them. You're deluding yourself a little bit to suggest a guitar is better when you give a long list of things you have to change to the supposedly better one, like changing frets and pickups on top of the other changes you've already done in the video. All you're really saying is someone with an illness to habitually keep buying variations on exactly the same guitar is going pick up a different guitar brand and the neck will feel different to them. The same would be true if you were obsessively buying Ibanez AZ models. The bottom line is : you know SS frets are better. They are on a plethora of guitars now at price points from £600 upwards (e.g Cort G300, Yamaha Revstar standard) as well as all Ibanez AZ - and that makes these guitars less attractive because there is no saving money buy buying one - in a few cases you're paying more. The only real reason, perhaps, is that Fender haven't got the Mexicans the equipment to use SS.
Charvel had an opportunity to make the MIJ SS frets - at least then there'd be a few models at a middle price range you could pick. But they didn't, except, again for Guthrie's sig model (which, like the Rick Graham one are vastly overpriced and not that available anyway) So you're left with a guitar brand that there's a big premium to pay for SS frets. Which seems to have made you convinced that SS frets must be considerably more cost to work with but that's simply not true. What is more typical is that guitar techs that buy cheap tools find they're not up to the job to do SS frets. But why would you use a tech that bought cheap tools? With good tools the job is the same. Bear that in mind before you start getting these guitars fretwork done - if the guy is trying to charge you more or complains that they ruin his tools he's a cheapskate - find a better luthier.
What a great video on those cool Charvels. Thanks for doing such a good job.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that!
Thank you for the effort and detail you put into this video. First class, just like the guitars.
Thank you, I appreciate that.
@@RandyWillcox . . The pleasure was all mine Randy. . Take care.
The orange guitar has the best tone for me
Thank you so much for such a great and detailed demo. I have the grey HSS Charvel and it’s a fabulous instrument. Came to the store to get the Fender Elite strat,but this was no brainer,especially half the price))
David Tal thank you! I'm glad you liked it. And yeah, for that's a deal, especially for the money! I'm happy you found that guitar!
Not only are these great guitars but in the hands of a great player they all sound amazing! Very useful and enlightening demo,
Thank you so much! I appreciate that!
Exceptional demonstration! Much appreciated man
Jacob Ferguson thank you, I'm glad you like it.
What a fantastic review! I especially enjoyed how upgrading the dk24 for about $500, would yield a comparable Guthrie Govan signature. So, basically a savings of a $1,000 bucks. Well done sir!
Yup! And thank you! You're getting higher output pickups. And you won't get locking bridge saddles, but you get a very comparable instrument and you won't miss the idiosyncrasies of the Govan. But...if you CAN swing the Govan, it's...🤤
This guy really knows how to make a review. One of the best I’ve had seen
Thank you so much! 🙌🏻❤️
Bought a shell pink 8 months ago. It is absolutely fantastic. When I first played one I immediately sold. My USA strat to grab the dk24. The strat was a. Sick guitar but the the dk24 was just right for me and my play style.
Love the King’s X thrown in there.
ConspireToConspire my favorite band! They usually sneak into my videos. Haha. 🙌🏻
Summerland in my past...
I have the DK22 and it’s remarkable
Yeah, it's a remarkable line.
Great in depth review. Ordered the DK24 HSS in Shell Pink {I will name her Pinky Tuscadero}, it's arriving tomorrow. Super stoked. Great playing, thanks for the great info.
G Thank you so much! AND...killer name choice! I wish I'd thought of it first! I hope more people recognize the reference! 🙌🏻💕🎸
Lol. I just bought the DK24 HSS shell pink and the Infinity blue DK24 HSS. I named them Pinky and Leather Tuscadero.
The orange DK24 is a BEAST. I hate too admit it but I prefer it. Now the clean passages go to both Guthries. I just purchased the Laser Frost Blue DK24 HH with GOTOH 510 and its incredible. I've been an Ibanez only guy for 20+ years and I'm officially converted. Just an unbelievable guitar at any price point.
I've never seen the blue guthrie! I would love that guitar
Joe Heisler I had a luthier do the paint because I needed some color in my gig. 😁
Sounds excellent!! :)
CAMERON!!! Thanks man, I didn't see you had seen this vid!
Fantastic and in-depth review. Thank you. The orange HSH looks pretty sick.
Les Harrison thank you! I love it. I've made some mods on them both. Both received new Gotoh HAPM height adjustable post locking tuners. The orange one got the Graphtech Ghost Acoustiphonic system installed and the pink one got a non-fine tuner Floyd Rose. They're great guitars!
@@RandyWillcox Thank you for the response, Randy. I'm really blown away by your technique. You do so much with incredibly hand efficiency. I also appreciate the comments elsewhere about these MIMs compared to the Ibanez AZs. These are exactly what I'm trying to decide between. I've now heard the quality on the AZs is so hit or miss. Between that and their odd colors, I just need to figure out which Charvel is best for me.
Thanks again. Best to you.
Amazing guitars and playing.
Thank you so much!
Excellent demo. I've been all over RUclips trying to find an in depth video on the DK and this was all that and more. Thanks so much.
Very welcome!
Having read a lot of comments you made I agree with you so much. Sold an American tele for an Epiphone Sheraton pro which plays like a dream but inside of me I know the quality makes a big impact on me. Anyone’s choice but I like expensive stuff so much.
thanks for the "boring" part. I dug it. Informative!
Elliot Killian Music cool, I'm glad. Yeah, I live for the "boring" bits myself, so I appreciate it when others do too.🤘🏻
This video is just soooo well done. While the musicianship is top-notch, the vid is also technically oriented and insightful. Very helpful to the end of trying to figure out the best option for a roasted maple neck, do-it-all guitar, moving into 2020. There are several excellent options on the market now including all the guitars listed here in addition to the Ibanez AZ2204 and the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass. In this viewer's opinion the Guthrie Govan is the king of the heap but that price tag even on the used markets...ouch! Anyway, super vid! Thank you!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that!
Fantastic. Thank you for sharing this and for your excellent playing. Thanks no thanks for making me want one of these even more than I already did :) Also, SUMMERLAND!!
Thank you, I really appreciate that! And yes, King's X is 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Excited for the new Natural finish DK24!
It looks pretty sick!
Forget the content - anyone demoing a guitar using Summerland has sold it already. Great job - I really want the pink one!
Haha! Thank you so much! I'm always glad when someone picks up the King's X tunes. 🤘🏻
@@RandyWillcox first vid - spotted straight up. Transcribed the solo years ago and Ty was quite interested in it. Most underrated band in history… great video - will check out more… x
Amazing playing! Love the tones too!
TheGoldenChicken thank you so much! I used my Victory Amps and the Analogman King Of Tone. ❤️
Randy Willcox Nice! I really admire your playing and it was inspiring when I saw that you had become a Chapman artist! I hope to maybe also rock one one day, but anyways keep up the great music and I’d love to see more videos in the future!
Recently got the shell pink Charvel. Its one of the best guitars I've ever played on. Probably the best imo so far.
Excellent! That whole Charvel line is fantastic!
Decided to pull the trigger on the pink HSS today! How would you say it's held up over the last year or so?! Awesome video man! Keep it up, cheers from Southampton UK
Alfie Bowers I think you're going to be plenty happy with it. I sold my DK24s last year. But the pink one went to a friend of mine who still absolutely loves it! In fact, I installed a non-fine tuner Floyd Rose on it before selling it. Basically, if I didn't have the Guthries, they'd have been great. But I never played them. They were great, but with the Guthries hanging right alongside them, I just always played the Guthries. So I'm spoiled that way. I sold the DK24s to help fund my Tom Anderson Guardian Angel Player. I needed the HSS fix, so I had to get a guitar that was on par with the Guthries.
But had I not had the Guthries, I'd still have those DK24s.
The pink DK24 when I sold it:
reverb.com/item/27213646-charvel-pro-mod-dk24-hss-2pt-cm
My Tom Anderson. It made their Guitar Tales feature in December just before they shipped it to me.
www.andersonguitarworks.com/guitar-tales/2019/12/9/december-9-2019
@@RandyWillcox thanks for the reply man! Really looking forward to getting my hands on it. I've head some mixed reviews in regards to tuning stability, did you have any troubles if you can recall? Any tips on how I can dodge them if so? Thanks man 🤘
Alfie Bowers sorry, I didn't get a notification about this. The tuning stability was as good as any non locking tremolo. That's just life. But I'll say this, for mild trem usage from subtle to Jeff Beck, I had no issues. It wasn't until you went pretty far in one direction or another. My advice would be to get the Wilkinson tremolo with the locking saddles. They are the same saddles used on the Suhr Pete Thorn model. I have them on a strat and they're phenomenal. You can't put the saddles on the Charvel bridge because the string spacing on the Charvel is slightly narrower. But you can order the Wilkinson bridge with locking saddles from the Wilkinson Reverb store. Email them for eta. But I always stretch my strings plenty. I've played for 33 years and I can tell you, most people swear to me they stretched their strings and when I pull on them, they go out. So stretch them well and use Big Bends Nut Sauce. You'll be fine.
Thank you for showcasing these monsters. I actually modded mine a bit and it actually is my #1 now over my $3400 CS Fender strat(which I'm now selling to fund an amp). I put those blue anodized staggered Sperzel tuners, KTS titanium saddles, Kluson brass block and claw with screws, and the white Noiseless F-U Tone springs. I can't express to you in words what those upgrades did for my tone. I literally was speechless and just laughed uncontrollably from being overjoyed. And was still well under $2000. It's truly one of the best guitars out there. Love the Guthrie's by the way.😍🥰🥰👍
I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed modding yours! I completely understand!
@@RandyWillcox Oh no Randy. I didn't enjoy it. Its was rather expensive actually. I did it to achieve optimal tone. Also to make it as good as it deserves to be. My bad. Should've clarified.
@@theariesexperiment4642 do you think the titanium saddles were worth the hefty price tag? also, were they the block style saddles or bent?
@@finlayfatknees Well. It kinda depends. If your guitar lacks that whole "sparkling highs" and that naturally compressed sound and you've already changed the nut, block, claw, and so on?? I'd say yes they are. And I chose the block ones just for the comfort. The bent ones are substantially less money but will dig into your palm. And I'd say there's a slight tonal characteristic difference. But one thing I did gett out of them I wasn't expecting was unmatched clarity. Like with distorted chords and double stop bends. The clarity rivals my custom shop guitars. It's kinda like J. Bonamassa said,..."were just trying to unlock or find that extra 10% in a guitar". I think that sums it up very well on expensive upgrades.
I'll say this in closing. That Charvel DK24 I started with had a little something extra before I modded anything. So I felt pretty good about dropping extra coin to attempt unlocking that 10%. It worked out wonderfully and I technically saved thousands,...because it rivals much more expensive guitars I own. But you just need to start with one that has good bones to start with. Which is difficult to surmise sometimes. Hope my feedback helped you out my friend. And yes,...I think they are worth it(KTS saddles). Dont settle for the "knockoff" ones. Good luck with all you guitar modding adventures Finlay H.
Been looking at reviews on the orange GAS monster for a few days and your video was very well done. Great content, killer licks, to the point and not blowing smoke. I really wish they had included SS frets. I've never had a fret job done before but I may look into it.
James Brock thank you. Yeah, I won't lie, I'd have easily paid more for these with ss frets, but I totally get the idea of wanting to meet the $999 price point for all the players who couldn't care less about the metal the frets are made from.
Man you are an incredible guitarist!
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the review Randy! I also have the GG Sig and wanted to get a similar guitar to use as a daily companion. I love the GG, but I'm always worried it will get stolen at the jam sessions (happend to me once already) or that I'll end up beating the crap out of it through daily wear and tear. Just got the orange DK24 in the mail today and I'm so happy with it! Not only a cheaper alternative to the GG, but an awesome guitar in general! This is one I'll keep for the ages.
Nelson Fleig exactly! I'm glad you went with it and are enjoying it!
@@RandyWillcox Thanks! It's the perfect sister guitar to the GG. Btw any tips for the coil split mod on the GG? I'm a Fender man my self and would love the SC sound on the GG. Can you pls link me to any resources? Thanks for the awesome content again!
AWESOME VID!!!!....i've always wanted an old mary kay pink strat....but now i'm jonesing for that pink charvel!!!!!
larry dickman thanks! Yeah, I was crushing on a shell pink Anderson and when I saw this I got all squishy!
Don’t do it, poor quality.
Superb video and very informative. I have my eye on the orange DK24 which i will be trying out tomorrow. Cheers buddy!!
Hugh Caldwell thanks! Excellent, you won't be disappointed!
Thank you for such a detailed review this was awesome. Subscribed!
Thank you! I appreciate that!
Fantastic playing and demo... If I were to tell what I am hearing, the GGs sound so much fuller. And it sounds like it is more than a difference in body wood types (Basswood/Alder?), and more like a difference in overall quality, tell my magic ears.
Emre Emre thank you. As for the tone difference, I'd say the bulk of it lies in the pickups. The Full shreds are a high output pickup and it's evident. The Guthrie pickups are custom made by Michael Frank Braun and are lower output and much more open. They love nuance and take well to boosting later in the signal path. The basswood is definitely a flatter eq, which is why it's such a great tone wood. Also the differences in he Birdseye and Flametop (blue) Govans is also noticeably different. And that is the fact that the Birdseye is the very first run. The Flametop has a baked basswood body and the Birdseye does not. The baked body is lighter and noticeably more resonant. Overall, the Govans win. They'd better at 3 times the price. But I could EASILY play one of the DK24s instead without feeling I was missing out. Thought the Govans are superior, the DK24 2PT models are absolutely stellar and if you didn't HAVE the ability to compare the two, you wouldn't need to. I highly recommend the DK24s...unless you can swing the Govan, in which case...DO IT! 🙌🏻
Great comparison and playing. Well done. Wasn't planning to, yet, I bought a Grey H-S-S model. In person, the grey slate has a blue tinge and is very appealing. Seriously, when I picked it up the first time, it felt like I've been playing it for the past 5 years or so. The SD's go together have a great bass to treble. This doesn't do the Strat quak, at least for me. And I have found that this is a good versatile pickup combination and does more than shred. Next up, I hate Fenders .... strats, teles, jazzmaster...... the twang, the neck radii, the scale length, basically everything about them, except their finishes - Fender has nice Sunbusts. The small local store just got it in and I thought, its new, why not try it, and I was ready to hate it. And in less than 5 minutes playing time, I bought it. Lastly, I bought the guitar last year when it first came out. And since then, I've done nothing to it except change strings. There is nothing on this guitar that I need upgraded. Nothing.
Western rider 100 thank you! Yup, you get it! 🙌🏻
I have the Orange DK24 and it is amazing. I compare it to the EB MM JP16/15 so for $1500 less. It really is that good.
I did change the bridge pup to a Seymour Duncan '78 for a medium output.
Elliot Serrano yeah, that's how I feel. At this price point it's ridiculous! And with a few bucks worth of mods it closes the gap even more.
The Full Shred HBs certainly are hotter. They're definitely edgier than the Guthrie also. Those have much more sensible and dynamic pickups. But I'm happy with the articulation of the Full Shred for being so hot.
I’ve played the DK24 and I agree that they are excellent guitars. Sure there are some comers cut to bring the price down below a grand. But in the end its all subtle and nothing to get concerned about.
Agreed. That's why I made the video. I think the bang for the buck is ridiculously good.
I like the orange Charvel man nice , & sounding 👍🎸🤟 . Thanks TroyFrost / Troyster 😎 CoolRiffs 😎 Cool 🎸 🤘🤘 🤘
Troy Frost thanks man! 🙌🏻🤘🏻🙏🏻
HSS is my pick (also, I mean, it's pink, awesome), but they all sound awesome. Killer playing, wow!
Thank you so much!
Cheers to u my friend for an awesome comparison. Ive been eyeballing that DK 24 for a few mos now.
Triple S thanks man! Yeah, when they were first revealed I became immediately intrigued. I had to get my hands on them.
Incredible demo!
Kevin James thank you so much!
Killer playing and review! Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much!
Great playing, they all kind of sound awesome! Wanting the HSS or HSS single coil version.
that's some kick ass playing
Thank you so much!
I actually just ordered the orange one. Always wanted a Charvel guitar and finally took the chance. I'm still really into the Hair Metal music, but i HATE setting up floyd's. I am really hoping i like this guitar cause the choice was between this one and another DK model that was the Purple Phaze, but this one had that neck joint that was a great deal better to play with. Also the neck seems alot better on this one also..
robert powers good choice. I can't imagine you won't be pleased!
really good comparison and some great playing too. thanks
Sick!!!!
Jordan Steele thank you! 🙌🏻
GREAT Video!!! Great playing!!! Great sound!!!
beannie60 thank you!
You got some serious chops Randy
Jon Authier thank you so much!
Wow awesome demo and review! I just subscribed. Love the Guthrie’s but was interested in the DKs.
ponsau thanks man! Yeah, I love these guitars. You won't be disappointed.
When I watch you play it makes me wish I could play Ran.
mistrcoffe thank you, it feels really great to hear that. Love you, brother.
Thanks for the very interesting video Randy !
Kurt Vereecke you're very welcome!
Exceptional review, and stellar playing!
Thank you so much!
Fantastic playing and demo, thank you.
Thank you very much!
What is the tuning stability on the dk24 for more insane whammying action like divebombs and such? I love the fun sounds of a Floyd but hate setting them up lol
Did I just hear you bust out some Kings X at 16:23?! Good stuff man!
D. Szarko thank you! King's X is my favorite band. Summerland or Goldilox will always appear here and there. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
@@RandyWillcox then you have good taste! Mine too! Been listening to them since I was born lol
Been eyeing the dk pro mods pink and matte green. Awesome review bro and sick chops
Imagine8 thanks so much, man! Much appreciated!
I got the pink pro mod. Worth every penny.
@@morky_mork also on the wall about the HH lmao so hard when there is such good gear lmao
@@DiegoHenaoV lol you can't really go wrong buddy, I want the new HH one as well haha
@@morky_mork lmao touche my dude
What a great demo Awesome
reacteur84 thank you so much!
Really enjoyed this review. Found this and you via Cameron Cooper channel 👍
I plan to try those dk24 at some point 😃
I have to note that the Orange hsh DK24 neck pickup, while an Alnico 2 Pro, if you notice it has double hex pole piece screws, just like the Full Shred. I can’t find any information on this exact pickup, but rumor is that an A2Pro neck is a Jazz neck with an Alnico 2 magnet and the Full Shred neck is almost like a Jazz neck with double rows of hex pole screws instead of slugs and fillister screws. So I’m thinking this is something like an Alnico 2 Full Shred Neck. Either way, I like how it has a warm midrange with a sharp pick attack. The HH DK24’s Full Shred neck is kind of a cheese grater in comparison.
ConspireToConspire I've reached out to Duncan, but my experience is that for most OEM use, especially guitars made in mass out of the country, the pickup is made as an OEM part for the guitar manufacturer. It is likely it was done for either cost (not having both solid slugs and flat head screws means just making two identical bobbins and using all the same hex head poles vs having to differentiate the two) and for esthetics (both pickups match). But those are just examples of what I've encountered in my experience. I'll follow up when I get a response from Duncan.
Exxxxxxcellent🤘
I don't know why but that pink guitar got my attention 😅
I bought one and it’s a gorgeous beast. ❤
Sounding glorious dude
Riley IoAcura aw, thank you so much, I appreciate that!
i got my pink DK24 Last week i love it
paulcuban they're unbelievable! I can't wait to see the new ones at NAMM! 🙌🏻
@@RandyWillcox wish i was goin had an invite last year but its a bit of a trip from here in the UK . I was looking at a GG a few years back but ended up getting a MM JP15 .
@@RandyWillcox Forgot to mention Great playing ....
Very awesome review! Thanks
Thank you, I appreciate that! You're most welcome!
2:15 Alex Skolnick badass mode kicks in
Tancheap McFatass thanks! Best compliment EVER! 🙏🏻
Sounds more like Marty Friedman to me.
Rock and Roll to the metal..............I think I´m in love, ps. the next time I would love to see all the recording just from the frontal cam, the gorgoeus view is mesmerazing
🙏🏻😉
Really good review -- thanks a ton; this is the 3rd time I've come back to this video!
In it, you mentioned that for around $500 you could customize the guitar to rival the GG signature guitars. As beautiful as the GGs are, I kind of feel like the orange/pink guitars are more my style. But the GGs sound noticeably better to me. Do you have any thoughts on what the biggest contributing factors are to the GG's (subjectively) "better" sound might be? As in, could replacing the pickups on the DK24 yield a comparable sound or something like that? Or is it mostly due to the wood? (I don't know much about what contributes to tone, to be honest)
Thank you, I'm glad you found the video useful. As for the upgrades, yes, that estimate is based on features: Having stainless steel frets installed, perhaps staggered tuners, that sort of thing. The neck on the Guthrie is, of course, highly figured and the body is also roasted basswood vs. Alder. That certainly affects the tone. Basswood is a much more even tonal response and the roasting process affects the way the wood resonates. I would definitely recommend less aggressive pickups for the DK since the Guthrie doesn't use particularly hot pickups. The fit and finish will never come close, BUT, if you DO have the stainless frets installed by a really good tech, that's most of the battle right there. People don't realize how much a really well performed fret level and dress improves the overall feel of a guitar.
Great demo! The Guthries just sound better to me (especially the light finish one), more open sounding, more rich, less harsh.
the radical kindness lightly finished guitars resonate better than unfinished guitars. That said, there is a lacquer finish on both. The "unfinished" model is just a hand-rubbed gel application that prevents the finish from feeling like a shell. It's basically satin. The "raw" feeling is an illusion. But yes, having just that extra little but of a sprayed finish makes a difference. And they do outshine the DK24s. But at 3x the price, they absolutely should.
@@RandyWillcox Totally agree on the finishes and thickness. I have a Novo and a thin skin tele and they both resonate for days. Sadly, I haven't played any of the Guthries yet, although that caramelized one has been calling my name.
I have a dk24 army green, set up with gig bag I am looking to sell, it actually is a wonderful guitar, and stays remarkably in tune, however i am going toward more of a hollow body jazz sound.
Hi Randy,I've been looking for an answer to this, and you seem like just the guy to ask. I just got the DK24 HSH in olive drab and I'm wondering if it is at all possible to lower the middle pickup on these? I do find myself hitting the middle pickup and feel that it is a tad high. If it is directly screwed into the body, I don't know if it is adjustable. Your feedback will be really helpful. Thanks!
Keith Bolves absolutely. I lowered mine a little too. I wasn't hitting it with the pick, but I was catching it with my fingers on the treble side when I hybrid picked. I've had to lower the middle single coils on every guitar I've ever had for that reason. It's just physics.
Yes, direct mount pickups are height controlled by having a spring, usually something like a foam rubber material, under the pickup. When you raise the pickup, as you unscrew the screws the foam pushes the pickup upwards. When you lower the pickup, the foam compresses. The screws are small so make sure you use a small Phillips head screwdriver. Stripping pickup screws SUCKS! LOL.
The single coils on the hss sound quite dark, quite similar to the humbucker variants
Absolutely. I didn't find them "stratty" enough.
Great playing and video!!! :)
Thank you so much!
Seriously sweet licks. In terms of vibrato, how does the 510 compare to the non-fine tuner floyd?
The non fine's got more range upwards and downwards, while the 510 much more like a strat bridge with a fr functionality but with less range
Hey Randy, amazing review! really informative (and great playing as well)
I'm almost sold in the HSH model, I just aint sure about the bridge pickup... I tend to like a mid hump, smooth, warm and dark lead tone (like Guthrie's) but I just don't know if this particular "Full shred" pickup is designed for that type of tone. Do you think that tone is achievable just by rolling a bit of the tone knob or would you suggest to replace the bridge pickup with something like a Seymour Duncan custom custom?
Once again, thankyou for the review, all the best!
matmartinelli thanks! I'd replace it. The full shred is a different animal. I'm not as familiar with the custom custom, but I'd definitely go with something less aggressive. The full shred is definitely for more aggressive tones. But yeah, I always think of pickups very clearly, they're easily swappable. The structure of the guitar is most important, the rest you can tweak to your heart's content. I'm thinking about swapping the pickups in the pink one. I actually put an original, non-fine tuner Floyd Rose on it and routed the recess. I'm thinking about a JB in the bridge and a more classic strat style Duncan single for the neck and middle.
@@RandyWillcox You're right! This sort of things are no where near a deal-breaker characteristic. I'll do some research on other pickups and if I find anything interesting that fits my needs, I'll post ir here.
Thanks for this awesome comparison video. I've had my eye on the Shell Pink or the Matt Army Drab Green (HSH). I love both but unsure on what pickup configuration to go for. Ill stop by a shop and hopefully get to try them out.
Great playing Randy! Subbed!
LifeisGuitar thank you so much! I'm glad you dig it! I hope you find the one for you!
Let us know which config you went for hsh or ssh .
Thanks.
Go with the GG suhr model
- it’s way better than the charvel . I’ve tried all of these . The orange HSH isn’t bad , the hunbucker at the neck on a 24 fret guitar works much better than a HSS . The single on a 24 fret sounds thin as hell . Tried a few shell pink ones - sounded awful . The ask red Korean one is better although heavier but I think the H H or HSH combination works best with these guitars .
I do like Suhr guitars, but I don't particularly care for the Modern shape. I disagree about the Guthrie models though. I much prefer the Charvels. The necks are glorious to me and I love the MFB pickups. But that stuff is subjective. My main guitars are my Tom Anderson Angels, but the Guthries never disappoint.
However, I do find the dk24s, although excellent platforms for modding, definitely require replacing those pickups. I can't believe they're Duncans, let alone that they were chosen to be the stock pickups. I had the opposite issue with my HSS. The neck single coil sounded like someone threw a blanket over the speaker. Woofy and muddy. No sparkle at all.
I have the Rick Graham MIJ model and the Bareknuckle pickups in that sound spectacular! I love the spank of the single coils in it. But I had to ditch these dk24s. For the price, they're great for someone who wants to mod them. But with the Guthries, I never picked them up. But if someone pops good pickups in...and has a luthier install stainless steel frets...they'd be monsters.
Yeah, I really thought by now those pickups would have been changed. I can't believe they still use them stock.
sadly in europe it is around 1200 usd for the dk24, but still I really like the specs, sound, look and all the reviews. I might save up for one
You can easily spot the top end harshness of the SSfretted Guthrie guitars
Neth BT well, that's a matter of perspective. Personally, from the first time I played ss frets, I was hooked. I notice the difference in feel and tone immediately and prefer it. What some hear as harsh, I hear as bright and present. Nickel frets sound deader to me now. But ultimately, tone isn't made or broken with frets. The signal chain is greatly responsible for that. And the pickups have way more to do with it than the frets. But yes, the pedals and amps were the same for all 4 guitars. And I had it set for how I like it with the Guthries. If someone had a, we'll call it, "warmer" tone dialed in with their ss fret guitar, the nickel would sound duller by nature. Consequently, if I put Duncan Invaders in the DK24s, The Guthries would sound MUCH warmer than them. 😂 I prefer ss frets for feel and wear. Tone is so easily manipulated otherwise. 🤘🏻
Does the Guthrie Govan signature have Super Jumbo frets or just jumbo? And if they are super jumbo, do you happen to know the specs of it?
Dreamforfreedom Jumbo fretwire used to be the biggest. It was Dunlop 6100. Now...they make a 6000 which still isn't used much on mass produced guitars, but it is slightly larger. Even Fender lists the 6100 as the biggest fretwire you can get. 🤷🏼♂️
Charvel's website lists "extra jumbo frets" in the description, but then just lists "jumbo frets" in the specs. So I got out my digital caliper and they are indeed 0.110" wide which makes them 6100 Jumbo frets. So definitely watch for marketing. These aren't "extra jumbo", they're just "jumbo". Which, luckily, are "jumbo". 🤘🏻
@@RandyWillcox Thanks bro!
@@RandyWillcox Do you know the height (crown) of the frets?
I noticed you have a kotzen tele in the back. Is it a major adjustment going from the tele to the dk24? I have the kotzen tele and planning on getting a dk24.
They're so different, I never found it an issue. Anytime I played the Kotzen, it was to get that vibe. It's like going between a Les Paul and a Gretsch or a Strat. My main guitars were always the Guthries so when I wanted to play a guitar that had that sick playability, I'd grab one of those. The Kotzen has a killer sound, but I play differently on it. Basically, if you practice on the Kotzen and pick up the DK24, it's going to feel like you're suddenly bionic.
I even sold both the DK24s. They're great, but I never had a reason to pick them up because I had the Guthries. If I didn't have those, I'd have kept them.
But basically, the short answer is the guitars feel nothing alike so I didn't treat them the same way. I always choose the tool for the task at hand. The DK won't do what the Kotzen does and vice versa, so if you have that mindset, you'll be fine. Although, you may find yourself appreciating the playability of the DK24 enough that when you pick up the Kotzen it feels like work. But if you don't have anything like the DK24, I think you'll like the variety.
I just have a question.. which dk24 do you like better? The orange hsh or the pink hss? I am looking to get one but I don’t know if I should get the hsh or the hss
Tristan M that's a tough question. I would ask you, do you prefer a neck humbucker or a neck single coil?
I have a coil split on the neck humbucker of both my Guthries. I like the option. I do often find I like using the neck single coil a lot! I've always loved it on a strat.
I may replace the neck SC on the pink one with a different model because I find that when it is combined with the middle pickup, it is darker than the split humbucker with the middle single coil. I actually feel like the split HB with the middle pickup is more strat-like. So it could be the pickup itself.
But if it's about versatility, go with the HSH. You can always put a push/pull pot in place of the tone or volume controls and then split the neck pickup when you want that sound.
Randy Willcox yeah I like the sound of the sc on the neck, but I feel like due to the maple neck that the hb on the neck would still give it a strat sound. I want a nice mix of a strat sound and a les Paul sound if that makes sense
Tristan M your best bet is Def the HSH.
Hey what do you think about these mods for the pro mod dk24 HH fr?:
Seymour Duncan SHPR-1s P-Rails Pickup Set
Seymour Duncan TS-1 Triple Shot Mounting Rings.
GraphTech Ghost Acoustiphonic
Hey man, I'd say go for it. I personally like having the pickups mounted to the body, so I would mount them to the body and just mount the rings separately, myself. But either way, I feel like the beauty of these guitars is that they allow you to modify them to your heart's content and really make them yours. If you love the guitar, I say go for it. And let me know how it is because I'm really intrigued by those pickups and rings. 🤘🏻
And I forgot...I put the ghost system in the orange one and loved it. I've always loved the ghost systems. I actually had the midi mod also, but didn't install it. I didn't want to route anything. I was going to transplant all my Variax controls into the guitar but it would have meant more modification than I wanted to do to that guitar. And I really didn't use my Variax enough. (In fact, I sold it around the same time I sold the DK24s). But the acoustiphonic was great. I just out the mini toggle between the volume and tone knobs.
@@RandyWillcox Thank you! I will def go for it. I love this guitar so much and I feel it will be even better with these pickups. I will let you know how it goes. I like this guitar more than my PRS S2 Custom 24 somehow.
Nice review and incredible playing!
Dan Stringer thank you so much.
Awesome playing, awesome guitars
Thank you!
Hey, what pickups would you recommend to get close to Guthrie's specials' tone on the pro mod hsh?
Aravind C I can't say I know specifically of one. I haven't researched them myself. My suggestion would be to look up the specs of the pickups in his Charvel. The most critical is the output. Then the eq. You can add oomph in your signal chain and you can tweak eq, but if the pickups start out too hot, you can't compensate. So make note of the output and then the eq curve and compare them to other brands. Also, if you're willing, reach out to Seymour Duncan and places like Lollar. Both will build you pickups with the specs you provide. It's a little more expensive than stock builds, but it could be a LOT easier than the research and you'll likely get much more desirable results. Also remember to use them in a basswood guitar. If you plop them in something made of ash or mahogany or something, the tone is going to be different based on the eq response of the wood.
I've never seen a GG Charvel with a blue top? Looks nice. Great playing and review. Thanks alot :-)
Lee Logan thank you! Yeah, I needed to add a little color for the stage. I'm thinking of redoing it a little more turquoise. Time will tell.
Do you know if you want to put a Floyd Rose on a Dinky if you need to open a bigger cavity or change something on the guitar? or is just a straight forward piece replacement?
Blue Matrix are you referring to a Jackson Dinky? If so, does it already have some sort of Floyd, like a Jackson branded, licensed Floyd Rose? Or are you referring to one of these? (DK is a reference to the Dinky body style after all).
@@RandyWillcox Refering to a Charvel Pro Mod DK24
You mentioned installing staggered tuners and removing the string trees. What brand of staggered tuners are you using?
Mark I got the Gotoh HAPM height adjustable locking tuners. They're the same tuners Ibanez puts on the AZ. It's the one AZ feature I like. They don't use a knurled knob to tighten the string and the height adjustment means you can set the height of each tuner individually which is great for compensating for the string trees. I'm doing all the mods soon and I'm going to chronicle as much as I can in a video.
@@RandyWillcox Cool! I've got a pink DK24 inbound and have heard issues about the string trees and tuning on these.
For 2 minutes, this guy was a god to me
If that doesnt get a thumbs out of you, you don't have a pulse! Flaming Fretboards!
I am in lust with the army drab green - the Orange Crush's , seen here, brother.. However, I've never seen the blue GG, that is Gorgeo! It might be the same to a blind man - but I ain't blind! That thang pretty!
AAA+ Video, brother, you slayed it!
Luey Sixty-six thank you! The Blue Guthrie started its life as a natural Guthrie. I spruced it up.
Randy Willcox Ooh! For realz?! Extraordinary job, Man!! Looks like you put binding on it. Did you just colour it not quite to the edges?