Rick Graham and Guthrie Govan MIJ Charvel Sigs

[mpexus]

Charvel just announced two new Made in Japan (and expensive AF) sig Models. Basswood Bodies, SS frets and BareKnuckles in Rick Sig


Guthrie

https://charvel.com/gear/series/artist/guthrie-govan-signature-mj-san-dimas-sd24-cm/2925414588

Rick Graham

https://charvel.com/gear/series/artist/rick-graham-signature-mj-dk24-2pt-cm/2929413862

These are suggested $2600 and $2700 respectively.... I think its too much for what they are to be honest. The Rick model is basically the already made DK24 with SS frets and BKN Pickups.

[Darren]

WhoTF is Rick Graham?

That Guthrie sig is super tasty… I wish it didn't have the middle pickup. No more stock Tremol-No™ on the Guthrie model?

[mpexus]

WhoTF is Rick Graham?

That Guthrie sig is super tasty… I wish it didn't have the middle pickup.

Rick is a monster player. YT guy but really a monster player.

[Ghost.]

WhoTF is Rick Graham?

That Guthrie sig is super tasty… I wish it didn't have the middle pickup. No more stock Tremol-No™ on the Guthrie model?

Honestly, the coolest Youtube Shredder who should be hanging out with Satch, Petrucci and Vai.

That being said, Graham couldn't have created a more boring signature guitar if he tried.

Goodness... He has the coolest Ibanez's but lamest sig Charvel he could have come up with.

Why are they a million dollars for being Japanese?

[Darren]

Never heard of the guy.



But I'm pretty much totally removed from music these days.

[Dominic]

Why are they a million dollars for being Japanese?

A theory as a big fan of Japanese guitars:

Because the Japanese factories can deliver the QC the US ones can't?

:hides:

[mpexus]

Saudade is actually a Portuguese word that has no direct translation. Most similar in English and yet no the same would be Missing or Melancholy.

[Ghost.]

A theory as a big fan of Japanese guitars:

Because the Japanese factories can deliver the QC the US ones can't?

:hides:

I get that on some level at least when it applies to Jackson and Gibson in some cases for both of them.

But my point was this. If they aren't delivered to the same quality level of a U.S. Charvel then there is no need to price them that high. I'm not saying high-end Japanese Guitars can't be made but it depends on what level of effort they put into by the Company and not by the location of the Plant. ESP Custom and Ibanez High-end models are made in Japan. They are known for that. Just because a Fender Richie Kotzen is made in Japan doesn't mean its the same level of a ESP Japan model.

That's more so how I'm looking at it.

[RevDrucifer]

Honestly, the coolest Youtube Shredder who should be hanging out with Satch, Petrucci and Vai.

That being said, Graham couldn't have created a more boring signature guitar if he tried.

Goodness... He has the coolest Ibanez's but lamest sig Charvel he could have come up with.

Why are they a million dollars for being Japanese?

Yeah, I was really interested in what Rick’s was going to look like and that was less than thrilling, to say the least.

I dig the older GG model more, too.

Ibanez seems really only interested in developing their AR line at this point with the newer guys and really, once guitars get around that price point, I’m going to go for a Suhr well before I’ll go for an Ibanez, even if that hurts the Ibanez fanboy in me.

[Ghost.]

Yeah, I was really interested in what Rick’s was going to look like and that was less than thrilling, to say the least.

I dig the older GG model more, too.

Ibanez seems really only interested in developing their AR line at this point with the newer guys and really, once guitars get around that price point, I’m going to go for a Suhr well before I’ll go for an Ibanez, even if that hurts the Ibanez fanboy in me.

Yeah, Ibanez has lost their way in some regards.

They really messed up losing Broderick as an artist. He had the one 7 String everyone wanted to buy when he joined Megadeth.
Everyone would've probably bought the Japanese version too. Sickest 7 ever.

[RevDrucifer]

Yeah, Ibanez has lost their way in some regards.

They really messed up losing Broderick as an artist. He had the one 7 String everyone wanted to buy when he joined Megadeth.
Everyone would've probably bought the Japanese version too. Sickest 7 ever.

Yeah man, I think he had a flame top white one that was sick as well. I played his Jackson sig when it came out at NAMM and it was badass….would have loved to have seen a legit Ibanez sig.

[Markus]

Never heard of the guy.



But I'm pretty much totally removed from music these days.

He's been around for a long time. I think I ran into his stuff in like 2003 on the Petrucciforum.

[Drew]

I actually dig the Graham model.

Also, good to see him back in the game - last I heard after kicking a drinking habit and getting into body building, he'd succumbed back to drinking and was not in a good place. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if he was still a mess Charvel wouldn't be releasing a sig model, so that's awesome news. Extremely talented player.

[Chris]

I've watched a bunch of RG's videos and as said, he can play his fucking ass off. Good for him. Like it or not, youtubers are the new "rock stars" so it's not surprising that we're seeing more sig models for bedroom heroes.

Having said that, I feel like every Charvel sig is just a So Cal with either a different neck wood or SS frets or something for double the price.

[Joel]

I actually dig the Graham model.

Also, good to see him back in the game - last I heard after kicking a drinking habit and getting into body building, he'd succumbed back to drinking and was not in a good place. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if he was still a mess Charvel wouldn't be releasing a sig model, so that's awesome news. Extremely talented player.

He lives about an hour from me and I’ve bumped into him a couple of times in guitar shops and he is a really really nice guy. Incredible player as well, I actually bought his album about 10 years ago.

[Darren]

But has he played with anyone of note, or is he just yet another YouTube-famous guitarist?

[mpexus]

I actually dig the Graham model.

last I heard after kicking a drinking habit and getting into body building, he'd succumbed back to drinking and was not in a good place.

After is brother died some 2-3 years ago he felt down and started drinking again... we all deal with pain in different ways He for the past year or so got back on his feet drinking wise.

[Drew]

But has he played with anyone of note, or is he just yet another YouTube-famous guitarist?

IIRC he's a pre-you-tube-famous guitarist. I think he was mostly known as a guitar instructor, back in the day? Not quite "Chops From Hell" back in the day, but pretty close, and I could be wrong and maybe he did have a column there.

[Joel]

IIRC he's a pre-you-tube-famous guitarist. I think he was mostly known as a guitar instructor, back in the day? Not quite "Chops From Hell" back in the day, but pretty close, and I could be wrong and maybe he did have a column there.

I think he’s done a lot of instructional stuff in UK guitar magazines as well.
He’s not played in any big bands but he has done guest solos on a few different metal band records.

[jacksonplayer]

The USA Govan model is about $700 more. I have to say, the USA ones hold their value pretty well by J/C standards. So much so that I've never been tempted.

[Webdood]

That Graham model is fantastic looking.

[Mattayus]

Oh look, more Suhrvels. This brand has a major identity crisis. I don't care how much people rave about these kinda models, they're totally off-brand and dull. But whatever sells I guess. You can't appeal to ageing DeMartini fans forever

[Chris]

Oh look, more Suhrvels. This brand has a major identity crisis. I don't care how much people rave about these kinda models, they're totally off-brand and dull. But whatever sells I guess. You can't appeal to ageing DeMartini fans forever

You aren't wrong.

[jim777]

I like the finish on the Guthrie, but there's literally nothing special about either of these. And I play Teles FFS lol

[playstopause]

You can't appeal to ageing DeMartini fans forever