Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 2 stores. Prices updated .

Reverb
5.0 (2)
$2,999.00 New
$2,411.06 Used
Thomann
$1,049.00 $1,045.00 $4.00 · All time low

Average Price: $2,152

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Charvel San Dimas". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 19, 2026.

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

Experience the blend of classic design and modern playability with the Charvel San Dimas, a solid body electric guitar that's crafted for musicians who crave versatility and precision. This instrument is a testament to Charvel's commitment to quality and innovation, offering a seamless playing experience for both stage and studio settings. At its core, the San Dimas features a compound-radius fretboard, allowing for comfortable chord playing at the nut and effortless soloing at the higher frets.

Equipped with high-output Seymour Duncan pickups, this guitar delivers a rich, articulate tone that can handle anything from clean jazz to high-gain rock. The San Dimas's sleek alder body is paired with a bolt-on maple neck, ensuring a sturdy construction that resonates with clarity. With its smooth and fast neck profile, players can enjoy fluid transitions and a more intuitive playing style.

The San Dimas also comes with a Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo system, which provides stability and precision for those expressive dive bombs and pitch shifts. Whether you're shredding or laying down grooves, every detail of the Charvel San Dimas is designed to enhance your musical expression.

Key Features:

  • Solid body electric guitar with sleek alder construction
  • Compound-radius fretboard for versatile playing styles
  • High-output Seymour Duncan pickups for superior sound quality
  • Bolt-on maple neck with a smooth, fast profile
  • Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo system for precise tuning stability
  • Available in both right and left-handed configurations

Product specs

Brand Charvel
Model Custom Shop San Dimas
Made In United States
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Shape S-Style
Body Type Solid Body
Model Family Charvel Style 1
Model Sub-Family Charvel San-Dimas Style 1
Neck Construction Bolt-On
Number of Frets 22
Number of Strings 6-String
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Series Charvel Custom Shop

FAQs

What is the neck profile like on the Charvel San Dimas?

The Charvel San Dimas features a slim, fast neck profile designed for easy playability and quick fretboard access, ideal for shredding and complex solos.

What kind of pickups does the Charvel San Dimas use?

The Charvel San Dimas typically comes equipped with Seymour Duncan or DiMarzio pickups, offering a range of tones suitable for rock and metal genres.

Is the Charvel San Dimas suitable for beginners?

While the Charvel San Dimas is designed with advanced players in mind due to its high-performance features, its smooth playability can also benefit dedicated beginners looking to invest in a quality instrument.

What type of music is the Charvel San Dimas best suited for?

The Charvel San Dimas is versatile but excels in rock and metal genres, thanks to its powerful pickups and fast neck, which accommodate high-gain tones and intricate solos.

Does the Charvel San Dimas have a bolt-on neck?

Yes, the Charvel San Dimas features a bolt-on neck construction, which contributes to its bright tone and sustain.

mastertheguitar

mastertheguitar

2016 Charvel Pro-mod San Dimas Style 1 in-depth Demo - MasterThatGear!

Video thumbnail for 2016 Charvel Pro-mod San Dimas Style 1 in-depth Demo - MasterThatGear! by mastertheguitar

2016 Charvel Pro-mod San Dimas Style 1 in-depth Demo - MasterThatGear!

mastertheguitar

mastertheguitar

Video thumbnail for 2016 Charvel San Dimas | Overview & Demo by Rocco Pezzin

2016 Charvel San Dimas | Overview & Demo

Rocco Pezzin

Rocco Pezzin

Video thumbnail for Charvel San Dimas Style 1 by Phillip McKnight

Charvel San Dimas Style 1

Phillip McKnight

Phillip McKnight

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Charvel San Dimas.

Comparisons

  • The Charvel San Dimas shares its body with MiM Fender Strats but is often considered to have better quality control and finishing.

    Source
  • The Charvel San Dimas is often compared to Schecter guitars, which are suggested for metal genres due to their design and sound profile.

    Source

User experience

  • Despite some QC issues, many owners find the necks on Charvel San Dimas models extremely comfortable, often outperforming necks on higher-end guitars.

    Source
  • The neck of the Charvel San Dimas is highly rated for comfort, making it favorable for shredding.

    Source
  • The jumbo frets on the Charvel San Dimas make playing stretch jazz chords easier with less pressure needed.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Some owners replace the stock TB-4 bridge pickup with alternatives like the SD SH-1 '59 for improved tone.

    Source
  • An intonation tool is recommended for those maintaining a Floyd Rose setup themselves.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Charvel volume knob is designed for easy turning to facilitate fast volume swells, a feature inspired by EVH techniques.

    Source
  • The Charvel San Dimas is praised for its versatile split-coil functionality, although split humbuckers don't fully replicate the sound of single-coils.

    Source
  • The Charvel San Dimas has Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 single-coils and a JB TB-4 bridge humbucker, with coil splitting via a push-pull volume control.

    Source
  • The Charvel San Dimas neck joint allows for superior upper fret access compared to traditional Stratocasters.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • The bridge pickup height can be difficult to adjust due to tight seating, potentially requiring sanding of the cavity for easier modification.

    Source
  • Some users experience neck pocket friction issues leading to tuning instability, which can be mitigated by sanding the finish inside the neck heel for better grip.

    Source
  • Owners report persistent fret sprout issues, especially in dry winter climates, requiring frequent filing to maintain comfortable playability.

    Source
  • Using a T-shirt in the bridge cavity can help keep the Floyd Rose bridge level during maintenance tasks.

    Source

Build quality

  • The paint quality on some models, like the Pharaoh Gold finish, can be uneven and bumpy, particularly around the backplate area.

    Source
  • Owners highlight the superior fretwork on the Charvel San Dimas compared to other guitars made in the same factory, such as MiM Strats.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Despite its typical association with glam rock, the Charvel San Dimas is noted for its potential in heavier genres when paired with appropriate pickups.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Charvel Pro-Mod Relic San Dimas Style 1 – a near-perfect relic’d shred guitar

guitar.com

The Charvel Pro-Mod Relic San Dimas Style 1 impresses with its authentic relic'd look and top-notch playability, making it a standout choice for shred enthusiasts. Its Seymour Duncan pickups deliver classic tones suitable for both heavy distortion and clean settings, while the Floyd Rose bridge ensures reliable tuning stability. However, the pau ferro fretboard is a letdown, especially considering the price point. Despite this, the guitar offers excellent value, embodying Charvel's heritage in a visually striking and performance-driven package. For those seeking a relic'd shredder, this guitar is hard to beat.

positive

Charvel Pro-Mod Relic San Dimas Style 1 Relic HH FR PF review | Guitar World

guitarworld.com

The Charvel Pro-Mod Relic San Dimas Style 1 Relic HH FR PF is a blast from the past, delivering solid playability and classic rock tones with a modern twist. Its standout features include a sleek neck profile, a compound radius fingerboard, and trusted Seymour Duncan pickups. While it excels in style and sound, it falls short on versatility with a minimalistic electronic layout, and some players may miss additional frets. Despite its limitations, it remains a compelling choice for those seeking a hard-rocking Superstrat that pays homage to its '80s roots.

positive

Charvel San Dimas Mahogany Oil Finish Review - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

The Charvel San Dimas Mahogany Oil Finish delivers a nostalgic throwback to the '80s with a no-frills, rock-solid design that appeals to shred enthusiasts. Its standout features include a fast, slim neck, powerful Seymour Duncan pickups, and an oil-finished mahogany body that provides a rich, resonant tone reminiscent of a Les Paul and Strat hybrid. However, the guitar's mixed hardware finishes, neck-heavy design, and cumbersome truss rod adjustment might deter some players. Despite these quirks, the guitar excels as an affordable shred machine, making it a great pick for those longing for the simplicity and power of a bygone era.

positive

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 3 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
andre_scott

I have a few of these

They are my favourite 80's guitars. I own 2 Charvel Model 2's from Japan, mid-late 80's and a taxi yellow San Dimas from the USA mid 2000's. I have also owned a few others, Candy Tangerine USA, black Japanese, a few wildcards and other similar models but the 1 and 2 pickup San Dimas and Model 2 are my favourites. Especially the USA necks from the pro mods. I tried some of the new Mexican product and the necks do not feel nearly the as good to my hands.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how David Gilmour uses Charvel San Dimas

David Gilmour

Guitarist

Pink Floyd

...
Verified via Gilmourish

David Gilmour used a Charvel San Dimas equipped with an EMG pickup in the bridge position during the New York performance of the "Delicate Sound of Thunder" tour in 1987. This information is documented by Bjorn on Gilmourish, a reputable source for details on Gilmour's gear.

See how Eddie Van Halen uses Charvel San Dimas

Eddie Van Halen

Guitarist

Van Halen

...
Verified via YouTube

In this very rare video, Eddie Van Halen can be seen playing "Amsterdam" in 1985 with customized Charvel San Dimas.

See how Dimebag Darrell uses Charvel San Dimas

Dimebag Darrell

Guitarist

Pantera

...
Verified via YouTube

He used a Charvel San Dimas very briefly during Pantera's glam era, seen in this video at 2:43.

See how Gary Moore uses Charvel San Dimas

Gary Moore

Guitarist, Singer

Thin Lizzy

...
Verified via Photo

In this Guitar World article Gary talks about when he came across Charvel's saying "I use the Hamer guitars to the same extent, simply because I find them really good. A few years after I discovered the Charvels, it was a great experience getting acquainted with Hamer guitars. I wrote the album Run For Cover with these guitars, for example. They're based on the same principle as the old Les Paul Junior."

See how Wes Borland uses Charvel San Dimas

Wes Borland

Singer, Guitarist

Marilyn Manson

...
Verified via YouTube

In a live performance at Rock in Vienna 2015, Wes Borland is seen playing a Charvel San Dimas guitar, as captured in the YouTube video by ALBERTG87.

See how Adrian Smith uses Charvel San Dimas

Adrian Smith

Guitarist

Iron Maiden

...
Verified via YouTube

In the Wasted Years music video, you can clearly spot Adrian playing a black Charvel San Dimas style guitar with a Floyd Rose tremolo system and a single humbucker at the bridge position (likely a DiMarzio Super Distortion).

See how Scott Ian uses Charvel San Dimas

Scott Ian

Guitarist

Anthrax

...
Verified via Photo

In this video, you can see Scott Ian playing with this guitar.

See how Steve Stevens uses Charvel San Dimas

Steve Stevens

Guitarist

Michael Jackson (band)

...
Verified via Premierguitar

"I also brought out of retirement my old my old San Dimas Charvel ... the guitar really needed to be re-setup so I thought that would be a good opportunity to throw a Bare Knuckles in there, so that’s what we put the Van Halen pickup in."

See how Adam Dutkiewicz uses Charvel San Dimas

Adam Dutkiewicz

Guitarist, Drummer

Killswitch Engage

...
Verified via Photo

In this Promo photo for times of grace adam can be seen with a charvel san dimas guitar

See how Warren DeMartini uses Charvel San Dimas

Warren DeMartini

Guitarist

Ratt

...
Verified via Guitar.com | All Things Guitar

According to Guitar Geek's rig diagram, DeMartini uses Charvel San Dimas (2 of them and they're custom painted).

In August 2022 edition of the Guitar World, DeMartini mentioned the relationship with Charvel:

That was part of the revolution Ed started, where you could put together your own guitar. A friend of ours happened to get a job at Charvel, and for a little while we could buy guitars and necks that were seconds – the stuff Grover wanted to throw away. You could get a guitar or a neck for cheap, so that's what I did; then I'd buy hardware and pickups and that kind of thing. Skip ahead a few years and I got a message from a friend who was a graphic artist at Charvel: "Grover Jackson wants to see you." I immediately thought, "Oh man, he wants me to rat out whoever was selling me these seconds." Robbin and I drove out to Charvel, and Grover said, "You guys are obviously Charvel fans. I'll build you the best guitars I can, and we'll work something out when you can afford it." Which was awesome. That's right around the time when the "crossed swords" guitar was built.

See how Jeramy "Rainbow" Gritter uses Charvel San Dimas

Jeramy "Rainbow" Gritter

Guitarist, Composer

The Voidz

...
Verified via Photo

In this instagram post, Jeramy shows his Original 1980’s @charvelusa USA San Dimas hot Pink.

See how Ariel Pozzo uses Charvel San Dimas

Ariel Pozzo

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via Facebook

Ariel Pozzo is seen using a Charvel San Dimas electric guitar in a cover photo on his Facebook page.

Album Usage

The Charvel San Dimas has been featured on the following albums:

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Charvel San Dimas, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

More Charvel Solid Body Electric Guitars

Community setups

Similar

Gear Guides