The Gold Standard

CHARVEL PRO-MOD SO-CAL STYLE 1 HSS FR E

-  Paul Riario

EVER SINCE I laid eyes on the back cover of 1979’s Van Halen II with Eddie Van Halen debuting his brand-new Charvel “Bumblebee” guitar, I said to myself, “What the hell is a Charvel? Because I’ve gotta have one!” Fast forward many decades later and we now know Charvel has long since blazed an illustrious trail of producing and creatively refining what is commonly known to many as the “superstrat” for players of all stripes, including marquee guitarists like Guthrie Govan and Jim Root. It’s no secret that I’ve been a fan of the brand and still own several in various colors and pickup configurations. So when tasked with reviewing yet another Charvel, it’s at this point that I realize it’s not a job but a privilege to disclose that Charvel is still the king in a world of superstrats. And if you ask me, the new Charvel Pro-Mod SoCal Style 1 HSS FR E is proof that the company continually raises the bar in building hot-rodded guitars that combine the utmost comfort while elevating your playing to a whole new level.