Charvel USA San Dimas Wild Card #1 in Trans Kandy Magenta 2009

The Charvel USA San Dimas Wild Card #1 is a limited-production American-made Superstrat from 2009, representing a particularly interesting period in Charvel's modern history. Built in California as part of the company's original USA Production Series, the Wild Card models introduced special configurations and finishes alongside the regular San Dimas and So-Cal guitars, retaining the stripped-back performance philosophy that made Charvel famous during the 1980s.

Released as part of the sixth production batch in late 2009, the Wild Card #1 was offered in the distinctive Trans Kandy Magenta finish. The translucent metallic colour gives the familiar San Dimas body a striking appearance, complemented by black hardware, a natural maple neck and matching black pickup surrounds. Unlike the more conventional solid-colour models, the Wild Card #1 has a particularly distinctive look that sets it apart from the regular production range.

Construction centres around an alder body and quartersawn one-piece maple neck, with a 12"–16" compound-radius fingerboard and 22 frets. The neck has the fast, comfortable feel associated with Charvel's San Dimas guitars, combining a relatively slim profile with the stability of quartersawn maple. The compound radius allows comfortable chord work lower down the neck while providing a flatter playing surface for bends and lead playing further up the fingerboard.

A pair of Seymour Duncan humbuckers provides the classic hot-rodded Charvel sound. The SH-1 '59 in the neck offers warm, articulate cleans and fluid lead tones, while the SH-4 JB in the bridge delivers the pronounced midrange, sustain and output that have made it a favourite for hard rock and metal for decades. A single master volume and three-way selector keep the electronics straightforward, while the Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo provides excellent tuning stability for more aggressive playing styles.

The Wild Card #1 is particularly appealing because it comes from the relatively short-lived period of USA-made production Charvels between 2008 and 2010. Combining American construction, a classic Seymour Duncan pickup pairing and an unusual limited-production finish, it offers much of the character of Charvel's original San Dimas instruments in a more modern, refined package.

Specifications

• Model: San Dimas Wild Card #1
• Series: USA Production Series / Limited Edition
• Year: 2009
• Made In: USA (California)
• Production Batch: Sixth Batch, October 2009
• Finish: Trans Kandy Magenta
• Body: Alder
• Neck: One-Piece Quartersawn Maple, Bolt-On
• Fingerboard: Maple
• Fingerboard Radius: 12"–16" Compound
• Frets: 22
• Scale Length: 25.5" / 648mm
• Nut Width: 1-11/16" / Approx. 42.9mm
• Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan SH-1 '59 Humbucker
• Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB Humbucker
• Controls: Master Volume, 3-Way Pickup Selector
• Bridge: Floyd Rose Double-Locking Tremolo
• Tuners: Grover Mini
• Hardware: Black
• Pickguard: None
• Modifications: n/a
• Case: Free Gig Bag

Playability

The quartersawn maple neck and compound-radius fingerboard provide the fast, comfortable feel for which USA Charvels are particularly well regarded. The combination of a slim neck profile, 22-fret layout and Floyd Rose tremolo makes the Wild Card #1 equally suited to technical lead playing and more traditional hard-rock rhythm work.

Condition

• Frets: 8/10
• Visual Condition: Very minor dings and scratches, only visible up close.