CHARVEL PRO-MOD DK22 SSS 2PT CM

first play
CHARVEL PRO-MOD DK22 SSS 2PT CM
12
GUITARIST AUGUST 2020
pivot point recessed Gotoh Custom 510
vibrato unit. Finally, ‘CM’ is shorthand for
the 648mm (25.5-inch) scale caramelised
maple neck. You’ve no doubt heard of
torrified or roasted maple; caramelised
means the same thing. The wood is heated
in a kiln to remove moisture, which leaves
it more stable, not to mention looking
beautifully tanned. Here the neck is further
reinforced by a pair of graphite rods.
The better-dead-than-shred brigade
might assume this guitar has a basswood
body like so many modern metal machines.
In fact, it’s classic Strat-style alder that
resides under that satin urethane Pharaoh’s
Gold finish. The sculpted rear of the Dinky
body offers maximum player comfort,
while the Strat-style jack plate is cleverly
angled upwards to direct your cable over
your strap or into a radio pack.
Upper-fret access is excellent thanks
to a scoop cut into the rear of the treble
side cutaway, and a rounded body heel
that does its best to keep out of your
way. As mentioned, you get 22 frets here
and they come mounted on a 305 to
406mm (12- to 16-inch) compound radius
fingerboard. Yes, that’s a particularly ‘shred’
appointment, but lest we forget Fender’s
new American Ultra Stratocaster also
features a compound radius ’board, albeit
one that’s 10 to 14 inches. That guitar is also
heavily contoured to promote easy upper-
fret access. Makes you think.
We love the restraint shown in the
hardware choices. Charvel could have
chiselled in a double-locking Floyd Rose
and still tickled its target markets’ fancy.
Instead, you get that lower-profile Gotoh
Custom 510 vibrato. It’s a nice bit of kit.
The aforementioned double pivot points
make for super-smooth operation, the
centre-threaded screw-in arm stays put
wherever you leave it, and a set of locking
Rolled fingerboard
edges and the
compound radius
mean you almost
feel like the guitar
is playing itself
1
2
1. Charvel’s die-cast
locking tuners provide
faultless tuning stability
2. Our DK22 maple neck is
caramelised, a process
that involves baking the
maple to help it resist
changes in temperature
and humidity
GIT461.rev_charvel.indd 12 11/06/2020 09:42