Charvel Pro-mod DK24 HSS
first play
CHARVEL PRO-MOD DK24 HSH & DK24 HSS
12
guitArist August 2019
bit where the neck bolts to the body is
ergonomically profiled to assist upper-fret
access. The rear of the treble side cutaway
has also been sculpted to get your fingers
where they need to be, fast.
The Satin Orange Crush DK24’s HSH
designation confirms we’re dealing with a
humbucker/single coil/humbucker format
guitar. All pickups are proper American-
made direct-mounted Seymour Duncans.
Yes, they’re screwed straight to the body.
You get a SH-10B Full Shred humbucker
in the bridge position, a SSL-6 Flat Strat
single coil occupying the middle ground,
and an APH-1N Alnico II Pro humbucker
closest to the 24th fret. Our Primer Gray
DK24 shares the same back and middle
pickups as its citrus-hued amigo. It lives up
to its HSS format, however, by replacing the
humbucker with another SSL-6 Custom
Flat Strat single coil at the neck. This SSL-6
is the hum-cancelling ‘RWRP’ (‘reverse
wind, reverse polarity’) version.
Both DK24s run their pickups through
the same spec wiring loom. The knob that
will likely see the most action is the speedy
500kohm EVH Bourns Low-Friction master
volume. You also get a No-Load master tone
and a five-way pickup selector blade switch.
These DK24s are supposed to be modern
shred machines, so where’s the obligatory
double-locking Floyd Rose vibrato?
Floating, of course. Well, our guitars feature
a much simpler setup. The Gotoh Custom
510 six-saddle bridge is a modern take on
the classic Strat ‘Synchronized’ vibrato.
Poised on twin posts, it pivots above a body
recess that allows it to swing both ways.
The screw-in arm has its thread running
through its insides. It mates with a screw
in the 510’s steel block providing a firm
connection. You don’t get that disconcerting
wiggle you often experience in worn
traditional threaded vibrato arms, or the
infuriating ever-loosening screw-on sleeve
you’re stuck with on many licensed Floyds.
The other end of the strings are secured to
a set of Charvel-branded die-cast locking
tuners. Further tuning stability is assured
with a perfectly cut, and super slippery,
Graph Tech TUSQ XL top nut.
Until now, we’ve held back on what makes
these guitars a bit more special. You might
have noticed the honey-tinged vibe of the
bolt-on maple necks. Charvel refers to this
effect as ‘caramelised’. You’ve probably seen
this process described as ‘roasted’ on Fender
Custom Shop Strat and Tele necks. Other
manufacturers use terms such as ‘baked’,
‘toasted’ and, in the case of numerous
acoustic guitars, ‘torrified’. Caramelised
maple is cooked in a kiln at over 300 degrees.
The result is a timber that has much less
moisture than regular maple, is lighter yet
stronger, and resists changes in temperature
and humidity. It also looks pretty.
While caramelised maple doesn’t require
a finish, Charvel has spec’d a thin hand-
rubbed urethane coating. It makes this
caramel treat extra sweet to play… not
sticky. The cooking process also aims to
make the necks stiffer. Again, Charvel has
gone all belt and braces with a couple of
graphite rods for additional reinforcement.
The necks are two-piece thanks to the use
of a 305 to 406mm (12- to 16-inch) radius
1. In place of the usual
shred-friendly double-
locking Floyd Rose
vibrato is a Gotoh 510.
This vibrato swings
both ways in its body
recess and comes
paired with locking
machineheads and a
slippery Graph Tech
top nut for excellent
tuning stability
2. Both models here
feature bolt-on necks,
and you’ll notice that
the body and rear side
of the treble cutaway
is sculpted to provide
even better access to
those upper frets
The ‘caramelised’
maple necks are a
bit special… lighter
yet stronger than
regular maple
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GIT448.rev_charvel.indd 12 6/13/19 1:35 PM