Charvel today debuts two timeless guitars crafted in the USA: the American Neo-Classic™ San Dimas® Style 1 SD1 HH FR MPL and the American Neo-Classic™ San Dimas® SD1 HH HT MPL. Rooted in the iconic San Dimas model that defined the sound of the 1980s, these instruments marry timeless design with modern performance to deliver uncompromising tone and playability. A true celebration of Charvel’s California heritage, the brand born as a guitar repair shop in SoCal and named after the San Dimas factory where Grover Jackson built its legacy, the American Neo-Classic San Dimas series is built for players who demand professional-grade sonic excellence at an attainable price point.
“Charvel was born in California and so was this guitar. The American Neo-Classic San Dimas is a direct line back to where it all started, the shop, the craft, the obsession with making instruments that players actually want to play,” said Jon Romanowski, VP of Product, Charvel. “Building it in Corona feels like coming full circle. The JB/’59 pickup pairing delivers on every level, and the finishes feel as iconic as the guitar itself.”
From the stages of the 1980s to today’s most innovative players, Charvel has always stood behind the artists who define music. The American Neo-Classic San Dimas series is the next chapter in that story, a USA-made instrument built in Corona, California, that delivers the premium quality Charvel is known for, now at a price point that puts it within reach of more artists than ever before.
Key features include:
- Versatile Pickups – The Seymour Duncan® JB/59 pickup combination covers a wide tonal range. The neck ’59 is warm and articulate for leads and rhythm work, while the bridge JB has the output and edge players need for high-gain playing.
- Performance Frets – Stainless Steel Jumbo Frets offer a fast, smooth playing surface with exceptional durability, maintaining consistent feel and playability through years of heavy use.
- Premium Bridges – The SD1 HH FR MPL’s Top-Mount Floyd Rose® Double Locking Bridge handles the most aggressive tremolo use while maintaining perfect pitch, and the SD1 HH HT MPL’s Charvel Hardtail Bridge delivers reliable tuning stability and maximum resonance, both paired with a single volume pot and 5-way blade switch for intuitive tonal control.
- Electric Finishes – Available in a striking palette of colors including Robin’s Egg Blue, Ivory Blitz, Gloss Black and Racing Red for the SD1 HH FR, and Gloss Black, Racing Red, Velvet Midnight and Ivory Blitz for the SD1 HH HT.
To celebrate the Charvel American Neo-Classic San Dimas series, Charvel is releasing a series of exclusive artist videos showcasing the guitars in action:
Watch Dweezil Zappa shred on the Charvel American Neo-Classic San Dimas at a California skate park in a performance that channels the raw energy, big riffs and untamed spirit of hard rock’s greatest decade.
Go behind the scenes at the factory and watch firsthand how the Charvel guitar is built. From raw materials to a fully realized, American-made instrument, every step of the process reflects the precision and craftsmanship that defines the series.
