Grover Jackson built the first San Dimas guitars in a small California repair shop in 1979. Forty-seven years later, Charvel has brought production back to the state where it started. The American Neo-Classic San Dimas series puts two USA-made superstrats into the lineup: a Floyd Rose model at $2,799 and a hardtail at $2,749, both assembled at Fender’s Corona, California facility with quartersawn maple necks reproduced from authentic 1980 specifications.
Built in Corona, Sourced From the Original Specs
The American Neo-Classic series marks Charvel’s first USA-made production San Dimas in recent memory. The Pro-Mod line (Mexico) and MJ series (Japan) have carried the San Dimas name for years, but these new models carry a “Made in USA” headstock stamp and a price to match.
Both guitars ship with an alder body, a one-piece quartersawn maple bolt-on neck reinforced with graphite, and a quartersawn maple fingerboard running 22 jumbo stainless steel frets. The compound radius spans 12″ to 16″, flattening toward the upper frets for lower action during bends. Rolled fingerboard edges smooth the transitions, and Luminlay glow-in-the-dark side dots handle visibility on dark stages.
The neck profile is Charvel’s Speed Neck, described by MusicRadar as an “emaciated C shape.” It’s thin, fast, and finished in natural satin rather than gloss. A heel-mounted truss rod adjustment wheel keeps setup changes simple without removing the neck.
One Volume Knob, Five Positions, Zero Tone Pots
The electronics follow the minimalist approach that defined 1980s superstrats. A Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 sits in the bridge and a Seymour Duncan ’59 SH-1N occupies the neck, both fitted with parchment bobbins. The only control on the body is a single volume knob running through a 500K EVH Bourns low-friction pot.
The five-way blade switch is where the tonal range lives. Position 1 delivers the full JB bridge humbucker. Position 5 delivers the full ’59 neck. Position 3 runs both pickups together. Positions 2 and 4 split each pickup to a single coil and combine opposite coils from each humbucker: position 2 pairs the JB’s outer coil with the ’59’s inner coil, and position 4 reverses that pairing. Five distinct voices from a guitar with no tone knob on it.
Two Bridges, Two Hardware Packages
The series launches with two models. The SD1 HH FR gets a Floyd Rose 1000 Series double-locking tremolo (top-mounted), a locking nut, chrome hardware, and four finish options: Robin’s Egg Blue, Ivory Blitz, Gloss Black, and Racing Red. Price: $2,799.
The SD1 HH HT swaps the Floyd for a Charvel hardtail bridge, switches to gold hardware, and offers Gloss Black, Racing Red, Velvet Midnight, and Ivory Blitz. Price: $2,749. The $50 difference between models covers the Floyd Rose system.
Both guitars include a bone nut (1.6875″), Charvel-branded die-cast tuners, vintage-style disc string trees, and a Charvel multi-fit hardshell gig bag.
Where the Neo-Classic Sits in the Lineup
Charvel currently sells three tiers of San Dimas guitars: the Pro-Mod (Mexico, $1,099 to $1,399), the MJ (Japan, around $2,000), and now the American Neo-Classic (USA, $2,750 and up). The next step from here is the USA Select line at $3,500+.
The American Neo-Classic occupies a specific gap. It costs less than a Custom Shop order but delivers USA manufacturing with stainless steel frets, graphite-reinforced quartersawn maple, a compound radius fingerboard, Seymour Duncan pickups, and a bone nut. For players who want a USA Charvel without the Custom Shop wait and price, this is the entry point.
Jon Romanowski, VP of Product at Charvel, framed the launch in the official press release: “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. Building it in Corona feels like coming full circle.”
Specs at a Glance
| Spec | SD1 HH FR | SD1 HH HT |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Alder | Alder |
| Neck | Quartersawn maple, graphite reinforced | Quartersawn maple, graphite reinforced |
| Fingerboard | Quartersawn maple, 12″-16″ compound | Quartersawn maple, 12″-16″ compound |
| Frets | 22 jumbo stainless steel | 22 jumbo stainless steel |
| Scale | 25.5″ | 25.5″ |
| Nut | Bone, 1.6875″ | Bone, 1.6875″ |
| Pickups | Seymour Duncan JB / ’59 | Seymour Duncan JB / ’59 |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose 1000 | Charvel Hardtail |
| Hardware | Chrome | Gold |
| Case | Hardshell gig bag | Hardshell gig bag |
| Price | $2,799 | $2,749 |
Available Now
Both models are shipping now through authorized Charvel dealers and charvel.com. Dweezil Zappa appeared in the launch campaign video, shredding through both models at a California skate park. That tells you exactly who Charvel is targeting: players who want speed, clarity, and a direct connection to the brand’s original California DNA.