Electric guitars

Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL

The Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL combines Seymour Duncan humbuckers, a compound-radius maple fingerboard, and a Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo. Its listed specifications suit players seeking a performance-focused electric guitar with a locking tremolo and included case.

★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 5 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker

Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL review

The Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL is a U.S.-made electric guitar with an alder body, a maple bolt-on neck, two Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups, and a double-locking Floyd Rose tremolo. Its specifications point to a design built around a familiar combination: a 25.5-inch scale, 22 jumbo stainless steel frets, a locking nut, and a tremolo system intended to keep the strings secured at both ends. The finish is listed as Ivory Blitz, with chrome hardware.

The listed price is 2475. No customer reviews are available for this model, so this assessment is based solely on the supplied specifications. There is no basis here to claim how the guitar feels in hand, how it sounds in a room, or how well an individual instrument is set up. Those judgments require direct testing.

Body, neck, and fingerboard

The body is alder, with no separate top. The neck and fingerboard are both maple. Charvel specifies a bolt-on neck joint, black dot fingerboard inlays, and a compound fingerboard radius that transitions from 12 inches to 16 inches. That changing radius is a measurable design feature: the fingerboard is more curved near the nut and flatter toward the higher frets. The specs alone do not establish how a particular player will find that profile, but they identify the intended geometry.

The nut width is 42.86 mm, or 1.6875 inches. The scale length is 648 mm, equivalent to 25.5 inches. Together, these figures provide useful points of comparison for players evaluating neck dimensions. Charvel lists 22 jumbo stainless steel frets. Stainless steel is the specified fret material, while the fret count and size are given by the manufacturer. No neck thickness, neck shape, or fretboard edge treatment is included in the available information.

Pickups and controls

The guitar uses a Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 humbucker in the bridge position and a Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N humbucker at the neck. The product is therefore equipped with two humbuckers, rather than a single-coil pickup configuration. Their model names identify the installed pickups, but the supplied data does not include measured output, frequency response, or switching diagrams. A tonal verdict would require listening tests through specified amplification and recording conditions.

Controls consist of one 500K volume pot, identified as an EVH Bourns low-friction potentiometer, and a five-way switch. The presence of five switch positions is clear, but the exact coil combinations or wiring functions are not stated in the data. Buyers should confirm the switching layout with Charvel or a retailer if a particular pickup combination is essential to their setup. There is no separate tone control listed.

Floyd Rose hardware and included case

A top-mounted Floyd Rose 1000 Series double-locking tremolo is paired with a Floyd Rose 1000 Series locking nut. The double-locking arrangement clamps the strings at the bridge and nut, a configuration designed to limit string movement through the tuning points when using the tremolo. The specifications do not state the bridge's setup range, spring arrangement, or whether the guitar is shipped floating or set against the body. Those details can affect adjustment and should be checked on the individual instrument.

Other listed hardware includes Charvel-branded die-cast tuning machines and chrome-finished components. The factory string specification is nickel-plated steel in gauges.009 to.042. The instrument includes a Charvel Multi-Fit Foam Core case. A separate bag is not included, which is consistent with the case being listed as part of the package.

Technical assessment

The specification sheet describes a focused configuration: alder construction, a maple neck and fingerboard, a 25.5-inch scale, two named humbuckers, and locking Floyd Rose hardware. The compound radius and stainless steel frets are also clearly defined, giving prospective buyers concrete dimensions and materials to compare against other guitars. The 500K volume control and five-way switch add useful identification of the electronics, though the switch's actual wiring remains unspecified.

At 2475, the purchase decision should include hands-on checks of the setup, fretwork, tremolo operation, tuning stability, and pickup switching. These are individual-instrument and performance questions that cannot be settled from a parts list. The model number is 638036, and the sales unit is one guitar. The published data identifies the instrument as made in the USA. Overall, the Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL has a detailed, performance-oriented hardware specification, but buyers should verify its feel, sound, and condition in person before drawing conclusions beyond those facts.

Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL, front view
8.5/ 10 overall score
$2,475current price at the retailer
Check today's price price and delivery time at the retailer

Shipping and duties

The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.

Scores by area

Where it shines, where it stumbles

What convinced me

  • Seymour Duncan JB bridge and '59 neck pickups provide a versatile humbucker setup.
  • Compound-radius maple fingerboard and 22 jumbo stainless steel frets support a range of playing styles.
  • Includes a Floyd Rose 1000 Series double-locking tremolo and a fitted foam-core case.

What bugged me

  • No customer reviews are available to verify real-world performance or reliability.
  • The double-locking tremolo may require more involved setup and string changes than a fixed bridge.

Is it the right one for you?

Good pick if

A good fit for players seeking Seymour Duncan humbuckers, a Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo, and a fitted case. Its compound-radius maple fingerboard and stainless steel frets may appeal to players who value those features.

Look elsewhere if

Less suitable for players who prefer a fixed bridge or want a simpler tremolo setup. Not ideal for buyers who require customer reviews before making a decision.
RockHard rockMetal

Suggested level: Intermediate

Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL, $2,475Check today's price →

Specifications

Color
Ivory
Body
Alder
Top
None
Neck
Maple
Fretboard
Maple
Frets
22
Scale
648 mm
Pickups
HH
Tremolo
Floyd Rose
Incl. bag
No
Including case
Yes

Up close

Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL, detail 2Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL, detail 3Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL, detail 4Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL, detail 5

Before you decide

Questions players ask

What pickups are fitted to this guitar?

It has a Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 bridge pickup and a Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N neck pickup, with a five-way switch and one volume control.

Does it include a case?

Yes. It includes a Charvel Multi-Fit Foam Core case.

What kind of tremolo does it have?

It has a top-mounted Floyd Rose 1000 Series double-locking tremolo and a Floyd Rose 1000 Series locking nut.

What are the fingerboard and fret specifications?

The fingerboard is maple, with a compound radius of 12 to 16 inches and 22 jumbo stainless steel frets.

Are there customer reviews for this product?

No customer reviews were provided, so there is no customer feedback to summarize.

The last word from the bench

This USA-made Charvel pairs an alder body and maple neck with a JB bridge pickup and '59 neck pickup. The compound-radius fingerboard, jumbo stainless steel frets, and Floyd Rose 1000 Series hardware are notable features for players who prioritize fast playing and tremolo use. The included fitted case adds practical value, though no customer reviews are available to corroborate the specifications with ownership feedback. Consider it if you want this specific combination of humbuckers and a double-locking tremolo.

Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL, $2,475Check today's price →

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Charvel Am NC SD1 HH FR IVBL

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