The Perfect Overhead Compartment Shred Guitar
Ever since spotting a vintage travel-sized Charvel guitar in the wild decades ago, Music Zoo owner Tommy Colletti has been chasing one ever since and when a vintage example wasn't available - he did the next best thing - asked the Charvel Custom Shop to replicate it.
These new Music Zoo-Exclusive Charvel Custom Shop San Dimas Travel-Size guitars are all being masterbuilt - the first batch by the very talented "Red" Dave Nichols. The first two guitars built were an alder body with an oil finish and a single Seymour Duncan humbucker, while the other was a Hot Rod Flames finish by Dan Lawrence over the alder body with two single-coils and a Telecaster-style 3-saddle brass bridge. We are offering different body woods and finish options with many more to come! The neck and bridge are laid out to a full 25.5" scale length making the guitar feel just like a standard-sized instrument - but with a smaller custom-made G&G hardshell case make it the perfect instrument to throw into the trunk, or a planes overhead compartment while traveling.
Shop Charvel Guitars Now:
Contact Us For More Information on Ordering Your Charvel Custom Shop Travel-Size San Dimas!
Contact us at (516) 626-9292Β or sales@themusiczoo.com
Watch it & read it
The Perfect Overhead Compartment Shred Guitar | Charvel Custom San Dimas Travel-Size β MZ Exclusive · 4:46 · 9 chapters
Chapter 1 · 0:00
Charvel Custom Shop Travel Guitar | Music Zoo Exclusive
The opening hook introduces the mini guitar and sets up the decades-long project.
From the video
What happens when you stick a Sand Deas Custom Shop guitar in the dryer? You get a Music Zoo exclusive travel guitar.
Come with me on it. I'll explain it to you.
Chapter 2 · 0:14
The 20-Year Story Behind the Mini Charvel Guitar
The origin story explains the inspiration and unusually long development timeline.
From the video
20 25 years ago, I was at a guitar show in Dallas and I saw a mini travel Charll guitar.
A friend of mine owns the guitar last I heard still. I tried to buy it from him and he wouldn't sell it to me.
So after 20 years of back and forth with Charell about how to do a project like this and how to make this guitar happen, it finally happened.
Chapter 3 · 0:54
Full-Scale Playability in a Travel-Size Charvel
A key product distinction for players searching for a compact guitar without sacrificing familiar feel.
From the video
But it's a full scale guitar. The body's obviously much smaller.
This is for you're a player. You want to get on a plane. You could put this thing on the overhead bin, no problem.
It plays and feels like any custom shop Charll. And that's what I was looking for. I wasn't looking for a toy.
Chapter 4 · 1:42
Dan Lawrence Flame Graphics and Custom Shop Woods
A specification-focused chapter highlighting finishes and wood options described in the video.
From the video
And, you know, again, hand painted by Dan Lawrence. We have them in uh natural as well.
This guitar is alder as well. We're also going to run them in mahogany.
The features are pretty much the same as a regular custom shop guitar, a master build guitar, other than the fact that we we shrunk it down in the dryer.
Chapter 5 · 2:23
Custom Shop Travel Guitar Availability and Ordering
The presenter describes availability cautiously and encourages viewers to inquire about specific builds.
From the video
Uh we're going to do them in a few iterations. You're available now to order.
I believe these may be sold. I'm not actually sure if they're available or not. They may be.
Chapter 6 · 2:48
Original Mahogany Prototype and Single-Humbucker Design
The prototype offers a direct comparison to the production concept and the shop's earlier mahogany guitars.
From the video
Here's one of the original prototypes. This one's in mahogany, and it's very much like our original oil finish natural series mahogany guitars.
One hum and go. And this one's got the Strat style headstock
as opposed to the telly headstock.
Chapter 7 · 3:22
Tele-Style Headstock, Dual Humbuckers and Flame Color Options
A useful chapter for collectors comparing configurations and requesting a special build.
From the video
The original guitar that was made, the travel guitar with the flame was actually had a telly headstock.
And we're offering both this style with the one hum as well as the two hum uh flame series.
I believe that we have this color flame on order and also magenta flame, too.
Chapter 8 · 3:42
Custom G&G Travel Case and Why the Build Took So Long
The final technical detail explains why making a smaller guitar required more than simply reducing body dimensions.
From the video
Not only are you shrinking the guitar down, but you're also shrinking the case.
This is a custom case made by G&G along along with this guitar.
You're not only waiting for the guitar, you're waiting for the case.
Chapter 9 · 4:08
How to Order a Music Zoo Exclusive Charvel Travel Guitar
A direct closing call to action, preserving the presenter's invitation to explore custom configurations.
From the video
But I love the guys at Charell. I'm glad they did this.
You could build these guitars or something like it, an iteration of it. Come visit us at the musiczoo.com.
Talk to our sales staff about getting one for yourself. They're awesome.
