Charvel San Dimas PJ4

Without diving completely into a nostalgic rabbit-hole, let’s just say that these vivid, almost day-glo basses from the most Eighties bass brand of them all, Charvel, take us instantly back four decades. That is, let’s be honest, a huge part of their attraction, just as it was for all those lime-green BC Rich and Jackson basses that infested MTV back then. Presumably Fender – Charvel’s owners since 2002 – are aware that nostalgia doesn’t necessarily equate to quality, which is why their designers have loaded these relatively affordable basses with player-friendly features.