Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

[Sykes]

I believe back in the 80's Charvel were bolt on and Jackson were neck thru's?
Then they started making the Charvels in Japan and kept the Jacksons US made?
I guess what I really want to know is what can I learn from the different headstock logos.
I can't remember what color lettering they had at first, white or yellow, then they change to white or yellow, then that God awefull "toothpaste" logo. Then the Charvettes? I think those almost destroyed the Charvel reputation.
I think Wayne Charvel is still making guitars under the Wayne Guitars name now.

I'm kinda sniffin' around for an old 80's US made Charvel. I just want to be sure that's what I'm looking at.
I figure that the colr and style of the logo in the head, will give a model year indication.
I used to have a star body US made. I'll try to find a pic to post.

I'm probably way off on my info of this subject, but that's why I ask.

Thanks

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

I'm sorry I can't help you, but the folks at www.jcfonline.com sure should be able to! Check it out.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

I'm also kind of interested.....I just picked up a '95 USA San Dimas Strat in a trade & it's a pretty nice guitar. Not sure what model it is, but the guy I got it from said this was only built in '95 & '96, not sure why???

Any of you experts can see pics in my link below.....

 

[jmh151]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

The '95 and '96 San Dimas were supposed to be a "Reissue".

Charvel started as Wayne Charvel. He, Lynn Ellsworth, and Greg Warmoth were involved with Boogie Bodies, making replacement strat bodies , necks and hardware in the '70's. Wayne Charvel was modifying strats and other guitars for alot of rock stars, so he started building guitars with the popular modifications. At the time they were built way better than Fender Strats, and they typically had rear routed bodies, flatter radius neck, and routed for humbuckers. These were all bolt on guitars, and initially had strat headstocks. Fender sued Charvel over thee headstocks, and at some time they started using pointy Jackson headstocks.

At the same time there was Grover Jackson. He and Karl Sandoval were also building guitars, and started building neck thru body guitars. Karl Sandoval built Randy Rhoads the poka dot flying vee. Later on Grover Jackson built Randy the white vee. This was the first guitar that Grover Jackson ever put his "Jackson" name on the headstock, and this was the first Jackson guitar, and Jackson guitars were born.

Jackson bought Charvel, and that's when Charvel started using Jackson's pointy headstock. Both were made in the USA in the same San Dimas California factory, the bolt on guitars were Charvels, neck thru guitars were Jacksons. Around 1986 the companies relocated to Ontario, California.

Eventually Jackson opened up an overseas factory in Japan, and started an import line that was just as good in quality as the USA models. This only lasted a few years. Jackson then put the Charvel name on all the import guitars, and kept the Jackson name for all the USA made models. At this time both companies were making both bolt on and neck thru guitars, but the Charvels were imports, Jacksons were USA.

Eventually Charvels were known as cheap import guitars. The San Dimas "reissues" were an attempt by Jackson to bring back the Charvel name, but they had ugly headstocks and were still imported.

For years the original Wayne Charvel and San Dimas Charvels were sought after by collectors. If you had the money, the Jackson Custom shop would build you Charvel with Charvel in the headstock. Jackson put out a few "reissues", but none were like the originals.

A few years ago Jackson was in financial difficulties. Fender bought Jackson, and fender brought back the original made in USA Charvel guitars- the EVH models, and the others out now. The original collectors items had strat headstocks, most of the standard production ones have Jackson style pointy headstocks. These are supposedly EXACT reproductions of the originals.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

Grover had bought out Charvel from Wayne before the Randy guitar He used his name for it because he felt it was too pointy to be a Charvel Grover used to work for Wayne.

Jackson also did make bolt on super strats (not dinky) during the 80s and 90s. Charvel just had a higher 'hot rod Strat' profile than Jacksons, which focused on the USA line such as soloists and RRs.

Charvel Japanese imports were not 'cheap'. Some of the Korean and Chinese ( I do think some were made there ) were though. But the Japanese model and contemporary series were GREAT guitars. So great like, as in the early 90s for Jackson, people bought them more than USA guitars.


I've never played a San Dimas . The only USA Charvel I played wasn EVH and while it WAS overpriced, it was still a fantastic guitar. Just not 3,000 dollars of guitar in there.

 

[shred-dog]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

all the usa charvels are san dimas with necks to die for and the import ones made in japan model series and the early tooth paste logo ones are bad ass !! my first guitars were charvels and with a JB in the bridge i was rockin'

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

Well, about half of what has been said is true, and the other half isn´t...

for the real scoop, take a look at www.usacharvels.com ... unfortunately many of the other larger sites have closed recently because of them becoming too much hassle for the owners...

.....Jackson bought Charvel, and that's when Charvel started using Jackson's pointy headstock. Both were made in the USA in the same San Dimas California factory, the bolt on guitars were Charvels, neck thru guitars were Jacksons. Around 1986 the companies relocated to Ontario, California...

Actually Charvel started using that headstock soon as well after the first Rhoads prototype was finished...it was Randy´s design, and he allowed the company to use it as they saw fit. This was ca ´83. While Jackson "started" with the Rhoads and Soloist, as soon as "Jackson" actually became an official brand it was always able to get either spec with either logo

Eventually Jackson opened up an overseas factory in Japan, and started an import line that was just as good in quality as the USA models. This only lasted a few years. Jackson then put the Charvel name on all the import guitars, and kept the Jackson name for all the USA made models. At this time both companies were making both bolt on and neck thru guitars, but the Charvels were imports, Jacksons were USA.

The Model Series were the first Imports.. they were identical in Spec to the "standard spec" Jackson Strats and Soloists also available at the time, but with rosewood Fretboards. teh "toothpaste series" was the same thing from ´89-90. In 1990 the Charvel name was dropped completely and the line was given ebony fretboards and named the "professional" series..: These were 100% identical to the USA guitars in all respects. In ´95 the quality and line was purposely reduced so as not to keep stealing sales from the USA guitars.

Eventually Charvels were known as cheap import guitars. The San Dimas "reissues" were an attempt by Jackson to bring back the Charvel name, but they had ugly headstocks and were still imported.

True, but the San Dimas reissues were very much USA made

For years the original Wayne Charvel and San Dimas Charvels were sought after by collectors. If you had the money, the Jackson Custom shop would build you Charvel with Charvel in the headstock. Jackson put out a few "reissues", but none were like the originals.

They still are quite sought after, with prices for clean examples easily breaking the 5k mark for a strathead.

A few years ago Jackson was in financial difficulties. Fender bought Jackson, and fender brought back the original made in USA Charvel guitars- the EVH models, and the others out now. The original collectors items had strat headstocks, most of the standard production ones have Jackson style pointy headstocks. These are supposedly EXACT reproductions of the originals.

The new pointies are exact renditions... the neck profile is spot on with the SD pointies I´ve been lucky enough to try. Stratheads profiles were always all over the board, so it will be interesting to feel on eofthe first ones...

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

Good info fellas!

FWIW, my Re Issue has a beautiful birdseye maple neck/rosewood board & a Strat headstock....nice flame maple top....nice guitar! :bigthumb:

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

I have been trying to figure out if my 1987 Charvel is USA or Imported... I figure Imported... It is a Red single humbucker body... the humbucker is a Jackson-(solid cover, no pole pieces.... looks like a large EMG) The Bridge is a 6 screw non locking trem.... The headstock is a pointy Jackson style... It was in new shape when i bought it a few years back for $200 Canadian... except for the fact it had a chip out of the point of the headstock... the frets do not look like they have even been played on...... Nice guitar!

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

whofan...sounds like an import model 1 to me. on the charvel logo on the headstock does it have have a pointy headstock or a 3x3 headstock after the word charvel? 3x3 tends to mean USA and a pointy means import (the logo, not the actual headstock).

-Mike

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

whofan...sounds like an import model 1 to me. on the charvel logo on the headstock does it have have a pointy headstock or a 3x3 headstock after the word charvel? 3x3 tends to mean USA and a pointy means import (the logo, not the actualy headstock).

-Mike

Hold on i'll check....

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

the logo has no numbuers like 3x3..... the end of the logo has a pointy headstock after the L in Charvel

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

no no i didn't mean numbers. by 3x3 i meant in the logo after the L it would have 3 tuners on the top 3 tuners on the bottom of the little headstock. that means USA and a pointy headstock at the end of the logo, after the L means import.


USA logo...3 per side tuners on headstock decal after the L...

import logo...pointy headstock on decal after the L

-Mike

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

no no i didn't mean numbers. by 3x3 i meant in the logo after the L it would have 3 tuners on the top 3 tuners on the bottom of the little headstock. that means USA and a pointy headstock at the end of the logo, after the L means import.


USA logo...3 per side tuners on headstock decal after the L...

import logo...pointy headstock on decal after the L

-Mike

opps... ya the logo on mine is like the bottom photo.....

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

PS, this 87 Charvel has the nicest neck! It's thick but nice! It almost as an LP feel to the neck...

 

[Willis]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

My next guitar is going to be a SD Charvel replica. I got a neck made by Lynne Ellsworth of Boogie Bodies, and I'm getting a body made by a luthier that makes bodies for George Lynch. I'm using a Kahler from an early 80s Charvel, and my UGD pickup. Once the body comes in and I get tuners, I can start assembling it.

I have been trying to figure out if my 1987 Charvel is USA or Imported... I figure Imported... It is a Red single humbucker body... the humbucker is a Jackson-(solid cover, no pole pieces.... looks like a large EMG) The Bridge is a 6 screw non locking trem.... The headstock is a pointy Jackson style... It was in new shape when i bought it a few years back for $200 Canadian... except for the fact it had a chip out of the point of the headstock... the frets do not look like they have even been played on...... Nice guitar!

Sounds like a Model 1, which would be imported

 

[Pierre]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

I have one I have one! Well it's a model 1a. Pickguard and 3 singles. It has a model 4's neck now.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

...... Stratheads profiles were always all over the board, so it will be interesting to feel one of the first ones...

My 81 is incredidably fast. It's easily the fastest neck I've every played. Period. It practically plays its self. The frets are about as wide as 6150's but not as tall. The fret work is really fine, with the edge beval laid back more than the typical Fender or Gibson. You don't notice them when sliding or changing hand position. It's 1 3/4 inches wide at the nut. It's not thin like a late 80's Jackson, and certianly not nearly as thin as an Ibanez wizard type neck. I don't have any calipers handy, but it would be "chunky" compared to most Jackson necks. It has a 12-inch radius through out. It has a skunk stripe, with the truss rod screw at the body end. The action is consistant over the whole neck. Bends and finger vibrato are great to feel and control. It's just the right amount of fingerboard to finger contact area. The strings are not so close together that it becomes congested doing awkward fingerings or hammer ons, but there not so far spaced that you can't sweep pick either.

 

[DeanSweden]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

I've read that Grover Jackson bought Charvel in the late 70's and up to
that time, Wayne Charvels routingmachines hadn't been used once.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Can anyone tell me the Charvel story?

Wayne is currently building WAYNE guitars whihc are top line hand built