Help identifying Charvel strat

J

jpistolas

New member
There's a Charvel strat style guitar at a used music shop the next city over from me. I know it's been there at least a year. I play it every time I'm in the area. I'd love some help identifying it. Have yet to see a model that looks exactly like it.

Here's a picture of a 1992 STX Custom that's the closest thing I can find to it. It's like the bottom transred and has a detailed swamp ash looking body. Same headstock, logo, rosewood fretboard. Guitar doesn't say STX Custom on the headstock. Also has 3 black Jackson or Charvel branded active single coil pickups with a battery compartment in the back. Black pearl pickguard and all black hardware.

Plays fantastic! Haven't tried it through any thing you would call a good amp but it sounds pretty good through the little practice amp I used at the store.
1992Charvel-STX Custom.jpg
Any ideas? Think it's the same model just customized? Maybe a factory one off deal?

Need help from some folks more knowledgeable about Charvels than me. They're asking $300, missing bar and no case. Really wanting to take the plunge but I'd like some more background first.

Thanks in advance
 
Re: Help identifying Charvel strat

Do you have a picture of the guitar? What writing or identification is on the headstock? Was the tremolo double-locking or vintage-style? Charvel also made made a CX model that is similar to the STX Custom and might be what you've seen.

Maybe this site can be of assistance to you as you try to identify that guitar: http://www.charvelusa.com/models.html
 
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Re: Help identifying Charvel strat

I wish I did have pix of the actual guitar. It's in a music store so I'm not sure if they'd let me take pix but I plan to ask when I'm over there again.

The trem is a floyd-schaller I believe. Floyd style either way but all black unlike the chrome in the STX picture. There is no other writing other than "Charvel" on the headstock. Picture the headstock in the STX picture with only "Charvel". Granted, I'm working from memory but I've played the guitar several times so I think I'm remembering correctly.

Thanks for the link. Actually, that's the site I grabbed the STX picture from. It was by far and away the closest thing I could find there to the guitar I'm talking about.

Is that an absolute authority on all the Jackson era models? Just wondering if maybe some aren't shown.
 
Re: Help identifying Charvel strat

I don't think so. The one pictured is '92-93 and I think the early '90's Charvels were all made in Japan. I think.... I really need to go back by that music store and see if I can get a picture of the actual guitar. It's an oddball and I've yet to find one online that looks exactly like it.

There was nothing saying MIK or MIJ or MIC even. Back of the headstock had a serial. That's it. No model name either.
 
Re: Help identifying Charvel strat

If it's been there that long & you "really" like it,see if they'll come off the price,or at least throw in a bag/case...

Sounds promising,good luck!!!
 
Re: Help identifying Charvel strat

JP - I think that site is a pretty good source. I hang out a little bit at the Charvel/Jackson forum and those guys might be an even better source of info, especially if you can supply a good photo or two. (I would be surprised if the shop wouldn't allow you to take a picture.) Verifying the headstock has no writing beyond the "Charvel" logo on it might help. You might also make note of the serial number the next time that you see the guitar.

I doubt that the guitar in that shop is some sort of special run but I suppose it's possible.

For the money that they're asking, you might try to get them to throw in at least a cheap case. And if you can offer them cash on the spot, they might be even more willing to deal. If that guitar has been sitting in their shop for over a year, they're probably a little eager to move it.
 
Re: Help identifying Charvel strat

Thanks all for the info! Looking at the Charvel sites really had me thinking it was the STX. Not that you can see it in the STX picture that well but the one I'm talking about has a gorgeous trasred swamp ash looking body.

Any idea why it would have black hardware, black pearl pickguard and active single coils? So far every picture I've seen of the STX Custom had HSS configuration, chrome hardware & white pearl pickguard.
 
Re: Help identifying Charvel strat

DOH! I do tend to miss the obvious! Guess the changes looked so at home on the guitar I can't picture it different. :smack:
 
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