May have a chance to get a good deal on an old Charvel

DarkMatter

DarkMatter

Unprofessional Toneologist
I don't know to much about these guitars but I know a few of you guys do. A coworker who doesn't really play has it and is bringing it to work tomorrow so that I can try it out over the weekend. He thinks it is from '85 or '86. All I know right now is that it is white, has a Floyd Rose, and a Strat style headstock.

I thought it might be nice to add to the family if it's a good guitar. What should I look for in terms of country of origin, and potential problem areas? What might a good price be if it's in nice condition? I will provide some more info when I get it in hand.
 
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Re: May have a chance to get a good deal on an old Charvel

This thread would look handsome with some pictures, wouldn't it? It smells good already.
 
Re: May have a chance to get a good deal on an old Charvel

Hopefully he remembers to bring it tomorrow. I'll post pics.
 
Re: May have a chance to get a good deal on an old Charvel

yeah, kinda have to see pics to answer your questions. Charvel from that era with a strat headstock is probably made in USA and alot more valuable than one of the pointy headstock ones from a couple of years later that are probably Model series that were made in Japan starting in '86. (Although the model series ones are great too!) Wonder if the floyd was added after the fact? Original charvels were mostly made with strat style trems.
 
Re: May have a chance to get a good deal on an old Charvel

BloodRose said:
yeah, kinda have to see pics to answer your questions. Charvel from that era with a strat headstock is probably made in USA and alot more valuable than one of the pointy headstock ones from a couple of years later that are probably Model series that were made in Japan starting in '86. (Although the model series ones are great too!) Wonder if the floyd was added after the fact? Original charvels were mostly made with strat style trems.
Click to expand...

Strathead from that time period would be MIA. Outside of a few guitars for the Japanese domestic market, Charvel didn't make any import Stratheads prior to the MIJ Pro Mods of a few years ago. They did make a few pseudo Stratheads in Japan in the late 80s, but the headstock is very obviously NOT a Strat one. A MIA Charvel from that time period will have a 4 digit serial and either a San Dimas or Ontario address on the neck plate. The factory moved in 1986, and the cutover was around serial 42XX. It's possible that the Floyd is original as MIA Charvels & Jacksons prior to 1990 were all custom order. A recessed Floyd would not be original as Jackson didn't start offering this option until much later. Lastly, while it is true that many of the (very) early Charvels had 6-bolt vintage trems, most of the post-'83 ones I've seen had Kahlers.
 
Re: May have a chance to get a good deal on an old Charvel

Thanks for the info so far. I'm thinking it may have a pickguard because when I showed him a picture of one my warmoths, which is a rear rout, he asked how I got the electronics in. As I said, he's not really a guitar guy. If that is the case, then it's not likely to have a factory Floyd? I asked if it did but he may not know what that is. I drew a pic of headstocks and he said it definitely wasn't pointy.
 
Re: May have a chance to get a good deal on an old Charvel

He could definitely be wrong about the year as well.
 
Re: May have a chance to get a good deal on an old Charvel

Bad news: he left in a hurry and forgot to bring it. So... No pics.

Good news: I got more details. He is the original owner. Bought the guitar when he was a kid, brand new, from a local shop in the mid 80's. There was a guy next door who was a great player and suggested he go with a Charvel. It has barely been played. We went over some pictures of other Charvels. We're sure on the Strat headstock which is also a tilt-back. It does not have a pickguard. It's dual humbucker with a Floyd. White with white headstock.
 
Re: May have a chance to get a good deal on an old Charvel

DarkMatter said:
Bad news: he left in a hurry and forgot to bring it. So... No pics.

Good news: I got more details. He is the original owner. Bought the guitar when he was a kid, brand new, from a local shop in the mid 80's. There was a guy next door who was a great player and suggested he go with a Charvel. It has barely been played. We went over some pictures of other Charvels. We're sure on the Strat headstock which is also a tilt-back. It does not have a pickguard. It's dual humbucker with a Floyd. White with white headstock.
Click to expand...

AFAIK Charvel never made tilt-back Stratheads, and matching headstocks are also unusual. At this point I'd have to admit to being stumped until you have pics to post.
 
Re: May have a chance to get a good deal on an old Charvel

I've been slowly doing some digging on these and I'm confused as well. I should have pics late, late tonight or sometime tomorrow.
 
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