My Charvel restoration

[Ayrton]

Gearjoneser's thread made me realize that I never posted up the whole journey to get my '82 back in shape. I had taken many pictures along the way for the Charvel guys, but somehow forgot to post it here.

So here it is... pictures taken over the course of about a year.

This is what it looked like when I first picked her up.

Disassembly

The build dates show that the body was from 1982, and the neck most likely 1983.

"Trans blue" was also written in the neck pocket along with small remnants of the original blue finish.

Vintage trem converted to (poorly) to a Floyd.

Hacked off 22nd fret

Poor routing for pickups

 

[Ayrton]

Re: My Charvel restoration

Still had the original grounding plate and most of the electronics.

All apart, now the repairs can begin.

I removed the orange, which was thankfully just tinted clear to reveal the beautiful solid birdseye maple body.

I plugged the holes where whomever installed the Floyd had drilled all the way through the body.

The trem block opening was routed too large during the same botched install, so I had to repair that.

Pickup holes routed correctly

Modern Floyd studs installed

 

[Ayrton]

Re: My Charvel restoration

Now the neck...

New frets installed

 

[Ayrton]

Re: My Charvel restoration

Pic from the painter (thanks Marty Bell)

Correct crown head tuners installed

Along with correct logo

 

[Ayrton]

Re: My Charvel restoration

Back together

I swapped the zebra '78 for a JB

 

[Ayrton]

Re: My Charvel restoration

There you have it!

It was some work, and I was never sure how it was going to turn out.

I am extremely pleased with the final product, and it sounds just monstrous.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: My Charvel restoration

its just gobsmacking. awesome guitar and beautiful thorough restoration.

 

[Maynardo]

Re: My Charvel restoration

killer looking axe, how heavy is that birdseye body?

 

[Ayrton]

Re: My Charvel restoration

killer looking axe, how heavy is that birdseye body?

The whole guitar weighs about 9.5 pounds. Well worth it for the sound it makes.

 

[Will S-T]

Re: My Charvel restoration

Thats a wonderful resto mate!!
And back to her former glory.

Congratulations

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: My Charvel restoration

So effing sexy.

I could've sworn you posted a thread about it, though.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: My Charvel restoration

^^ I think he posted a pic or two before but not of the whole restoration process.

Nice! Can't believe that someone drilled all the way through the body for the Floyd inserts! It's interesting when you get an old guitar that's got a bunch of 'wtf were they thinking?' mods. Some people shouldn't be allowed near power tools etc.

What did you use to clean the neck, sandpaper or steel wool? I have to do it to my Proline at some point.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: My Charvel restoration

I thought I had done a start to finish thread as well, but I could not find it here.

I did not touch the back of the neck with anything but steel wool and some rubbing alcohol to just clean it. The fretboard was leveled during the refretting, and that of course was sandpaper.

I refinished the neck using Watco oil, just like the factory did in the '80's.

 

[aleclee]

Re: My Charvel restoration

Nice! Except for taking out the '78.

 

[Bass_Medic_05]

Re: My Charvel restoration

Sweet birds eye maple body

 

[Ayrton]

Re: My Charvel restoration

Nice! Except for taking out the '78.

$125 shipped and it is yours...like new.

 

[guitarkid]

Re: My Charvel restoration

That looks great! Hard to believe its the same guitar.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: My Charvel restoration

You did a fantastic job. What a great project!

 

[DankStar]

Re: My Charvel restoration

So much mojo it makes you dizzy! Plays like a dream too.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: My Charvel restoration

Some guys are good at guitar restorations, and some at amps, but you're great at both.

You've brought so many nice pieces of gear to their full potential, and way beyond.

Not to mention that I've seen you build cabs from scratch, like the amazing 212 cab you built to Bogner OS 212 specs with Marshall aesthetics. That's one cab I'd love to have......but like you, I need another cab like a hole in the head.