vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

[nognow]

I have always heard that they invented compound radius and used on their guitars.
but all production jacksons and charvels Ive played have a straight radius.
have they stopped using it on production models? was it a custom option?
have you played vintage jacksons/charvels with a compound radius?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

I have always heard that they invented compound radius and used on their guitars.
but all production jacksons and charvels Ive played have a straight radius.
have they stopped using it on production models? was it a custom option?
have you played vintage jacksons/charvels with a compound radius?

I have a few Jackson that do have the compound radius. Relatively newer, so no, not vintage.

Some say Jackson started it. Some say Warmoth started it.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

Don't pretty much all Jacksons and Charvel productions models nowadays have a compound radius?

I used to have a mid-2000's DXMG which a mid-lower-end model, and even that had a compound radius.

 

[Blille]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

I have always heard that they invented compound radius and used on their guitars.
but all production jacksons and charvels Ive played have a straight radius.
have they stopped using it on production models? was it a custom option?
have you played vintage jacksons/charvels with a compound radius?

I bought a new Charvel Pro-Mod this year and it has 12-16 compound radius. That information is actually on the specs of the guitars on their website...

http://charvel.com/guitars/pro-mod/

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

'Cause that's a new one...he's asking when they started or if they ever did it back in the 'glory days' if you will

 

[Blille]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

'Cause that's a new one...he's asking when they started or if they ever did it back in the 'glory days' if you will

Get it now thanks. I could see the Charvel 90s imports not having it but I don't own one.

A compound radius afaik is a very old technique used on acoustic guitars well before charvel or warmoth.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

I've owned a fair amount of import Jackson and Charvel guitars and necks from 1987-1994, and they all had a compound radius of 12-14".... Prior to 1987 though, I couldn't tell you...

The 1993-94 King V are among my fav necks because they have a 12-14" radius, 22 jumbo frets, and the thinnest profile of any neck they made. (17mm@1st fret and 19mm@12th fret) (The next thinnest would be 19mm/21mm)...

I can't remember when Jackson made everything a 24 fret except for the Rhoads, but I'm certain that's when they went with the flatter 12-16" radius that is still in use today...

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

It's stored at my parent's house, but I'm pretty sure my '86 Charvel Model 2 has a Compound Radius. I thought that was a Jackson thing...but I could be wrong.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

The Jackson side of the company was pretty much the hot rod shop and pretty much made everything that wasn't the typical Strat or other conservative styles. That was the very beginning of the company, but those lines were blurred shortly on once the Superstrat niche got more popular with buyers.
I'd say that and Charvel around 86 up that had a pointy headstock was more performance oriented and most likely had a compound radius.
The Floyd came out in 83, and it required a 10" radius roughly, so from 1983,84,85 is when the guitars got more shredtastic year by year.
Charvels from 78 - 82/3 were prob more Strat like spec wise.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

The Jackson side of the company was pretty much the hot rod shop and pretty much made everything that wasn't the typical Strat or other conservative styles. That was the very beginning of the company, but those lines were blurred shortly on once the Superstrat niche got more popular with buyers.
I'd say that and Charvel around 86 up that had a pointy headstock was more performance oriented and most likely had a compound radius.
The Floyd came out in 83, and it required a 10" radius roughly, so from 1983,84,85 is when the guitars got more shredtastic year by year.
Charvels from 78 - 82/3 were prob more Strat like spec wise.

Not to be argumentative, but Wayne had some pretty non-conservative and hot rod stuff too....Charvel Stars and Hydras not to mention he is the first one known to paint flames on a guitar.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

Oh yea for sure, I was just speaking in generalities, and I'm sure the entire story is somewhere online.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

The earliest mention of a compound radius (they called it a "conical" fretboard) was in the 1988 catalog:

 

[Masta' C]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

Earlier Jacksons and Charvels likely had a straight 16" radius...

 

[dystrust]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

My 1986 Charvel Model 4 has a 12-16" radius.

As far as the Jackson / Charvel distinction, most know that Randy Rhoads' Concorde was the first Jackson guitar. Grover Jackson signed his own name to the headstock because it was such an unorthodox design for 1981. Afterwards the Jackson brand was used for neck-thru guitars and bolt-ons retained Charvel branding until 1986 when Charvel production was moved to Japan. Afterwards Jacksons were available as either bolt-on or neck-thru. Jackson started offering 24 frets in 1985, prior to that they were only available with 22.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

I own 2 model series Charvel and and embarrassed to admit I don't think I knew it was a compound radius. Does anyone know if the toothpaste logo one's are too (i.e. 375 deluxe?).

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

My 1986 Charvel Model 4 has a 12-16" radius.

I wasn't sure of the exact radius but I was 99% that the last time I checked my '86 Model 2 with gauges it was a Compound Radius.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: vintage jackson and charvel compound radius?

I own 2 model series Charvel and and embarrassed to admit I don't think I knew it was a compound radius. Does anyone know if the toothpaste logo one's are too (i.e. 375 deluxe?).

Yes it has a compound radius.