Are mid 80's Charvels garbage?

**ASDF125250** · 10-26-2005, 12:14 AM

There is this black mid 80's looking charvel with the silver slanted neck pickup that I've been eyeing alot at the local pawn shop for 200 bucks. I played it a little and it felt nice, and since it was a Charvel, I thought I was probably going to get a good deal. Then, I check on Ebay, and these things are going for less then 300 bucks? I've gathered they are made in Japan, but are these guitars decent? I think I'll need some expert opinion on this one. BTW, it had a mapel fret board if it means anything.

**ELVIS** · 10-26-2005, 12:31 AM

It might be ok...

Check for any damage, like hairline cracks in the neck...

In the hands of someone like GAR or myself, It could be a nice guitar...

What type of bridge does it have, a Floyd copy ??

**ASDF125250** · 10-26-2005, 12:40 AM

I didn't really check but I believe it is, because it said Charvel on like the sides of it. I'm going to go over it with a fine tooth comb to see if everything is ok and maybe try to haggle a little. I'll walk in with a hundred bucks cash and if he doesn't take it I guess he can go fuck himself...lol.

Thanks for any help!

**ELVIS** · 10-26-2005, 12:42 AM

Give him $125

**ELVIS** · 10-26-2005, 12:42 AM

Does it have a serial number ??

**Brett** · 10-26-2005, 01:22 AM

What model is it?

**jhale667** · 10-26-2005, 02:43 PM

Sounds like you're describing a surfcaster....$125's decent.....

**ASDF125250** · 10-26-2005, 06:44 PM

It does have a serial number on the back face plate (unfortunatly I didn't write it down), but today I looked and it has a schaller floyd on it. I'm not positive on what modle it is...all I do know is that it has that silver neck pickup that I found that is mostly on mid 80's jap charvels. I'm surprised it has such a nice floyd though. The neck is straight but I have yet to plug it in to see if the electronics work. It also has a 24 fret maple neck, and one volume nob.

**ELVIS** · 10-26-2005, 07:57 PM

What model is it ??

**ASDF125250** · 10-26-2005, 10:45 PM

Kind of looks like a model 3 with a 24 fret maple fretboard. From searching on Ebay the model 3 is the only one that looks close.

**ELVIS** · 10-26-2005, 11:52 PM

Just buy it...

**ASDF125250** · 10-27-2005, 01:03 AM

I think I will within 3-5 days. Maybe I'll get a JB and stick it in there for christmas too.

Not to really change the subject but what do you guys suggest in the bridge position for a 92 Ibanez S series? A JB? I've researched and found that alot of the Ibanez guys like Dimarzio stuff but I have a feeling that there wrong. If a Dimarzio was a great choice for these guitars what would you guys suggest from them? Thanks for any help!

**Matt White** · 10-27-2005, 01:04 AM

Yup....workable guitar

**ELVIS** · 10-27-2005, 01:10 AM

Originally posted by ASDF125250
If a Dimarzio was a great choice for these guitars what would you guys suggest from them? Thanks for any help!

Virtual Hot PAF!

**jhale667** · 10-27-2005, 06:51 PM

Originally posted by ELVIS
Virtual Hot PAF!

Yep.:p

**BlimpyCHIMP™** · 10-27-2005, 11:19 PM

125 IS ABOUT RIGHT FOR A KOREAN CHARVEL ESPECIALLY IF THE NECK IS GONNA REQUIRE ANOTHER 65 FOR A 2 HOUR BENCH SETUP

SHIT I DUNNO WHAT TO THROW IN BRIDGE POSITION ON AN IBANEZ KID I HATE EM YOU SEE

NOTHING IVE EVER SEEN IN THOSE RG SERIES OR CHEAPER PRIOR SERIES IBANEZES CHANGES MUCH BECAUSE THEY LACK SUSTAIN. BODIES ARE SHORT, NECKS ARE SHAVED REAL THIN AND THE NECK-TO-BODY ROUTS ARE NEVER TIGHT=POOR VIBRATIONAL TRANSFERENCE EVEN WHEN YOU GLUE THE PICKUP DIRECTLY IN THERES NO "BETTER" PICKUP TO TRANSFER RESONANCE INTO WHEN THERES MINIMUM TO POOR TRANSFERRED STRING RESONANCE TO SPEAK OF

GET THE CHARVEL
SELL THE IBANEZ OR GIVE IT AWAY OR TRADE TOWARDS THE CHARVEL
FIND A COMPETANT GUITAR LUTHIER OR SETUP GUY WHO HAS DONE REFRETS TO SETUP YOUR GUITAR

GUYS WHOVE DONE REFRETTING ARE QUALIFIED TO SETUP MEANING FRETMILLING AND ADJUSTING THE TRUSSROD TIGHTENING TUNERS OR ANYTHING ELSE THEY CAN IDENTIFY TO YOU FOR IMPROVEMENT

THATS THE GUY TO ASK WHAT KINDA PICKUP TO REPLACE THE STOCK CHARVEL UNLESS ITS A DUNCAN REPLACEMENT ALREADY IN THERE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW UNLESS YOU CAN PROPERLY IDENTIFY PICKUPS

BASTE,
BC!!

**Seshmeister** · 10-27-2005, 11:34 PM

I've never played a Charvel I was impressed by but if it feels good it is good.

**scorpioboy33** · 10-28-2005, 10:18 PM

Originally posted by ELVIS
Just buy it...

yah if I find something that holds my attention more than 2 hours thinking about it for 125...I run and buy it!

**JBall008** · 10-29-2005, 11:50 PM

Get the Charvie!

**ASDF125250** · 11-02-2005, 11:41 PM

Gentlmen, it is with great regret that I report that the guitar is gone. Im very ashamed of myself for not jumping on this offer and I will probably regret it for a few days.

Oh well! I still have my much loved S540 to play!

**ELVIS** · 11-03-2005, 03:05 AM

I knew that was gonna happen...

**Steve Savicki** · 11-04-2005, 08:51 AM

Mid 80's Charvels - weren't Ratt endorsed by these?

**mako_kimura** · 11-14-2005, 10:07 PM

I've actually discovered that 80's era Charvels (and Jacksons) sound pretty badass. My local guitar shop sells antique gear as used, and I almost bought a Charvel, but then my mom found a left-handed Stratocaster(I'm 15)

**ASDF125250** · 11-18-2005, 12:52 AM

Well, it turns out my parents bought it for me and hid it in the attic for a month, lol. They gave it to me last night. The original price was 270 but the guy sold it for 200. I looked on harmony central to find out what type of guitar this is but none really fit the description.

I'll tell you guys everything to see if you can help me identify it.

It has a hocky stick headstock with jackson tuners.

It has a 24 jumbo fret maple board.

It is a bolt on neck.

The back plate says Charvel with the guitar style logo and under the "arvel" it says BY JACKSON/CHARVEL. The serial number is 353604.

The body is black.

It has one slanted single coil neck pickup, and a bridge humbucker. It has a 3 way switch and one volume nob.

After that is a "made in germany" schaller licensed floyd rose.

And then the cable plug in is on the side of the body.

Thanks for any help!

**MERRYKISSMASS2U** · 11-18-2005, 01:01 AM

**Matt White** · 11-18-2005, 11:35 AM

Amir!!!

Whatever happened to Amir?!?

**jhale667** · 11-18-2005, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by Matt White
Amir!!!

Whatever happened to Amir?!?

He's still around...nice guy. FUNNY story: I tech'ed the Rough Cutt reunion show a couple of years ago...went down for the 1st rehearsal, and Amir pulls out THE bomber guitar...same one I had pictures of on my wall as a kid and says "Would you mind re-stringing this for me?" Barely containing my glee, I said ok (In my book that's ALMOST as cool as if Eddie had handed me Frankenstein). I took it in the back room, started working on it, and I couldn't resist...I called my best friend from high school (who had the same pic on HIS wall then) and told him "Right now I'm working on Amir's bomber Charvel!" and he was like "YOU DICK!!!!" LOL

**jhale667** · 11-18-2005, 02:20 PM

Oops...on his site he refers to it as the 'Navy' guitar...

**Cathedral** · 11-19-2005, 12:08 AM

Originally posted by ASDF125250
Well, it turns out my parents bought it for me and hid it in the attic for a month, lol. They gave it to me last night. The original price was 270 but the guy sold it for 200. I looked on harmony central to find out what type of guitar this is but none really fit the description.

I'll tell you guys everything to see if you can help me identify it.

It has a hocky stick headstock with jackson tuners.

It has a 24 jumbo fret maple board.

It is a bolt on neck.

The back plate says Charvel with the guitar style logo and under the "arvel" it says BY JACKSON/CHARVEL. The serial number is 353604.

The body is black.

It has one slanted single coil neck pickup, and a bridge humbucker. It has a 3 way switch and one volume nob.

After that is a "made in germany" schaller licensed floyd rose.

And then the cable plug in is on the side of the body.

Thanks for any help!

It sounds like a model 4 to me. I have a model 3 and it was appraised at $1,200 2 years ago when i was trying to buy another one just like it in pieces, but the guy wouldn't take less than $400 for it and i passed. i was perplexed by his high asking price when it was in a box totally disassembled so i had mine appraised, then i understood but didn't have the $400.
There are two guys after mine, lol, but it is absolutely not for sale, it will go to the grave with me.

By the way, can you post some pics of your new axe?
I'd like to have a look at it, thanks!

**ASDF125250** · 11-20-2005, 01:35 AM

Here is my new baby. I know she is a little scratched and dented, but thats what I want. I will gig the hell out of this guitar.

Here is my Ibanez S540 for anyone that cares

And here is the 540 with my two garbage amps and garbage epiphone les paul that I am going to hot rod the shit out of. My yamaha acoustic is also in this photo.

My plans for the Epiphone include half scaloping the neck, routing a vintage trem, and sticking EMG's in. I'm also going to get all the paint off the neck and maybe paint it frankenstrat colors.

Can anyone supply the routing schematics for a vintage trem on a LP body?

**ASDF125250** · 11-24-2005, 04:16 PM

After some research it looks like the charvel might be a Charvel 275 Deluxe.

**doctor roth** · 11-29-2005, 08:42 PM

If it feels good and sounds good it is good. What would have happened If ed had made old frankie and then stopped playing guitar and put it in a pawn shop. People would have looked at it and said: 'the pickups not even housed properly, Its made up of a bunch of diffrent parts, not worth 200 bucks". Having said that anyone with any knowledge would have seen the parts were quality but ya get my drift. Just buy anything that you think might be a winner, you'll get some duds but who cares, for 200 bucks its not the end of the world !!

**jhale667** · 11-29-2005, 09:34 PM

I looooove to surf pawnshops for just that reason....sometimes people have NO IDEA what they have...and you score big!

**doctor roth** · 11-30-2005, 07:43 PM

Originally posted by ASDF125250

My plans for the Epiphone include half scaloping the neck, routing a vintage trem, and sticking EMG's in. I'm also going to get all the paint off the neck and maybe paint it frankenstrat colors.

Can anyone supply the routing schematics for a vintage trem on a LP body?

I LOVE THAT IDEA. I dont think ive seen a les paul style fitted out like that. Ive always thought of doing something like that myself but never have the money or time.

**doctor roth** · 11-30-2005, 07:47 PM

Id LOVE to play a gibson with a floyd rose locking trem what a hoot !! Gibson necks aint really my style, a little too 'fat'. I have played some nice ones though i spose.

**jhale667** · 11-30-2005, 08:01 PM

A Les Paul with a Vintage trem? Hmmmm....might be scary. You could probably use a normal router template for the body cavities, you'd just have to deepen them. You may be able to find templates at www.stewartmacdonald.com .....

**ASDF125250** · 12-02-2005, 12:09 AM

Thanks guys. I think that once I get the "time and money" into my Epiphone it could turn out to be a fun guitar to play. Anyways I'm still loving my Charvel. I think the stock pick up is a duncan but even if its not it sounds good. I've also got some locking blocks in the mail because the guitar didnt have them when they got it.

Rock on!

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