fuck Whittier.. every chance I get to bring it up.
Again, Karl Sandoval worked for Charvel at a time when they had professional van graphics guys just down the industrial court helping out and it was just the way things are done when murals are airbrushed, they get clearcoated to seal the colors from oxidation UV rays and the car wash.
It's not like Karl had an idea to clearcoat the black n yellow guitars, at the time Charvel had a Tabasco graphic, a Heinieken graphic, a lightning bolt, a smiling tongue, and the classic blue flames lineup in 1978. All were clearcoated, as well as the EVH because the clear buildup between stripes could fill in nicely and buff out like glass, as if colored areas were printed not masked.
Its the way things were done, not "it was clearcoated because of Karl" - who is in BUMFUCK Whittier because that's the kind of decision making he makes - choosing Whittier over a less blighted area.
Whittier's great if you live up in the hills by the golfcourse, or are a cop driving around all nite on meth gettin' yer aggression out abusing people.