Show Me Your Charvels!

Racerxrated said:
I'm not exactly sure but I think after Grover sold to IMC, Charvels were still made in Japan in the early 90s..Toothpaste logos etc. The Jackson line was still profitable so the custom shop US/production line still put out Soloists, RR, King Vs, DK1s etc. My guess is that in 94-96, USA shop managers decided to do a Charvel run, with the SD1-4s. The Japanese line did the same with their versions MIJ. That would explain the closer in similarity to Jacksons with 24 frets, recessed Floyds, etc vs a traditional Charvel USA with top mount Floyds, 22 frets etc. Easier to do a more Jackson-like Charvel reissue since they're already doing 24 frets etc. Just my guess anyway.
Click to expand...

During the same time period, there was no real differentiation in the Japanese built professional series and the US built guitars too. That lasted several years in the 90s. It seems like the company struggled a bit in differentiating their product lines during the time. They made a decided shift later to differentiate US from import. I don't know if this was the same exactly for Charvel but maybe the same thinking drove it.
 
BDC said:
Oh very interesting that the Jackson line still had US production going into the 90s.. To my knowledge Wayne's Charvel company did mods, built and sold parts, not completed guitars. Though he may have done some. (Correct me if I'm wrong I'm not asserting this as fact) Guitar production started with Grover after he bought the company. Jackson and Charvel were the same company at least till 96 I presume under the Japanese ownership......( I welcome anyone to correct or help piece the story together. I just looked it up and Jackson/Charvel are both Fender owned ..

I saw a video on You Tube recently where Grover in an interview stated he regretted selling the company. He wanted the legacy to be about high quality guitars only. The company became known in large part for budget guitars... Which for a long time meant some really good quality used guitars flew under the radar at bargain basement prices. My 375 was a pretty good guitar...
Click to expand...

Jackson has always had US production. They've had Japanese Jacksons through the 90s on. I believe you're correct, and definitely for any kind of standard production. That all started after Jackson purchased the company. Their first real production guitar was for Randy Rhoads, though they were doing preproduction strats at the same time - essentially high end parts'o'casters assembled inhouse by them, as I understand it.

I think the US Jacksons kept pretty good value used. The Charvels dipped in the 90s since they were more associated with 80's glam but they weren't depressed that long in the big scheme and were back up to decent prices by the 00's. I suspect the Japanese versions dropped more but they were always pretty good guitars - on par with a lot of US guitars in my experience.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top