Is this a real Charvel USA ?

[Carbuff]

It looks to me like the guitar is original except for the pearloid pickguard and the humbucker. Someone probably switched it out for looks and to get hss. I dont think that this is the type of guitar that you buy for all original collector value. I think its more like youre getting a quality usa made guitar great for playing that has a few upgrades. If you like it its probably worth the money. Btw, love that crackle charvel.

[Carbuff]

Well, oddly enough, I was sent this info in a pm. This is a link to the exact same guitar being sold in Europe somewhere.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/o9oaav0j47eaijg/R-usLd85rR#/

I cant verify the location of it but it seems to be the same guitar with the same hss setup and other features. Maybe it is some legit limited run after all.

[RampantLion]

Tuners and scratched out ??

In the picture of the tuners, what exactly is that logo on each tuner? And what is scratched out on the back of the headstock?

[RampantLion]

I actually just bought the Crackle a few weeks back. It had a few cracked bridge saddles, but that was an easy fix. I'm surprised at how great the active pickup is.

It looks to me like the guitar is original except for the pearloid pickguard and the humbucker. Someone probably switched it out for looks and to get hss. I dont think that this is the type of guitar that you buy for all original collector value. I think its more like youre getting a quality usa made guitar great for playing that has a few upgrades. If you like it its probably worth the money. Btw, love that crackle charvel.

[pianoguyy]

In the picture of the tuners, what exactly is that logo on each tuner? And what is scratched out on the back of the headstock?

That's a 'Planet Waves' logo. Probably locking and self cutting.

The back of the headstock looks like one of those plastic pick holders. The big triangle is the holder. The little square in the middle is the sticker that holds it on.

[toejam]

I actually just bought the Crackle a few weeks back. It had a few cracked bridge saddles, but that was an easy fix. I'm surprised at how great the active pickup is.

This crackle?
crackle.jpg
Looks like it's just got a covered Jackson pickup in there. Jackson never made active pickups, only passive. They can be used with some type of active electronics circuit, though.

[RampantLion]

I'll have to open up the cavity again, perhaps it is active circuitry because it definitely has a 9 volt battery in it.

As a final question - posed to the collectors here - What would you feel comfortable paying for this Charvel? I've never really had a problem figuring out a price I'd pay before, so I'll leave it up to any opinions I get. If this guitar was being sold locally to you, with a gig bag, what would you pay?

[toejam]

I'd say $450 - $500 is more than a fair deal for it.

[RampantLion]

Thanks, I think I am going to buy it. Since it's so rare and I am assured now that it is authentic, with the bridge and humbucker, I feel a lot better about it. If I don't buy it, I'm sure I will end up regretting it. And if I keep waiting, eventually someone else will come along and buy it. I appreciate the help, it's great to be able to get feedback. Normally, I know right away what I think something should sell for and what it's worth to me, but this is a pretty odd one here.

I'd say $450 - $500 is more than a fair deal for it.

[toejam]

Cool. Those Wilkinson trems should be pretty decent, too.

[pianoguyy]

A local guy has been trying to sell this as a San Dimas, but I have serious doubts. It has a humbucker and 2 single coils that are unmarked and a Wilkenson bridge. I've never seen one with a pickguard, but he claims this was exclusive to Sam Ash and limited to 50 per color.

Is this real? What can you tell me about this?

I saw an ad with those same pictures. The ad reads:
Charvel San Dimas Style Guitar Made for Sam Ash Stores: This is a Made in USA Charvel. Limited to 50 per Color.


Just because it is in print doesn't mean that the guy is telling the truth. But if he is, then it was made for a store. Therefore, it wouldn't be widely publicized. We wouldn't be able to find it in a catalog or the charvel webpage.

[RampantLion]

I agree, there were a lot of red flags regarding this guitar. The neck plate is basically blank with the logo and serial number etched in. I've never seen anything like it, but did some research and came across a few others that had it. I plan seeing what I can do to find out more about the guitar, but I'm pretty confident it is legit now, it's just something I know nothing about.

I saw an ad with those same pictures. The ad reads:
Charvel San Dimas Style Guitar Made for Sam Ash Stores: This is a Made in USA Charvel. Limited to 50 per Color.


Just because it is in print doesn't mean that the guy is telling the truth. But if he is, then it was made for a store. Therefore, it wouldn't be widely publicized. We wouldn't be able to find it in a catalog or the charvel webpage.

[RampantLion]

I picked up this guitar tonight. I broke it apart, but couldn't get the pickguard out of the neck, didn't want to force it. I couldn't find any brand stamps on the underneath of the pickups, just numbers on a bit of tape/sticker. The neck is beautiful and the sound is amazing. The seller said he bought it personally from Sam Ash and has owned it since. He claims his friend bought a black one at the same time. Unlike the guitar in the link posted previous, this guitar has Jackson tuners. I'm wondering if I could write to Charvel with the serial number to find out more?

[peedenmark7]

Traditional

It's a Traditional model.
Though not pictured in the catalog, some were made with a humbucker in the bridge position, not sure if that was a limited run for a store or not.
Early ones should have Sperzels, and a graphite string tree, later had a the normal brass round tree. Towards the end of the reissue run you begin seeing standard Gotoh tuners.

Pickups should be Dimarzio's and the singles will have covers embossed with Dimarzio on them. '95 does anyway.

'95 used a Wilkinson VS-100 trem.
'96 used the 2 point Gotoh looking trem. Likely to cut cost, but Wilki's do appear on custom guitars.

I see yours has the later style phenolic nut , that's a quirk I have not seen, cool vibe.. Maple fingerboards are uncommon on this model as well.
What's your serial number ?

I think Jackson used whatever was laying around towards the end of that run. My '96 playing card inlay tele headstocked tele has black Gotoh tuners and a black oxide coated round brass string tree, yet has a chrome Wilkinson Ht100 tele bridge with hardware to match. That's the way Juan made it, weird.




I've had a bunch of these over the years , never paying more than $450 for mint examples [early 2000's]. If you got it anywhere near that price, you got a good deal.
My eldest son has a blue one [3 singles] that he's played the crap out of. Great guitars for the money. Anything made in the USA under a grand is a deal today. Well made, but sadly the traditional only came in a few different colors. Black , Red , Blue, Green and White.

[Grawnday]

Nice score! My bluebook undervalues this whole series and says they were handmade in the Ontario custom shop.