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Hey Folks, first post, happy to be here. Hoping to get an education on the DiMarzio branded necks and bodies from the early 80's. I come from vintage Japanese guitars- Tokai, Greco/Ibanez, Fujigen, Matsumoku, that is my usual grounds.
I am a professional Illustrator for things like D&D and Magic the Gathering. And I obsess about guitars when not painting. And sometimes I paint ON guitars like this 3A!
IMG_8496 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on Flickr
So at Goodwill I found DiMarzio Branded Strat that was never fully assembled. Never had a pickguard or even a jack plate screwed to it. From back when DiMarzio was selling parts that other manufacturers made. Charvel, Esp and more.
236704428124915elns by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on Flickr
I have shown to this to a few folks, and I can't get confirmation or hard evidence either way, that it is or isn't a Charvel made guitar body. I am hoping for pics from y'all!
Understand I am fine if it isn't Charvel! This thing is rad as hell. It is a dimarzio strat and I will love the hell out of it. But please enlighten me, because I'd like to know where it came from!
I agree that there is little chance the NECK is Charvel. (Though let me know if you know who made it!) For one thing it is dated Feb 1982. DiMarzio actually pointed me to Spector as they were making necks for Dimarzio up till late 82. Another suggestion is that is is ESP because it is a pretty strong V that tapers to almost a C at the heel. Feels so cool! I am waiting to hear back from Spector on if they made it.
But I am confused about the body because of the donuts. By 'donuts' I mean that in the neck pocket, there are two donut looking rings around the left two screw holes. It has to be a manufacturer tool marking, as even with a normal drill press the drill chuck could never meet the flat surface of the pocket because it would hit the wall first.
The thing is guys, I see those marks on almost every USA Charvel body from about 1981 to 1984. (Not the earlier stuff) Yes I know Charvel would have stopped making bodies for DiMarzio by then, which is why I am so confused. ( Could it be old stock after '81?)
Neckpocket by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on Flickr
And the the donuts... I could provide way more early 80's Charvel photos with them that the comparison above. It doesn't matter what shape the body is, they are there on USA Charvels. (But not the 80 and earlier.) Now before you tell me they are on many guitars I am telling I don't see them elsewhere. Certainly not in the numbers that the USA Charvels have them. In fact the only other manufacturer I can find that does have those tooling marks is Tokai, and they are always on all 4 holes and are a little more precise. (This body is not Tokai.) I've looked at every other manufacturer I know of that produced for DiMarzio and I can't find a match. I've actually looked at every manufacturer I can think of, period, and I can find no match.
The other thing is the pickup routs. They are rounder than most I see. I am sure that could be an identifier of some maker?
So I am hoping someone here can please tell me why these donuts appear on so many Charvels, and pretty much only Charvel's. And because of that. who made this body if not Charvel? So I can finally rest and stop looking at early Charvel Photos!
Again, I am fine if it is not Charvel! I come from japanese guitars so I will still do a little dance to have a Japanese made DiMarzio strat! (And I will go to Dunkin Donuts cause I am really craving a donut about now.) I've already sourced NOS Dimarzio Kluson replacements, a NOS Dimarzio brass tremolo tip, and a nos dimarzio round string tree. And not NOS, but a nice DiMarzio branded tremolo.
Thinking HS-3 or sds-1 early Dimarzios for it. What would you go for? Trying to keep it as Dimarzio as possible.
Anyway I appreciate any assistance! I have way more pics if you want to see them.
IMG_0496 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on Flickr
IMG_0514 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on Flickr
IMG_0517 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on Flickr
IMG_0529 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on Flickr
Just slapping a few things on it to dream here.
IMG_0545 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on Flickr
I am a professional Illustrator for things like D&D and Magic the Gathering. And I obsess about guitars when not painting. And sometimes I paint ON guitars like this 3A!
IMG_8496 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on FlickrSo at Goodwill I found DiMarzio Branded Strat that was never fully assembled. Never had a pickguard or even a jack plate screwed to it. From back when DiMarzio was selling parts that other manufacturers made. Charvel, Esp and more.
236704428124915elns by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on FlickrI have shown to this to a few folks, and I can't get confirmation or hard evidence either way, that it is or isn't a Charvel made guitar body. I am hoping for pics from y'all!
Understand I am fine if it isn't Charvel! This thing is rad as hell. It is a dimarzio strat and I will love the hell out of it. But please enlighten me, because I'd like to know where it came from!
I agree that there is little chance the NECK is Charvel. (Though let me know if you know who made it!) For one thing it is dated Feb 1982. DiMarzio actually pointed me to Spector as they were making necks for Dimarzio up till late 82. Another suggestion is that is is ESP because it is a pretty strong V that tapers to almost a C at the heel. Feels so cool! I am waiting to hear back from Spector on if they made it.
But I am confused about the body because of the donuts. By 'donuts' I mean that in the neck pocket, there are two donut looking rings around the left two screw holes. It has to be a manufacturer tool marking, as even with a normal drill press the drill chuck could never meet the flat surface of the pocket because it would hit the wall first.
The thing is guys, I see those marks on almost every USA Charvel body from about 1981 to 1984. (Not the earlier stuff) Yes I know Charvel would have stopped making bodies for DiMarzio by then, which is why I am so confused. ( Could it be old stock after '81?)
Neckpocket by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on FlickrAnd the the donuts... I could provide way more early 80's Charvel photos with them that the comparison above. It doesn't matter what shape the body is, they are there on USA Charvels. (But not the 80 and earlier.) Now before you tell me they are on many guitars I am telling I don't see them elsewhere. Certainly not in the numbers that the USA Charvels have them. In fact the only other manufacturer I can find that does have those tooling marks is Tokai, and they are always on all 4 holes and are a little more precise. (This body is not Tokai.) I've looked at every other manufacturer I know of that produced for DiMarzio and I can't find a match. I've actually looked at every manufacturer I can think of, period, and I can find no match.
The other thing is the pickup routs. They are rounder than most I see. I am sure that could be an identifier of some maker?
So I am hoping someone here can please tell me why these donuts appear on so many Charvels, and pretty much only Charvel's. And because of that. who made this body if not Charvel? So I can finally rest and stop looking at early Charvel Photos!
Again, I am fine if it is not Charvel! I come from japanese guitars so I will still do a little dance to have a Japanese made DiMarzio strat! (And I will go to Dunkin Donuts cause I am really craving a donut about now.) I've already sourced NOS Dimarzio Kluson replacements, a NOS Dimarzio brass tremolo tip, and a nos dimarzio round string tree. And not NOS, but a nice DiMarzio branded tremolo.
Thinking HS-3 or sds-1 early Dimarzios for it. What would you go for? Trying to keep it as Dimarzio as possible.
Anyway I appreciate any assistance! I have way more pics if you want to see them.
IMG_0496 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on FlickrIMG_0514 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on FlickrIMG_0517 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on FlickrIMG_0529 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on FlickrJust slapping a few things on it to dream here.
IMG_0545 by da12c5acb43eb6d8a5cc7de0d28b865c, on Flickr
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