Charvel...how do you tell what model it is ???

[wadair]

Ok, I know tht this will more than likely turn out to be a stupid question but I am wondering how to tell the different Charvel models apart from each other...Model 2, Model 3, Model 4, etc....I would like to be able to know what I am looking at when I go bargain hunting...I have seen several very nice Charvels but have not been able to dinstinguish one from the other. Just type of pickups and configurations.

[Anders]

Re: Charvel...how do you tell what model it is ???

I can't tell you much, except it's a shame that the "Mother of all info pages" is down. That would have helped you out!

Anders

[wadair]

Re: Charvel...how do you tell what model it is ???

Yeah I hear you on that one ....I really miss that page...if only they would give all of that stuff to someone who really cared about keeping that page going....its so hard to find any good documentation these days !

[RacerX]

Re: Charvel...how do you tell what model it is ???

Great post Hotrodder!
[img]graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[xenophobe]

Re: Charvel...how do you tell what model it is ???

The Model 1 can also have a Kahler Flyer, I think it was?

The Model 88 only has one humbucker, the J95, and it's slanted too.

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[toejam]

Re: Charvel...how do you tell what model it is ???

And the Model 5A would be the neck-thru version of the Model 2.

[VitaminG]

Re: Charvel...how do you tell what model it is ???

Just to revise Hotrodder's excellent list a little....

Model 1 - Single hum, Bolt on neck, Vintage trem
Model 1A - 3 single coils, Bolt on, Vintage trem, pickguard
Model 2 - Single hum, Bolt on neck, locking trem
Model 3 - SSH, Bolt on neck with dots, 5 way switch, locking trem
Model 3A - like a Model 3, but HH. '86 with pickguard, 87-88 without a p/g
Model 3DR - Hum and slant single, reverse headstock
Model 4 - SSH, Bolt on neck with shark teeth inlays, 3 on/off switches, 9 volt powered mid boost, locking trem ('86 model had dot inlays)
Model 4M - same as Model 4 but with a maple fretboard
Model 5 - a neck thru version of the Model 3A
Model 5A - as Joe said, a n/t version of the Model 2
Model 5FX - began as a Model 5A but had a single coil added at neck pos. at Ft Worth. some with tone knobs, some without
Model 6 - a neck thru version of the Model 4 but with neck binding
Model 7 - Tele style
Model 88 - A "limited edition" brownish sunburst, single hum, reverse neck, Mahogany body?

Someone pull me up on any screwups and omissions. Please [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

I'm not up on the 'number' series either, but to add a couple more to what's been mentioned:
there was the Legend, an update of the Model 7
the Predator, updated 3DR

[Hotrodder]

Re: Charvel...how do you tell what model it is ???

The basics of the guitar shaped white logos, Fort Worth Neckplates.

Model 1 - Single hum, Bolt on neck, Vintage trem
Model 2 - Single hum, Bolt on neck, locking trem
Model 3 - SSH, or HH, Bolt on neck with dots, 5 way switch, locking trem
Model 4 - SSH, Bolt on neck with shark teeth inlays, 3 on/off switches, 9 volt powered mid boost, locking trem
Model 5 - a neck thru version of the Model 2
Model 6 - a neck thru version of the Model 4
Model 7 - Tele style
Model 88 - A "limited edition" brownish sunburst, 2 pickups, reverse neck, Mahogany body?

There are some variations like a Model 1 with 3 single coils and a pickguard, and the 86 Model 4's had dot inlays, The 5fx with an added single coil at the neck, and on and on.

Someone else has to do a better job on the toothpaste logo ones. but basicly a 375 is like a model 3, 475 like a model 4, and the 650 is like the model 6.

A 750XL is kinda like the holygrail for the import Charvels... set neck, archtop mahogany body with maple cap, Gibson scale.

Then theres the surfcasters, the fusions (Gibson scale, 24 frets, bolton? neck), the Spectrums (weird pickguard), and a few that I cant think of.

the CX ones aren't that great so don't worry about them. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[xenophobe]

Re: Charvel...how do you tell what model it is ???

The model 7 also had a maple neck and a reverse headstock...

And weren't there other Maple fretboard versions other than just the 4m?

[VitaminG]

Re: Charvel...how do you tell what model it is ???

yea, the Model 1s had maple boards

[ January 13, 2003, 02:23 AM: Message edited by: VitaminG ]

[wadair]

Re: Charvel...how do you tell what model it is ???

Great Man....Awesome info and just what I needed...Thanks a bunch ! [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]