2 guitars I have always wanted. Charvel Spectrum and a Charvel Surfcaster

[tonemonster]

But I dont think I will be able to get a surfcaster in my collection. they bring too much chang.

the spectrum.........its possible.

I only like 3 of the colors, the orange, the pink, and the surf green, which is my favorite.

I want one of this rides. anyone own them? whatcha think of them? can you post pics??

talk to me my bruthas.

[RacerX]

But I dont think I will be able to get a surfcaster in my collection. they bring too much chang.

Too much...Michael Chang?




Hur hur hur

[tonemonster]

yea, thats it. If I buy one, that guy comes with it, and I cant take it. He tawk too much rike deese.

[SignoftheDragon]

Keep patiently watching the 'bay- gigged 'good' surfcasters (the original '91-95 semi-hollow Charvels) can be found in the $600 range from time to time. Just gotta be patient- but they're well worth the wait. Only guitars I play.

Can't give an opinion on the Spectrum, other than they look cool.

[tonemonster]

$600 aint bad, but every one I seem to find they want over $1000 for it, and I wont pay that. $600 is a stretch for me.

as for the spectrum, I am going to buy one of those someday. they seem to be in the $300 range. I want to get a really nice Sea Foam Green spectrum. thats my goal someday. it will happen. someday.

[spencer4hire]

Here is your Surfcaster.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Charvel-Surfcaster-C-Tail-Seafoam-Green-SUPER-clean-/300453571603?pt=Guitar

Here is your Spectrum.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Charvel-Jackson-Spectrum-/150477089417?pt=Guitar

[tonemonster]

Both nice gutiars! I saw them both on the bay as well. I am unsure about that pink color on the spctrum. not really me.......... I want sea foam.

the surfcaster is great, its just too spendy for me.

[SignoftheDragon]

Keep watching this one- He'll probably drop it down into your 'high' range. This one's one of the rarest colors too- tho he doesn't know/post it- burgundy metallic. I've only seen 2 others ever, including mine that I ordered brand-new in '94. Frikkin' gorgeous. If it had 6 more strings it would already be mine, as I've watched it through a couple cycles. Hit the jump in the auction to look at the nice pic gallery if you want something to drool over- might help you make up your mind/motivate you to sell a kiney.

http://cgi.ebay.com/90-Charvel-Surfcaster-EXCELLENT-CONDITION-/220659390466?pt=Guitar&hash=item3360531802

happy hunting.

[tonemonster]

Thanks! nice find there Sniffthedragon!

[billt]

I really want a Spectrum also. I've just recently started the hunt for one.

[Flanging_Fred]

Surf green Charvel Spectrum you say? You mean like mine :o)



I love the way it looks. Unfortunately it doesn't sound as good as I would wish. Those J200 stacked humbuckers don't sound great, they're not bad but not great. The neck one sounded okay but the middle and bridge were pretty weak. After taking the guitar apart ,setting it up properly and adjusting the heights of the pickups improved the situation though.

I tried a Seymour Duncan hot rail in the bridge but that didn't really improve things. I even tried bypassing the J1500 tone filter pre-amp, running the pickups stright to the output jack socket, just to check if the pre-amp was messing up the sound, but it wasn't that either. If anyone has managed to successfully replace the pickups with something better WITHOUT routing the guitar out, I'd like to know about it.

The pre-amp is a bit of a novelty really and after amazing your friends that you're going wha, wha wha without a wah pedal, it gets a bit old. On mine the tone pot has gone scratchy and I can't work out what sort of pot it is to replace it. It's got 6 lugs on the pot. I've even tried measuring it with a multimeter but can't get a good reading. If anyone knows what sort of pot it is, I'd like to know!

The good thing though, WONDERFUL neck. A bit narrower than the 375 deluxe next to it and feels very nice indeed.

The Spectrum has the potential to be a great guitar, but at the moment, something is missing. The 375 definitely out performs it...

[tonemonster]

NICE GUITAR!!!!!

I still want one, and someday I will own one. it will happen in good time.

[Flanging_Fred]

Well I was like you, I was hunting for one for ages, eventually this one came up on ebay for a good price.

I got it for sentimental reasons mainly. When I bought my first guitar (the 375) back in December 1989, I tried a few guitars in the shop and REALLY wanted an orange Spectrum. Unfortunately ( at the time) my budget didn't quite stretch to the Spectrum and I got the slightly cheaper 375. That actaully worked out really well because now I own both ! But man, that was one exciting day for a 15 year old. I had been saving up money for about 2 years from paper rounds etc. Good memories :o)

I re-read my post and it seems overly negative about the Spectrum and I don't want to put you off one. If I use a clean booster pedal with the guitar it pretty much rectifies the problem with the pickups and gives it the fullness and ooomph that I like. Used with an old 60's pre-amp, similar to a rangemaster, it sounds AWESOME!

So good luck with your search, I'm sure you'll find one eventually