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Charvel Model 88 Refresh

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  • Charvel Model 88 Refresh

    I bought this 2 years ago and finally had time to go through the whole guitar. It was unfortunately refinished quite nicely, but they removed the tobacco edge. It had a crappy licenced floyd, a duncan Invader, and what looked to be an extra tone knob (way to close to the volume) and a huge push button. I bought it for a fair price with a near mint chainsaw case. When I went to remove the wiring, I couldn't believe what I found. There was a gutted Electro Harmonix Boost petal's wiring inside. The extra knob must have been a boost adjuster, the red led light was in there and I know why the push button was so big and ugly. The frets were pretty worn and tarnished.

    I installed a new take off floyd rose FRT-O2000 off of a pro mod from the stratosphere, a new Bill Lawrence "RIP" (Bill and Becky) L500XL, a newly machined and anodized aluminum pick-up ring, a new cts 500K volume pot. I replaced the extra knob with a kill switch and filled the extra push-button hole with a mother of pearl skull (modified ear ring plug). I did a fret relevel and polish, cleaned everything, oiled the dark rosewood fretboard and waxed the body and headstock. The African Ribbon Mahogany is brilliant on this one and it is number 118 out of the approx. 500. I was able to achieve the lowest action that I have on any of my 10 guitars with NO buzzing or dead notes to speak of. This was my first Bill Lawrence pickup and and I'm very happy. I like tight pickups and always mute the "A" string to test a pickup's tightness. The L500XL is really tight and pucnhy! The Floyd looks crooked in the picture, but it is perfectly level to the body.

    What is surprising is that this body seems to be perfectly form fitted to me, more than my Jackson soloist pro or other Charvel model series. I'm happy guy.


    This is how I bought it. "BEFORE PICTURE"

    AFTER



  • #2
    Nice one!
    I feel my soul go cold... only the dead are smiling.

    Comment


    • #3
      Really a shame that people mod these but it is what it is.
      Great guitars and at least its up a playing and you enjoy it.
      Really? well screw Mark Twain.

      Comment


      • #4
        I agree. The wood grain was still beautiful and now it's personaized. The whole project including the case was about $550 and 12 hours labor. Not too Bad!

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by straycat View Post
          Really a shame that people mod these but it is what it is.
          Great guitars and at least its up a playing and you enjoy it.
          guitars are meant to be played and if the mods worked for the previous owner.. its all good..

          just my thoughts

          on that note...nice looking guitar though.. I do wonder what possessed the previous owner to put a 2nd pot so close together to the 1st.. too me.. it looks like a mod job that wasnt thought out very carefully..if im going to drill a hole in a guitar... i will ponder on it for awhile before i pick up a drill.. It has to look "right" as if it was always meant to be there
          GEAR:
          #1 2001 MIJ Jackson DK-2 (IG Smoke Stack II,IG Pig Iron & 79' Gibson T-Top)
          #2 1995 MIK modded Fender squire (IG Rollings Mills,SD SC-101, IG Iron Slag)

          #3 2001 MIK Squier Stagemaster Deluxe[Fender TripleBucker]
          #4 2007 MIJ DKMG/DXMG Jackson (IG VOLTS)
          #5 1985 MIA Gibson SG Special (EMG 85 & H)
          #6 1999 MIK ESP LTD M107
          AMPS:
          1989 Randall RG 100 ES;Randall RH 200;Peavey 412 ms;two Early 70's Woodson 212's
          ART SGX 2000 w/x15 ultrafoot;ART MutiVerb

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          • #6
            I don't mind that it's no longer a burst. Let's you see that gorgeous woodgrain
            Hail yesterday

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            • #7
              I agree Brandenburg. Why not just put the hole where the typical Charvel Tone would be and the button could have been changed to a small 1/4" mounting hole.

              VitaminG, When I saw the guitar without the burst, I saw the grain and didn't care. The changes in the end only change the monetary value of the guitar. It's still looks and plays great.

              Thanks for giving your thoughts!

              Comment


              • #8
                Guitar looks nice, congrats!
                I'll buy the old J95 pickup, if you have it.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Sorry, It came wth the invader.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I always wanted to see what an 88 looked like without a 'burst on it. Looks great.
                    Which number is that one?

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by singlehum View Post
                      I always wanted to see what an 88 looked like without a 'burst on it. Looks great.
                      Which number is that one?
                      It's in the 100's can't remember off of the top of my head.

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