Beat up old Charvel Model 6

[Jushien L]

Not sure if I'm uploading the pictures correctly but I really wish I would've taken before and after pictures of this guitar. I got this Model 6 off Craigslist for a steal of 200.00. The guitar was in pretty bad shape, had Jimi Hendrix stickers all over the guitar, the fretboard was terribly dirty, I mean crusty. Rusted frets. All the pots were corroded and no good. Took a few hours to replace the pots, another few to clean up the fretboard and steel wool the fret wire. What's crazy is it took longest to get all the sticker residue off this thing. Now, new pots, fretboard looks great, still beat up but I think it looks sexy like that. I've asked people about the year of this guitar due to the serial numbers on the back of the headstock. People told me it's an 1986 model that has a stock JT-6 bridge instead of a Kahler so it's a guitar that transitioned from 86 to 87. Kinda cool but here's the pics[IMG][/IMG]

[toejam]

Very cool! I had an '87 Model 6 in black cherry, it was a great guitar.

[Jushien L]

[Jushien L]

I'm surprised how much crunch these old Jackson pickups have and the action is very nice. I don't have an ultra pricey amp, I play it through a Blckstar HT Club 40, MXR 10 band eq and a Triple Wreck distortion pedal but wow I can easily get that Exodus sound out of it.

[phragle]

the 86 model 6 should have a j50 with the je1200 midboost..does yours take a battery?

[Jushien L]

the 86 model 6 should have a j50 with the je1200 midboost..does yours take a battery?

Yes, I replaced the battery when I replaced the pots.

[lefty]

Great find! Congrats!

[z1n]

nice save and great guitar! Thanks for sharing

[Axewielder]

Nice save!

[mprooxis]

Hi, new here..
Just purchased a supposed 1986 Charvel Model 6. Looks all original with Kahler Trem and clean, near mint ! ..will post pics latter.

Im not to thrilled about the pickups though.
The Jacksnon Bridge sounds ok to good for metal, but the Jackson neck pickup is way weaker. I have to adjust the neck pu all the way up and lower the bridge pu significantly (not happy about this) in order to get balanced tone.

Any thoughts on the pickups or replacements ?

Also, the mid boost is kinda neat...per other discusions on this and other forums,,any passive pu will work with the boost,,but the pot has to remain 50 K for the boost circuit to work as designed and the single coil pickups have to fit the tight routing of the body though..

all in all, very happy with this guitar,,,brings me right back the the 80's metal days when metal was king and I could only dream of affording these guitars LOL

[Jackson8090s]

I can easily get that Exodus sound out of it.

Nice find and great job getting her back to glory, your description of her previous condition sounds like she was a fabulous disaster ;D . I couldn't resist

[DJGranite]

Great deal!
I would love to find a Model 6 for that kind of cash,
Real nice.

[Neverenough]

Congrats to the OP for resurrecting this classic(much like this thread), I love it.

I bought what I call a "Players grade" model 6 in dark cherry a few years back the tremolo was sitting on the body of the guitar and many dents and bruises as well. The guy would not budge on the price of $400.00, I bought it any way and glad I did as it plays as well as any other. I actually use it to try different pickups, brass blocks etc before I try it on my more pristine guitars.

[kmanick]

Nice save!! I've had several Model 6's over the yeas , that's a great price.

[catzodellamarina]

Good job on the resto.
I have always wondered hich is more desirable: Model 6 or 650XL?
I know that both are fine instruments. I used to think that all Model 6's were USA made. Then along came the toothpaste logo, Japanese made 650XL to replace it. Not sure if that is entirely accurate.

Fifteen years ago I bought a filthy & rusty $400 650XL in midnight blue metallic. I was actually shopping for a beat up Soloist to turn into a Jeff Hannemann stylized guitar. I upgraded the 650XL with Chrome Schaller parts and EMG's. It was stunning and sounded amazing. I had two issues with it: the trem tension always felt tight and it broke strings like crazy. My luthier worked on it and it never improved. I had to part with it. But while I owned it, it sure looked nice on stage. Dudes would always request me to play THAT one.