Tell us about your first Charvel

[toejam]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

I've only owned two Charvels. The first one was an '87 Black Cherry Model 6 with JT6 trem that I bought here from board member Soloist1 a few years ago. After a year or so of owning it, I traded it to Doc Dryer for an '88 Black Cherry Model 5A because I was jonseing for a one-humbucker guitar. After having that for awhile, I wound up selling it to YetAnotherOne. He recently sold it to someone else here... I think Roy B. Now I've got no more Charvels, but I eventually want another, maybe a 750XL or some kind of archtop. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[guitarsjb]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

Today I got my first Charvel...a sweet 375 DLX. I really like it.

[yatser]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

[image]http://spe.fotologs.net/?u=yatser&i=2004/11/18/1100759116.jpg&c=f[/image]

My first MIJ Charvel was a 1987 bolt-on model 3, then I modified this axe ..........now: with 2 humbuckers (like 3A), 1 volume and 2 tone, with coil split for the neck one(SH-2 seymour). In the Bridge, TB-5 seymour. In addition white has a white pearl pickguard (custom) musicman type.New vintage knobs and all the circuit new, with dimarzio pots and input jack.
Floyd rose tremolo.Basswood body and rosewood fretboard . Bought in Chile in 1993 and the last owner ...¿?.... From USA all I know .
This guitar is my favorite , an incredible sound and versatility! Almost any pickup combination.. [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[yatser]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

Here's the Url with the pic

http://spe.fotologs.net/?u=yatser&i=...16.jpg&c=f
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[atilla]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

Oh, that is sooooo nice!

[Predator1]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

My first Charvel was a 1980 Candy Apple Red strathead. all gold hardware, 1 zebra seymour duncan, 1 piece 21 fret maple neck and a factory installed coil splitter switch. It was delivered to the Santa Ana guitar Center in march of 1980. I payed $775. At that time everone was playing Les Pauls and Strats. This guitar just looked cooler then anything else on the wall. I was just learning how to play and it did not stay intune worth a damn everytime i used the trem bar it would go out of tune. I ended up trading it in in 1983 for a LP Custom that I still have today. I did manage to keep the original zebra duncan and put it in the LP Custom. I then purchased a cobalt blue 2 hum strathead that i still have today. I really miss that red 1 hum wonder.

[mbuchanan]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

Platinum 550XL - well known (at the time) shop in london (now closed down) sold it to me thinking it was a Fusion. Charged me the price as if it was a fusion!! Still got it. Still rocks.

[JACKSONFREAK]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

My first Charvel was a 92ish Fusion in desert crackle. i bought it used when i orked at music go round for a mear 220.00 and i loved it. Ive since bought many oher Charvels
a model 3, model 6, CX391, A 82 Strat head and a 750XL. I've since sold off or traded all of them but the Strat head and the 750XL. I miss several of them too. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] but i think id miss the strat head and the 750 more.
Gil

[Habanero]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

Mine was a Black Cherry model 4 with a Kahler trem, which I got in part exchange for an Aria Knightwarrior. I've still got it, and it now has a younger cream (white?) model 5A brother.

[agresivo]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

My first Charvel was a beautiful red 650XL. Now I've got a 475 and a mutt Model 3. They're amazing guitars! I don't plan on buying from any other guitar brand other than old Charvels

[pro-fusion]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

I never had an import Charvel back in the day, but I've had several pass through my hands in recent years. And I got all of them absolutely, criminally dirt cheap.

--'86 cream-colored Model 5. I got this one for $150 in poor shape as a project while I recovered from carpal tunnel syndrome back in about 1998 or so--it's how I found out about this board. Damn thing probably had a twisted neck, and I fvcked up the restoration anyway, but it was one of the best-sounding guitars I've ever owned. Best rhythm-guitar sound I've ever gotten with a couple of EMG-81s in it. Sold it out of dislike for the Kahler and due to the neck warpage.

--'89 cream-colored 650xl. I bought this one for $250 after it had been hanging around a small music store for many years. This thing was a tank--a quick setup later and I had the lowest action I've ever managed on any guitar (including USA Jacksons) without any fret buzz. I mean, *insane* low action. Sadly, though, this was probably the worst-sounding C/J I've ever played. It just didn't have much natural resonance and was kind of 'dead'-sounding. Sold it for a handsome profit.

--'88 black-cherry Model 5fx. Bought this one for about $200 on eBay mostly just to refurbish and turn around for some quick profit. Succeeded nicely at that. Neck was a bit 'clubby' on this one, and I really didn't like the JT-6 trem.

--'86 ferrari-red Model 5. Bought this one for about $250 to convert into a fixed-bridge guitar through the use of a Kahler 3310 bridge. Worked fine and sounded nice, but somehow the 3310 still had the sustain problems of the Kahler trems, and I just couldn't get used to it. Sold it for a slight loss, considering the money I put into the 3310 and some EMG-81s.

--'90 or '91 Fusion Deluxe. I just won this auction today and haven't gotten it yet. A guitar with Reflex pickups
and Schaller trem for $200--can you believe that? I just couldn't pass this one up.

Someday when I have the spare cash, I would like to get a 750xl, particularly one with a fixed bridge. Might try another 650xl, as well.

[Rich19]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

Hi y'all! This is my first post!

My first (and only) Charvel is an '86 black Model 3A. It's pretty beat up but still plays like a charm. Had to change the trem a few times, now it has a Floyd with a recessed cavity. I also had to change the bridge pup, although I don't remember what it is (probably a DiMarzio).

I really love the neck on that guitar!!!

[pro-fusion]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

[ QUOTE ]
Hi y'all! This is my first post!

My first (and only) Charvel is an '86 black Model 3A. It's pretty beat up but still plays like a charm. Had to change the trem a few times, now it has a Floyd with a recessed cavity. I also had to change the bridge pup, although I don't remember what it is (probably a DiMarzio).

I really love the neck on that guitar!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Welcome! Did you do the routing for the recessed trem yourself? That would be quite a project on a Model 3, I'd think.

[Rich19]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

No, it was done by my buddy Paul, guitar repairman/maker and everything related. He really did a nice job!

[guitarforceone]

Re: Tell us about your first Charvel

My first Charvel was a 1986 Model 4 in Black Cherry. I bought it used in 1987, and I've pretty much been using '86 Model 4's ever since then. I have 5 or 6 of them. My original one is completely worn out, with huge dents in the frets, and the corners of the Kahler trem are actually rounded off from resting my hand there while I play. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I currently have the 5 or 6 Model 4's, a Model 3, a Model 6, and a 650XL. I think I am becoming partial to the Model 6 and 650 now, because the action on them is even better than on my Model 4's. Maybe I'm getting lazy with age.

I'm fortunate in that here in Austin, where I live, there are tons of pawnshops and they are loaded with old Charvels. I pick them up really cheap...usually for less than $200, and I've even picked up a couple for around $80.
Dana <~~~