Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

[xsentrick]

I think it's an interesting looking strat?

What do you guys think? Were they well received when they initially came out?

[The Eristic]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

[ QUOTE ]
Were they well received when they initially came out?

[/ QUOTE ]

Judging by how few you see, apparently not. I spent over a year looking for one with a maple board. I think they were just too "vintage" for the late '80s/early '90s.

[charvelguy]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

They were only made for a few years at the most.
Not the least popular model but not the best.

[badams]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

Well I have one and the config. on those was really a stranger in a strange land! That mid Freq. sweep thing did nothing for me and I don't wanna start on the slanted single at the bridge. If ya got at routing put a humbucker in there, get rid of the sweep eq circuit and put a switch to spilt that humbucker and you've got yourself something that plays like a model 2 or 3 but looks somewhat different. Here's mine

[Genebaby]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

That's just like mine, except mine is still stock. The mid frequency boost is "interesting" but I like the fact that it has 3 singles and a Floyd. I've got plenty of guitars with Humbuckers so the two that are all singles, are something different. I would love a maple one, so if anyone has a Destert Crackle Spectrum with a maple board and wants to swap, let me know....

What's the trem on there? Mine has chrome hardware and a Schaller Floyd.

[Budman68]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

<font color="aqua">That's actually the JT6 trem on there, Vic. </font>

[Genebaby]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

Yeah, it is...it's pretty shiny lookin'....doesn't seem to fit the route maybe...

[sully]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

i thought the spectrum was cool b/c it was like beck's soloist. the mid sweep is kind of a novelty, really. i didn't use it much. the one i had seemed really small to me, and i'm not the shortest guy, and it just never felt right to me. played great, and sounded more functional after i put a hot rails in the bridge position.

sully

[xsentrick]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

I saw one on Ebay a couple of weeks ago. I thought about bidding on it, but I found my Model 2 that I liked much better, but I am still considering buying one if I can find one.

[Genebaby]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

Mine was just too cheap to pass up, with the original case I couldn't say no....

[badams]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

I did swap the floyd for the JT6 on my spectrum pictured.

[ABSOLUT CHARVEL]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

I had 2, but down to one. I think they are a kick to play because of the sweep eq.

[thebisch]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

I have always liked the tele/'51 P bass like guitars. These are just like the Robin Rangers, and Kramer Elliot Eastons. USACG does one of these as well...it is the STP-51 (Strat,Tele,Pbass,1951). I have been wanting to build one of these myself. I just can't decide weather to use a Tele bridge or a hardtail Strat bridge with a HB...I really can't believe that Fender has never made something like this either, since the design is basically a '51 P guitar. They did start making something similar recently, but it is a Squier. A nice MIA Fender like this would be killer IMO.

[charvelguy]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

I think the Greco Boogie was a similar model to the Kramer Easton. The Spectrum seems marketed to compete with that. You hardly ever see boogies but the neck thrus look like they are a player.

Greco boogie

The Spectrums I believe are dinky bodied.

[BallsOnParade]

Re: Charvel Spectrum, opinions?

That's a pretty nice guitar, but that reverse pointy headstock with that type of pickgard is just ODD-looking, but if it had a Strat-type head (even reverse), it would look more aesthetically pleasing, but i would also at least replace the bridge s/c with a Hot Rails or something...