My Model 4A pics

[darrellm]

Finally pulled my Model 4A out of 'retirement' (long story...house move....house renovation...kids.....).

Anyway, here it is. In real life, it's not as white as it looks, the body has gone a cream/yellowy colour, which I kinda like. Bought this guitar second-hand here in the UK in 1988, it got retired from gigging around 1995 when I moved over to Gibsons for live work but I still played it most days for practise and recording, until it went into storage.

It's got one of the best clean tones I've heard, IMHO. And I love the neck. Only thing I'm not so keen on is the active circuitry, may replace the pickups with a set of passive SDs like a mate has done with his (result = killer tone).

Overall though, I love this guitar, several people have asked me to sell it them but I won't - it would take a US Strathead to prise me away from this baby











A mate in the same band had the Model 6, we both reckon the Model 4 (bolt-on neck) was the more versatile. Here we are circa 1989 - red Model 6 and my white Model 4A - no comments on the stage gear please

[straycat]

The dude has no face just hair......cousin it?..J/K cool pic.

[mudkicker]

Awesome pics. Great to see someone left the Made In Japan sticker on the neckplate.

I agree Model 4s have great clean tones but once you dirty them up I think they fall a little flat.

[Budman68]

beautiful example of a Model 4A! That has a perfect looking rosewood board and the pics look great, thanks for sharing.

I really miss mine at times......one of the best feeling bolt on necks, ever-

[Mike]

I have the same exact guitar, just Dark Blue.

[chrisolson]

What's a 4A? Is it the sharkies that make it a 4A?

[Robert Burns]

Wow...great condition! I love the Rosewood in the board!! Beautiful!

[Razor]

Very nice Model 4! Welcome to the board and a very cool way to come out and introduce yourself!

[sysin]

Very nice specimen indeed....

I owned one EXACTLY like it, but beat it to shit. Bought new in late 80s. I loved it back then, pumped it thru and ADA MP-1 and ADA Microtube power amp....I loved the sound so much that I've got the Charvel collector's bug now. GAS as so many have called it.

One thing I don't miss is the lock behind the nut. The G string always went sharp after coming up from a dive on the trem. My fusion deluxe and 550XL are better in that respect.

Welcome to the board.

[skorb]

man that's a nice one, thanks for the great pics.

I love that black and white look. Adrian Smith!!

[GTarman68]

What's a 4A? Is it the sharkies that make it a 4A?

??? Was wondering the same....

[darrellm]

Believe the Model 4 has dots and the 4A sharkfins.

Thanks all for the kind comments, it's come out better in the photos than it actually is - it's been heavily gigged, beer spilt on it, played every couple of days for 15 years or so, etc. I normally give the fretboard a wipe with lemon oil every string change, and polish the guitar every 6 months or so.

I have to say though that these Charvels are very well made and sturdy, both my Gibsons are less than half the age of this Charvel but both worse off, despite less gigs/abuse.

When I've got a bit more time, I'll try to find and upload a video of us onto youtube so you can all have a laugh

[msaint65]

Love 4's

Love Model 4's...one of mine is a Pearl White '88 - real purty LOL! Anyway, FWIW, 1986 Model 4's had dots, 1987 and 1988 Model 4's has fins, EXCEPT all maple neck 4's had dots.

Mark

[Mike]

So what makes it a 4A?

[Charlz]

no comments on the stage gear please

By the way... nice stage gear...:ROTF: