1986' MIJ Charvel model # 2

[6CA7-A]

I find it funny looking back folks nit-picking about Charvel / Jackson guitars and as a company.
Everyone wanted a Charvel / EVERYONE.
They were sold in batches in limited quantities.
Problem was the licensing & company kept changing hands.
By the time CJ got to Korea and beyond the majic was over.
As for aritist they didn't drive sales they were "sales & promotion."
The early model series from Japan were extremely well made in both labor & materials.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

No I mean most of the options that players wanted were off the table from 86. They reduced the degree of custom to such a degree it was almost a production instrument. They were big on graphics but don’t ask for off brand parts.

Yeah we're saying the same. As soon as the went to Japan with the production it isn't remotely the same as the ones I dug.

Hell even the current MIM are way closer to the original. Although the neck shape is so different.

 

[Eagle]

I find it funny looking back folks nit-picking about Charvel / Jackson guitars and as a company.
Everyone wanted a Charvel / EVERYONE.
They were sold in batches in limited quantities.
Problem was the licensing & company kept changing hands.
By the time CJ got to Korea and beyond the majic was over.
As for aritist they didn't drive sales they were "sales & promotion."
The early model series from Japan were extremely well made in both labor & materials.

You weren’t there and you’re missing the point.
The first series sold on the back of the “ real” ones.
They had the wrong hardware and paid the price.
Almost every artist had a Floyd or a Strat head neither of which you could get.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

I find it funny looking back folks nit-picking about Charvel / Jackson guitars and as a company.
Everyone wanted a Charvel / EVERYONE.
They were sold in batches in limited quantities.
Problem was the licensing & company kept changing hands.
By the time CJ got to Korea and beyond the majic was over.
As for aritist they didn't drive sales they were "sales & promotion."
The early model series from Japan were extremely well made in both labor & materials.

How so? The Charvels I'm talking about happened a while Grover Jackson owned it.

Once the sell off started they were about as interesting as a Fernandes or ESP.

It's interesting folks like those Model 6 etc

 

[gearJunkie]

It's interesting folks like those Model 6 etc

For me, the Charvel Model 4 was my first "real" guitar. It ticked all the boxes for me as a young aspiring musician that idolized Randy Rhoads. I couldn't afford a Jackson, but it had shark tooth inlays, a "floyd" trem, and felt 100% rock-n-roll.

Lot's of great memories playing that guitar on stage and in the studio. I eventually traded it in, along with a Yamaha RGX 1212 and my ADA MP1 to subsidize my Steinberger GM7TA.

 

[Eagle]

For me, the Charvel Model 4 was my first "real" guitar. It ticked all the boxes for me as a young aspiring musician that idolized Randy Rhoads. I couldn't afford a Jackson, but it had shark tooth inlays, a "floyd" trem, and felt 100% rock-n-roll.

Lot's of great memories playing that guitar on stage and in the studio. I eventually traded it in, along with a Yamaha RGX 1212 and my ADA MP1 to subsidize my Steinberger GM7TA.

What Floyd trem? Model 4 shipped with a Kahler flat mount standard and then a JT6.

 

[gearJunkie]

What Floyd trem? Model 4 shipped with a Kahler flat mount standard and then a JT6.

That's why I put "floyd" in quotes. I was young, inexperienced, and didn't know the difference back then.

 

[gearJunkie]

This is about what my JT6 looked like before I got rid of the Charvel.

 

[GuitarBilly74]

How so? The Charvels I'm talking about happened a while Grover Jackson owned it.

Once the sell off started they were about as interesting as a Fernandes or ESP.

It's interesting folks like those Model 6 etc

The Model 6 in particular was popular with the Thrash Metal crowd, since it was the best neckthrough guitar you could get under $1k. You'd set them up with EMGs and a real Floyd and they were great for that style.

For rock, Kramer was very dominant, at least in the scene I grew up in (late 80s NYC/NJ). Their HQ was somewhat local in south Jersey (Neptune) so they absolutely dominated that area.

I think a lot of this stuff was very regional back then, without the internet etc. So it depends on the area you grew up in..... today is a lot more homogeneous.

 

[gearJunkie]

I think a lot of this stuff was very regional back then, without the internet etc. So it depends on the area you grew up in..... today is a lot more homogeneous.

Exactly. The local music store where I had weekly lessons had very limited selection of "super strat" style guitars. Entry-level Washburn and Charvel were the only options I could (barely) afford.

 

[Eagle]

View attachment 39544

This is about what my JT6 looked like before I got rid of the Charvel.

They tried to “make “ you have that pos even on custom shop Jacksons and wondered why everyone went. They got the message in 88 when they got the Schaller Floyd but it was too late Ibanez had eaten their breakfast. I always liked the actual guitars though and still have a Soloist from the 80s. Mine has the Schaller.

 

[GuitarBilly74]

They tried to “make “ you have that pos even on custom shop Jacksons and wondered why everyone went. They got the message in 88 when they got the Schaller Floyd but it was too late Ibanez had eaten their breakfast. I always liked the actual guitars though and still have a Soloist from the 80s. Mine has the Schaller.

Not true for the US Custom Shop, you could get the Floyd as a "Special Instruction" and a $200 surcharge. At least here in the US. Maybe in the UK it was different.

 

[6CA7-A]

Yeah we're saying the same. As soon as the went to Japan with the production it isn't remotely the same as the ones I dug.

Hell even the current MIM are way closer to the original. Although the neck shape is so different.

You mean the Fender Strats with the chunky C neck profile masquerading as a Charvel product from 40 years ago ? not hardly but we all have our opines.

 

[6CA7-A]

You weren’t there and you’re missing the point.
The first series sold on the back of the “ real” ones.
They had the wrong hardware and paid the price.
Almost every artist had a Floyd or a Strat head neither of which you could get.

Im in my 60's WTF do you mean i twearnt thar ?
who the F*ck you think you are mang ?

 

[Eagle]

Im in my 60's WTF do you mean i twearnt thar ?
who the F*ck you think you are mang ?

You’re so wrong I assumed that you either were not involved or too young. I now understand that you were on a desert island.

 

[6CA7-A]

goodbye Fucknutt.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

You mean the Fender Strats with the chunky C neck profile masquerading as a Charvel product from 40 years ago ? not hardly but we all have our opines.

I said not even close

 

[Eagle]

I said not even close

He’s clueless.

 

[Eagle]

Here is Richie Sambora’s main Jackson Strat and it’s what I am talking about. It was completely different to anything that you could actually buy at the time ;

I’ve had quite a bit of Richie’s stuff over the years.
Real Floyd and a Strat head.

 

[Los-D]

My 92 Stealth XL had the JT-580. Worked well.