Charvel Model 6-bought a black one!

[oldguy]

I bought this from an inspector on our construction site. He'd mentioned a year ago he'd like to sell it, but at the time we couldn't agree on a price. I got a call last week.... he wanted to sell.....right away.
He'd also never learned to play, so he had put the guitar in one of those outdoor rent-a-storage places!!! It needed TLC, and soon. After I'd checked it over, I bought it, then brought it home and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening cleaning, polishing, etc. It was a mess. The strings were coated w/ rust, the floyd was WAY off, as in sitting at about a 45 degree angle to the body, the mid boost pot was frozen solid, the frets had green "gunk" built up on them, fingerboard was filthy and needed oiled. I think it cleaned up great, hardly a blemish on it, plays wonderful now, nice low action (and I can now set a floyd up....talk about a learning experience!), so I thought I'd post pics in honor of Marnold's B-day.

 

[Katastrophe]

Sweet guitar, oldguy! Now you have to plug 'er in to the SoCal, crank it, select your favorite '80s metal tune, and let 'er RIP!:rockon:

 

[Spudman]

Score! Shred on Obiwan. :rockon:

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Cool! :bravo: But when I click on the top two images, it says I don't have permission. Have i been grounded? ;-) (EDIT: Weird, now it works.)

That is from the late 80s, yes? This touches on the topic of what is vintage. This is a pretty unique piece so I wonder if it might qualify. Bet it is fun regardless. :AOK:

So I want to hear some OG shredding here soon for sure!

 

[Big K]

:bravo: :bravo: :bravo:

 

[oldguy]

Cool! But when I click on the top two images, it says I don't have permission. Have i been grounded? ;-)

That is from the late 80s, yes? This touches on the topic of what is vintage. This is a pretty unique piece so I wonder if it might qualify. Bet it is fun regardless.

Sorry, sunvalley, I'm always forgetting to hit the "set public" button when I put pics on. Should work now.
Haven't check specs yet, but this should be around mid-80's. What I notice about it is the attention to detail..... it's very good overall. I did notice the wiring and pots were just average, I de-soldered and removed the mid-boost pot to free it up, I was surprised some tuner/cleaner and lots of turning fixed it. The Model 6 was built in Japan, and was supposedly Charvel's version of Jackson's Soloist, tho I suspect the Jacksons used better components. The Jackson/Floyd is top notch on this, tho, well built and works flawlessly (once I finally got it set up).
The action and playability are really good, tho a pro tech guy could no doubt get it better, but it's definitely fun. It doesn't qualify as "vintage", IMO, tho.

 

[Guitar Gal]

Very nice OG :AOK: Looks like you did a great job of cleaning and setting it up.

Looking forward to seeing and hearing vids with your new baby :rockon:

GG

 

[warren0728]

congrats og....saved a nice guitar from the brink of death :bravo: :beer:

ww

 

[Adrian30]

It's a beautiful guitar, OG. Congrats!

 

[just strum]

Very nice OG, you did an nice job of cleaning it up - looks sweet. I hope we get to hear it soon.

Now what's this talk about shredding? Next thing you know Robert will want to hook up with you and want to demonstrate some of his shredding technique.

 

[oldguy]

Very nice OG, you did an nice job of cleaning it up - looks sweet. I hope we get to hear it soon.

Now what's this talk about shredding? Next thing you know Robert will want to hook up with you an want to demonstrate some of his shredding technique.

While this may be a shredder's guitar, this is no shredder.....believe me, I have neither the speed nor the expertise........
Now, if Robert wants to come spend a few days, we will make up the spare bedroom and I'll be happy to video his shred-tastic licks for all.
I will record something when I get some time, but it won't be shredding.:nono: I'll try something Marnold wouldn't be too ashamed of me for, though.
Right now I'm working on another abandoned waif of a guitar, and I'm afraid this one didn't fare as well........it's....uh........"naturally relic'd", I'm not sure it'll survive the cleaning process, but we'll see.
Thanks for all the nice comments on the Charvel. It really looks better than my pics show. It's hard to photograph a black guitar, and my pics were fuzzy.

 

[kerc]

That's a great rocker. Cool!

 

[oldguy]

Some better pictures

I took these after messing w/ the wife's camera and learning how to use it better. More detail and a better idea of the actual colors.


Zero fret wear that I can find anywhere.




Nice low action, binding has aged nicely to a yellow color.



Finish is still mirrorlike (that surprised me, after it being stored in a tin rental).




None of the hardware is oxidized/rusted. Another surprise......

 

[oldguy]

Top RH pic shows the most common ding I find on these........ there's a tiny spot nicked off the very tip of the pointy headstock.... someone nearly always seems to bump the very corner, and this one's no exception.
Again, the shots of the Floyd/Jackson trem unit show no rust..... hmmm.....maybe those outdoor storage units are better than I give them credit for........
The middle RH pic shows the almost mirror-like reflection of the trem's fine tuners in the finish.......the lower RH pic shows the Jackson tuners, which are tight, smooth, and work great!

 

[kerc]

The aged binding makes it look even more classy. :beer:

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Yeah, it looks really, really NICE! That is great OG! Good for you.

 

[mrmudcat]

Another fine example rescued from guitar hell!!!:rockon:

 

[oldguy]

Another fine example rescued from guitar hell!!!:rockon:

Thanks, mudcat...... I haven't seen one with this potential for a long time, otherwise I would've passed......

 

[mrmudcat]

That awesome binding looks to be authentically aged as opposed to the new guitars with the fake looking binding. What is your opinion brother?oke:

 

[oldguy]

That awesome binding looks to be authentically aged as opposed to the new guitars with the fake looking binding. What is your opinion brother?oke:

I like it.
@ 1:11 and 1:12, I like it alot!!:bravo: :bravo:
(That's AM, btw....ancake: )
oke:

 

[SuperSwede]

Oldguy, fantastic looking guitar! Marnold will be proud of you

 

[oldguy]

I sure hope so, I have to try and learn a new song now, and I don't think Matt's even seen this thread yet!!!:thwap: :thwap:

 

[SuperSwede]

I sure hope so, I have to try and learn a new song now

Dont worry Oldguy..

Mr. Johann Sebastian Bach will explain how it works:

There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.

 

[Katastrophe]

I sure hope so, I have to try and learn a new song now, and I don't think Matt's even seen this thread yet!!!:thwap: :thwap:

Make it a selection off of any Dokken album! He'll be able to sniff out this thread for sure if you post a clip.

 

[wingsdad]

Nice catch, and great application of TLC, OG :AOK:

Curious...do you happen to know how old this black beauty is? Have you tried checking the serial number out? The cross-breeding of Charvel & Jackson lasted only briefly. Some were made in USA (Charvel: DFW, Texas; Jackson: San Dimas, CA). Then it was off to Korea...

 

[duhvoodooman]

Whoa, how did I miss this one yesterday? Nice snag there, OG! :AOK: :rockon:

Of course, we expect one (or more!) of your inimitable video clips forthwith! oke:

 

[Brian Krashpad]

Congrats!

 

[oldguy]

Nice catch, and great application of TLC, OG :AOK:

Curious...do you happen to know how old this black beauty is? Have you tried checking the serial number out? The cross-breeding of Charvel & Jackson lasted only briefly. Some were made in USA (Charvel: DFW, Texas; Jackson: San Dimas, CA). Then it was off to Korea...

Wingsdad,
Yes, I now have some info on my guitar. Once again, I must say "Thank you, Marnold!" Our friend Marnold has, on more than one occasion mentioned the Jackson Charvel Forum, and there's lots of info there if you dig long enough.
It seems there were U.S. made Jacksons and Charvels, and import Jacksons and Charvels. The Japanese built models were known for their quality in the day (as were the MIJ Fenders of that era).

The model 6 I have, according to the serial #, appears to be a 1987 model, built in Japan, rather than Korea.
This is according to a thread I found at the JCF..

A quote from a member........

"This is the information I've found, which I'm trying to confirm. From 1986 to 1994, Jackson had a contract with a company called Kyowa-Shokai, which used its factory Chu Shin Gakki in Nagano to build these Charvels and Jacksons. I know that both the Ibanez's that I own and my 1985 Fender Jap Strat were made by Fujigen Gakki - which is also in Nagano Japan. All the information I've been able to find supports that Jackson contracted to have guitars built by Chu Shin Gakki from 1986 to 1994."

and a follow up from another....

"Some say that Jackson owned the Japanese facility and still do, but it’s safe to say that today, the Chushin Musical Instruments company makes guitars for the American Jackson Guitars company exclusively and that includes the import Jackson and Charvel guitars and the Jackson Stars Series, where the latter is made for the Japanese market only."

Note the inclusion of Charvel guitars above. Jackson Guitars would not confirm that they own or did own the Chushin Gakki factory. They just stated the above, which is evasive and clearly points to the sub-contractor "theory".

To answer the Subject: Which Japanese Factory Built the Model Series Charvels? To the best of my knowledge, Chushin Gakki did. Subcontracted by the trading company Kyowa-Shokai. Ordered by Grover Jackson.

 

[Algonquin]

The new axe looks great Glenn. Looking forward to seeing you play it on the 'Tube'.

Cheers! :beer:

David

 

[Tone2TheBone]

The new axe looks great Glenn. Looking forward to seeing you play it on the 'Tube'.

Cheers! :beer:

David

Ditto. And I too noticed that nice amber tinting on the binding. Great catch buddy.