Are you a vintage Charvel expert? What do you think?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fiesta Red
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All I remember was a store Audio Light&Musical in Raleigh NC sure had them with floyds and they were 1200 1300 couldnt afford one this was 82
That must’ve been before Kramer had the exclusive rights to Floyds. My remaining original from 84 I bought as a parted out neck/body. Originally it had a V Trem; then the owner had it routed for a Kahler. Ugh. I had it filled, re cut for a Floyd then refinished.
 
Sounds like it's a parts guitar
Seems like it. The pre pro electronics route is different than what that star has; which is a San Dimas production route. So it could be legit 100% Charvel parts from 2 eras. But, maybe they still used 21 fret necks after they changed the cavity route? This is where Chubtone needs to give us his expert commentary….
 
Seems like it. The pre pro electronics route is different than what that star has; which is a San Dimas production route. So it could be legit 100% Charvel parts from 2 eras. But, maybe they still used 21 fret necks after they changed the cavity route? This is where Chubtone needs to give us his expert commentary….

What did the pre pro electronics route look like?
 
Seems like it. The pre pro electronics route is different than what that star has; which is a San Dimas production route. So it could be legit 100% Charvel parts from 2 eras. But, maybe they still used 21 fret necks after they changed the cavity route? This is where Chubtone needs to give us his expert commentary….
I'm not certain I'm a Charvel expert anymore. I bought my 1984 brand new from Guitar Center Chicago and it was $864 including hard case and tax. I got it the same week and from the same batch as Lynch bought his black pointy Charvel with brass trem. I played the black one George ended up getting but instead bought my candy purple one. Then my sales guy called me and said "Remember that black one you almost bought? We just sold it to George Lynch" or maybe they traded it.

It is so easy to fake or do a replica of a Charvel it has become almost impossible to tell what is real, what is parts, and what is half real etc.
 
I'm not certain I'm a Charvel expert anymore. I bought my 1984 brand new from Guitar Center Chicago and it was $864 including hard case and tax. I got it the same week and from the same batch as Lynch bought his black pointy Charvel with brass trem. I played the black one George ended up getting but instead bought my candy purple one. Then my sales guy called me and said "Remember that black one you almost bought? We just sold it to George Lynch" or maybe they traded it.

It is so easy to fake or do a replica of a Charvel it has become almost impossible to tell what is real, what is parts, and what is half real etc.

Candy purple sounds better anyways. It's been scientifically proven
 
I'm not certain I'm a Charvel expert anymore. I bought my 1984 brand new from Guitar Center Chicago and it was $864 including hard case and tax. I got it the same week and from the same batch as Lynch bought his black pointy Charvel with brass trem. I played the black one George ended up getting but instead bought my candy purple one. Then my sales guy called me and said "Remember that black one you almost bought? We just sold it to George Lynch" or maybe they traded it.

It is so easy to fake or do a replica of a Charvel it has become almost impossible to tell what is real, what is parts, and what is half real etc.
Well if a guy with your knowledge and experience doesn't know, the rest of us are totally screwed lol
 
Maybe there’s a few JCF guys still here to comment. One thing I do know is, the pre pros are the target fakes for scammers. They aren’t asking pre pro money for this one though. I still think that neck is probably legit.
 
My salesman was a super cool guy in a signed Chicago band that kind of took me under his wing and helped me. I had been saving up for a Kramer for about a year and I had the $595 a brand new Kramer was going to cost me. We went to the downtown Chicago Guitar Center which was forbidden by my parents. We lived in the suburbs and were not allowed to go to downtown Chicago on our own. I was 17 at the time. My friend drove me to that Guitar Center and I walked in ready to buy a Kramer. My sales guy was Dave Anderson from a Chicago band called Eric Steel. He is in that famous Charvel ad from back in the day where a bunch of the players are all standing together with their Charvels and Jacksons.

So he asks me what I'm looking for and I tell him a white Kramer USA with a Floyd Rose. He took me to those and we looked at them and then he asked, "Have you ever played a Charvel?" Now, I had barely ever even heard of a Charvel. I had never seen one in person. I had heard the name in Van Halen interviews and Rhoads interviews. This was before knowing that the Lynch Bengal was a Charvel or even knowing who Ratt was.

I had played a bunch of Kramers and really liked them. Then he put a Charvel in my hands. I was no longer interested in buying a Kramer. The problem was I was now $275 short on buying a new guitar. I kept looking at the Kramer and Dave kept telling me that it was worth it to wait and to keep saving but I wanted a new guitar THAT DAY. He talked me out of it and he told me he would call me everytime a new batch came in but I really liked that purple one. I went home and all my band members were bummed I didn't have a new guitar.

When I went to work at the pizza place that night, all my friends and the boss knew I had been painstakingly saving for a new guitar and that I had come home with nothing and wanted some special custom made guitar from California and I had to save another $275. That was pretty tough to do at $3.35 an hour minimum wage. My boss pulled me aside and told me he would front me $275 to get that new guitar. The next day I broke my parents rules again and was in Chicago buying that candy purple Charvel. I still have it. #04 was my sales guy

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My salesman was a super cool guy in a signed Chicago band that kind of took me under his wing and helped me. I had been saving up for a Kramer for about a year and I had the $595 a brand new Kramer was going to cost me. We went to the downtown Chicago Guitar Center which was forbidden by my parents. We lived in the suburbs and were not allowed to go to downtown Chicago on our own. I was 17 at the time. My friend drove me to that Guitar Center and I walked in ready to buy a Kramer. My sales guy was Dave Anderson from a Chicago band called Eric Steel. He is in that famous Charvel ad from back in the day where a bunch of the players are all standing together with their Charvels and Jacksons.

So he asks me what I'm looking for and I tell him a white Kramer USA with a Floyd Rose. He took me to those and we looked at them and then he asked, "Have you ever played a Charvel?" Now, I had barely ever even heard of a Charvel. I had never seen one in person. I had heard the name in Van Halen interviews and Rhoads interviews. This was before knowing that the Lynch Bengal was a Charvel or even knowing who Ratt was.

I had played a bunch of Kramers and really liked them. Then he put a Charvel in my hands. I was no longer interested in buying a Kramer. The problem was I was now $275 short on buying a new guitar. I kept looking at the Kramer and Dave kept telling me that it was worth it to wait and to keep saving but I wanted a new guitar THAT DAY. He talked me out of it and he told me he would call me everytime a new batch came in but I really liked that purple one. I went home and all my band members were bummed I didn't have a new guitar.

When I went to work at the pizza place that night, all my friends and the boss knew I had been painstakingly saving for a new guitar and that I had come home with nothing and wanted some special custom made guitar from California and I had to save another $275. That was pretty tough to do at $3.35 an hour minimum wage. My boss pulled me aside and told me he would front me $275 to get that new guitar. The next day I broke my parents rules again and was in Chicago buying that candy purple Charvel. I still have it. #04 was my sales guy

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That is awesome. What a great boss; and as a teenager that must’ve been one amazing moment. Great story!
 
The next day I broke my parents rules again and was in Chicago buying that candy purple Charvel. I still have it. #04 was my sales guy

I know I keep asking you this about pretty much everything you post, but got any pics?

* EDIT * Never mind -- I found an old thread of yours. That's a killer looking one.

I remember going to Skips Music here in town and looking at he 4 or 5 they had hanging on the wall. Always drooling over them. The first one I played was owned by a friend of mine. Ice Blue Metallic with a pointy headstock that came with a single humbucker and a brass trem. He had it modified locally and had a Floyd trem and a neck humbucker installed. Whoever did it did a really good job. He put a Duncan Invader in the bridge and it screamed. I have a double humbucker pointy head now and put an Invader in it. Love it.
 
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I think the body and neck are probably legit, along with the crown tuners. You can chunk everything else. Good candidate for a restoration, but star bodies don’t bring the big $$$.
 
I would offer $1700 if you want it and tell him it's not 100% legit based on you having some knowledgeable Charvel guys look at it. The logo is the biggest red flag. Looks like an 08, 09 logo
 
There's a guy on TGP that knows his stuff and has a lot of experience with pre pros. He was around when they were made originally and has a few. He responded a few times in that thread. I've spoken with him offline. Good dude.
 
I think the body and neck are probably legit, along with the crown tuners. You can chunk everything else. Good candidate for a restoration, but star bodies don’t bring the big $$$.

I'd like to see someone contacting him on reverb about the discrepancies. Sometimes a member will send them the link to threads like these. The seller usually doesn't take it very well. LOL
 
I'm not certain I'm a Charvel expert anymore. I bought my 1984 brand new from Guitar Center Chicago and it was $864 including hard case and tax. I got it the same week and from the same batch as Lynch bought his black pointy Charvel with brass trem. I played the black one George ended up getting but instead bought my candy purple one. Then my sales guy called me and said "Remember that black one you almost bought? We just sold it to George Lynch" or maybe they traded it.

It is so easy to fake or do a replica of a Charvel it has become almost impossible to tell what is real, what is parts, and what is half real etc.
Thats was a good deal cause I swear they were $1200 at the store in NC because I ended up with a Zion that was around $650.
 
Thats was a good deal cause I swear they were $1200 at the store in NC because I ended up with a Zion that was around $650.

I remember them at that price too, but Skips is known for prices that are above list. When they have a sale, they drop the price to list. LOL
 
I know I keep asking you this about pretty much everything you post, but got any pics?

* EDIT * Never mind -- I found an old thread of yours. That's a killer looking one.

I remember going to Skips Music here in town and looking at he 4 or 5 they had hanging on the wall. Always drooling over them. The first one I played was owned by a friend of mine. Ice Blue Metallic with a pointy headstock that came with a single humbucker and a brass trem. He had it modified locally and had a Floyd trem and a neck humbucker installed. Whoever did it did a really good job. He put a Duncan Invader in the bridge and it screamed. I have a double humbucker pointy head now and put an Invader in it. Love it.
Ahhhh, good ol Skips Music. We had one in Modesto too for many years before they got blown out of the water by Guitar Center.
Before Skips, it was a small place called Music Showcase. They had the Charvels when they first came out. I would just drool every time I went in there, but way beyond my meager means at that point.
 
looks like a parts mutt to me , it's definitely not "original" LOL
that's for sure, I'm going to post it up on the charvel group on facebook , I know a couple of the experts over there they'll chime in quick enough.
 
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