The GREATEST Japanese Guitar Ever Made - 1989 Charvel Jackson 750xl Archtop Soloist (Shawn Lane)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- This is the story of my 1989-90 Charvel 750xl Flame Maple Archtop Soloist with Trem. Made in the Chushin Gakki factory for a little over a year, from late 1988 thru early 1990, the 750xl sat at the pinnacle of the Charvel Professional Series import line. Coming on the heels of their highly success their new Classic Series, Fusion Series, and Professional Series now featured a fresh headstock logo in a smooth toothpaste font. Where the Classic Series reprised many of the features of the lower models from the Model Series, and the Fusion Series experimented with guitars with a Fusion of specs all with Gibson 24 ¾ scale lengths, the Professional Series and its three models, the 550xl, 650xl, and big daddy 750xl, featured the very best in specs and craftsmanship the Chushin Gakki factory had to offer.
The 650xl was nearly identical to its Model 6 predecessor with set-thru neck construction, and active boost electronics, it did feature a 5-way switch instead of the slightly more cumbersome three toggles, The 550xl was basically a 650xl with dual humbuckers instead of HSS pickups. But the 750xl, often dubbed “The Les Paul Killer” by those in the know, stood apart from anything Charvel had made up until that time, or has made since.
First of all, like the Fusion Series guitars, the 750xl had a 24 ¾ Gibson scale, immediately pitting it against the likes of the Les Paul, which, thanks to Guns n' Roses's Slash and their 1987 album “Appetite for Destruction,” had enjoyed a recent renaissance of interest. But instead of simply copying a Les Paul, as so many Japanese companies such as Hoshino Gakki, the Ibanez parent, had done in the past, the Chushin Gakki craftsmen decided to take the basic idea of a Les Paul Standard - with its arched flame maple top on a thick mahogany body, dual passive overwound humbuckers, and fully bound neck - and give it a deluxe Super Strat spin.
#guitar #history
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
1: Become a Member on Locals: theguitologist...
2: Donate via Paypal: paypal.me/guit...
3: Buy Merch: bit.ly/Guitolog...
4: Send in Viewer Mail. (Contact Me for details at bradlinzy@gmail.com )
5: Purchase an ad! (Rate sheets available upon request at email above.)
6: Buy something from a sponsor and tell them I sent you.
7: Stand in the middle of the street naked screaming "LONG LIVE THE GUITOLOGIST!" Then when the cops arrive, tell them about my channel.
SUBSCRIBE TO CHANNEL 2: bit.ly/Guitolog...
♠STUFF I USE
-Signature Guitar: www.zioguitars...
-Mustool Handheld Oscilloscope: usa.banggood.c...
-Acetool Digital Calipers: amzn.to/3RlhO6Z
-Stripmaster Wire Strippers: amzn.to/3QUYfSY
-Miller Wire Strippers: amzn.to/3CCvZjL
-Hakko 20-30 Gauge Strippers: amzn.to/3KpGcC7
-Hakko 10-20 gauge Strippers: amzn.to/3PXEFV1
-Esgofo XHP90 Flashlight: amzn.to/3cyOieW
-IET Labs Capacitor Box: amzn.to/3CzybIV
-EISCO Resistance Box: amzn.to/3e2innL
-Engineer SS-02 Solder Sucker: amzn.to/3APvy4h
-Wiha Screwdrivers: amzn.to/3RcKteR
-5A Variac: amzn.to/3cxZVmp
-Jameco Isolation Transformer: amzn.to/2PRv1Fa
-Fluke 87 Multi-Meter: amzn.to/3wD56s2
-Solder Rework Station: amzn.to/3PUvrZx
-Geekcreit® LCR-T4 Mega328 Transistor Tester bit.ly/2J9uLSA
-HT02 Handheld Infrared Thermal Camera bit.ly/2LXfLoD
-Geekcreit® XR2206 Function Signal Generator DIY Kit bit.ly/2LYBvkb
-Contact Cleaner: amzn.to/2FVitro
-Max Professional Cleaner and Lubricant: amzn.to/37R3JY8
-Deoxit Fader Cleaner: amzn.to/2LPwtsE
♠RECORDING
-Sony AX53 Camcorder amzn.to/3MznuYp
-Canon HF M500 Camcorder amzn.to/3khlV5x
-Shure 565 amzn.to/3SdKfVP
-Audio Technica AT4040 Condenser amzn.to/3IhYV1x
-Shure Beta 87A amzn.to/3AO0zEL
-EV 635A Omnidirectional Dynamic Mic amzn.to/2pR8HQT
-sE Electronics VR1 Ribbon Mic amzn.to/3vkfMM8
-Tonor Q9 USB Condenser amzn.to/39fvmQp
♠RECOMMENDED BOOKS
-RCA TUBE MANUAL amzn.to/2GOBVqS
-Designing Tube Preamps for Guitar and Bass: amzn.to/2DK5tmt
-DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUBE AMPLIFIERS: amzn.to/2HSNMne
i see why ya were so fond of my '90 soloist archtop pro now :)
I picked up an 86 Charvel model 3 HH Japan for $250 at the pawn shop. Clened, buffed and went through the 5 way switch and cleaned all the electronics. This thing is a beast! Love the quack out of the humbuckers! Very versital.
Thanks for sharing , Brad . Thats awesome ! You thanking your Mom's loving sacrifice for buying that guitar was so heartfelt . In 1995 my parents took most of their income tax return and bought me my first rig . A black Epiphone Special II and a 12' Crate amp . I still have the guitar . In 1996 I got a job at a pizza shop and I was saving up to buy a new amp earning $4.25 /hr lol . One day my Dad said "come on, we're going up to KRA Music (Columbus , Ohio) and I'll help you buy that new amp . I traded in my Crate and with Dad & Mom's help I purchased a new Fender Princeton Chorus . I still have that amp . Cherished Memories :)
My first amp was a Crate GX-10. Nice practice amp, but it couldn't keep up with larger amps.
I dont normally do this but...
It was 1989, My mother walked in to a guitar store and purchased an all white Charvel 275 Deluxe, she picked it because it looks very similar to the one on the cover of Joe Satriani's album, Dreaming #11, which my mom and Dad would listen to all the time, he would end up playing the guitar and teaching my mom some rudimentary things on that same white charvel, 4 years later in 1993, I was born,
Some of My earliest Memories are crawling into my mothers room and reaching under her bed and unlocking the case which she would see and help me with, fast forward to age 8 or 9 and she started getting me guitar lessons at our local music store, one day she saw my progress I had made with the guitar and she said I could keep it as long as I take care of it, It would be my only guitar until I started buying more at around age 16.
This year i turned the big 30, i have owned and sold many guitars, yet I still have my mothers Charvel, every time I open the case the smell and looks brings back so many tearful and joyful memories and takes me back to a special place, it is more than a guitar to me, it is my time machine, to a better, easier time...
If you would like to see a picture of me with the guitar as a child here is a public post I made on the charvel page on facebook, I put more photos of the guitar in those comments.
facebook.com/groups/charvelguitars/permalink/10158747508615378/?mibextid=Nif5oz
Brad your mom bought you a 1989 Charvel and gave it to you in 1993
My mom bought my charvel in 1989 and it was destined to be mine in 1993 when I was born,
Eerily simular stories, thank you for sharing, that was truly a reminiscent expierence!
Badass guitar, brother!
@@PickupsAreNotTrucks thanks man! The real beauty is Brad's 750 XL ever since he posted this I have been looking at them online and they are so reminiscent of a 1958-1960 les paul color sceme with the flamed amber maple top and cherry red back, I love My charvel, it is a mid tier model but I always lusted after the set neck high teir models!
I have a neckthrough Ibanez RGT6EXFX. EMG 81s and 85s. A mid range model in production from 06 to 2010. Made in Korea, Indonesia and some rare ones were made in Japan. Somewhat unique in that Ibanez don't usually have too many neckthroughs in their catalogs compared to ESP and Jackson.
It's my second ever guitar and I remember the lovely day my dear pops and I went out to the music store to get some gear. He bought it for me along with a Marshall practice amp. It's a remnant of days gone by, a memory of my dad and a reminder of what once was. Guitars really are more than just instruments. It's why I'll never let it go.
Your comment made me inspired to write this. God bless.
My mom bought me a black 275 in 92. I just restrung and set it up and plays great. Miss ya Mom!!
That guitar is running over with top-shelf attributes - What a beautiful guitar, story, and what a wonderful mother.
Hats off to all the hhard working parents who paid a shit ton for us for a guitar because they knew we would love it
i had a harmony@@BillyMaise
Brad I’m glad you’re in your happy place!
😂 How could one be unhappy with a guitar like that !?
A 1990 Ferrari red mij Jackson professional Rhoads, Soloist or Warrior are my favorites from the legendary Chushin Gakki japan factory. Magical era 1990 to 1994 for Jackson Professional line. Extreme quality.
Hey, that’s a great tribute to your mother, and what a fine guitar. Great to see you still have it as my first guitar is long gone and grateful that it is.
Japanese always make better stuff and these were cheaper than the American instruments. Look for the fender Made in Japan stamp. The Espirit guitar which eventually became the Robben Ford model is amazing as well. Brad, see if u can get your hands on one.
Wow, your story really parallels mine within the same time frame pretty much, however my dream guitar it a 1989 Kramer Nightswan Aztec, same Gibson scale and everything. Bought it new, still have the original bill of sale and I can't ever get rid of it either. Nothing plays like it at all. The rereleased version is nothing like the original. I've had the frets recrowned twice so the frets and the action is super low. Never goes outa tune. Has the original Floyd Rose on it. Just a monster. Think I paid $2200.0 or $2400.0 back in 89-90. Still my favorite to play!
I was sold when he said ty ma I love you. I'm a mamas boy. Only son of 4 sisters. My mom bought me my first guitar at 10 it was a BC RICH WARLOCK bronze series with a stop tail bridge HH in red. And slipknot was big at the time. So I felt like a ultra badassss😂😂😂 you
Edit: my mom passed away in February. So I picked music back up again and realized damn I suck. But music is life!!!
I still have my ESP The Junior II made in Japan from that era, bought in 91 with my first salary. More than 30 years later it is still my main guitar. Incredible !
The real Les Paul Killer was, and still is, the Yamaha SG. I thought everyone knew that. My first guitar, which I still own, is also a Charvel from 1987, and I later acquired a Yamaha SG from 1984. My Charvel is my shredder, and my SG is for everything else. Two totally different beasts.
Been playing 40 years, built loads of guitars and owned many I didn't build, never had that 'one' more certain ones that where prominent along the way - the same as Jeff Beck has Esquire, Les Paul, Strat, tele and even Gretsch along the way; Horses for courses.
You are correct. Shawn proves it beyond a doubt. I had a cheaper model (375 deluxe), still the best Japanese guitar I've ever played.
Your fingerstyle Metal playing is quite impressive Brad! I thoroughly enjoyed this video. It's a real stark contrast to your videos over the past couple of years. While you do play some shredder type stuff in some, mostly seems to be blues/classic rock and various other styles which is all great stuff either way. I had no idea you really started as a shredder though lol. This video was a great one and I've used D'Addario strings since the 90's lol.
My Jackson guitar was not produced in Japan like yours, Brad, but I think it's pretty special too. It is a USA KE2T-KELLY guitar, one of a hundred or less, made for Musician's Friend and signed by Marty Friedman. Years ago I had a brief email conversation with the guy who flew Marty to Texas to sign it. It is in minty condition with only some light surface scratches in the finish. It is a treasured piece and I am fortunate to own it. Oh, lest I forget to mention, I really enjoyed watching the video of your time with Johnny Hiland, too. Good stuff!
JACKSON's are amazing guitars!
Awesome!
Bought one new in 89 and regrettably sold it 6-7 years later but it came back home last year and it will not be leaving again. I had started looking for another and found this one and when it showed up it was the one I had sold many years earlier. The pickups had been changed but was still in very good condition. Needless to say, I was floored when I saw the serial # and realized it was mine to begin with. Like a lost dog, it found it's way home.
Wow!! Incredible story! Thanks for sharing that with us! 🤘
Man, after discovering Shawn Lane a couple years ago my entire world of shredder influence was shattered.
As another commenter on one of his videos on RUclips said , "Shawn makes all my former guitar heros sound pedestrian"
And he was right....
Then I saw Roy Marchbank....
His phat bhoy picks are amazing
MY first was a Fender American Telecaster. In 1974 my Mom and i went together and bought it for $125 cash and a nice Teisco semi hollow guitar.I was playing in a little garage band here in Tennessee. Playing parties,schools, and a little at the VFW club. I was the oldest at 17. I kept it till 1996-7 till i needed diapers for our daughter. I still miss it.Great video Brad. Thank you. Glad you still have yours
What an awesome mom!
I just found a 1990 Jackson Professional with the exact top as this, dual buckers(Fishman) and a hardtail, ebony board, same reverse inlays, and the Jackson logo in the headstock is MOP. I have been looking for along time, and it just showed up. I had a white Pro in the early 90's and ended up losing it. It was my 1st real good guitar..so happy to have found this one!
My Dad bought me a guitar for my 13th birthday. It was made in Japan and he told me I could have any guitar that the music store had, no matter what the cost. But he also said pick the one I want by feel not by cost.Ilooked and played several Gibson new and used guitars and many other brands. But the guitar I picked was a natural finish Aria les paul copy. The year was 1973 when I turned 13 years old. I didn't know a les paul from a Telecaster, the only other guitar I had owned and first learned to play was a Tesco that I bought used from my aunt for 15 bucks plus she gave me a cheap amp. I payed for that guitar by mowing lawns around the neighborhood.The Aria cost $352.00 in 73 and I still have it and play it. It is in near mint condition along with original case. I like you would never part with it.But I really like the Charvel, it looks and sounds great, and now Im wanting one if I can find it out there somewhere.God bless I love your videos.
Was that an aria Pro 2? I had one of those, I own 3 gibson les pauls right now, but I miss that aria and think about it too often. .
@@themodsify No it was just Ària but it looks just like the pro 2 maybe they added the pro later I dont know. I got mine in 73 so it may have been made in 72 I love this guitar it has a figured maple fingerboard all natural finish
MiJ guitars of the 70s, 80s and 90s are the best and affordable even nowadays. Loved them
The one that got away for me was a 1962 jazz master that I had, and sold around 1980. I regret its departure from my life ever since.
Keybaord players will think nothing of paying $4,500 for a synth they haven't even touched while guitarists will spend all afternoon in a guitar shop deciding whether to buy a $17 fuzz pedal.
Perspective; You sold that guitar 44 years ago, if you'd saved a dollar a day you'd have enough to buy ten of them or a Custom Shop version.
So stop looking over your shoulder and look forwards instead, eh? Isn't that better? :o)
@@PrinceWesterburg Well, actually I do have enough money to buy ten of them. Plus, at this time in my life I do own too many, if that is even a thing. That said, the question that was asked in the video was "what particular guitar do you wish you still had" and I answered. I don't think I need to tell you where to insert your "perspective". Is that better?
My all time No.1 was a 1982 Charvel san dimas Two humbucker strat in pearl white with a painted matching headstock all maple body and neck ,stock Duncans. all brass hardware with a Vintage brass strat style trem (Kahler's🤮). Custom ordered from Charvel in 1982.
Just as valid as a vintage gibson or fender..absolute work of art. I will always have a soft spot for the super strat!!
Quick funny story: My brother bought me a low end Gibson for Christmas, you know the kind that comes with a mini amp in the box? Well it sounded worse than you could imagine. I had to have my Tellie re-fretted so I brought the Gibson with me and said if you can figure out what's wrong with it I would have it fixed, (after all, it was a gift from my well intentioned brother).
Well, two guitar techs scratching their heads were puzzled, then a young woman walks up and says, why is the nut on backwards? The Gibson factory (China I'm sure) installed it backwards and rather than fixing it, they filed the nut down and that worked about as bad as you could imagine. $120 bucks later and this turned out to be a sweet sounding beater of a guitar. Happy ending, (and not in a Las Vegas kinda way).
whaaat?
I miss this guitar. I bought one in 93. Sold it in 99.
I love this video! I didn't know about this guitar until now. It looks and sounds beautiful and your enthusiasm is contagious and so relatable! I have similar thoughts of my Ibanez RG550 now, which I want to keep as long as I live. I'm curious how would my Ibanez compare to this Charvel, but I've never seen a Charvel, because they aren't common here in eastern Europe. My previous guitars were all used and cheap, because in my country it's not affordable. So after 15 years of cheap guitars I was finally able to afford a used Highway One Strat and a bit later my Ibanez RG550 which is my absolute best guitar in my life. So I don't have an old story, because I didn't have money back then lol. :)
Because it is a rendition of the 1987-90 ESP Horizon Custom, designed by Schecter and Ritchie Fliegler in NYC 1985 which is the VERY best Japanese production model guitar, but afaik wasn't available in the USA at that time.
So we have the same taste. I have had 275, 375, 475 and 650. Never a 750. I have had numerous Model series and many USA and import Jacksons. I would say the 475, 650xl, and Model 6 were some of my favorites.
I found a white early 90’s 550 SL pro in a hawk shop for 325$ in 98’. My main instrument was stolen and we had gigs booked. Usually pawn shop guitars are cheap junk, I did a backflip and happily paid the man. I, luckily recovered my Jackson from the county property room.
Then I had two badass super strats, I still have both.
Gary Moore played a single pickup 1987 check out Empty Rooms live in 87. It was GM-750 Signature model.
My first good guitar was a parts caster. A single humbucker Strat style. A Warmoth basswood body with a Dimarzio maple neck with a Dimarzio Megadrive pick up. The bridge was a standard Strat trem, blocked. Black Gotoh tuners rounded it out. Played like a dream. Screaming tone. Had it for 5 years. Sadly it was stolen.
My mom bought me a Jackson Kelly Performer with a Peavey Rage 158. Still have the Jackson and my sister owns the Peavey.
In my closet is a 750xl professional transparent red, mahogany body, flame maple top, hard tail, mint I mean mint condition, bought at Mothers Music on Granville street Vancouver B.C for $950, Canadian dollars, I had to take a loan for this, year 1989, these are the tooth paste logo Charvels😊
I once owned a cherry sunburst Charvel 850XL, curly/flame maple top, ebony fretboard in early 90's and crazy messed up long hair to go with the guitar, both is now gone !
I have a Real Jackson Custom Soloist Pro from the 80’s that George Lynch played on one of his Tours. Still the Best Neck and Trem I have played
The best i had was a peavey patriot tele blue..i got in a motorcycle accident ..they must have thought i woukd die cause it was left at the gig pkace and they made iff with it..i wasnt in love with the look but it played amazingly...i had a black beauty with no guts i wish i had ...ive gone through alot i wish i had. As a kid wed trade or move on to other things..but i keep em all now...oddly my most olayed now is a jay turser sg clone with heavy strings sounds awsome thru my cheap amps.. ❤ thanks brad..ypu brought me down memory lane i apriciate you for that❤😔🙏👍
My one that got away was a 67 Strat I paid 225 dollars for when I was 15 back in 1976.
Brad, don't ever let go of that one...unless you sell it to me.😂
Dang Brad as a pretty long time fan of your channel I never would have guessed that this would have been one of the earliest guitars you purchased. I guess I always assumed you were more into acoustic singer/songwriter type music based on your affinity for antique amps and equipment and your thick Southern accent and dry sense of humor. Just goes to show you never really know someone quite like you think you might. I guess I have seen references to Metal and your appreciation for some of it like your early introduction to Brad Gillis and his work with Ozzy post Randy Rhoads as well as your really cool Tool covers (Tool are the 4 best musicians ever, deal with it haters). That’s an awesome guitar though, I love everything about it. Japanese guitars had/have an amazing attention to detail especially with the fret work and finishes and I really love the color combination on that guitar as well. If I had a guitar like that I would be so excited to pick it up everyday just from looking at it each day. The fact that you were able to keep it after all these years especially given how much your mom must have really wanted to make sure you got a top quality instrument regardless of what it took for her to do so is incredible. She must have really loved you. My parents were never able to spring for a quality guitar for me either because they had no extra income or maybe they just didn’t care because they had to have known how much guitar playing meant to me considering I played that crappy Squier Strat everyday and never gave up learning. It’s a rare thing to still possess one of the first guitars you ever owned considering how many different situations can arise in the span of a couple years so the fact that you were able to is very cool. Keep that guitar passing through your bloodline and gift it to a newer generation guitar enthusiast in your family on the condition that they must never sell it and must one day pass it along to the next generation so that it continues to create history and produce the maximum affect possible so that your mother’s hard work and love never dies and continues to touch future generations of loved ones.
I think there was always an unspoken expectation that I couldn’t sell that guitar.
That's an elite Super Strat and is on par with Hamer USAs of the time imo. I had the lowly 3A! My first proper guitar at 16 yrs was a '75 natural finish Stratocaster with maple neck. It was stolen in 1988 while I was serving in the army overseas in Germany. I'm still searching for it. It has or had an Alembic Stratoblaster preamp built in. I grew up with Rush similarly to you with Tool. I learned it all on that Strat! Keep an eye out for it.
I have like 15 80's MIJ charvels like 12 vintage charvel cases, 7 of them tweeds.. and 4 charvetts, those are great as well the MIJ charvetts ... love me a charvel... I wish I had gotten back into guitars before the Pre Pros got so damn expensive and collectible, they were very affordable when I first started playing back when they first came out, then my strat was stolen and I was out until like 6 years ago I started up again and have since collected a few guitars in fact I started collecting guitars cuz a friend of mine gregg back in the day had a white pre pro and it was the best guitar I ever played on hands down above and beyond it fit me so well I am still searching for that feel, it was electric..of course back then it wasn't known as a pre pro, it was just a charvel made in USA.. MIJ's weren't around yet..who knew you had an MIJ charvel grail? very cool you should play it more...
I had a blue 650xl purchased new. Incredible guitar that I sold in the 90's. Dumbest decision ever.
Never could warm up to that pointy headstock or the Floyd Rose....but I'm an old fart and stuck in the past. Lots of cool stuff came out of Japan in the 70's thru the 90's a lot of it better quality than American made stuff...ahhhhh....the good old days
Omg, I love the stock footage! That’s a killer guitar you got . . . and a huge expense for your mom at the time. I’m sure your mom wouldn’t have gotten that for you if she thought your playing was crappy . . . or on the flip side, maybe she got it hoping you’d improve your skills. Either way, I’m glad you still have it. If I had a guitar like that, I wouldn’t want to ever part with it either.
Fun fact: I was 8 or 9 around the time you got this guitar, lol.
Damn, that thing is awesome. I had a Jackson, but not anywhere near as sweet as that. Having said that, the Jackson was better than my Mapleglo Rickenbacker! My first guitar ever was a red Arbor Rhoadsish style flying V with a locking trem. Man, I wish I still had that. Sold it to a buddy in high school who toured with it for 3-4 years. Loved that thing!
Hey Brad. I was gonna say I'm afraid you just blew up the market for these, but I checked and the price on these is already higher than Snoop Dogg.
I had an 89 - 90 display Japanese strat in blonde, i sold it for a USA built, biggest mistake i made, the Japanese one was superior in every way, i found who bought it and knew him, he still has it and would never sell it even though i offered my USA and the cash he paid for it.
I could’ve gotten a 78 Scottsdale for my birthday but instead I got a 95 RG550 priorities huh ? It was easier on me because I was going to have to wait two years to get the truck so I took the guitar 2 years earlier. The truck was nice but I still have the guitar.
Thank you for sharing this cool story, Having three of these beautiful instruments I can second you by saying they are the best Japanese made guitars.🎸🎸🎸
Paul Speer also played a Charvel 750xl / on most of his albums
I found a 57 Fender Stratocaster in a pawn shop for $320 bucks , the pawn shop had two guitars in it and they didn't know what they had..
Reminds me of that orange quilt top super strat George Lynch uses in that video of him in the studio in the 80s laying down solo's. Bitchin
My first American Strat. As soon as I started playing I could feel the difference. No I sold it for some quick cash. Had to get another.
I would love to score an old charvel. I have a few Japanese super strat Kramers, but the creme de la creme is my Aria pro ii Cardinal series cs 400. Great guitar .
Best video I've watched on YT in forever. 🌹❤🙌MOM🙌❤🌹
Cant get one under $3,000 today. And as high as $5,000. Your mom was a smart lady.
My father gave me this guitar as my first guitar and I still own it 23 years later. He bought it for $250 from a lady at a garage sale.
Nice video on a beautiful guitar. I have the same relationship with my first electric, which is a chinese 100$ strat copy.
Btw, Chushin was one of the biggest (if not the biggest) manufacturer of LPs and all kinds of copies for countless brands far into the 80s. I've worked on dozens of Chushin-made instruments over the years. Their craftmanship was steadily improving and reached a very high level after the 70s. They even created their own housebrand of guitars, named Cobran, but sadly the factory didn't survive.
Awesome Nostalgic video. Im a big fan of all the toothpaste Logo era Japanese Charvel. The Charvel 750xl is just a masterpiece. I owned a Ferrari red Fusion that i regret selling in 1995 to buy an Ibanez 550.
My favorite guitar i own and play is the Carvin Jason Becker JB200SC signature model.
I got a massive soft spot for Charvel from the 80s.
My 1990 Jackson Fusion Pro has mother of pearl inlays and the headstock Jackson Logo is real mother of pearl also... The lipstick Charvels were boss ass but the Jackson's step it up even more with features... so much so they had to discontinue the top models because they were eating into the USA model sales... biggest regret is selling my Charvel Fusion Deluxe... it was a mint case queen 😭
Never quite sure if it was the Pro series eating into the USA production sales, or if it was the rising cost of Japanese manufacturing.
I mean these guitars were 1:1 (official) copies of the USA line and the neck of my 1991 Soloist Pro feels identical to my USA SL2, which is very different to a lot of brands at the time who basically slapped their logo on another factory's instrument with only the shape being true to the original.
In hindsight, something had to give, either in terms of spec or price.
People wouldn't pay something close to USA production prices for Japanese manufacturing, no matter the quality.
Note that when Japanese neck through Jackson's were reintroduced, the specification was much lower than the original Pro models.
Ahh… the one that got away… i had an Alvarez Dana scoop. Red. Made in Japan… All kinds of fantastic. The 80s died SO hard, and i felt i relied too heavily on the floyd rose, so i traded it for a 1981? Gibson Les Paul XR1. It weighs as much as a boat where the alvarez was the lightest guitar eva… oh my aching back. Love the les paul. Sure wish i had kept the poky red 80s Alvarez though.
It was a cool time for guitars.
I remember when Charvel hit the market in the 80's. A lot of players raved about them. Well made instruments. My only criticism is the Floyd Bridge. I've had them on a few axes, the biggest PITA bridges ever made. Forget simple and quick string changes
Breaking a string can be problematic too.
My first was a harmony strat ish..i miss that too sunburst..looking at a pick of me on Christmas right nkw with it😢
My heart years for the one that was stolen from me a few years ago. It was the burst finish with a trem.... I always wanted a hardtail though.
I had a Charvel Model 6 that was one of the best guitars I've ever had
Different kind of video. Very cool brother.
If ya ever visit fam in Paducah.. holler at me and I’ll take ya to Unga Bunga Music. = )
The ghost of Johnny Cash in the mirror at the end was spookie!!! 🙂
You drop your pick enough and I guess eventually you won’t bother picking it back up. Beautiful video and guitar Brad!
Exactly!
I got one of these as well. I bought it in early 90's paid like $500 - Used. Great guitar.
Yeah there was a window of time when these were very affordable on the used market. not any more!
"I dropped that pick and never looked back" .....
Shawn Lane had a Snow White 750xl sent to Kieth Dudney and Barbara Mandrell. That guitar sat in their studio and never even got set up as it was sent straight from the warehouse . It eventually got displayed here and there and was eventually sold at her auction. Someone bought it and cherished it for a while but eventually sold it to a store in Nashville. I bought it 1 hr later for $350. and I have had it for the last 12 years. Ironically it just so happens that it is sitting on a stand next to me.
Wanna sell it?
What a great video and guitar. I’ve been looking to get a 1989 just like because of Shawn. Thanks
All very nice, but where’s the audio from that footage from 1993?
I may put it up on my Locals page. It’s rather embarrassing.
soloist sl2 mah was also an lp killer. ended up playing mim fender 96 with vintage frets to this date hehe
This would have been a great mothers day video.
The only one I kept from that age was an early 80s Fender “The Strat” model in lake placid blue and gold hardware. The story is that it was a model they supposedly lost money on, because it was one of Fender’s periods where they had been pretty shit for awhile and they wanted to win people back. So they spent more on it than they made. They gave one to John Lennon and a few other guys. The funny part is, it took me years to realize the inlays had been drilled off center.
I owned a "The Strat" once. Very cool guitars.
My regret is similar to Fangolio. I sold my early 60's Jazzmaster in the mid 90's to help pay for remodeling our kitchen. I regretted its departure almost as soon as the guy I sold it to left my house.
That's a terrible feeling.
Boy you can play the shit out of that guitar! It sounds so clean!
What a great story Brad and what an amazing mother I didn't start playing guitar till I was about 21 and I would have been about 1980 and I'm self-taught and the way I play today shows that in every faster lol I learned how to play guitar on a housemates broken yeah get broken 12-string giannini that was a dinosaur in 1980 the action was about 2 inches and the tuning pegs how to use a needle nose to tune the guitar needless to say it's what I learned short show the cord here and there and then taught myself 881 I bought my first one I guess my real guitar and that was a used 69 SG standard with a Bixby that you couldn't use does that sound strange I don't think so anyway that guitar only lasted about a year and a half I had to trade it in for some symbols and hardware when I got a gig out on the west coast playing drums cuz that's really what my main you know your passion for guitar shows in your playing that's for sure and my I guess you could say my non passion in practicing guitar shows on pleasant early kid as a young kid I used to listen to my parents records swing you know big band classical a lot of Broadway stuff hair you know my sister was older so rock she is about 6 years older than me so I had a love for music but I also had a love for anything with a motor cuz I used to help my dad work on his 63 Thunderbird and Thunderbirds became a thing for me and my sister I grew up in New York city so in the mid-70s we did the move out of the city and up in the west a bit to Rhode Island which was the culture shock but I won't get off topic here in 72 when Johnny Winter came out with his still alive and well album I fell in love with that album and with Johnny Winter and with the guitar on the cover which was his 64 I think of firebird 5 and that became the guitar I always wanted in 2017 so no big story like you have where you know I got a gifted or I worked all you know forever to get one but there was a huge hiatus between the very end of the 80s and so I will say the very early 90s and 2016 let's say the years that my disease my heart disease went off to the racesdo much musically to say the least and had a large hiatus there of playing anything physically got back into it for the use the 2005 SG and now I have 10 guitars and 3 amps 7 of the guitars are in very good working condition and a decent guitars the other three need some work and are not the best guitars but hey the but yeah my favorite guitar is the firebird of which I own a 2017 firebird 5 or I guess the Gibson calls at the firebird tea it is spelled out pretty well just stopped or pretty good I had thought that the steinberger tuners for a insult to its heritage LOL but I've actually saw it when I got them because in 2017 I had enough side under the lighting condition to see them and I thought they actually fit the the guitar pretty pretty nicely that they suited the guitar in my I thought they were beautiful actually on the guitar so as luckily enough I was lucky enough to be able to actually see it and the guitar you know not with fine detail but with enough to see the the stripes in the nine-piece next to a bodyetcetera I thought it was kind of weird that they would put ceramic pickups of such high output into a firebird that had it from not mistaken originally on Nico to very low output pickups but hey it is what it is but I will say that they clean up really really nicely when you turn back the and yeah I have learned that you know there is a purpose for the volume and tone knobs and guitars and not just there to put on and as I often go on Long stories I had actually the wonderful experiences of meeting Mr winter on several occasions as was he a boy he was a shed friend and a shared doctor of mine which gave me access to him in different ways anyway great video has always been I will say it saddens me that Johnny is no longer around he was a very kind soul of amazing amazing guitarist and an amazing again musician with a heart of the heart of an Angel sounds weird but yeah he was just a very very kind man with fingers like long 🚫 I was very happy for him that he was able to get himself together you know towards the end of his life and his last album had so many of the most amazing artists on it you know which to me was a testament of how well he was well how he was held in the steam in the music world and how well he was loved by his fellow guitarist that they would take the time to all play you know on his album and he asked each one of them you know to be on his album because he admired them or inspired you know you name it they were on his last album albums cuz they were multi album talk album now but I guess you get what I'm talking about all right as usual this is completely a huge comment but at least I think it's mainly on topic sincerely Bob the blind bedroom guitarist.
1990's Jackson Dinky Reverse that I paid $75 for. Mind blowing guitar
The first guitar I fell in love with is my 1991 Fender USA made strat that I saved my money for and purchased on layaway from GC. I had been playing foreign made el cheapos prior to that. During that same time I picked up a 1979 twin reverb. My hearing has not been the same since.
That's a heartwarming story Brad. Awesome guitar with an awesome story, I can tell how much it means to you.
My first guitar was a Samick Strat copy in 3 tone brown sunburst, white pick gaurd, my parents surprised me with it on my 12th birthday, along with a Peavy 15 watt amp, moderately sturdy hardshell case, and accessories. I was so excited (thank you Mom and Dad!)!
I felt that I outgrew that guitar at 15 (or at least wanted a nicer one, and one that looked "cooler"). I wanted an Ibanez RG, like Munky and Head from Korn, and Wes Borland from Limp Bizkit, I thought their guitars looked so sweet, all pointy and such. At the time, you couldn't get a 7 string Ibanez for under a grand, at least to my limited knowledge at the time. Also, I was in bands playing pop punk, ska, and a little harder stuff then, so a low B string wasn't necessary.
I sold the Samick to my very good friend as his first guitar, I taught him some power chords and he became our second guitarist. I was so happy that he took great care of that guitar, he upgraded/customized it and put some work into it, my father even helped him with the color changing Chameleon paint job!
I settled on a sparkly silver Ibanez RG 220 B (B for black hardware), locking nut, floating trem, but there are string ferrels on the top of the bridge so you don't cut the ball ends of the strings off (easier for my lazy self at the time). $299. I had a job at a pizza place, as well as what i got for my Samick. My dad helped me cut two pieces of wood to block off the trem eventually, because I didn't know how to get it all tuned up right. I ended up buying a Seymour Duncan Jazz pickup for the neck position and a JB in the bridge, and an awesome older punk rocker who delivered pizza at my job installed them for me, probably did a setup on it, too, cuz it played and sounded wonderfull all throughout my time playing in bands (I played bass in a few, as well, though). I still have it to this day, still love it, sparked my obsession with RGs, JEMs, JPMs... I'm building my second RG now, it will be #6. 😂
Sorry for the incoherent rambling, I love your channel and this was a great video, much love Brad!
I`m have two charvels for internal japanese market: Charvel SDK-085 (similar to imported, or toothpaste Fusion Plus) and Charvel Model 6 Yellow Crackle (as is stated in japanese 1989 catalogue, but it`s looks orange for me) - signature model of Seikima II (Japan group) guitarist with Charvel (guitar) logo in same orange color.
I like both, maybe more than my Caparison TAT SSH Red Sunset :)
It worth to mention that there is another "LP-killer" Charvel Questar, which later transformed into Caparison Angelus :)
1989 PRS CE, tobacco burst on alder body, had a Marshall volume knob on the 5 way roatary switch. (I know, right? ) The best PRS I've ever played or owned.
Great video m'man..
Cheers 🍻
I owned a white 88 PRS CE about 10 years ago. It had the smaller neck heel. Awesome guitar.
The unpainted headstock had PRS Electric written on it.
Those are the real deal bad boys.
I have an 1987 Charvel/Jackson m.i.j, model 3. Not as nice as a 750 but cool. Bought it a few yrs back from original owner in a fit of 80s nostalgia, shipped from Framce. Near mint, ohsc, all original. Nice guitars back then, especially the Japanese ones
What color?
@TheGuitologist black w/rosewood fretboard and maple neck. Not very often that they haven't been altered. Mine is HSS Jackson pickups, Jackson licensed Floyd, Jackson tuners. Not my style because I'm not really a shredder but I remember drooling over these, Ibanez, ect at guitar center as a teenager but could never afford one so cool to have it
Shawn loaded his 750XL with two Dimarzio PAF Pro's. His other stage guitar(a Ibanez) had the Dimarzio Air classics which Paul Gilbert now uses in his signature RG..Funny thing because Paul started using the PAF Pro's in his signature Ibanez RG in the late 80's but year's later switched to the Air classic's.
The videos I’ve seen with his amber maple 750 looked like the stock pickups. Pretty sure he had at least two one in sunburst also.
@@TheGuitologist Shawn said he had put in PAF pro's in the amber one for sure and the Ibanez had air classics. He did not go for the type of p'u's that came stock on these Charvel's. He liked 8K and under PAF types for the bridge and neck.
Glad that you liked it. I thought that the fender MIJ guitars were fabulous and was not impressed with the neck of the Charvel. I liked the through the neck pup. The LP killer seems to have died while the LP is still there although I did not really like LP's. The neck was really shit to me although the saddle, and hardware and tuners were very cool.
Hey Brad very cool guitar 🎸 I remember drooling on those in the music store back in the day !!!
I still think the best ever Japanese guitar is the original Ibanez Jem777 run.
Which was based on a USA Charvel San dimas that was modded and named the "Green meanie"😁
and before you go getting all out of sorts i Love the Jem guitars!👍 Had a few in my time as well as a couple USA Charvels
back in 1981-84. amazing guitars! Once they were no longer available i switched over to Ibanez Jems and RG's in 87.
Dude. SA WEET AXE!! I loved the documentary style of this vid. BRAVO. !
On the page of the Jackson/Charvel catalog you showed there's a picture of Tim Pierce holding a Jackson. I always loved that Charvel 750 XL......I can remember when those old Jacksons and Charvels could be had for 3-400 bucks. Then everyone caught on. I used to have a Jackson PS 1 and I still have a Jackson KE 3 with the pile o skulls graphic.
Yep, $300-$400 for most Model Series Charvels all day long. Maybe $600 for a real good Model 6, at most. Those were the days. I used to lust after the Kelly Pile o Skulls in the Musician's Friend back in the day.
Sounds awesome too
You should hear it with PAF pro's like Shawn lane had in his! it is godlike!
@Thesegotoeleven1968 ooh noe I gota look it up
.I never played a tube amp ..I know he had a practice amp in the vid bit it's rare for me to like tone..once in a while..bit I have alot of small practice amps I got a spark and a katana but I got em used and dnt knkw how to get all the effects..thanx for the reply
Awsome to tslk to Freinds who enjoy what I do
@@joshuataft5541 Katana is a great little amp! I use one as my practice rig! sounds very tube like! 👍
Such an amazing guitar and story! You have an awesome mom! Yeah…that instrument is priceless. I’ve always been a fan of the Japanese built Charvels and recently scored a nice Model 6 husk and sent it to GMW for a complete overhaul. Wow…such a great playing guitar!!! Congrats on having yours in the collection after so many years! Cheers!
Just crossed 30 years with this thing!
Awsome story brad..my memories are simular..diff guitsr but same story
1986 Charvel Model 5 Pearl White. Bought it new in Roanoke VA. Along with my 1985 Kramer Pacer Deluxe Candy Blue, also bought at the same store. They are my workhorses. Great channel btw !
The 80s Kramer Pacers are phenomenal guitars. We were so spoiled.
Love your work and informative vids. Never stop :)
The Shawn Lane guitars