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Charvel
Wayne Charvel opened a guitar repair shop in Azusa, California, in 1974, building custom bodies and necks for other manufacturers before Grover Jackson bought him out in 1978 and moved the operation to San Dimas. The guitars that followed became closely tied to Eddie Van Halen and the wider 1980s metal scene, with the Super-Stock and San Dimas shapes still defining the brand's look today. Ownership changed hands several times, including a spell in bankruptcy, before Fender took over in 2002 and built the company back up around US-made models and a Corona custom shop. Signature guitars for shred and metal players make up most of our Charvel coverage. Here's what we've written.
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Latest Charvel news
Jackson and Charvel Unveil Heavy-Hitting Signature Models for Sleep Token’s IV and III
Jackson and Charvel unveil Sleep Token IV and III signature guitars: a 30-inch baritone and 5-string bass built for extreme drop tunings.
Founded1974
Based inScottsdale, Arizona, USA
FounderWayne Charvel
Parent companyFender Musical Instruments Corporation
Articles here21
Makes
- Electric guitars
Known for
- So-Cal
- Pro-Mod DK24
- San Dimas
- Star
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Charvel FAQ4 questions
Who owns Charvel?
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, since 2002. Charvel started in the 1970s as Wayne Charvel's shop in Azusa, California and was headquartered in Glendora; it is now run from Fender's Scottsdale, Arizona offices alongside Jackson and EVH.
What is the difference between Charvel and Jackson?
Both are Fender-owned and both grew out of the same California scene — Grover Jackson worked at Charvel before the Jackson brand existed. In the current lineup Charvel concentrates on Strat-derived superstrats with a hot-rod look, while Jackson covers the pointed and neck-through shapes. There is deliberate overlap in the middle.
What is a Charvel San Dimas?
The model named for the California town where Charvel guitars were built in the early 1980s. It is the classic Charvel: a single-humbucker or HSS superstrat with a Floyd Rose, a flat-radius neck and no pickguard clutter. Current San Dimas models are made in the USA and Japan depending on the series.
What does Pro-Mod mean on a Charvel?
Pro-Mod is the imported mid-tier series, made overseas to the same shapes as the US and Japanese models but at a much lower price. A Pro-Mod DK24 is the most commonly recommended Charvel for that reason — it carries the brand's specification choices without the Custom Shop cost.