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.