Charvel 5

Pearl White finish 24 jumbo fret neck-thru with black hardware-Kahler tremolo, Strat body with dual humbucker config. A nice thin and wide neck with amazingly durable Jackson tuning keys. 5 way switch with Active EMG pickups. Beautiful rosewood fingerboard and mother of pearl dot inlays. Not sure about the body wood, but it's heavy and sounds incredible! This is the only guitar I'll ever need!

This guitar has an incredible sound- AFTER I removed the active mid-range boost electronics and replaced with Active EMG 85 in the bridge and a sweet EMG 81 in the neck, you couldn't get more growl or tight rhythm on any other guitar! I've owned Les Paul's and several other models of guitars and nothing measures up! I've had this beast for 15 years- I play this guitar on a custom built Mesa/Boogie Mark III Coloseum 200watt tube amp with a new Mesa Engineering 4x12 cabinet and when I crank it up- HOLD ON! There hasn't been a better sound to me than this guitar with the EMG's, and I've played hundreds in my time.

Love the action- I bought it used 15 years ago for $450- so I can only assume it was factory set up, which was a little high for me- but with this awesome Kahler bridge, getting it set up was a snap and I have the most responsive action I've seen. Like the last guy, my 5-way switch tip came off and never stays on, but I don't care- still sounds amazing!

This guitar has been through it all! I bought it when I was 19 and I'm 35 now- the tuning keys are still like brand new and very tight, the finish hasn't worn off, but since it is metallic/pearl white, the finish has yellowed a bit, but gives it lots of character. The strap buttons are still solid, the Kahler tremolo is amazing- with new strings, this guitar never goes out of tune!!! EVER I've played several gigs without a back up.

I've been playing for 20 years, and after all the guitars, amps, and cabinets, I'm only down to this Model 5 guitar, my Mesa/Boogie head and Mesa Engineering cabinet and my digital delay pedal. I don't need anything else to get a hugely wide range of sounds and tone variables.

I believe this guitar is a 1985 or 1986 model. It was manufactured in Japan. I purchased it in February of 1987. It has the dual active J-2000 humbuckers, a 5 position switch. A kahler bridge with lock nut. The built in pre-amp has an adjustable mid-boost. I would rate the features higher if not for the kahler.

The active electronic pick-ups sound great. They are pretty warm and not very noisy. I have run a variety of different amps, effects and settings. The mid range boost can be turned up or down to change the tone from a thin 80s scooped sound, to a much warmer tone. Sounds great clean or distorted.

The set-up was fine. I later changed the action, but now it is back to pretty much the original settings.

The biggest problem with this guitar is the stupid set-up for the pre-amp, active electronics and the battery. A particle board panel with three small wood screws must be removed to change the battery. These screws eventually strip out. You could just keep the panel off, but the crazy wiring will hook on your pants, and you will get an occasional disconnect. If the guitar is really shaken, the battery will come loose. I have had to resolder the wires several times.
The rest of the guitar is solid and reliable. If the electronics issue is solved (this can be fixed at most guitar shops), this guitar is ready for the road.

No support issues.

I have been playing guitar for 25 years. I have owned a number of acoustics and electrics, including a Fender Stratocaster and an Ibanez Roadstar, neither of which were near as nice as this guitar. I am so comfortable with this guitar that I would have to buy another if it were gone. I have thought about purchasing another as an additional guitar. At the time of purchase, there was a definite negative feeling associated with guitars (and cars) made in Japan. Since that time, Japanese-made guitars do not have the negative association any more than Honda or Toyota.

purchased new in 1988, very nice black gloss finish. 24 fret neck through. 5 way toggle. Stock Jackson bridge and neck humbuckers. Kahler tremelo. two tone controls and one volume control. Active electronics. Not sure about the wood used to make the body but it's very heavy (which i like) the neck is Rosewood with typical dot MOP inlays. Came with a tweed hardshell case with red felt interior.

The active electronics make for a bright "trebly" sound through the stock Jackson pickups....I've remedied that by replacing them with passive pickups. Seymour Duncan JB humbucker in the bridge position and DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell in the neck. The change is an instant warmth in the tone of the guitar that is incredible. Sustain is decent when overdriven a bit. I have played it through Marshall stacks, Mesa Boogies but am currently using a Flextone by Line 6 which suits my musical taste wonderfully. Suprisingly, this guitar does sound great for clean jazzy sounds that cut through like glass as well as a fatter rich bluesy punch ala Jake E. Lee meets Jeff Beck. Harmonically, this guitar sings in almost every way. The action is low enough that the pickups are very sensative to "pinching and tapping".

The Jackson pickups were cheesy at best and did not do the guitar justice. Once i switched out to passive pickups the change was 1000% noticable. The action (as i said before) is incredibly low. Not a good choice for slide guitar but for playability it's a dream. Over the years of abusing this guitar the only thing i've noticed is that the rubber lip of the toggle switch came loose on me. Not a big deal to fix.

This guitar has seen much use and is road tested over and over again 13 years after I bought it. The tuning heads are still tight and smooth, the tremelo system is currently being set up (Kahler) but has survived mainly unscathed. The finish is a gloss black (not sure of the exact name) and is still eye catching when polished up.

Never had to deal with Charvel or Jackson.....

As I've gotten older (and hopefully wiser) playing the guitar for almost 15 years now my musical tastes have changed a bit but I still love the way this one growls....I'd definately buy another one. My favorite thing about this guitar is the way it feels on the fingers and the weight of it. It's very heavy and the fretboard is smooth as glass. With the low action it virtually plays itself. I considered putting a Floyd Rose in it replacing the Kahler but decided against it because I didn't want to compromise the integrity of the wood by routing out the back of the guitar. I like the way it remains balanced when slung over your shoulder....(get a chiropractor if you have a bad back) You definately have a predator on your side with the Model 5