Charvel CX391

I bought a Charvel CX391 in the Spring of 1990. Mine is white with black pickguard, Jackson pickups (in HSH config.) Floyd Rose Lic. Tremolo, Gotoh tuners, maple neck with rosewood fretboard. Traditional strat style headstock.
One volume, one tone, 5 way selector. Made in Japan.
Like others have said, the "superstrat" style was big at the time (I was 17) and this one had all the bells and whistles I wanted without breaking the bank.

I was a prog and metal head back then, so it suited me just fine. Worked both in the bedroom and for gigs. I recently dug it out and was pleasantly surprised. Still sounds as good to my 35 year old ears, as it did when I was 17-22.

I was a novice when I first got it, so thankfully it was set up nice from the get go. The only problem I had was the threads got stripped on the tremolo arm socket, so I stopped using it. Probably my fault somehow.

I dragged this guitar around a lot over a 5 year period. Rehearsals, gigs, moving around. It got a fair bit of use, but really held its own.
To look at it now, I am amazed how few battle scars it shows from those days. I guess I was more careful than I remember.

I ordered the guitar from Musician's Friend. The only issue I had was the tremolo arm socket(and that was a few years later).I never contacted anyone about it.

This guitar gave me what I wanted at the time, and for a reasonable price. It held up well, and still looks and plays great. It is lightweight, comfortable and durable.
If you find an old one for a decent price, get it.

This guitar was made in Japan around 1989. It is the eponym of the "Superstrat" of that time with Jackson H-S-H pickups with a five way switch, 1 volume pot, 1 tone pot, Gotoh tuners, Charvel/Jackson licensed Floyd Rose tremolo. It has a one piece maple/rosewood (fast playing) neck bolted to a - not sure because of the plain finish - alder body with a 3 ply black scratchplate... well very "Superstrat" of the 80's, fortunately the styling is not your Jackson pointy metal thing but a more traditional strat inspired shape.
My only complain with the features of that guitar is that it is not possible to select a H-H pickup config.

I found the previous review a bit hard on this guitar (how can you judge in a general way a guitar that you ruined by bad mods?). I've used this guitar with a wide variety of amps (Marshall JMP-1& JCM 900, Laney VH100R, Line6 POD) and it sounded good on every of them. This guitar is best in the metal, funk (fusion) and punk genre. It has a rather bright tone compared to a Les Paul but - hey remember - it's more in the Strat on steriod category. Compared with other guitars in this genre (Japanese Jackson, Ibanez) I found it has a good sustain and a rather rich sound with lots of harmonics. It's just that I didn't found the middle single coil pickup very useful (maybe a bit too weak).

I don't exactelly remember how good/bad this guitar was set when I bought it in 1989 but I never had any intonation or tuning problems. Maybe the action was a bit too low creating some fret buzz and I noticed that the pickup's pole weren't well aligned to the strings. Now, after several years of heavy (gig) playing with it the selector begin to have some contact problems.

Well I'm close to think japanese guitars are the most well build and reliable guitars on the market. I have a Gibson Les Paul that has more tuning problems. This guitar has payed about 100 (sweaty) punk/metal gigs without any problem and it's still in a very good general condition.

Never used

This was my second guitar. I play since 1985 and this one was mostly used between 1989 et 1999. I now use more my Les Paul and my first Aria guitar because they are stoptails instruments and I've never used tremolo that much... and I like to experimend with different tunings which is a pain in the ass with a Floyd Rose (In the late 80's it was virtually impossible to buy a guitar without one... nowadays I wouldn't). Anyway, I still use the Charvell sometimes and find it's a very well balanced instrument, very easy to play. It's sound is not as rounded as the Les Paul but if I had to purchase a Strat type guitar this would be a very good choice... especially if looking for something a bit more aggressive than a strat but still very versatile.

Well, like the other dude, I don't know a whole lot of sh*t about this guitar. I got it as a Christmas present when I was just startin' out, and I wanted somethin with a floyd or floyd-like trem, and this was cheap, and in awesome condition! It's black, rosewood fretboard/maple neck, I'm assuming alder body, recessed trem route, your basic hot rodded strat. After I discovered the great Yngwie Malmsteen, I decided to scallop the neck, but onnly playing and messing with guitars for near a year I kinda f$cked that job up! The neck still plays like it used to, excluding the scalloped feel, except the job looks really sh*tty. It had a black pickguad, but I took it off planning to change the pickups, and somehow it was broken, so I gotta get a new pickguard.

Originally the sound was pretty kickass! I found it suited well for all types or rock. It did pretty damn good when I did heavier blues, but I wouldn't recommend it for SRV (RIP) blues or jazz or anything like that.

When I got it home before I did all that shit to it, it played great. I don't know how it'll play once I revive the bastard, but I imagine it will do pretty good. I took the finish off the back of the neck, and it feels great now!

Once again before I did the mods to it, I would take it anywhere to play, 'cause it's a cool guitar.

never talked to them.

I've been playing for about 3 1/2 years now, and I am extremely experienced in custom work on guitars and basses now. I pretty much can beat anyones prices. I ahven't gotten a chance to refret anything yet, but when it comes to installing new hardware, scalloping (usually runs about $150.00-$200.00, but I do it for $50.00-$100.00) I think I kick ass!

I guess this isn't a really fair or insightful review, since I know VERY little about the past of this guitar. I am assumming that it was made in japan, based upon other reviews. I have no Idea of the age, and if anyone can help me determine it, please let me know! It is a strat style body, with a 5 way selector,tone and volume controls. set up in a h/s/h config. with jackson pickups. I am assuming that it's an alder body, although it could possibly be basswood. it has a floyd rose trem. with rosewood fingerboard and maple neck. jackson tuners are adaquite. the neck is alot like a strat, very thin and very fast.

charvels/jacksons are made for rockin' and thats what this does well! I am using an Art DST-830 amp, and this guitar screems on it! it will duplicate most les paul sounds, and accomplishes strat tones as well, although, if looking for SRV, better look elsewhere! it is a very versitile little guitar and is nice and light! L.P. can get so damn HEAVY!

this is where I am going to become sorta vauge...I bought it used so the factory set up..etc., can't be answered by me! I have played just out of the box charvels/Jacksons and the factory set up is pretty good. unfortunatly, I also cannot comment on the finish, because the person that owned this before me stripped it down and made an attempt at making this look like a Steve Vi copy.(and really did a BAD job, at that) I don't know how old this is, but still very durable.

I have gotten so used to having concrete blockish guitars, that this guitar feels like nothing, but seems durable.I would never play a show with 1 guitar, especially with a floyd on it! the strap buttons that are stock on these are HUGE! if it had a finish to worry about I would use strap locks.

bought it used, so have no idea.

I have been playing for what seems like forever but probably close to 10 yrs or more.I bought this as a project guitar, (refinish, etc.) but fell in love with it's feel immediatly. its as comfortable as your favorite old pair of jeans. I have an Ibanez 270dx, Les Paul custom, and have owned many others, and I really fell in love with this ugly duckling. once I refinish this baby it will never leave my sight! If anyone can give me some insight as to what these cost new,matterials constucted of, etc, please let me know!