Charvel Model 6

Loads of versatility here, everything you could ever want in a guitar and more. Read the other reviews for full features.

After reading about this guitar, and reading that it equals a USA Soloist, I decided that I wanted one, and managed to find one without a lot of damage (except for a headstock that had split in 2, but it got fixed pretty well)
When I got it, it was all original. The singlecoils sound surprisingly warm, but the humbucker was a little weak, kinda low output, and not very special. I changed the humbucker to a DiMarzio ToneZone and now the sound is how it should be. Tight, nice low-end growl and round, warm highs.
The midbooster can really give me that extra bit of growl when chording, or get my high a bit warmer.

The standard Jackson JT-6 bridge plainly sucks. It just wouldn't stay in tune when diving at all. I managed to find a NOS Kahler 2700 bridge cheap and had it put on. Now the guitar is a lot more stable, but it still won't return 100% decently after a dive, I have to pull up to get it entirely back in tune (only after a big dive though) I suspect this is because of the nut, which is hardly cut.
The guitar plays great though. I can reach all frets without any problems, and the flat fingerboard makes shredding easy, this more than compensates for the 2 'problems' I'm having, the guitar plays GREAT.

This guitar has been rocking since 1987 and from the looks of it, it'll rock for another 50 years. There's a light crackle in the pots, but the neck is straight, hardly any scratching of the paint etc. If I didn't know what it was and someone would tell me my guitar is 1 year old, I would believe him.

Haven't delt with'em, don't expect that I'll have to.

I've been playing for almost 2 years now, and apart from the 'six, I own an Epiphone Goth Les Paul, ENGL Fireball head, Behringer slant 4x12 cab and Shure wireless kit (or at least, that's what the guitar is getting played through) Even though I'm 18 years old,I've paid for every single bit of my gear myself, so I've learned how to judge a good or a bad guitar.
If it were stolen, I'd track it down and smack the skull of the thief to pieces with it.

Charvel Model 6: Japanese version of Jackson Soloist, manufactured from 1987-1989, 24 Fret Neck-Thru, Maple Body, Rosewood on Maple Neck, Jackson Pick ups(S-S-H),Tone Control are Active, Jackson Tremolo.
New they went aroung $900. I bought mine used for $225 with case at Guitar Center in Boston. Guitar is Pearl White. Clear Coat finish used in those days allows finish to "Yellow".
Tremolo is cheap and Pick ups are awful. But bang-for-buck is where this guitar shines.

Stock Jackson pickups are brutally Midrangey sounding. Active circuit is useless. I installed EMG 81 humbucker and two S Single coils. Guitar wails with new puckups.
The tremolo is very cheap. I replaced with Original Floyd Rose. Guitar was bought used for $225. Very good value. I put about $400 into the guitar(EMGs/Floyd). For $650 you can't find a guitar that beats my guitar's tone. And with the Original Floyd it's tuning
stability is flawless.

Here is where the guitar shines. The neck is awesome. The Maple body is an excellent wood. The guitar's construction is first rate. I've found the Model 6 equal to any American Jackson I've seen. I own 1985 Jackson RR1 and the Model 6 is it's equal.
The only flaw is the cheaper components used to keep the price lower than a Soloist. The pickups and bridege need to be replaced.

The guitar is a workhorse. Reliability is where this guitar shines. The Maple body is heavy and makes the guitar quite durable. I've had this guitar over 10 years and have played out hundreds of times. The guitar has never failed me. I would play agig without a backup with thjis guitar no problem!!
The finish is top-notch other than the clear coat which allows the White paint to yellow.

I've contacted Jackson with questions about my Model 6, my Randy Rhoads (RR1) and Soloist (SL1). The company was always professional and courteous regarding my Jackson guitars. I was Jackson is unable to provide info regarding the Japanese Charvels. I was told to contact Wayne Charvel about the Model 6. At that time it was www.waynesguitars.com
When I e-mailed him, Wayne was very prompt and helpful in his
response..

I've been playing 20 years and own numerous guitars with both Duncans and Dimarzios. I have 2 American Jacksons(RR1 and SL1 with Duncans), '83 Gibson Vee (Duncans), Two Ibanez RG's (Dimarzios).
But the Charvel is my workhorse. I do studio work and the Charvel with the EMGs can get all the tones. I really suggest installing EMGs into the guitar.
I bel;ieve the incredible sustainis a combination of the neck-thru construction and the Maple body. Although a replica of my Soloist, the Model 6 sounds better. The Soloist is not Maple.
The real value of this guitar is the fit and finish and the fact that the guitar can be bought for $300 or so used. hard to beat for that price.

charvel model 6, made in japan. stock jackson pups, passive. maple neck, alder sides neck-through design. jackson tremelo. 25 1/2" scale length. real mop sharkfin inlays.

hard rock and clean stuff and blues is what i play and this guitar covers everything ok. seymour duncan pickups i've tried in it sound alot better than the stockers, no suprise there. the only sound it can't nail is the clean snappy sound of a bolt on neck. i'm giving it a 7 and using stock pups for review purposes.

perfect execution here, the neck is still perfectly straight after 15 years, the neck to body joint is still perfect with no aging issues. i've had new usa gibson lp's that don't get close to this charvel mij perfection. this model's neck is very comfortable for me because it's set back a little unlike the usa soloists that are straight with the body.

this model 6 has been played hard for years as most of them have because they are works of art and won't be found sitting in a closet because they play so well. i hand polished the guitar and brought up a good shine, hell i'ts 15 years old. as durable as anything out there.

they don't want to remember these since they are equals to the usa soloist line. in 1990 they went with the 650 xl that is not made as well as these 6's even though they used a better schaller trem it just does'nt compensate for that 650xl cheaper fit and finish.

these model 6 charvels are as good as usa soloists- the cheaper tremelo and pups. the only thing i don't like is that i can't get that clean spappy sound on the low e and a string like i can on a premium bolt-on super strat. it is what it is and it does sustain very well for a lightweight poplar body. the neck is a little too thin but it is very stable. for the price there is nothing to compare it to. i use my lp custom for the warmer and heavier sounds and a superstrat bolt-on neck for other clean sounds. the fit and finish of my model 6 is right up there with $5000 usa gibson historics and a few other pricey and rare guitars. warning: if you try one you'll be hooked! they are hard to find in un-battered shape, i plan on finding another since they are one of my favorite bargain guitars.

in this review there will be a comparison between 2 guitars, the model 6 before modification (like it came from factory) and after the rebirth.

some information about the guitar (as it was)
* Japanese made superstrat. year of manufacturing 1987. these guitars were made from 1986 to 1988.
* features a 24 frets neck (standard superstrat thing) and is neck through body
* has a volume, tone and midbooster knob. has 3 different toggleswitches to switch each PU individually on or off.
* HSS configuration, a Jackson J-50BC humbucker in the bridge and 2 J-200 stacked humbuckers in the middle and neck position.
* has an active 6 dB midboostercircuit, the pickups are actually passive.
* as said a neck through body design, with the neck being maple and the wings poplar (should sound like alder, but I have heared different things about that)
* The finish was a glossy metallic solid finish, mine being cherry black (=purple). the finish is actually really hard. the neck is painted as well.
* has a JT6 licenced floyd rose tremolo. The early model 6's (made in 86) had a Kahler Pro.
* has a Kahler style stringlock, behind the nut. has some jackson tuners of some kind
* the neck is flat and D shaped, thinner than a ibanez wizard (which surprised me), jumbo frets, rosewood fretboard and MOP "sharkies" sharkfin inlays. 25.5" scale.
* came with case, but mine is not the origial, according to the logo on it: a toothpaste logo, which came in to use in 1988/89.

what did I change?
1. JT6 trem out and Schaller Floyd Rose licenced in. Chose this one over the more bright sounding OFR.
2. Orignal PU's and (active) electronics out. Replaced them by a DiMarzio Steve's Special in the bridge, a SD lil' 59 in the middle and a SD lil' screamin demon in the neck.
3. toggle switches replaced bij a superswitch and 1 toggle (to add the bridgehumbucker anywhere).
4. new coat of paint, neck kept natural.

these are the 2 scenario's that are compared to each other the entire review.

I usually play rock and metal, recently I added some pop to my "playlist" as well, because I entered a coverband, but my main styles are rock and metal.

my setup is pretty pure: no effects, only guitar and amp:

guitar -> Mesa/Boogie Quad Preamp -> Mesa 50/50 poweramp -> 1*12" cabinet

this gives the purest tone without any fuzzy effects, mayby I will buy something like a intellifex or alike one day, something without tonesucking abilities.


old.
The first thing that crossed my mind when I got it (I ordered it in the US, while living in the Netherlands) and plugged it in was: that sounds like crap. The bridge humbucker lacked punch, attack, balls, etc etc. The singles were thin, no-output-kinda-crap things. I came to understand why the previous ownwer wanted to get rid of it. The pickups were supposed to be really quiet, which the singles surprisingly were, but the humbucker was at best described as "not to much noize" and at worst as noizy, even trough my mesa amp.
The guitar sounded "a little more decent" with the midbooster on full, but more than a little is to much credit; thin, fuzzy, no character, no mid, no low and no high end. the singles were dead and the humbucker was even more dead.
The variety of soumnds was theoretically huge: there is a midbooster, 3 toggles (which gives 7 options, 8 when "off" is regarded as option as well), so a lot of sounds available, but none usefull because of the pour quality.

Conclusion for original set up: bad, really bad, a 3 at most, but the new one is a different story:

Pickups make something like 70 of 80% of the guitar, the rest of the tone is influenced by the construction and the kind of wood. this doesn't say anything about sustain by the way.
As said, there were some new PU's installed: a Steve's Special, lil 59 and lil screaming demon. The difference that made was like day and night. The guitar started to live, to shine etc etc. Ok, this is my taste for PU's, but I think every PU would have done something like that as well. The guitar suddenly had a distinctive, warm character. tons of low end, nice high end, punch, arrack and I was suddenly really happy with my model 6, sustain is phenomenal due to the neck through and the heavy woods used.
I already had the idea of changing PU's before I bought the guitar, because I don't like singlecoils, so not a big deal to change them.

conclusion:
old = liveless, muddy (humbucker), thin (singles), no output, no high end, no low end and no midrange, just mud.
new = living, warm, fat, can even sound aggressive.

old = 3
new = 9

I got it second handed. guitar seems to be made pretty well, as far as I can judge that right now in the current state.

My guitar has a long gigging life behind it's back, at least it looks like that: the JT6 trem was completely worn out, as were the tone and midbooster pot. About the floyd: the quality of those licenced Taiwanese made copies are lowsy, plain and simple. but hey, this guitar is already 16 years old and that is only 5 years younger than I am!

the finish was rock hard, but really worn as well, lots of scratches, at the back even to the wood!! I have no idea how that is possible: the paint was really hard.
The frets were also worn, I have the idea they had never been dressed when I got it. I had em dressen, but next time I am going for a refret job, they are to low right now.

gigging without a backup? no way. why? not due to the quality of the guitar, but it is a Floyd Rose equipped one, and you simply need a backup for such a guitar.

so, durable? could have been better, but the previous owner thought it to be a tool, not an instrument, so that counts as well.

never dealt with them.

I play for 13 years right now. Unlike many other guitarists I haven't owned tons of guitars: a Yamaha pacifica 112, Gibson Les Paul Studio, Jackson PS4 (load of crap), Ibanez JPM and this one. I only have the Yamaha (project guitar), Ibanez and Charvel at this moment and I think I will settle with it. Tone is exactly what I want and the playability is really great. Pobably I will sell my Ibanez as well to get another one or model 5 or USA SL-2, which are (qualitywise) almost identical guitars.

The greatest thing about this guitar is the sustain, for a Floyd Equiped guitar it is phenomenal. Besides that is the warmth in it. it seems to have more low end than an USA soloist, which is really cool, the bottom is massive! Comine that with a lil' screamin demon in the neck and you can get the smoothest tone imaginable.

why this guitar, well lets see...
In the first place I wanted a neck through guitar, because I hate the heel of my Ibanez, although it is an all acces joint. If you think neck through, and you play superstrats, I think Jackson Soloist. big problem: I am a Dutch student and in Holland these guitars are way overprized (secondhanded something like $2000,- and new over $3000,-). so, looking for alternatives. I stumbled upon a great forum, the JCFonline forum, where I read that a model 6 was the guitar to get in that case: the only difference with a USA from that period was the logo: charvel instead of "jackson made in USA". So the choice was easy: get myself a Model 6.
All said and so done: model 6 ordered from the US (pretty exciting thing to do: will everything work out as planned; off course it didn't), but after 4 weeks I had my model 6 and I was off to make it the way I wanted it.

so, right now it is the guitar for me, and until I have a SL2 it will be my main axe.

1987, made in Japan with 24 frets neck thru construction, three independant togggles, active mid boost, tone and volume, all active pick ups H-S-S configuration. Some sort of deep metalic purple metal flake finish. Sudo Strat body design, Kahler trem still up and functioning. Included the original tweed hard shell case. Everything, with the exception of the strings and frets, are original. Only one small nick in the pointed headstock and a few surface scratches on the back, probably from belt buckles. I bought this axe off of a friend of my cousin. It is my understanding that the guitar was used regularly for gigging and basement jams. Held up exceptionally well for the the years on it. I bought this guitar over the summer of 1997, already ten years old at that point. I choose this guitar over a brand new soloist because I preferred the set up and the price I must say was quite a better bargain, about $750 less than the soloist that I was checking out at the time.

This guitar can do any style that you wish, it just takes a little more tweaking than a lot of other guitars because of the active electronics. It can scream like a banshee for metal, or play very bright and clear tones for jazz and the like. I enven do a little classical on it from time to time just to turn some heads, sounds great even for classical. I currently play this thing through a Line6 Flextone. The amount of knobs and tweaking neccessary for the amp, not the guitar, can get exhausting, but sounds from the super sweet to the raging insane can all be dialed in on this set up. There does not seem to be much that the orginal setup of this axe cant handle.

I dont know about the factory setups, bought it used. But the '6 plays extremely fast (faster than I can manage, some times I just have to hang on for the ride). It is hard to see the bookmatching through the finish, but from what I can see it looks pretty damn good. The routings are all great and expertly cut and all the original hardware is still tight, pegs, trem switches and the like. Can't really complain about how anything has held up over the years.

This guitar can handle about anything. Probably could serve as a bat in MLB. Never seems to miss function. Any time I plug it in it is ready to wail. THe finish is very think and will probably outlast my life time. No risk of the strap buttons coming off. I can and always depend on it. I'm not doing world tours (yet) but I can depend on it for gigs with out a back up, except for the occasional string snap.

Never had to deal with the Co.

I have been playing this axe for five years now. If it were stolen, I would try to find another to buy. I love that it is always ready to rock. I love the neck thru construction and the lightening speed action. I compared this guitar with the soloist. Chose the Six because of the toggles and price. I wish it cam with genie who could grant me even more wishes.

I'm somewhat uncertain of the exact year ..i believe its a 87, 88, or 89 judging by the logo, neck joint, trem, and asian make.

it wsa 24 beautiful frets ... not as nice a USA jackson but damn good for a asian model.

it's a typical 80's solid body super strat in like fire engine/blood red.

The controls are a switch for each pick up and volume, tone, and boost knobs. The boost knob is useless ont his since the active electroncis were taking out and a dimarizio DP-super distoriton is in the bridge. It has the stock jackson single coils that i need to replace becuase they don't push the same way with out the active elctronics. It's a S/S/H. I dont know if all the singles sound this bad .. but if so they surely need to be replaces. I like everythng from modern rock (better than ezra, incubus) to jazz/fusion (tribal tech and mahavishnu) to metal (the dillinger escape plan and jason becker). I need a guitar with more versatile sounds. The dimarzio pick up is really great though .. a little bright but man this thing has tons of output.

Not to sure on the body .. check other reviews doe it.

Finish is typical solid color.

It's a neck thru super strat with the older t-6 trem i beleeieve. I have played better trems but this kick the shit out of the pants iabnez was using those lo pro 2 POS's. It's not a floating trem though so you can go like steve vai on the sucker but you have a decent ammount of movement.

the tuners are typical blakc metal locking tuners.

It came with a charvel non form fitting case, trem bar, and a strap.

My stlye is from jazz fusion to shred to rock to extreme metal.

The guitar is made for metal and thr shred. This make it great for almost anything feel because you have a full reach to the 24th fret ... its very thin with a low action and the neck is super fast.

The single coils are terrible though so im gonna throw in some seymour duncan hot rails i think like the reagular SL-1's have.

the dimarzio dp 100 super distortion in this is like 80's metal style. It's really good for what i play .. it has tons of output and realyl good for a crazy tapping sound.

It's all really good once you get the right pick ups in here for yourself.

these are 15 year old pickups ... most at this point loss up to have their intital intended sound through natural demagnatization.

i gave it a six ... once i get the hot rails on here it will be a 10.

The action was perfect to do some fast runs and swwp picking on the neck.

Pick up height was great.

for being 15 years old the finished is like a 9 which is really great for its age.

I doubt i would ever try .. but i dont think i could break this sucker. It's put togeather very well.

strap buttons are wide so they wont loss grip of the strap mid pelvic thrusting solo or anything.

i would gig with a back up just because of the floyd rose.

not sure yet ... hope i never have to find out.

Besides the pick ups this is an amazing guitar ... it better than any of ibanez, esp, les paul, etc. that i have played. Only better non hand made guitars i have played are the current Jackson USA soloist series.

e-mail me with any questions

mid '80 made, japanese neck-thru body, 24 frets, jumbo frets.
Stock jackson active pickups, replaced with EMG h/s/s pickups.
Emg 81 bridge, Emg S middle, Emg SA neck.
Now one volume, two tones.
Original shitty Jackson Floyd replaced with great Ibanez Lo-Pro Edge bridge, "packed" into guitar body.
Jackson tuners.
Now the best guitar ever seen!!

Metal, metal, metal.
Play thru Zoom 505 easy and nice effect and Mesa or Marshall amps.
Great tone and volume.

Bought it used, dunno how many people played it before me.
btw, I play with very low action.

Not any problem, even after a 3 hours destroying metal live set.

I've been playing for 9 years, own a Dean ML, a Charvel 375, a Epiphone Les Paul, but Charvel mod.6 is the best guitar I have ever played.
If it were stolen I think I would give up playing guitar.
If you aren't OK with stock Jackson trem replace it with Lo-Pro Edge.
Do it!

Charvel Model 6, serial #902833, 24 fret neckthru, locking nut and jackson JT-6 floyd trem.
Jackson active electronics, S/S/H, 1 volume, 1 tone, 1 active midrange boost. 3 individual toggle switches for pups.
Cream/white subtle sparkle finish.
Superstrat style, pointy headstock, streamlined strat body.

I play Vai, satriani, Gary moore, Megadeth and hendrix bluesy stuff. This suits pretty much everything. The single coils are COMPLETELY noiseless, but the Humbucker has a bit of background noise when near the amp (Laney LC-30 all valve) at high gain.
This guitar sustains!! more so than any floyd rose equipped ive ever played on, the sound is perfect for dave mustain AND steve Vai lead sound, its creamy but screaming. I love the clean single coils, especially with the mid boost, but i tend to roll back the tone a little with the humbucker on clean, its a bit bright.

Got it second hand, but the action is very nice. It seems quite high to look at, but notes just fly off the neck, it feels so good.
I raised the humbucker a little to get some more gain, and didn't hear any noticeable loss of sustain for magnetic interference.
The one thing i disagree with about this guitar is the trem. A jackson JT-6. It has about as much travel as a fender modern trem before it goes out of tune, and i have to make tuning adjustments every time i play.
Also the intonation/frets are very off for the 5th string. Power chords as low as the 5th fret have to have the 5th string bent sharp by 1/4 tone to compensate, and octave root5 shapes ring out against eachother horribly. I am having it taken to a luthier to have the trem swapped and get the intonation sorted. After that she will play like a beast!

Everything except the trem seems to be built as sturdy as a pack horse except the trem.
I still wont let my drummer near her though!
Strap buttons oversized-the strap's never going to fall off!
I would always gig it with backup incase i broke a string.

bought second hand, but found warranty claim form in case, so if you got it new, i think you would be taken care of.

Its all above. I rank it better than my PRS Santana SE, an Ibanez RG550, and a Gibson LP studio.

Model 6 Charvel built in 1986. I bought this axe brand new in 1987. Like the others... It's a rice burner but the best rice burner I have ever played. 24 Fret neck thru Fire Crackle paint job. To this day only one little nick. That says a lot for the quality paint job. Brand new it had Jackson active electronics S-S-H, 3 sep. toggles, & Floyd Rose Trem. Just replaced the bolts in the trem after finally being stripped out. That's after 16 years folks.... It now has an Ultrasonic active Humbucker on it but I am buying EMG's as we speek. Big ol fat neck with huge frets... All Jackson Hardware. Chainsaw case came with her and fits like a glove.

This is a Screaming Banshee of a guitar. Get you a good acoustic guitar if that is the sound you are interested in. If you want to thrash, scream, crunch, smash off Metallica riffs and Mustaine solo's this is the axe for ya. Stock it was a little noisy with the Jackson electronics on it... Can't wait to get the EMG's... I know, I am a little behind the times. But what I have now has always been fine. Good sustain due to the neck thru the body build. Neck is still straight as an arrow. I've never even had to ajdust the Truss Rod.

Action is great.... There was a little rattle in 1987 but after having a fret job done she moves as fast as you can move her with flawless intent. I now have a little noise in the Volume knob but with a little tuner spray should clear up easily. Guitar was set up perfectly from the factory. Everything was lined up well and screwed in tight.

What can I say? I am the original owner after 16+ years of banging on her and she still screams for more. This is one of the best guitars I have played. I compare to Les Pauls, PRS, and the like. She's never let me down....EVER. There have been many nights early on when she was the only bag I brought to play. HArdware is still shiny and tight. I have replaced the strap buttons with the locking straps. Overall, the paint job is still as shint and brilliant as the day I bought her. Fire crackle paint job is definitely dated mid 80's but still catches plenty of attention. I do play with an 1985 Model 3A with the double Humbucker set up too.

Never had to deal with them.....

Overall, I would never get rid of this axe. I don't know what I'd do if this one disappeared. I have not found another one in this good of shape. Like I said, I have a 3A also. More of a deeper tone. GReat sounding with a Kahler Trem. 22 fret bolt on neck. Had to get neck worked on and frets filed before I was happy with it. But now it is a perfect back up and I use her on all the clean settings.

i dont know when my '6 was made but she was born in jay-pan. Its got 24 frets s/s/h 3 togs, active, floyd, all jackson hardware.

this thing goes to 11. ah but you say , "what if they just labeled it 11 instead of 10, and in fact, is only as good as those labeled 10"
well to those naysayers I say " but this goes to 11" And i dont wanna hear any more from the deep and removed poet types about "descriminating ear"

what you dont know charvel? Ask anybody charvel is the best built jay-panese axe out there.

Flawless performance, outstanding reliability, top of the line build (you can drive railroad spikes with this thing), and damn cheap for what you get. If youve got a job to do, I humbly submit this be your weapon of choice.

jackson used to be awsome havnt dealt with fender

I have owned this screamin bone cruncher for 11 fun filled years. In the stable: 98 jackson sl 1, gibson les paul custom, sg, explorer (reissue '76), strat texas special, stienberger,Ibanez jem, and an old hammer v and some other acoustic crap. If you care about acoustic sound you dont want a model 6. If you want to blow away any of the current dirty sweatshirt,"kurt cobain was a musical genius", jeans hangin past yer cheeks crowd, the model 6 is for you. this thing has was gibson wants thousands for. And locking, active, and a superior paint job. the only guitar i have ever owned that comes anywhere near the above mentioned quality is my stienberger with active 81's front and rear. The other guitars are different they are all cool in their own unique ways and the paul is still one of my favorites. But the '6 is a sure thing. the others you have good and bad days with. My american hammer is a damn cool guitar also.

I wonder if the soloists are any good anymore since fender took over. Im seriously thinking of buying an sl 2. waddayathink?