Charvel Model 6

I found my Model 6 at a pawn shop. I wasn't sure about what it actually was because some one had epoxyed the humbucker in and they made a gay looking pick guard for it. It had a Kahler stuffed in it and it really looked thrashed... Oh yeah it was red. Well, I took it to spme friends of mine here in San Diego, and they went to work on it. First the Kahler hole was blocked in and then routed for a Floyd. then a fret job. then off to get painted. I chose black and white Checkers for the top. (Rick Neilson, cheap trick thing). then I loaded it with active EMGs, mini shalers and BAM!!!! I tell ya it is sweet!!!!

Great on metal but has a sweet sound for jazz

Fits like a glove

I've had it finished for a year,,,,, maybe have 200 hours on it

Oh yeah, it came with a tweed case that's sweet. so, After all the work I put aboutb $900 into it. But it's cool!!!!

I bought it the last year they made the Model 6, '89 I think. Blue with the Jackson Floyd trem, active pickups, neck-through, the standard model 6 suite. As I recall, I paid $1200.

I've always loved this thing, you can get about any kind of sound out of it. Extremely versatile guitar. The active pickups have a mid-boost circuit, so you could get either a vintage fat/warm sound with the vol down slightly, and the mid-boost up - or crank the vol and chop the mid-boost and get a very nice bright tone. Very nice natural resonance with the neck-through design, and great sustain. Good stuff.

The guitar had no flaws in fit, finish, materials, etc. when new. Good quality stuff for the Japanese Jacksons, when they made the Charvels in Japan during this time(86-89), the build quality was basically as good as the hand built USA Jacksons, but for 1/2 the price.

The guitar has been a rock... Only normal wear and tear has required 2 refrets (first refret to 6105's, which only lasted 2 years, went back to 6100's, I'll never go small again) all on the original ebony fingerboard, which remains completely free of any warps or twists to this day. The string saddles wore out in the bridge over time as well, and Jackson quite making that bridge some time ago - making replacement impossible with original parts, so I keep recarving the saddle grooves as they get loose, but it's probably time to see if a Schaller trem will fit in the studs...

Note that this guitar has been played alot, considering it's on it's 3rd set of frets, and there is still no noticeable wear on the paint finish... Just amazing.

Never dealt with them.

Been playing for 16 years or so, and this guitar has survived 13 of 'em in excellent condition. The guitar is amazingly well built, and I will probably give it to my son for his first electric when he's ready for it. If lost or stolen, it would be irreplaceable, like losing a photo album with pictures you'll never see again.

I got a 1984 Charvel Model 6 USA prototype guitar and this thing kick ass. Has a neck thru body with 24 jumbo fret real nice feel. I belive it has a solid top. It have i 1 master volume and 2 tone controls and 3 mini switches for the boost controls real nice features. It now has emgs on sound great with them. I have clean white finish it in pretty good condition. I put on sperzel locking tuners because i hate locking nuts there a pain in the ass. I got to say the person that hates the kahler is problely can't play guitar if his life depended on or just some idiot who complains over everything. I most kahler is a much better tromolo then flody rose they a pain the ass i've had 4 orginal flody roses on my guitars over the years and they were pains in the ass. Kahler all the way. This guitar has everything you could ever want on a stock guitar. Active system works great and sounds great.

The sound this guitar is great clean when thats what you want no feedback and is the perfect guitar for Heavy Metal. You could really also play any kind of music on it like from country to blues sweet sound.

The action is like sex its perfect. The kahler is a great tromolo once you understand how it works. The paint is nice because its 18 years old and still look pretty good.

No problem ever.

Charvel Jackson is great they are the ones that told me i had the model 6 prototype guitar.

I own right now a Gibson custom les paul a american 68 strat a PRS and about 10 other guitars and this is my favorite guitar its really a peice of work. I would recomend anyone to purchase this guitar if they could.*****five stars

ive got a '86 model 6 charvel and it rocks ass. it has kahler pro tremolo, and if anyone says kahler blows ill kick thier ass. it had all dimarzio pickups, s-s-h. apple red. its nech-thru rosewood finger board poplar body sharkfin inlays. i love kahler

sounds incredible, real good harmonics good feel to play around with. sorta heavy on the head so it has good sustain

the guitar has gone through hell with me, i play metal furious metal. ive played fenders so fast that theve gone outta tune, this guitar isnt a tank but it isnt afraid to tell the tank to stick it up its ass. balls. besy deal i ever got on a guitar. everything is really u.s.a. standards but it was made in japan. oh well still kicks a lot of stuff's ass.

once i spilled a drop of jack and coke on a peavey raptor at a freinds house, it almost stripped the paint. my cousin spiller jager-meister on mr charvel and guess what, its still fine. this guitar has put up with a lot of my shit and i have come to respect it as its own force in the universe

ive never had to put up with any bull-shit. it just never needed anything

ive been playing for some time now ive got an army of 7 guitars ranging from u.s.a. jacksons to u.s.a. peaveys and i love this guitar

This fine axe was made in Japan in 1986-87. 24 frets, MOP sharkfin inlays, 3 mini-pup switches, and 3 knobs(volume, tone, and distortion i think). H/S/S active jackson pups, poplar body not sure bout neck, in a wierd off-white-sprakle finish. Soloist style body, with a kahler tremolo bridge(sucks), locking jackson tuners. bought used so no hardware.

I play metal and it suits my style fine, but when i run it clean and switch in the mid or neck pup, it can do anything, blues, jazz, you name it. the bridge humbucker is the noisiest pup, but it rocks! lottsa distortion and great pinch harmonics on every fret(almost). im quite satisified with the original pups, they really can do anything.

The features are as follows, Two J-200 Dual Coil Bi-Level Humbucking pickups and one J-50BC Humbucking pickup ( mine upgraded to EMG 80's and 81's ), Kahler standard single locking tremolo ( mine upgraded to original floyd rose ), one volume and one tone control, Jackson active low impedanc electronics w/6db boost (at 650 HZ) control knob, three 2-way mini toggle switches, beautiful pearl inlayed rosewook fingerboard/neck-thru-body contruction, and a solid poplar body. Mine in red.

It is perfect for the music I play, The original pick-ups were nice but I upgraded to the EMG's for a wide range of styles, I play 80's rock and metal ( Ozzy, Quiet Riot, Van Halen, etc. ) to Blink and Goo Goo Dolls this. I run this through an Ibanez Smashbox and a Marshall Valvestate ATV 150. I love this guitar, I dont think there is a more reliable guitar!

The set up was great rite from the store, I changed the tremolo and the pickups so it took some setting up after that but other than the upgrades perfect, nice low action, no buzzing. No flaws whatsoever, everything was perfect. No complaints here!

This guitar has takin a beating for years, and is still in great condition, the hardwear is great, Jackson sealed tuners. The strap-buttons were just replaced to Jim Dunlop Strap-Loks. The original strap buttons held up well, but I like to put on a show for the audiance so I put the strap-loks on for extra security. I can definatly depend on this guitar, but no matter how great the guitar, unless it can restring it self, I always have a back up.

I have never dealt with Jackson/Charvel.

I have been playing for 15 years, and I stated the some of the gear I own above, I am about to buy a Cyber Twin, I have a Gibson Les Paul Standard, a Fender American Series Strat, and a Jackson Rhoads.
Of all of those guitars this is definatly the most dependable!

Bought from A&E Guitars in Virginia Beach. (They are sorry bastards)
Paid $995.00 for this '86 Model 6, Black Cherry, Rosewood fretboard w/sharkfin inlays, black headstock. Ash body? Neck thru body, H-S-S active Jackson/Charvel PUPs, Kahler pro vibrato (double locking), All black hardware, Volume/Mid-boost/tone knobs.Three on off switches (one for each pickup). Came with tweed case.
Guy at the shop wouldn't give me a truss rod adjustment wrench, said, "I'd mess it up, only he was good enough to do it!!!"
(should have laughed in his face and left)
Had to drive back (250 miles) to get him to adjust it two weeks later because it was too low. (buzzing was getting on my nerves)
Afterwards it did fine. (I hope they are closed by now)

Was great for the 80's metal sound. Noiseless operation.
Plenty of variety.
Used a Polytone Fusion then later a Mesa/Boogie Mark III Simul/Class.
Did good for 7 years. Then got worn to where I didn't like it anymore.

Action was good for 7 years, then went down after that. Not Good!
Finish was good workmanship was fair, but the hole where the jack is broke after several years. Fixed myself.

Good guitar when new. Strap buttons reamed out over time.
Used without backup for several years but in the last 2 years there were problems. Also the Kahler went out and never came back, (not Charvel's fault) By this time Kahler was outta bizzness! (wonder why? hummm...)

N/A
I fix my own stuff mostly.

Played for 23 years
Bunch of guitars
Gibson Les Paul is my main axe now.
Have a '93 Jackson Soloist USA too, (better guitar)
Loved it for a few years but as you get better you'll find there are better guitars out there for $1000 bucks. (Horror Story Time)
A&E Music sold a Ross 4 track recorder to me on the same day.
Within 5 days, the transport system LOCKED UP! I took it back and they told me they'd have it fixed. I said, "Give me that new one you have in place of it." He said, "We can't do that." I insisted. They said, "It wasn't their policy to do buisness that way". I said, "Then give me my money back"! That is not posible, I was told. So, after two months, I got it back from the repair shop. Two hours into recording, it locked up again. Took it back, (remember, this place is 250 miles from where I live!) and was told again, "We'll have it fixed". I was hot by this time. So thinking I'd give them one more chance, (since it wasn't their fault it broke) I took it to the repair center again. 4 Weeks later, got it back, and yes, It Locked Up Again!! I called them and asked for my money back. "I'm sorry, but that is not our policy". I said, "I'll call the Better Buisness Beuru!" (bad spelling huh?) They said, "I'm sorry you feel that way, sir". Well, I called Ross. (an English company) English guy answered the phone. I told him what was going on and he offered to have the unit fixed again. I told him that at this rate I would have the unit in the repair shop 10 months out of the year and I wanted my money back. He said, "We don't do buisness that way." I told him that, "You won't have any buisness at all if you do buisness like this!"
Do you see much Ross stuff around any more? I think they went under.
Sold the unit as soon as I got it back from the repair shop the last time, before it locked up on me again! Good Riddance!!

Only paid $250 (used) for this 1987 neck-thru beauty. The axe came loaded with a H-S-S active pick-ups with independant toggles for each pick-up. All active circuitry with mid-boost for extra balls and a Kahler single locking bridge (the Kahler pulls off of a steel block instead of the insturments woods). I am not sure what the wood construction of this axe is and I would assume that it was made in Japan since that seems to be the general norm for this guitar. Came with the original case too.

At the time that I bought the axe I was looking for metal type guitar, whcih this guitar suits very well. Now, three years later, my musical tastes have expanded and I have realized that there isn't anything that this guitar can't handle. Everything from shred to country and blues. The pickups are clean and bright and can be given a little extra bite due to the mid-boost. This guitar can scream and sing, bark and cry in one melodic line. Its tonal variations seem limitless. After three years of ownership I am able to realize what this thing is really capable of.
If I had to pick a down side, I'd say that for a novice, it could be quite tricky to figure out how to get the most out of the tone, but that is only due to its tonal variety.

I do not know how it was set up at the factory, I bought it thirteen years used. I can only speculate that it was set up fast and smooth like it is today. The pick-ups are excellent, always clear and ready to go. The body has exceptionally sleek lines and fits like a little piece of heaven in my lap. Leo Fender could have only dreamed of such a fit. The finish is a dark metal flake type reddish purple that almost looks black in low light. The pots need occasional cleaning, but so does every guitar if you want it to perform.

This guitar can and has withstood live playing. The guy I bought it off of used it at least weekly for ten years gigging. Since I've owned it, it hasn't seen much of this type of action, but it is built with tough durable metal components that seem to be made to last. The finish still shows no sign of wear, doubt that it ever will. Strap buttons are good and tight, It is ready to rock every time it is plugged and it seems like it could tour the world.
I wouldn't gig without a back up ever. What do you do when you bust a string, call for a comericial break. However, if I had only one to choose from it would be this one.

Never needed it.

I have been playing for five years and I also own a Cordoba Gypsy King Classical guitar, Dean Performer E Accoustic, and a Line 6 Flextone 60 watts amp. If this axe was lost I would go looking for blood, or another used one, which ever I found first. There is so much to love about this guitar, I wouldn't know where to start. I hate the fact that this guitar is hard to find, I have been looking for a second one. It compares well to a Jackson Soloist, but I would say that fit and feel it crushes the soloist and just feels so much more powerful in my hands. I won't even dishonor it by comparing it to a stratocaster or anything like that. I wish it had a twin brother at my house. Did i say that it has a chip taken out of the headstock, some may say that it is a flaw, but I say it adds character.

Mid 80's japanese manufactured,24 frets sharks fin pearl inlay,neck through body design..really easy acess to the top fret.The finish on my model 6 i s sort of creamy white,though ive seen pictures of new model 6 in pearl white,which i think is too enemic..maybe the paint on mine is going through its ageing process, cool.
jackson floating bridge with locking nut,like any floyd rose type bridge it works when it work it doesnt when it goes out of tune..changing strings is just a minor hassle one im willing to put up with,try those outragoues dive bombs or raise the pitch on a strat and see how long that piece of plank stay in tune..maybe your strat is better than mine,but this model 6 is defineately better than your piece of drift wood..hehehe.
i still have the original case, sturdly built nice and plush inside.

1hb(bridge),2sc(jacksons),active circuit with mid booster,lots of sound available..will never sound like a gibbo cause its not..will never sound like a strat cause its not..be it will try its best to emulate those sounds..all i can say is its very versatile and sounds very good to me.

fast,slick,smooth..gorgoues neck .the finish on this guitar is of high quality..7 years ago i had model 850 like this one cept with twin humbucker and a gorgoues flame or curly maple top(cant remember)in cherry sunburst..been thinking about her ever since, im still looking for her,i want her back :(

this guitar is in early teens..and looking tough, cant wait fot it get older and become the pimp daddy of my colletion

no need..its only a guitar..man,not some high tech equipment.

been playing for 15 years..have Les Paul,Strat,Levinson Blade,Hamer,had PRS,i sold that bitch bought this model 6 and still have afew hundred pounds left over...so im looking for Charvel Model 850 as described above..My advice to you ppl is dont get 1..cause im finding it hard trying to find my fave guitar of all time :)

I bought this bright red Japanese made Charvel Model 6 fresh from the store in 1986. The stock Kahler trem has held up to this day. The other features I believe are fairly standard for this model, original Jackson pickups (active) s/s/h, 24 frets, 3 separate pickup selectors... why don't more guitars have that? The neck-thru design was solid.

I used this guitar for all styles of music, pop/blues/funk/rock/hard rock. I still play it primarily through a Mesa/Boogie Mark III that I bought not long after buying the guitar. I used the mid range boost about half-way to 3/4. I love the different tones available with the separate pickup selectors. For seering solos, I just use the Jackson humbucker. I've had some quality guitars over the years(Gibson LP Customs, older Kramers, hand made Schon by Jackson himself), but none as versitile in sound as this Model 6!
I used this guitar for most of my guitar parts on two albums I played on, released internationally, recorded between 1986 and 1990.

I would always lower the action as much as I could get by with. It was a great playing guitar, but still slightly paled in comparison to my Les Paul Customs. It had a unique feel to it, quite comfortable and easy to work with. I'd have to say that the guitar was set up to its top quality right from the get go!
There were no noticeable flaws in this guitar. The pots got noisy after awhile, so there was some maintenance needed there. There has been some aging in the nut locking system (screws are stripping), and I don't know if the locking screws are still available, since Kahler is out of business from what I understand. But I imagine i could find some kind of screw that would work in their place w/o a problem.

It's been my workhorse guitar for 15 years. It always kept its tune even better than my guitars w/o trem systems. I've taken this guitar with me on the road, overseas, and in the studio. It's seen some large audiences in its day, and has come through with flying colors. It's proven its value time and time again! Very dependable, very reliable! I normally played gigs with 2 guitars in case of breaking strings.. break a string on this, and it's out of tune immediately. I would keep one of my other guitars as a backup, usually my Les Paul Custom.

Never needed support for it.

I've been playing over 25 years. Like I said, this guitar has been a workhorse for me more than any other. I would still pick my Les Paul Customs (I've had 2 over the years) over this guitar, but not by much. If it was stolen, would I probably try something else, but I would miss the pickup selectors on this baby, because I hate the strat-like slide selectors. I had always debated about picking up a Jackson Soloist, but from these reviews, they don't seem worth the extra money.