Charvel Model 6

Made in the mid eighties, I bought this second hand for #300 in the UK. It has 24 wide frets and is a solid with through the body neck. To say the neck is sleek would be an understatement. Three on off switches provide pickup selection and are two single coil and one humbucker. I wonder if the single coils are actually stacking humbuckers as there is no noise from them and sound like humbuckers to me. Active electronics power the pickups with a real gutsy boost to the mids. Mine is finished in gloss black and the body to neck transformation is gorgeous. The trem / bridge system (Floyd Rose) takes a hell of setting up each string change which tends to put me off using it (causes me to put off needed string changes), and if just one string goes the whole thing is unusable. This is very rare however and will only happen if the strings are truly knackered.

The active circuitry eats batteries so I fitted a 9v power supply socket. Not good for live use but I only use this guitar for recording.

The neck is quite simply the best I have and the best I haveever played. It is slim, flat and quite wide and for my larger hands is extremely fast (faster than I can play!). As soon as I pick it up and play I realize just how sleek and inviting the guitar is.

When I want to play gutsy hard rock I use this guitar. Through the Pod, it sounds the business and is ideal for recording. It's a guitar that like everything full on. The only settings I adjust is the occasional relaxing of the active circuitry.

Quite recently I compared this guitar to the sound of a Les Paul Standard and that made me realize there is something lacking a bit. The LP had a real hard but full sound whereas the Model 6 lacked a bit of richness.

Action and finish is just about perfect. Very low with no buzzing. The neck is dead straight and the hard (could be ebony) finish accentuates the feeling of speed.

It would have, but not now due to power supply for active electronics. It could be converted back again. The input jack fell to pieces and I replaced this recently. I have never cleaned the circuitry and there are no crackles. The active circuitry stopped working a while ago and I had to replace the op amp chip, but off it went again without any problems.

Not needed. Why would you need this for a perfectly working guitar?

This guitar takes pride and place amongst two custom made Strats (very nice), A Vesta Tele (with Seymours), a Yamaha SG3000S and a Fleetwood bass guitar (Tanglewood I think). It has survived 15 years with me and is one of the guitars I would never part with.

My axe was made around '86 in Japan... 24 frets with mother-of-pearl sharkfin inlays. I believe it comes from the factory with a volume, tone, and "decibel" control (whatever that is), and 3 on-off switches for the S/S/H pickup configuration. By the time I got it the "decibel" knob had been ripped out and replaced with a 3-way switch for the neck single-coil and the bridge humbucker. The on-off switches are now empty holes, and the tone pot has been replaced with a seperate volume control for the neck pickup. Also it has a neon-green Steve Vai style safety strap, which I kinda like.

The pickups themselvcs are one generic single coil and a Seymour-Duncan Distortion humbucker.

The electronics are passive, which is fine with me. I'm not sure but I think it may have come from the factory with active pickups.

I know nothing of the body or neck woods.

The body style is the most beautiful I have ever seen... basically a strat style, without the pickguard and seems more "streamlined" to me. I wish every woman were this shapely.

The finish is black, a deep shiny glossy type black. The only thing I don't like about my guitar is that damned Floyd Rose tremolo system. It is more trouble to me than it's worth.

The tuners are pretty much factory... they head tuners are pretty fine... no drastic or sudden change while tuning up... the fine tuners on the bridge only make a half-step difference between wide open and fully screwed... pretty pointless to me.

The neck-thru design really spoils me since this is my first and only guitar I've actually owned for myself.

Brand new it would deserve a 10.

I used to play alot of thrash/metal but since I started I've diversified alot. My guitar is great for metal. The action is great for fast playing and the pickups positively scream at you... rich harmonics... the generic single-coil is extremely low-gain so that pretty much kills it for mellow stuff... it's not bad for twangy stuff but my clean sounds are wide open.

I play through a Yamaha 50W amp with one 12". It's a cheesy little amp but it's loud and clear... just not big on dynamics. I find it to be noisy when the humbucker is switched on, and even worse since I play through a Zoom 3030... but it has complemented every effect I have played it through on various modules and does well with stomp boxes. I would say the sound is rich, full, and bright.

I never saw my guitar from the factory but being that it's a Charvel I'm sure everything was great. The bridge was routed properly... and the wood was good quality. I can tell because it is very solid and has little wear and tear... previous owner gigged with it CONSTANTLY as it is now... and I've been hard on it for the past 6 years

This guitar has withstood quite a bit of live playing. The hardware will last, the finish will last, the strap buttons won't pop out, I can depend on it. I would definitely use a backup for gigs because if a string pops with that stupid Floyd Rose it takes too long to change it.

No clue

I've been for 6 years now. Used to be obsessive and now i am frequent. Used to own an acoustic but it's been in hock for years now. But I've been through thick and thin with this guitar. Wherever I've gone I've taken it with me... it's almost a part of me and I wouldn't trade it for any guitar in the world... although I wish it had a fixed bridge. I have never played a guitar I prefer over this one.

Made in Japan in the late 80s or the early 90s... 24 jumbo frets, neck-through-body-construction, rosewood fretboard w/ sharkfin inlay (mother of pearl), heel-less joint, super-strat-body, two tone and one volume pot (the volume pot dropped off due to excessive amount of playing time). Kahler licensed Floyd Rose system (double locking). A 5-way pickup selector switch (the others seemed to have on-off switches for the pickups). The pickups are Jackson active pickups (with the middle-boost-circuit, which is really great!!!) and on top of all this the typical Jackson angled headstock. The finish is something between pearl white and cream white, and the freatboard & headstock are equipped with a nifty cream white binding. Nice. All the hardware is pitch black. I got it for 3500 FIM (about 500-600 USD) and it came with a nice Charvel case (which I already decorated with some radio station stickers and STONE and CURE logos. I also got a nifty allen wrench (I think it fits all the [what's that word]) and a wrench for the neck iron (or whatever's the word in english)...

I play mostly heavy metal music (Finnish bands, like Stone and Children of Bodom) and some pop music, eg. the Cure, the Sisters of Mercy and other goth bands. This guitar fits it all - the neck pickup delivers the goods when playing metal and rock, and the other pickups deal very good sounds for blues, pop and country. I use this heavenly piece of musical instrument pride through a Zoom 505 FX-pedal and a Rocktron R50C - amp. The guitar delivers some hum - maybe I should buy a noise gate... However, by touching the hardware there's no hum at all. Otherwise, the volume should be turned down while not playing. The sound is rich and full in every aspect - this is the guitar and the sound that I've always dreamt of. The trem system is also very good to color up the playing style - with all those versatile dive effects and that screaming distortion sound you get by yanking the bar up and releasing it. The trem system is, however, pretty aged already, so it keeps some noise while in use (should I lube it or install a new one, I don't know...). There's nothing I dislike about the sound, but because of the not-perfect-trem-effects, I'll give it "only" a 9.

I bought it used from a music store, and I think it's been through a lot of use during the years (it might be built in the late 80s, after all). It's in the usual 440Hz tune, but the string set is .11 so some bends are quite hard... The string action is great, the pickups are excellently adjusted. The bridge is perfect except for some things I already mentioned in the sound section. No flaws, the fine tuning could be done better, maybe I should just get it repaired. The tuning pegs and the locknut work ex-cel-lent-ly, but the volume pot dropped off, so it's should be taken to repairs.

Haven't gigged with it yet, but it's very good in withstanding rehearsing, and some acts of violence, so I think it's pretty reliable. If (=when) the strings break, the replacing ain't fast at all, so it should be back-upped in concerts with another guitar (possibly another Model 6..!!). The finish is ultra thick, it won't scrape off. The hardware is also in good condition, and the strap buttons are excellent (however, if playing live, I think everyone should buy the little locks into the strap buttons to prevent the strap from slipping out of them, causing the guitar to drop). I depend on my guitar, I trust it with my life. It's my best friend and lover and wife and daughter...

Haven't dealt with the Charvel guys (since I believe Charvel has quit making these goddamn excellent guitars). Jackson's (I believe they've got pretty much something to do with Charvel, as Wayne Charvel practically found Jackson Guitars with Grover Jackson) customer support here in Finland is at Musamaailma Oy, and they are really professional guys, retaining their ominous taste of humour. Good service, always cutting deals and funny as hell.

Read all the above. This is the best guitar known to mankind! Anyone trying to steal it signs his or her own death penalty. Better than any guitar I've ever ever played, and I've played many guitars... Couldn't be better, even the case is damn good. I'd want to sleep with my guitar.

Year made mid 80's, Made in Japan, 24 frets peal shark tooth inlays, s/s/h pickup configuration they are jackson active pickups totally smoke! Neck thru with double locking licensed floyd rose by Jackson, the neck is wide and smooth and fast as hell!!! it is not thin like most jackson's but it smokes, best neck I have ever played. I have the original charvel chain saw case which has excellent latches and great weight dispursment for carrying it. If you can get one of these cases do it.

This guitar is wonderful. Any sound you want this will do it. Just running it straight through my Fender M80 amp with the amps distortion this guitar blew away a jackson kelly that was running through a marshall and an effects processor. MMMMMMMM GOOD!!!

Since this guitar is almost twenty years old I don't know how it was setup from the factory but the music store I bought it from apparently didn't know how to setup guitars. I took it and had it setup and it almost plays itself, low smooth action. The body paint and neck are equal to if not better than any american made guitar out there. If you love to play you have to find one of these guitars u will not be disappointed.

This guitar will withstand anything, these guitars are already closing in on being 20 years old and it rocks like a rightous beast, this guitar is built solid you can tell as soon as you pick it up.

Never dealt with them

I have been playing for almost two years. I have an american made hamer guitar and this guitar is every bit as well made. The neck is better than the hamer's it is wider and much easier to play. I have owned a jackson Kelly, a jackson pro 2, The model 6 kicks their asses sideways. I have played gibson's and I like this guitar better. If it were lost or stolen, someone would die!! There is nothing about this guitar I don't like. The best features are the neck and the pickups. This guitar is a must buy if you find one.

This is a mid-80's japanese superstrat (humbucker, stacked single, stacked single) with active electronics, three individual pickup selectors (HUGE range of tones!) and a 24 fret thru-neck with a heel-less joint. Floyd Rose (Licenced) locking trem and a tough, tough finish complete the picture.

I've been playing metal for 10 years, this suits the style very well. I've started to look at other styles recently, and the active mid-boost with the single coils give a great range of strat tones, with the added mid-range that the strat has always lacked. The electronics are virtually noise-free (I play with a Marshall JCM800 100W head + 2x12, usually at full gain), although I have a Boss noise gate to keep things under control!

I bought used, and the action was superb, better than my Gibsons. All aspects of the set-up were good, even to screwing the middle coil flat to the body for a volume reduction. Sweet! However, as the guitar had seem a lot of action, there were (and stil are) a lot of body scratching (belt-buckles!) and a few dings at the end of the pointy head! However, I bought the guitar (and my other Charvels) for their sound and build quality, not for the cosmetics.

I've used this, and my other Charvels regularly, and have experienced no problems, other than the battery going flat (always at the worst time!) and the TREM ARM! Teh 'push-fit' unit on mine (don't ask me for a model number) works loose easilt, and, at its worst, can have up to 4mm of play. Not good. I've considered replacing it with a Floyd Original, but I usually repair it with PTFE tape, which holds for 2-3 months.

Never had to deal with them.

This is probably my second favourity machine, after my old Charvel 750 XL, which is as good, but looks better. The Jap Charvel facility had an absolute strangle-hold on the market in my opinion, the quality was superb (better than my '99 Gibson Les Paul Standard by a LONG WAY, although that wins on tone alone). It's a shame that Grover Jackson chose to de-value the Charvel brand (in my opinion) by using the once-proud name on nasty korean/taiwanese imports. Yuk. Good luck to Wayne Charvel with his new 'Wayne' Gyitars. If I lost it, I'd throw myself off a bridge. If it was stolen, I'd find the guy and pull him off the bridge with me!!

This incredible guitar has a neck-thru body construction, 24 frets with great sharkfin inlays, one humbucker and 2 single coil pickups. For every pickup there is a switch so you can turn either one off or on. Mine is black witch gives it a very aggressive and metal-like look. Normally it has a jackson floyd rose tremolo but I replaced it by a black tunomatic bridge (quite a bit of work but the guitartech did an excellent job, it even sounds warmer and has more sustain!) I put a EMG 81 as bridgepickup and an EMG Select as neck pickup, the middle pickup is the original Jackson pickup.

This is absolutely the best guitar in the world!!! NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!!! I played lots of guitars from Ibanez to Gibson to ESP custom to the new Jackson range but none of these comes close to my Charvel 6. First of all the neck is unbelievable, the body sounds great, fingerboard is excellent (even after that many years!). I think this guitar was actually made for me, unbelievable!!! I run my guitar through my Samson wireless Concert IV - Alesis 3630 Compressor/Limiter - Hughes & Kettner Access preamp ( parallel loop: Alesis Midiverb4, serial loop: Korg DTR2 digital tuner) - Hughes & Kettner VS 250 power-amp. No matter what configuration I put my Charvel 6 through, it keeps pounding the hell out of me!!! As I play melodic death metal it's the ideal guitarsound for me!!!

I bought mine second hand and it was in fairly good condition. I wasn't really happy with the original humbucker, but an Emg 81 always does the job! This guitar was used on a daily basis before I bought it but even now the neck/fingerboard/body is perfect. Since I play in different bands playing differently tuned I needed a fixed bridge, I didn't replace the original because It wasn't good, just because I wanted to get rid of it.

As I said before this guitar will go on for ages I think, very rugid, very finely build (not like the Jackson guitars which are being build nowadays!). I've been playing it daily for about 3 years now and it's the only guitar I have kept!!! It has never let me down in a live gig situation so , all the marks! Now I use it without a backup, until I can find me another one, because they are very hard to find!

Never dealt with the company, found a good guitartechnician who builds his own guitars, so ... I doubt it if Jackson guitars would have done a better job in changing the bridge, not even talking about the costs (US prices suck!!!!!!!!)

I've been playing for about 10 years now and I have never found a better guitar. I am very found of the Jackson/Charvel looks, but the new Jackson guitars aren't price-worthy I think (certainly not when living in Europe!!!). If it was stolen I'd would hunt the thieve down and hang him!!!

Made in Japan w/American parts.Neck through,24 fret,shark"tooth" as Charvel called them in the "80's" inlays.Two single pickups,one humbucker,a Jackson JT580 Floyd Rose double locking tremelo.Three toggle pickup switches,all black chrome hardware.

The sound of the model 6 is unique,all its own.I have owned Gibson "V's" and Explorers,played with people who had Strats(yuuuck),Ibanez,Yamaha,but the sounds were never like the Charvel 6.Where are these type guitars being made today?? Everything is bolt on junk,no real quality!I heard Charvel is now producing some of the models he made in the past,he should truly consider re-producing the Model 6,but then again its great to seek them out and collect them so I retract that last statement!Its a pure Heavy Metal Animal that will literally blow away any guitar put up against it!! No contest! I tune down to "D",and I've tried 'em all at music stores all over,and it just leaves 'em all in the dust!!

I bought my first "Cobalt Blue" one new off the racks in 87 for $850.00. Lowered the string action with the first string change and it hasn't stop smoking since!Finish was and is the best I've seen on a mass produced guitar,bout the only way to top is maybe a custom car paint job prepared by some truly anal retentive car nut,that took about two years just to finish the paint work. I love Vinnie Vicent's tremelo style of playing so I emulate that very much in my playing,so the JT580 bar is tortured with extreme prejudice every time a play it and other than breaking the original chrome bar off in the trem body and having to replace the arm with a Schaller style it has never failed me. My second Model 6 "Ferrari Red" was bought off the internet about a month ago for $750.00. A ding on the headstock a a few very small ones on the body are all the evidence this guitar was ever played other than that it is great! It was shipped with the third trem spring removed which makes the trem float softer,for those truly "80's" style "RATT" "Vinnie Vincent","Randy Rhoads" flutters! Never figured this one out on my own,so I set up My "Cobalt Blue" the same way,and I'm playing better than ever! That alone was worth the price of the guitar! Thanx Heaven Guitars,RI !! Take note Model 6 owners,if you haven't already figured this one out. If you tune down to "D" like I do you have to play with the screw hold downs in the rear of the body,but once you find the sweet spot look out its 1980 again!

Would take them anywhere and only worry about a string breaking other than that they are rock solid reliable!! Having two makes for a perfect back-up. I bought a Jackson DK2 this past summer new off the rack a week later I found myself replacing the volume pot after static started to become increasingly annoying with each use and finally failing completly,never had nar a problem with My Model 6's,it's like the "Corvette"(own one too!cool!)one of those rare mold breaking,sporting looking,hot rodding,rare diamonds that will never be made again!

Never dealt with them because the Model 6 was built just to good!! Other than parts finally wearing out on the guitar,have no complaints to the company only praises!

Been playing guitars since 1979,and I can say you can't beat a Model 6 in features for the price,ecspecially you people out there who got them at those outrageouslly low prices on used ones!(kudos!)

Letz see neck thru body heeless construction, Jackson Flyod, Jackson active pick-ups, mother of pearl shark fin inlays. This guitar was made when Jackson used the best woods. It is probably the equavelent of a SL-1 today.

The 80's are back!!!!!! This guitar is made for Metal. It's the heavest guitar I've ever heard. Kills Ibanez. It's not nosiy at all. I run it thru a roland gp-100 guitar processor and a Fender Stage 160. It gives me the tone I'm looking for. Fat and Crunchy. I was thinking about changing the pick ups to EMG's when I first got it, since it's already got a active circuit. But the pick ups surprised me. Unlike the Cheap Ass Jackson pick up they have today these ones were GOOD! I can get a perfect Cowboys from Hell tone outa this thing.

Action was in mid air when I got it, but with a little bit of muscle it was flat on the ground. The finish is in superb condition, and the floyd on this thing rocks! Unlike the shity ass Ibanez Floyds these ones STAY IN TUNE. In my opinion these are the best Floyds next the Originals. I giving it a 8 because of the poor set up.

This guitar was made in 87. And is in suberb condition for itz age (Hell! itz in superb condition period!.) This thing really last. I've gigged with it for over 6 years.

Excelent company. I called to ask them a few question and they mailed me a free T-Shirt. You rule JACKSON!

I've been playing for 16 years, and I think I know quality when I see it. I also own a Jackson DK-1, Les Paul Custom, PRS Custom 24, and 3 Ibanez's, RG 570, S540, and a RG Prestige. If it were stolen I would hunt the mother fucker down and shove a pole up his ass. (Sorry a little carryed away there). The bottom line is buy Jackson guitars instead of Ibanes. Why? Here's a comparison test:
Jackson (USA Modles) Ibanez
Hand made in the USA Made buy million $ machines in Japan
Neck Thru Body heeless Bolt on's construction Seymor Duncan pick ups cheap Ibanez pick ups (Diamrzios on the expansive modles)
Real Floyd Rose that are Cheap Ibanez Floyds that go made in Germany outa tunes easly (the ones that never go outa tune, and don't break your strings)
mother of pearl shark fin Plastic inlays (even on inlays and binding their top of the line modles suck as the Floral Pattern Jem.
So get the point? Jackson guitar are better made and they use top of the line every thing. The only reason Ibanez over sells Jackson is because they have Famous Endorsers. Such as vai, Satch, Munky & Head, Wes Borland, Dino and etc that large Japanese Corperations pay for. So I hope every body learned something today.
Latz

Let's see---neck-thru construction, Jackson active circuitry, Jackson Floyd Rose, rosewood fretboard w/ shark inlays, furnished in a dark plum finish---this is what I had many years ago (only it was in Ferrari Red!!)--made in '87-'88

ahhhh, just like I expected--nice and fat!! This thing sounds absolutely heavenly thru my Mesa/Boogie DC-5 half-stack!! I play in a heavy alternative band that demands crushing tone night after night--in fact, I use this thing as my main guitar throughout our set, with the exception of my Jackson Soloist, which became my "drop D" guitar. Love the funky single coil sounds --it rivals my Fender Deluxe Strat Plus in this department

guitar was set-up just perfectly--just a few dents and wear on finish and hardware, other than that, no complaints!!

Well, being that this thing has a Floyd, I always have a back-up!! other than that, it's pretty reliable and consistant. I had to change the battery for the active electronics.

never dealt w/ Jackson/Charvel--if it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!

played for over 20+ years--have had Gibsons, Ibanezes, Jacksons,Charvels,Hamer, Yamaha--When I went to the L.A. Guitar Show, I was gonna buy an Ibanez Destroyer 'til I spotted this model 6 at another booth--needless to say, I'm absolutely thrilled to have this axe back in my arsenal!!! I plan on collecting more Charvel Model 6/5 and Jackson Soloists in the near future

U.S. Made in 1988. 24 frets,shark-tooth inlay, rosewood fretboard. neck-through body construction. 1 humbucker and two single coils. Non-recessed floyd rose bridge. Maple neck, poplar body, passive pickups with a Jackson JE 1200 active mid-boost circuit. 1 volume, 1 tone, and 1 mid-boost knob, 3 toggle switches.

I play metal. This thing suits the bill very nicely. It has a thicker neck than the newer Jacksons, I like that feature a lot. The neck-through body construction is comfy and gives more sustain. It has a very good sound, kinda bright, which is good because I'm running it through a Mesa/Boogie Single Rectifier, which is kinda dark sounding. It's not noisy either. The only thing I don't like is that the pickups are a little larger than most pickups, so it'd be a bitch to replace them if they went out on me.

It's 11 years old, but in great condition. One minor ding on the headstock. But everything is tight on it.

NEVER gig without a backup. Everything is solid otherwise.

When I got it I had to restore the active circuit. The dude who had is before striped it out and made it run totally passive. Jackson was very happy to send me a new one, fortuntly they still use that circuit in some of their newer guitars, so it was easy to get, for a price.

Been playing for about 6 years. This is one of the best sounding guitars I've heard. Also one of the most comfortable to play.