Charvel 750XL - anyone own(ed) one?

steve.h · 13th May 2008, 06:08 AM

I've got an '83 Strat that I'm looking to trade, and a guy's offered me a Charvel 750XL in trade for it. I'm asking for trade+cash, as the Fender's worth more, but I'd like to hear if anyone has any opinions on the model?

RiF · 13th May 2008, 08:18 PM

My Charvel 750XL is my main guitar for about 15 Years now and I'll never trade that one for any other guitar. The guitar has a Les Paul weight and a nice and rather wide (54mm 12th fret) and flat (not Ibanez-/Jackson-flat, but flat) neck. It plays like a charm with very low action. I have an early 80's Strat, too which I do not like at all, mostly due to it's chunky neck. If I hadn't given it to my cousin I would trade it for a 750 XL immediately. BTW: The Charvel did cost about twice as much as a Strat.
There is a nice web site named Audiozone which is dedicated just to this guitar with lot's of info like serial numbers, photos and specs.

Hysteria · 15th May 2008, 04:20 PM

Yeah, I have one too, bought it new in 1990.

It's nicely made, and as described by RiF. Thru-neck like the Jackson Soloist. Maple top, mahogany body. Made in Japan. Quite Heavy. Two Jackson humbuckers, I replaced the pickups on mine with EMG 89s.

I used it as my main guitar up until 5 years ago or so. Couple of things that always bothered me about it, one is the neck width is a little too wide for my liking but that's no biggy, more so is that it had a scale length closer to a Les Paul than a Strat and feels a little cramped at the body end. The Floyd (Rose II) is not recessed and so you'll need to avoid resting your hand on it...something I found I did from time to time.

And don't expect it so sound anything like a Strat (i.e. those 'in-between' sounds are not available).

Personally I prefer the neck on a modern Strat and also the 25.5" scale length, yes you do have to work harder but you've more room to move at the bridge-end too.

I wouldn't want to get rid of mine but if it was that or my Strat (US HSS ash body), the Charvel would have to go. If you're used to playing a Strat, I'd make sure you give the Charvel a good test drive before doing the trade.

Hope that helps a little bit.

Pasta4lnch · 16th May 2008, 02:51 AM

I had one for a week. it was sooo comfy to play . . . got stolen outta my car in front of a church on Easter Sunday . . .

go figure!

steve.h · 16th May 2008, 11:08 PM

I traded him straight-up, as he had the original case & trem, and there is barely a scratch on it, vs. the Fender, which was missing the trem, didn't come with a case, and had a replacement nut. Will post pics soon!

RiF · 18th May 2008, 10:08 AM

Hi steve.h, you will not regret the trade. If you do, call me.

What type of 750xl (finish etc.) do you got?

steve.h · 18th May 2008, 03:28 PM

I got the transparent red, similar to the one on the left in this picture:

...except mine has the German-made Schaller Licensed Floyd Rose (which I'm told is very similar in quality and performance to an original FR, as they are made in the same factory).

I also doubt I will regret the trade, as I did do a fair amount of research on both guitars prior to trading. '83 was one of the crappiest years for Fender, with new ownership and cheap foreign guitars that were knocking the pants off of USA-made Strats in terms of tone. It was a very nice guitar, no doubts there, but among the Strats, it was no diamond.

RiF · 19th May 2008, 11:31 AM

Hi steve.h,
that's a beauty! I am jealous...

steve.h · 20th May 2008, 07:21 AM

I'll take some better pictures when I've got more time/better lighting!

RiF · 20th May 2008, 11:35 AM

Aaahhhh... whoooo... Looks like it is in mint condition. And sooo beautiful. Did I say that I am a fan of 750xl's? I find the transparent red finish as beautiful as my adored transparent amber.
The only thing I did not like about my guitar were the original Jackson pickups that I changed to EMGs in the early 90s and now to a neat zebra Duncan JB/'59 combo. I got older and more concerned about tone and less about the ultimate gain to hide my sub-optimal playing skills.

steve.h · 22nd May 2008, 11:10 PM

Here's some much higher-quality pictures:

Behold, in great condition! The original bridge pickup has been replaced by a PRS Dragon pickup by the previous owner.

Barely a scratch on her!

Sooooo thick & heavy!

Serial number checks out too :D

Elvis Christ · 23rd May 2008, 12:58 AM

nice guitar. looks like you need to mow your lawn.

steve.h · 23rd May 2008, 01:09 AM

Yeah, I was thinking that as I took the pictures. It's a rented house, and the homeowner claims he'd like to be the one to mow the lawn, but as you can see he's not that adamant about it. Perhaps he'll take a couple bucks off of rent if I cut it? :p

13th May 2008, 06:08 AM	#1
steve.h Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 38	Charvel 750XL - anyone own(ed) one? I've got an '83 Strat that I'm looking to trade, and a guy's offered me a Charvel 750XL in trade for it. I'm asking for trade+cash, as the Fender's worth more, but I'd like to hear if anyone has any opinions on the model? __________________ Info Sponge

16th May 2008, 02:51 AM	#4
Pasta4lnch Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 1,156	I had one for a week. it was sooo comfy to play . . . got stolen outta my car in front of a church on Easter Sunday . . . go figure! __________________ http://myspace.com/stevebuonanotte "There should be a single Art Exchange in the world, to which the artist would simply send his works and in return be given as much as he needs. As it is, one has to be half a merchant on top of everything else, and how badly one goes about it." -Beethoven F/S Voodoo Labs Super Fuzz & Proctavia

16th May 2008, 11:08 PM	#5
steve.h Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 38	I traded him straight-up, as he had the original case & trem, and there is barely a scratch on it, vs. the Fender, which was missing the trem, didn't come with a case, and had a replacement nut. Will post pics soon! __________________ Info Sponge

18th May 2008, 03:28 PM	#7
steve.h Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 38	I got the transparent red, similar to the one on the left in this picture: ...except mine has the German-made Schaller Licensed Floyd Rose (which I'm told is very similar in quality and performance to an original FR, as they are made in the same factory). I also doubt I will regret the trade, as I did do a fair amount of research on both guitars prior to trading. '83 was one of the crappiest years for Fender, with new ownership and cheap foreign guitars that were knocking the pants off of USA-made Strats in terms of tone. It was a very nice guitar, no doubts there, but among the Strats, it was no diamond. __________________ Info Sponge

20th May 2008, 07:21 AM	#9
steve.h Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 38	I'll take some better pictures when I've got more time/better lighting! __________________ Info Sponge

13th May 2008, 08:18 PM	#2
RiF Gear interested Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 13	My Charvel 750XL is my main guitar for about 15 Years now and I'll never trade that one for any other guitar. The guitar has a Les Paul weight and a nice and rather wide (54mm 12th fret) and flat (not Ibanez-/Jackson-flat, but flat) neck. It plays like a charm with very low action. I have an early 80's Strat, too which I do not like at all, mostly due to it's chunky neck. If I hadn't given it to my cousin I would trade it for a 750 XL immediately. BTW: The Charvel did cost about twice as much as a Strat. There is a nice web site named Audiozone which is dedicated just to this guitar with lot's of info like serial numbers, photos and specs.

15th May 2008, 04:20 PM	#3
Hysteria Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: UK Posts: 116	Yeah, I have one too, bought it new in 1990. It's nicely made, and as described by RiF. Thru-neck like the Jackson Soloist. Maple top, mahogany body. Made in Japan. Quite Heavy. Two Jackson humbuckers, I replaced the pickups on mine with EMG 89s. I used it as my main guitar up until 5 years ago or so. Couple of things that always bothered me about it, one is the neck width is a little too wide for my liking but that's no biggy, more so is that it had a scale length closer to a Les Paul than a Strat and feels a little cramped at the body end. The Floyd (Rose II) is not recessed and so you'll need to avoid resting your hand on it...something I found I did from time to time. And don't expect it so sound anything like a Strat (i.e. those 'in-between' sounds are not available). Personally I prefer the neck on a modern Strat and also the 25.5" scale length, yes you do have to work harder but you've more room to move at the bridge-end too. I wouldn't want to get rid of mine but if it was that or my Strat (US HSS ash body), the Charvel would have to go. If you're used to playing a Strat, I'd make sure you give the Charvel a good test drive before doing the trade. Hope that helps a little bit.

18th May 2008, 10:08 AM	#6
RiF Gear interested Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 13	Hi steve.h, you will not regret the trade. If you do, call me. What type of 750xl (finish etc.) do you got?

19th May 2008, 11:31 AM	#8
RiF Gear interested Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 13	Hi steve.h, that's a beauty! I am jealous...

20th May 2008, 11:35 AM	#10
RiF Gear interested Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 13	Aaahhhh... whoooo... Looks like it is in mint condition. And sooo beautiful. Did I say that I am a fan of 750xl's? I find the transparent red finish as beautiful as my adored transparent amber. The only thing I did not like about my guitar were the original Jackson pickups that I changed to EMGs in the early 90s and now to a neat zebra Duncan JB/'59 combo. I got older and more concerned about tone and less about the ultimate gain to hide my sub-optimal playing skills.

22nd May 2008, 11:10 PM	#11
steve.h Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 38	Here's some much higher-quality pictures: Behold, in great condition! The original bridge pickup has been replaced by a PRS Dragon pickup by the previous owner. Barely a scratch on her! Sooooo thick & heavy! Serial number checks out too :D __________________ Info Sponge

23rd May 2008, 12:58 AM	#12
Elvis Christ Gear interested Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mattoon, IL Posts: 15	nice guitar. looks like you need to mow your lawn.

23rd May 2008, 01:09 AM	#13
steve.h Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 38	Yeah, I was thinking that as I took the pictures. It's a rented house, and the homeowner claims he'd like to be the one to mow the lawn, but as you can see he's not that adamant about it. Perhaps he'll take a couple bucks off of rent if I cut it? :p __________________ Info Sponge

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