#Jackson charvel serial numbers professional
#Jackson charvel serial numbers series

#Jackson charvel serial numbers series

In their 1990 catalogue, Jackson also referred to this new range of guitars as the вЂњProвЂќ series and stated that their intention was to provide an affordable alternative to the high quality instruments that customers had previously needed to custom order direct from their American factory.

#Jackson charvel serial numbers professional

From 1990 until 1995 all of the Professional Series guitars were made in Japan at the вЂњCharvel plantвЂќ, JacksonвЂ™s name for their Chushin Gakki factory.

Jackson introduced their вЂProfessionalвЂ™ series of superstrat models in 1990. In doing so, I will use вЂProfessionalвЂ™ to refer to the series of guitars and вЂProвЂ™ to refer to the specific (PRO) models within that series. I will therefore attempt to clarify the situation. Some confusion about the terms вЂProfessionalвЂ™ and вЂProвЂ™ when applied to JacksonвЂ™s 1990s guitars is understandable and some rather vague promotional material released at the time, did little to help. The Professional Series and вЂProвЂ™ Model Guitars: In 1989, Charvel/Jackson merged with the Japanese manufacturer IMC. Whereas the Californian guitars were essentially hand-built, custom instruments, the Japanese instruments were assembly line versions and categorised by model numbers. The success of the 1980s guitars also enabled Jackson to mass produce popular designs in Japan (from 1986). However, the visual impact of the Rhoads model proved to be iconic in the industry and this prompted Jackson to found Jackson Guitars.

But Jackson was concerned that this radical departure from the Charvel neck design might prove unpopular and not wishing to diminish the Charvel name, added his own name to the headstock. Rhoads referred to the shape of this second design as the вЂConcordeвЂ™. This resulted in an association of Charvel guitars with many famous guitarists of the rock and heavy metal genres.Д¬ollaboration with Randy Rhoads on a signature model guitar produced a prototype that was insufficiently angular for Rhoads and so a more angular neck/head was produced to match the asymmetrical, вЂFlying VвЂ™ body. These вЂsuperstratsвЂ™, as they became known, were well suited to the heavy rock and metal music of the 1980s and Charvel ornamented their guitars to appeal to this market. Under JacksonвЂ™s ownership, Charvel popularised a modernisation of the classic Fender Stratocaster design, involving replacement of the single coil pickup at the bridge with a humbucker and various other refinements. When Japanese companies began copying his parts, Charvel began to make complete guitars before selling the company outright to Grover Jackson in 1978. I decided that this was a good time for a re-appraisal of the JacksonвЂ™s provenance and specifications вЂ“ДЄfter working for Fender, Wayne Charvel established his own California workshop in 1974, building a solid reputation for Fender repairs and custom parts.

In examining the instrument I realised that it is now 25 years old, yet remains in virtually вЂas newвЂ™ condition despite much use. I was surprised to find that it needed very little attention or even tuning. I recently returned to playing solid-bodied, electric guitar and so had reason to take my Jackson Stealth from its case.