Expert: Bill Ruxton - 9/30/2006

Question
Recently I was looking to buy an acoustic guitar and I found one at a pawn shop with "Charvel" written across the headstock selling for around 160 bucks. From what I've read on the internet the guitar is 10, 15 years old? I'm not sure, there isn't much information out there. Through the sound hole it says "Charvel/Jackson Guitar Company, A Division of International Music Corp. Forth Worth, Texas, USA, Model 550". Is it worth the money? When I played it there, there was some fret noise coming from the b string but I read that the noise could be just because of fret wear and I could probably get it fixed at some store. Could you also give me some information on these guitars? As I previously mentioned, there wasn't much info on the net I could find. Thanks.

Answer
Dear David,

Charvel was originally known for high-quality solidbody rock 'n roll guitars.  Wayne Charvel also made a Jackson-branded line. In 1978, Grover Jackson bought Charvel and continued making solidbodies under both names.  Since 1986, all Charvel-branded guitars have been imports, mostly from Korea.  

Charvel acoustics are all imports, as far as I know, and do not have any demand nor much respect among players or collectors.  

For that price range, you'd be much better off with something like a new Samick Greg Bennett series model, and you won't have to worry about what's really making the B string buzz, and how much it will cost to fix it.   

Hope this helps.  Have Fun with it,

Bill