Another internet Charvel (1980s US), advice needed!

[gingataff]

I just won an auction for this guitar which the info says is a 1980s Allan Holdsworth sig Charvel. I have only seen Holdsworth with red charvels but I guess they could have made a white one. Does it look genuine to you guys? Also do you think about 300 pounds is a fair price? I need to contact the guy within 48 hours to say I'll definately take it. I want to get a better pic of the headstock and neck plate too.
http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n48734596

[Philly Q]

Not sure if this helps, but I remember when he was on the cover of Guitar Player way back in the early 80s he had some one-pickup basswood Charvels that Grover Jackson had built for him.  They had the almost-vintage Strat trem (I think it was a DiMarzio unit?) and a mini-switch just like the one in your picture.  He had at least three, one red, one white and one black (? not sure about the last one...)

I didn't realise it was a commercially available model though.  It was just before Ibanez produced their Holdsworth model, which was the same sort of thing in metallic green with the Roadstar neck and body shape.

[Antag]

My memory of the entire Charvel range is somewhat vague, but I'm suspicious of this - IIRC Charvels never had the wide spaced dots at the 12th fret as in this pic.

I'd certainly want a lot more pics (especially in-focus closeups) if it was me.

Having said that, there were a fair few one-offs in the early days & £300 is hardly breaking the bank - if it plays half decent you'll still have a nice guitar for the price...

[hunter]

I think this looks very cool. That thing is so stripped down to the bare minimum of guitar, it MUST oooze great tone ... and it's the perfect base for BKP experiements :)

[Crazy_Joe]

Haha i've started a revolution!!

But yeah buy it, looks awesome!!

[gingataff]

I've hit a snag, as Antag says, it should have closer spaced dots and also looking at some pics on JCFonline the other ones have a skunk stripe which this doesnt. The backplate should also have a slot for the strings but I guess this could have been replaced and the string guide on the headstock isnt standard either.

[Kilby]

I didn't realise it was a commercially available model though.  It was just before Ibanez produced their Holdsworth model, which was the same sort of thing in metallic green with the Roadstar neck and body shape.

I think I have a picture of Holdaworth playing a stripped down strat style guitar from around 1981 (it was white btw). Unfortunitely the magazine is back in Belfast so it will be a couple of weeks before I can check it out.

Regarding the Ibanez model Macarris (spelling ?) on Charing Cross road used to have a red Holdsworth model hanging on the wall (about a year ago)

Rob...

[Philly Q]

I found the Guitar Player issue (Dec 82).

Of course the pics are of AH's own guitars not production models, but you're right about the 12th-fret markers and of course his guitars didn't have the string retainer bar (in fact they have no string guides on the headstock at all).  The 2-screw vintage tremolo is right though.  And all his guitars have 2 mini-switches, one between the pots and the other where the Strat 5-way would normally be.

Maybe it's a genuine Holdsworth model but with a replacement neck?

[gingataff]

After a chat on jcfonline it seems this model is a made in Japan version of the holdsworth, and although its probably rare it's not what I wanted so I think I'll politely tell the guy to offer it to the next highest bidder (whose bid was only a fiver lower than mine).

Re the Ibanez Holdsworth in Macaris, I was lusting after that guitar for ages and I remember one day going in and it wasn't there any more. I was heartbroken.

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Congratulations Gigataff
Awesome guitarrrrrrrrrrr
i´m envy
Q:(
hahaha now stop the GAS INJECTION ahahahahah and put some VH´S on that charvel
Q:p
JP

[gingataff]

OK, latest info on this guitar:
It's a Japanese made Holdsworth model, not the US version which is what I originally thought it was (I didnt even know there was a Japnese version!). The seller said that if the winnig bidder didnt contact him within 48 hours then he'd cancel the sale, so I decided to be polite and tell him to cancel my bid as I'm only interested in US Charvels.
He now writes back telling me that I have to pay him and its a "No Claim, No Return" sale. Well, of course I cant return a guitar that I have neither paid for or received, neither can I claim that it it isnt in good condition.

Interestingly he says that Jake E Lee used this model as his backup guitar but I cant find any info on it, if he did then it was probably the US made version. Is there anyone out there who can prove/disprove this?
If he didnt then the auction was inaccurate and I can use that as an excuse not to pay.
As it stands, what do you think is the worst that can happen if I dont pay? Get banned from the website? I don't want to be an arse about it but the next highest bidder was only 5quid less.

[hunter]

Well to be honest (and maybe that's because I'm German) - a deal is a deal. I think you should have removed any doubt before even bidding but now you won the bid. If I were a seller I'd not be happy either ...

[indysmith]

+1

I don't see why yu don't want the MIJ one - it'll probably be just as good as the US one anyways.

[Davey]

did he say it's an usa in his auction (sorry, but i cant read that stuff)


the 12th fret markers realy look way off (and FAIK, charvel never had that wide a space on ANY model, be it usa or import.

also, it has a USA charvel decal on the headstock (3+3 headstock on the logo.. all imports had a pointy headstock)
and i am not aware of any holdsworth import at any time, from 86 til 89.
actualy.. the actual usa charvels from that timeframe are few and far between, since they made charvel the import divison of jackson

stay away


take a look
http://www.audiozone.dk/index-filer/CatalogScans.htm
never featured in any catalogue

[Johnny Mac]

did he say it's an usa in his auction (sorry, but i cant read that stuff)


the 12th fret markers realy look way off (and FAIK, charvel never had that wide a space on ANY model, be it usa or import.

also, it has a USA charvel decal on the headstock (3+3 headstock on the logo.. all imports had a pointy headstock)
and i am not aware of any holdsworth import at any time, from 86 til 89.
actualy.. the actual usa charvels from that timeframe are few and far between, since they made charvel the import divison of jackson

stay away


take a look
http://www.audiozone.dk/index-filer/CatalogScans.htm
never featured in any catalogue

Nice site Davey! Here's mine http://www.audiozone.dk/CatalogScans/Ch1987Imports/pages/Ch1987Page18.htm