In 1978 Grover Jackson bought Charvel’s Guitar Repair from his boss Wayne Charvel. The shop was located in Glendora, CA. At that time their main line of service was as a parts supplier producing bodies for Mighty Mite and DiMarzio.
Jackson cobbled together a team of guitarists and turned them into luthiers so they could produce their own line of guitars and have them ready for the summer NAMM show in 1979.
Fortunately for Grover he had relationships with Guitar Center, Sam Ash, and Veneman’s and he was able to sell a few guitars through those large retailers after NAMM.
Most of Charvel’s early guitars, and what the brand is best known for are their superstrats. Thank you Steve Vai and your Green Meanie.
Charvel’s sister brand, Jackson, had much more progressive body styles. Thank you Randy Rhoads.
Despite the success of Charvel/Jackson, relentless money woes forced Grover Jackson to sell the business to International Music Corporation (IMC) in 1985. One year later IMC moved all Charvel production models to Japan.
However, the factory contracted for production, Chushin Gakki, was an excellent guitar manufacturer and had been making guitars since the 1950s.
One of those killer guitars was the Charvel 750 XL. Made for a little over a year from late 1988 to early 1990. Thereafter, it became the Jackson Professional Soloist Archtop (a thinner version of the 750).
1989 was the same year Grover Jackson severed ties with IMC.
1989 Charvel 750 XL specs: Mahogany body with a carved maple cap (generally speaking), Mahogany set neck, Rosewood fretboard with inverse sharkfin inlays, Jackson double humbuckers, Single volume and tone controls, 5-way selector, Jackson Schaller Tremolo or a Tune-O-Matic bridge
Thanks for reading and have a great Friday! “See you” Monday!
Best, -David