Charvel
Latest Charvel guitar news, new electric and acoustic guitars, signature models, artist collaborations, and releases tracked by Guitar Radar.
Guitar Radar follows Charvel through 3 stories and 1 product release, covering new gear, launches and company news as they happen. Most of it sits under gear and players. The most recent story, from Sep 3, 2026, is “Billy Strings trades his Martin for a Charvel to play death metal with Cryptopsy”. Coverage here goes back to Aug 26, 2026. The newest product in the releases catalog is the Charvel Sleep Token III Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass V.
About Charvel
Charvel started in 1974 as Wayne Charvel's repair and refinishing shop, working on Fender instruments. After parts copyists began undercutting its replacement parts, the business started assembling complete guitars on Grover Jackson's advice, and Jackson bought out Wayne Charvel's interest in 1978. Charvel popularized custom, hot-rodded Strat-style guitars with a single humbucker and Fender-style tremolo, and became closely linked to Eddie Van Halen and the 1980s shred scene; Jackson's radical Randy Rhoads design later went out under its own brand.
After a mid-1980s licensing deal with International Music Corporation, production moved to Japan and quality dropped. Fender bought the Charvel and Jackson companies in 2002, and the brand revived with USA-made San Dimas models. Today Charvel offers series from moderate to boutique prices, produced in Fender's factories.
Guitar Radar follows its Pro-Mod and USA models and artist signatures.
Sources: Wikipedia: Charvel · Guitar World: The story of Charvel guitars
Stories
Billy Strings trades his Martin for a Charvel to play death metal with Cryptopsy
At the inaugural Ionia Freak Fair, the bluegrass virtuoso joined Canadian death-metal band Cryptopsy for a cameo on a relic'd Charvel Superstrat.
Sep 3, 2026
Charvel adds four Pro-Mod Plus Dinky DK24 models aimed squarely at metal players
Three new humbucker-loaded configurations and one HSS join the Pro-Mod Plus DK24 line, with Floyd Rose or hardtail bridges, Seymour Duncan pickups and finishes running from satin black to a green ombre called zombie face.
Aug 29, 2026
Sleep Token's IV and III get their first signature instruments from Jackson and Charvel
A 30-inch baritone Monarkh tuned a full octave down for the guitarist, and a fanned-fret five-string bass for the bassist.
Aug 26, 2026