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1983 Charvel 'Employee Guitar' Built by Todd Krause

Charvel · #3411
BrandCharvel
TypeElectric Guitars
Serial No.3411
PhotographyActual Photos
Archive ID63133
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The Story

1983 'Employee Guitar' Built by Todd Krause

This is a very special Charvel that's a great part of guitar culture and history! This is a piece built in 1983 by Todd Krause - most famously known as a Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilder resposible for the instruments built for legends such as Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. As he got his start as a luthier, Todd worked for Grover Jackson at Charvel beginning in 1981. As stated in the included letter of authenticity - Charvel employees were allowed to buy the raw materials and build their own personal guitars.

Being 1983 when single-humbucker guitars ruled the world, of course Todd built a guitar that looked like this one. It has a single Jackson humbucker with a non-recessed Floyd Rose tremolo. There's a 'dummy' tone control which currently isn't wired to affect anything. The neck on this one is worn in perfectly with that awesome oiled Charvel feel. To add an extra cool factor, the body on this one is a piece of lightweight basswood that's from an Allan Holdsworth prototype guitar made specifically for the NAMM show!

The guitar has players wear including lacquer checking and dings around the body, no wear to the neck. It includes a hardshell case, the authenticity letter signed by Todd, and a nice little accessory - a Van Halen cassette tape from Todds collection.

Includes: Original Hardshell Case, Letter of Authenticity, Trem Arm, VH1 Cassette

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The Specifications

As it left The Music Zoo Tech Bench.
  • Solidbody Electric Guitar
  • Lightweight Basswood Body
  • Maple Neck 
  • Ebony Fingerboard with Dot Inlays
  • 25.5" Scale Length
  • 43mm Nut Width, 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Jackson Humbucker Pickup
  • Volume Control, ‘Dummy’ Tone Control (Not Wired)
  • Floyd Rose Tremolo (Non-Recessed)
  • 7 lbs, 3 oz.
  • .750" Neck Profile at 1st Fret
  • .810" Neck Profile at 12th Fret

Brand Spotlight

The Charvel story, from The Music Zoo.