Charvel CX-391 Experience/Opinions?

[SixStringSlinger]

I’ve got a hankering for a Super Strat and there’s one for sale locally. Any experience with these? I don’t remember seeing/hearing about them before seeing the one for sale, but then I’ve never been up on Charvels.

 

[unixfish]

That looks nice. I don't now much about those, but Charvel is not an off-brand. If the price is right and it plays well, I would consider that.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

That looks nice. I don't now much about those, but Charvel is not an off-brand. If the price is right and it plays well, I would consider that.

I know Charvels are generally considered worth a little blind trust these days. But this is supposed to be a 1992, and I have no idea how things were then. Plus I don’t know what to expect re. “tiers” of Charvel guitars (if there were any at the time) the way I do with Squiers or MIM/MIA/etc. Fenders.

 

[chris m.]

I found this on the web. It was MIJ, so it should be quite nice. The current MIM Charvels are super nice, though. In your shoes I would be thinking older MIJ Charvel vs. brand new MIM Charvel, pros/cons, relative prices, etc.

https://www.guitar-list.com/charvel/electric-guitars/charvel-cx391

Series name:​

CHARVEL CX SERIES

Variant of:​

CHARVEL CX390

Dates of manufacture:​

1992 to 1995

The Charvel CX-391 was a Japanese made superstrat introduced in the early 1990s. Pickups were HSH configuration: 2 Jackson J-55 humbuckers and a J-110 single coil. The bridge was a JB-580 double locking tremolo - which is a Jackson-branded Takeuchi TRS-101 (see Ibanez TRS and Washburn 600-S). This guitar has the identical body and body specifications as a Jackson Dinky EX. The major differences are the chrome hardware and the Charvel 19mm neck versus the Jackson 17mm on the EX. They were also offered in slightly different color variations.

 

[Chuckster]

I have 2 Charvels from the early 90s (not the model above) and the build quality is beyond excellent. Attention to detail and incredible playability.

If the price is right, you should jump on it. 90s Charvels are desirable.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

I have 2 Charvels from the early 90s (not the model above) and the build quality is beyond excellent. Attention to detail and incredible playability.

If the price is right, you should jump on it. 90s Charvels are desirable.

Sub-$400 with original case included. The only known issue is that it's missing the trem bar.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

Ugh, it was an old listing and no longer available.

Take your old/sold ads down, folks.

 

[unixfish]

Sub-$400 with original case included. The only known issue is that it's missing the trem bar.

Ugh, it was an old listing and no longer available.

Take your old/sold ads down, folks.

Yikes. That would have been a major score at that price. Too bad if fell through / was already sold.

 

[uriah1]

I had a 291 I wish I had kept. Great build and action..