New guitar day - '96 Charvel/Jackson Custom Shop Bengal Strat

toneboy · #1 04-17-2008, 05:55 PM

This just came in today. I've owned about a half dozen Charvels and Jacksons over the years, most of half of them custom shops, but I never had a Bengal and I always wanted one. This one was on "the 'bay" but I bought it privately via a contact I made outside of there. I bought it from a collector so it's for all intents and purposes brand new. It even has the hang tag.

The headstock is what sold me on it. I love matching headstocks and the matching logo looks killer to me.

It has a Duncan JB in the bridge and some Duncan SC in the neck. Although I haven't plugged it in yet, I'm probably going to end up replacing the neck pup with either a Dimarzio Chopper or Pro Track. I have more hope for the bridge pup but if worse comes to worse, there's always the ol' Tone Zone.

I'm probably going to carry the black and yellow/orange theme a bit further by replacing 3 of the tuning machines with black ones and the bar itself with a black version. For the saddles, I'll either swap out 3 of them for black ones (in a black/gold alternating pattern) or just replace all the saddles with black ones, leaving the base plate gold of course. Lastly, I replace some or all of the locking nut clamps with black ones to complete the theme.

Axeslinger · #2 04-17-2008, 06:06 PM

That is freakin SWEET!!!

**Ayrton** · #3 04-17-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axeslinger

That is freakin SWEET!!!

Ditto!

I prefer my Charvels with the "strat head", but the matching makes up for it.

funkdubious · #4 04-17-2008, 06:38 PM

Cool as..!

SeanB · #5 04-17-2008, 07:14 PM

This picture just made my day!
Awsome guitar! Enjoy it mate.

CosmicDebris · #6 04-17-2008, 07:25 PM

That is a nice one dude. Now all ya gotta do is swirl it and put some real dimarzios in it

toneboy · #7 04-17-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayrton

Ditto!
I prefer my Charvels with the "strat head", but the matching makes up for it.

I like the Strat heads too but I can't stand not having easy access to the truss rod. That's a show stopper for me.

toneboy · #8 04-17-2008, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicDebris

That is a nice one dude. Now all ya gotta do is swirl it and put some real dimarzios in it

Eh, I'm not a swirl guy to begin with and I will be putting at least one Dimarzio in it, maybe two.

finstah · #9 04-17-2008, 10:02 PM

sweeet! not keen on the gold hardware but I really dig the matching head. Great score

toneboy · #10 04-17-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finstah

sweeet! not keen on the gold hardware but I really dig the matching head. Great score

I wasn't sure if I'd like the gold hardware either but in person, it works. It ties the maple fretboard and the orange and yellow of the finish together.

**jim777** · #11 04-17-2008, 11:48 PM

Nice score!

mi2tom · #12 04-18-2008, 12:00 AM

Awesome! Reminds me of the ESP george lynch model

Metal Tiger · #13 04-18-2008, 12:42 AM

Nice score man, Congrats...
I love the H-S configuration...

freedom's door · #14 04-18-2008, 01:03 AM

Man, that's a beauty- Congrats!!!

Don't discount the JB too quickly- they are very musical, and one of the best humbuckers i've tried. If you're a real shred-head though, it may not be enough for you. But give it some time before you decide to ditch it.

peace