Bran Sonny's Guitar WorldGuitar Music World, for musicians, music lovers and everyone interested in guitars, accessories and gear.

Why did Jackson guitars used to cost twice as much as their sister brand Charvel, but now it’s the other way?

in fact, the last time I saw a Charvel for sale, it cost more than a USA Jackson

Almost all of the major guitar manufacturers have sub-companies that make relatively inexpensive versions of their guitars in order to keep from losing the market.

Some of those sub-companies make custom models and artist models (some artists exclusively use the sub-company guitars) which can sometimes equal or exceed the cost of the parent companies guitars.

Jackson probably still makes a more expensive guitar than Charvel, but there are inexpensive Jackson models, and expensive Charvel models (depending on features like the materials they are made of, pickups, controls, bridges/lockdowns, necks, fretboards, tuners, etc).

The same can be said of Gibson and Epiphone. My friend has an Epiphone SG Prophecy with a custom neck and ‘dirty fingers’ pickups in it that rivals any Gibson SG I’ve ever played.

Fender has USA made Fenders, Mexican made Fenders, and then Japanese made ‘Squire’.

Squire is pretty much crap – maybe alright for an entry level guitar – although you can usually get the Mexi Fender for not much more. I’ve got a Mexi P-Bass that is fantastic!

Some people swear by the most expensive guitars – and they are some very nice instruments, but the most important feature is always the person playing it.

A good guitarist can make a $10 pawn shop guitar missing two strings sound incredible

Charvel® USA Production Model Guitar World Demo/Review by Paul Riario

Charvel Desolation Skatecaster 1 Electric Guitar $649.99 Charvel Desolation Skatecaster 1 Electric Guitar

Charvel Desolation Single Cutaway 1 Electric Guitar $599.99 Charvel Desolation Single Cutaway 1 Electric Guitar

Charvel Desolation Double Cutaway 1 Electric Guitar $599.99 Charvel Desolation Double Cutaway 1 Electric Guitar

Charvel Wild Card #7 Electric Guitar $999.99 Charvel Wild Card #7 Electric Guitar

Charvel Desolation Single Cutaway 3 Electric Guitar $249.99 Charvel Desolation Single Cutaway 3 Electric Guitar

Charvel Desolation Single Cutaway 2 Electric Guitar $399.99 Charvel Desolation Single Cutaway 2 Electric Guitar

Charvel Desolation Double Cutaway 2 Electric Guitar $399.99 Charvel Desolation Double Cutaway 2 Electric Guitar

Charvel DS-2 ST Electric Guitar $349.95 Magnificent Desolation. The Charvel Desolation series introduces entirely new designs not previously seen in Charvel’s 30-year history, offering more tonal and stylistic options for discerning players everywhere.