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UNCOVERED: Charvel | History Defined

“His effects are bonkers in the best way possible”: The pedal with the onboard amp, speaker and microphone, Gibson baritones, the Fender Custom Shop George Harrison Bass VI and more – this is MusicRadar's guitar gear roundup, the August 2026 edit

We take a look back at the gear highlights from August, featuring new signature models from Epiphone and PRS, Death By Audio and Grainger FX's wild collab and more

MusicRadar

"It’s among the most comfortable five-string necks I’ve ever played": Charvel Sleep Token III Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass V review

Behold – a five-string offering from Charvel, on behalf of mysterious modern metal outfit Sleep Token

Guitar World

Jackson and Charvel’s Sleep Token signature models are officially here – and are officially kind of insane: “We’re always looking for artists who redefine what a signature instrument can be”

Okay, so guitarist IV's monster 30” scale baritone arrives tuned a whole octave down – while bassist III has a heavily customised Charvel 5-string multi-scale. Fishman pickups for everyone

MusicRadar

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Sleep Token’s first signature guitars have landed – and IV’s custom Jackson baritone has been brought to the masses

The arena-filling contemporary metal heroes have been honored with signature models from for two of its anonymous members in a historic Jackson and Charvel launch

Guitar World

My pick of the best guitar gear launched this week – including an all-new species of pedal

All the big new drops from Epiphone, Death By Audio, Gretsch, Charvel, and much more

Guitar World

“Weird, small, brilliant, respectful of pedalboard space. What more could you need?” This week’s hottest new guitar gear – including Alex Lifeson’s ES-355, Charvel’s US return and Ed Sheeran’s new Orange squeeze

We’ve got weird reverbs from EHX, super-cheap AI-enabled multi-effects units, high-end shredders, climate-controlled gig bags and more

Guitar World

“A direct line back to where it all started”: Charvel returns to California with new USA-made Neo-Classic Superstrats

Two distinct models help mark a triumphant return to the Corona factory

Guitar World

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Dweezil Zappa shredding in a skate park? That must be Charvel’s all-new American Neo-Classic Series – doublecuts loaded with Seymour Duncans, built for speed, and made in the USA

Charvel goes back to Cali with US-made range of hot-rodded S-styles with pro specs and classic finishes

MusicRadar

“Despite its unassuming looks, I think this is a lot of guitar for the money”: Charvel Standard Series San Dimas Style 2 SD2 HH HT Gloss Black review

Charvel scales down its T-type to around half its usual outlay, but the quality remains largely intact

Guitar World

“I wanted to write it off after seeing the fretboard and feeling the back of the neck, but it won me over,”: Charvel Standard Series San Dimas Style 2 SD2 HH HT review

Charvel takes on the lower end of the market with an Indonesian-built T-type that has some very intriguing specifications

MusicRadar

“I’ve literally waited years for this to come out. It’s even nicer than I imagined it would be”: All the guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including another potentially game-changing AI practice amp

Featuring new drops from Jackson, PRS, Wylde Audio, Charvel, and more

Guitar World

“They were sending me leftovers that other people hadn’t picked up. After Ultimate Sin, I felt I should have something a bit more personalized”: Charvel pays tribute to Jake E. Lee’s Ozzy Osbourne era with newest signature model

New model pays homage to the peak of Lee's Ozzy career, and rocks a tasty Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio HSS pickup setup

Guitar World

“I spent so much time as a teenager just staring at this guitar”: Liquid Gold Teles, a $569 shred machine, bonkers synth pedals... here is all the gear that caught my eye this week – and the megabucks Flying V that changed Kirk Hammett's life

Fresh new drops from Charvel, Fender, Gibson, Gretsch and more...

Guitar World

Locking tuners, oiled ‘Speed’ neck, compound radius ‘board with rolled edges: Charvel’s hotrodded shred performance just got more affordable with the launch of the $569 Standard SD Series

The Standard Series T-styles are cut from the same cloth as their more expensive siblings and present aspiring shredders with a pair of high-output humbuckers and a no-fuss hardtail bridge

MusicRadar

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Guitar World

“Legendary San Dimas performance at a price point that'll blow your mind”: Charvel launches the Standard Series with a $599 Tele that promises to play like a pro

All the playability of a San Dimas at a slice of the price is big news for the budget guitar market

Guitar World

“This could be one of the biggest steps forward in passive pickup design in years”: All the guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including the most metal Jackson yet

A full-circle signature for Gary Clark Jr., as well as a potentially game-changing innovation from 3rd Power, headline this week's round-up

MusicRadar

“The only reason that this guitar is even in existence is because of you guys”: By popular demand, Sean Long of While She Sleeps’ built-for-metal Charvel signature model now comes in Neon Pink

Well this is a pretty bright finish... but this shred and metal ready platform remains unchanged, with a pair of active EMG humbuckers, a no-fuss hardtail, and a Speed Neck for thrills

Guitar World

“I walked out and Nuno had the crowd chanting my name. It was overwhelming. I’m surprised I didn’t trip and fall down”: Jake E. Lee on defying expectations, arthritis and gunshot wounds to mend his friendship with Ozzy at Back to the Beginning

In an interview that took place before Ozzy Osbourne's death, the Back to the Beginning standout talks Charvel guitars, next steps and the joy of achieving closure with his former boss

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Guitar World

“I have long harbored a slight obsession with this hugely underrated guitar. The new finish doesn’t help with that one bit”: All the new guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including... an urn that fits inside an acoustic?

A whole load of new Jacksons, Charvels, Yamahas and Gibsons headline the last seven days of guitar gear drops

Guitar World

“A modernized take on the classic shred machine”: Charvel beckons a new era for its So-Cal Superstrat – and brings the classic Pro-Mod model into the modern era

Seymour Duncan Distortion humbuckers and Luminlay side dots deliver high-quality specs without crazy price tags

MusicRadar

“I’ve always been a huge fan of relics. They look like they have a story to tell”: Charvel and Rick Graham team up for new Pro-Mod series signature model, featuring a distressed nitro finish in a cult classic Fender colour

Made to look beat up, built to play fast, this HSS S-style has a sweet Shell Pink finish, a reverse Strat headstock, a Gotoh tremolo and a lot of shred potential

Guitar World

“Push the boundaries of modern guitar design”: Rick Graham’s second Charvel signature is an ode to his reconnection with the guitar – and it’s got a killer relic’d pink finish

Graham has reflected a rollercoaster few years into his reprised Superstrat

Guitar World

“I didn't want to put it down. I've missed it ever since!” Jake E. Lee played Kirk Hammett’s legendary Greeny Les Paul backstage at Ozzy Osbourne’s final show – but he almost wishes he hadn’t

Lee was able to enjoy some downtime with the iconic Les Paul before taking to the stage with a mysterious purple Charvel

Guitar World

“I can’t believe the pick scrape became a thing. It was born by mistake”: Gojira’s Joe Duplantier on the origins of his trademark technique, playing Ozzy Osbourne’s final show – and what he’s got cooking with ESP

As the frontman looks back at 20 years of Gojira’s groundbreaking From Mars to Sirius, he explains why switching guitar brands is not like having an affair, and how he learned about Ozzy Osbourne’s death as the band were midway through a show

Guitar World

“One of metal’s most coveted and exclusive amps was finally brought to the masses… for a few hours, at least”: This is all the new guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – and how about that dreamy Stratocaster/Jazzmaster hybrid?

An Ariel Posen signature Strat, Jimmy Page’s latest Sundragon amp and a reissue of Metallica's hallowed IIC++ all dropped during a busy week for guitar gear

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