Under Jackson’s guidance, Charvel grew in popularity throughout the Eighties as the shred phenomenon took off. Jackson and his team of noted luthiers refined the instruments and instituted production facilities that allowed him to bring Charvels to the masses. Though he’s known today for the brand that bears his own name, Jackson first made his mark with Charvel after he bought out Wayne’s interest in the company in November 1978. Ironically, the poor quality of those companies’ guitars during that era drove more business to the doors of Charvel and its ilk, as players sought competent luthiers that could turn their mediocre instruments into something special.Ĭredit for the company’s mainstream success is due to Grover Jackson, the man who is considered the mastermind and father of metal guitars. In that respect, Gibson, Fender and the other big firms helped independents like Charvel prosper. At the time, the major guitar companies didn’t offer custom work to the public, and they typically turned over artists’ modification requests to independent luthiers, such as Charvel. The shop performed aftermarket customizations and sold parts that allowed guitarists, including an early customer named Eddie Van Halen, to build their own instruments. Wayne Charvel unwittingly spawned a guitar custom shop revolution when he opened Charvel's Guitar Repair in 1974, in Azusa, California. Guitar World celebrates the storied history and glorious renaissance of Charvel. The guitar custom shop revolution and became the premiere maker of super-fast guitars for everyone from Eddie Van Halen to Steve Vai to Warren DeMartini. How a small California guitar parts and repair facility kick-started