A very nice 1989 Charvel 650 XL in the particularly striking Pearl Red finish, offered here in very good condition and, as far as we can establish, remaining remarkably original.

This is a particularly interesting example for the Charvel enthusiast, as it appears to retain its original specification throughout, with the only obvious missing item being the tremolo arm. Unlike many instruments from this era which have been modified, upgraded or altered over the years, this 650 XL has retained its original pickups, electronics, tuners, hardware and tremolo system.

As you would expect from a guitar that is now more than 35 years old, there are some cosmetic signs of use. There are a number of small dings, marks and general playing wear, although nothing that we would consider excessive for its age. The most notable area is around the tip of the headstock, where there are several marks and signs of use. These are clearly visible in the photographs and should be considered part of the overall character of the instrument.

There is also a very fine lacquer crack at the neck joint. This appears to have either been caused or accentuated by a small chip in the finish at its centre. We have examined this carefully and do not believe it to be structural or anything that should cause concern from a playing perspective. Nevertheless, we feel it is important to mention it clearly rather than gloss over it, and the area is shown in the photographs.

The Pearl Red finish remains particularly attractive, with the colour and metallic character of the finish giving the guitar the unmistakable look of a late-1980s Charvel. Combined with the original black hardware and classic Charvel proportions, it has exactly the kind of purposeful appearance that made these guitars so desirable when new.

The Charvel 650 XL belongs to a particularly interesting period in the company's history. These Japanese-built Charvels were designed for players who wanted a serious high-performance instrument, combining the familiar ergonomics of the Stratocaster shape with fast necks, powerful electronics and sophisticated tremolo systems.

The 650 XL takes that concept further, offering the kind of specification that made Charvel such an important name among rock and metal players during the late 1980s. The fast-playing neck and 24-fret layout make the instrument exceptionally comfortable for lead work, while the powerful pickup configuration provides plenty of output and clarity when used with a high-gain amplifier.

Tonally, the 650 XL has the focused, immediate character you would expect from a late-1980s superstrat. There is plenty of attack and upper-mid presence, with a tight and controlled low end that works particularly well with overdriven and distorted valve amplifiers. At the same time, the original electronics give this particular guitar a more authentic representation of how these instruments sounded when they were new.

The tremolo system is also an important part of the 650 XL experience, allowing the player to make everything from subtle pitch movement through to much more dramatic effects while retaining the fast, responsive feel for which these Charvels are known.

This guitar has been through our onsite workshop where it has been inspected and checked over by our team. It remains a very enjoyable and highly playable example, and we are particularly pleased to be able to offer an instrument that appears to have avoided the extensive modifications so often encountered on guitars of this type.

Please note that the tremolo arm is missing.

Overall, this is a very desirable late-1980s Charvel with a great combination of originality, period-correct specification and genuine age-related character. It is not being presented as a mint or collector-grade example, but rather as a very good, largely original 650 XL that has clearly been played and enjoyed while retaining the majority of its original specification.

Charvel 650 XL Pearl Red 1989