Charvel Custom Shop Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Retro Model Basses

Charvel Custom Shop XP Bass

The Charvel Custom Shop is celebrating 40 years in the business by recreating eleven of their custom shop models from the original 1979 catalog offering. The 40th Anniversary Custom Collection includes two basses: a San Dimas P Bass in Blue Diamond and an XP Bass in Platinum Pink. Both of the instruments were created with the original era specs including an 11”-radius straight fingerboard and Charvel-branded bass NOS bridges.

“On the 40th anniversary models, we handmade all of them like we would have done 40 years ago,” says Charvel senior master builder Mike Shannon. “We used pin routers, band saws, pencils, drill pressers, joiners, planers, all the machinery that we had available to us back in those days. We still have all of that stuff, and still remember how to use it.”

Charvel Custom Shop San Dimas PJ Bass

Both the 40th Anniversary XP Bass and San Dimas PJ basses were built with a quarter-sawn maple neck and an alder body that’s fitted with a set of DiMarzio P/J pickups. Check out this clip on the history of Charvel and the new series:

The Charvel Custom Shop XP Bass and San Dimas PJ Bass will be available with price points around $3,899.

Charvel Custom Shop XP Bass Features:

Scale:34″
Body:Alder
Neck:Quarter-sawn Maple
Fretboard Radius:11″
Pickups:DiMarzio
Bridge:Merlin 5 Custom Brass
Tuners:Vintage 55 P Bass Gold

Charvel Custom Shop San Dimas PJ Bass Features:

Scale:34″
Body:Alder
Neck:Quarter-sawn Maple
Fretboard Radius:11″
Pickups:DiMarzio
Bridge:Merlin 5 Custom Brass
Tuners:Vintage 55 P Bass Gold

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Share your thoughts

  1. Dane

    I don’t get it why would I spend almost 4K for a guitar with a bolt on neck when I could by another American made guitar Kiesel with a set in neck beautiful top and great hardware for just over 2K.

    • Jase

      I feel you bro..but think how much keisel guitars(and again I agree they are stunning peices of art) will be worth in 40years. I feel charvel guitars have most definitely earned their place in hard rock history. I must say I’ve not played any charvel basses as I’m a guitar player but if their basses and I’m sure they do play as well as their San dimas customs then I get it. 40 years of world wide buissness..American made..hell yeah! Congrats guys! Peace

    • David

      Dane, I own both of these Basses and they are absolutely incredible. You can not even compare the build quality that went into these to a Kiesel. These were handmade made using all of the original methods that were used back in 1979, that was the whole purpose of the build. Considering the time and the main fact that they were “Masterbuilt” the price was actually a deal.