Year & Factory Early Charvel Bolt On (note 1) Jackson Custom Shop Bolt On (note 2)
79-80 San Dimas
1981 San Dimas 1001-1095
1982 San Dimas 1096-1724
1983 San Dimas 1725-2938
1984 San Dimas 2939-4261
1985 San Dimas 4262-5303
1986 San Dimas 5304-5491 1001-1505
2002 Ontario/Corona 6000 - current
NOTE 1: There were approximately 750 Bolt-on Charvels made from 1979-1981 without serial numbers. The first serial number used was a Strat-style guitar withthe Heineken beer bottle label painted on it, November 9th, 1981. These neck plates say "Charvel PO Box 245, San Dimas, Ca, 91773". The last San Dimas Charvel was #5491, built in January of 1986. Original style neck plates with numbers 5492 and up were supposedly destroyed but some of them do turn up from time to time... BUYER BEWARE!! These are not real Jacksons! It is important to note that Jackson reissued this style of neck plate briefly in 2002 and later in 2005. These plates have serial numbers starting at 6000 and are REAL Charvels.
NOTE 2: In the last few months of Charvel production, late 1985 - 1986 a "Jackson" not Charvel logo was applied to Charvels with the Jackson (pointy) style neck. These logo's have the word "Jackson" in white lettering, "TM" (trade mark) and "Made in USA" after the "N" in Jackson. These are identical to the logos used on Jackson guitars from that same time period. I am not sure if the Jackson style logos were used because they ran out of Charvel logos (remember Charvel production was shutting down at this time) or if Jackson guitars increase in popularity, thanks to Randy Rhoads, led to these Jackson logos being used.
Other Note: Charvel bolt ons were discontinued and replaced with Jackson bolt ons in 1986. After 1986, Charvel production was moved overseas and all new guitars bearing the Charvel logo were import models. After being successfully reintroduced briefly in 2002 (Limited run and custom orders), USA made Charvel guitars (true to the original San Dimas era guitars) returned in 2004 and are currently marketed under the San Dimas Model designation.

www.usacharvels.com: Your resource for vintage San Dimas Charvel guitars!