Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Heart of Gold
  • Vince Clarke's favourite synth
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • The Beatles' medley masterpiece
  1. Guitars
  2. Electric Guitars

Charvel launches Desolation series electric guitars

News
By The MusicRadar Team published 9 August 2011

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Desolation Skatecaster SK-1 FR

Desolation Skatecaster SK-1 FR

PRESS RELEASE: Magnificent Desolation. The Charvel Desolation series introduces entirely new designs not previously seen in Charvel’s 30-year history, offering more tonal and stylistic options for discerning players everywhere. Devastating tone, killer looks and high-performance playability separate the Desolation series from all others. It’s a whole new series of Charvel guitars for a whole new world of players.

The Desolation Skatecaster SK-1 FR is a modernized take on the highly distinctive Charvel Surfcaster of the early 1990s, with a solid mahogany body and neck-through design. Features include a bound Mahogany neck, compound radius (12”-16”) Indian rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and abalone “keystone” inlays, abalone body and headstock binding, EMG 85 (neck) and 81 (bridge) active humbucking pickups with three-way toggle switching, single control knob (volume), Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo, black nickel hardware, three-on-a-side Charvel tuners, and solid and trans finishes (flame maple veneer on trans finishes) with matching headstocks. Available in Flat Black and Trans Black.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Desolation Skatecaster SK-1 ST

Desolation Skatecaster SK-1 ST

The Desolation Skatecaster SK-1 ST is a modernized take on the highly distinctive Charvel Surfcaster of the early 1990s, with a solid mahogany body and neck-through design. Features include a bound Mahogany neck, compound radius (12”-16”) Indian rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and abalone “keystone” inlays, abalone body and headstock binding, EMG 85 (neck) and 81 (bridge) active humbucking pickups with three-way toggle switching, single control knob (volume), Charvel bridge specially designed for compound-radius fingerboards, black nickel hardware, three-on-a-side locking Charvel tuners, and solid and trans finishes (flame maple veneer on trans finishes) with matching headstocks. Available in Flat Black, Flat Gray, Trans Black, Trans Red and Trans Blue Smear.

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Desolation Skatecaster SK-3 ST

Desolation Skatecaster SK-3 ST

The Desolation Skatecaster SK-3 ST is a modernized take on the highly distinctive Charvel Surfcaster of the early 1990s, with a solid mahogany body and bolt-on mahogany neck. Features include a compound radius (12”-16”) Indian rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and pearloid “keystone” inlays, pearloid body and headstock binding, dual Charvel active humbucking pickups with three-way toggle switching, single control knob (volume), Charvel bridge specially designed for compound-radius fingerboards, black nickel hardware, three-on-a-side locking Charvel tuners, and solid and trans finishes (flame maple veneer on trans finishes). Available in Flat Black, Flat Gray and Trans Red.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Desolation DS-1 FR

Desolation DS-1 FR

The Desolation DS-1 FR has a single-cutaway mahogany body with a carved top and neck-through-body design. Features include a bound mahogany neck with scalloped heel, compound radius (12”-16”) rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and abalone inlays, abalone body and headstock binding, dual Seymour Duncan Blackout active humbucking pickups with three-way toggle switching, Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo, black nickel hardware, three-on-a-side locking Charvel tuners, and solid and trans finishes (flame maple veneer on trans finishes) with matching headstocks. Available in Flat Black and Trans Black.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Desolation DS-1 ST

Desolation DS-1 ST

The Desolation DS-1 ST has a single-cutaway mahogany body with a carved top and neck-through-body design. Features include a bound mahogany neck with scalloped heel, compound radius (12”-16”) rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and abalone inlays, abalone body and headstock binding, dual Seymour Duncan Blackout active humbucking pickups with three-way toggle switching, Charvel bridge specially designed for compound-radius fingerboards, black nickel hardware, three-on-a-side locking Charvel tuners, and solid and trans finishes (flame maple veneer on trans finishes) with matching headstocks. Available in Snow White, Flat Black, Trans Black, Trans Red and Trans Blue Smear.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Desolation DS-2 ST

Desolation DS-2 ST

The Desolation DS-2 ST has a single-cutaway mahogany body with a carved top and a bound mahogany set neck with scalloped heel. Features include a compound radius (12”-16”) rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and pearloid inlays, pearloid body and headstock binding, dual Charvel active humbucking pickups with three-way toggle switching, Charvel bridge specially designed for compound-radius fingerboards, black nickel hardware, three-on-a-side locking Charvel tuners, and solid and trans finishes (flame maple veneer on trans finishes). Available in Flat Black, Trans Black, Trans Red and Trans Blue Smear.

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Desolation DS-3 ST

Desolation DS-3 ST

The Desolation DS-3 ST has a single-cutaway bound mahogany body with a carved top and bolt-on mahogany neck. Features include a 12”-radius fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and dot inlays, dual passive Charvel humbucking pickups with three-way toggle switching, black nickel hardware, three-on-a-side tuners, and solid and trans finishes (flame maple veneer on trans finishes). Available in Black and Trans Red.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Desolation DC-1 ST

Desolation DC-1 ST

The Desolation DC-1 ST has a double-cutaway mahogany body with a carved top and neck-through-body design. Features include a bound mahogany neck with scalloped heel, compound radius (12”-16”) Indian rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and abalone inlays, abalone body and headstock binding, EMG 85 (neck) and 81 (bridge) active humbucking pickups with three-way toggle switching, Charvel bridge specially designed for compound-radius fingerboards, black nickel hardware, three-on-a-side locking Charvel tuners, and solid and trans finishes (flame maple veneer on trans finishes) with matching headstocks. Available in Black, Flat Black, Trans Black, Trans Red and Trans Blue Smear.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Desolation DC-1 FR

Desolation DC-1 FR

The Desolation DC-1 FR has a double-cutaway mahogany body with a carved top and neck-through-body design. Features include a bound mahogany neck with scalloped heel, compound radius (12”-16”) Indian rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and abalone inlays, abalone body and headstock binding, EMG 85 (neck) and 81 (bridge) active humbucking pickups with three-way toggle switching, Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo, black nickel hardware, three-on-a-side Charvel tuners, and solid and trans finishes (flame maple veneer on trans finish) with matching headstocks. Available in Black and Trans Black.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Desolation DC-2 ST

Desolation DC-2 ST

The Desolation DC-2 ST has a double-cutaway mahogany body with a carved top and a bound mahogany set neck with scalloped heel. Features include a compound radius (12”-16”) Indian rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and pearloid inlays, pearloid body and headstock binding, dual Charvel active humbucking pickups with three-way toggle switching, Charvel bridge specially designed for compound-radius fingerboards, black nickel hardware, three-on-a-side locking Charvel tuners, and solid and trans finishes (flame maple veneer on trans finishes). Available in Flat Black, Trans Black and Trans Red.

Information taken from official press release, for more visit Charvel

Submit a press release: email musicradar.pressreleases@futurenet.com

Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

Get MusicRadar straight to your inbox: Sign up for the free weekly newsletter

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
The MusicRadar Team
The MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the internet's most popular website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers.

GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.

TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.

STARS: We talk to artists and musicians about their creative processes, digging deep into the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music-making that no other music website can.

Read more
YouTuber Jamie Slays puts the Charvel Standard Series SD2 through its paces
Guitars Charvel’s hotrodded shred performance just got more affordable with the launch of the $569 Standard SD Series
 
 
A Charvel Standard Series San Dimas Style 2 SD2 HH HT electric guitar lying on a dark floor with a coiled guitar cable next to it
Electric Guitars “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
 
 
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
Harley Benton refreshes its Pro Series with 41 new Fusion-IV S-styles, mid-priced but offering specs such as quilted maple veneers, sculpted heels, EMGs and locking tuners
Guitars A sub-$600 shred machine with active EMGs and roasted flame maple neck? Harley Benton expands its Pro Series with 41 hot-rodded but affordable S-styles
 
 
Christian Andreu plays his Jackson signature Rhoads with a whole lot of pyro in the background.
Artists Jackson launches spectacular EverTune refresh of Christian Andreu’s signature Rhoads
 
 
Harley Benton goes for the '80s vibe as it refreshes its ST-80FR shred guitars in six Sparkle Burst finishes – including Hologram.
Guitars Harley Benton takes on the high-performance heavyweights with a Sparkle Burst refresh of its $400 Floyd-equipped S-style
 
 
Latest in Electric Guitars
Harley Benton ST-Modern HH 2026: New models with metallic finishes.
Guitars Harley Benton unleashes a $185 shred-ready hotrod with a roasted maple neck and dual-humbuckers
 
 
Ace Frehley plays his 1975 Les Paul Custom backstage in '77.
Guitars Ace Frehley’s iconic ‘Budokan’ Les Paul Custom sells at auction for $512,000
 
 
Jackson Pro Series Wes Borland King V
Artists Limp Bizkit’s Wes Borland unveils his first-ever Jackson signature guitar
 
 
Gibson T-Top Humbuckers
Guitars Gibson brings back the T-Top humbucker with “period-correct” 1968 spec
 
 
Jared James Nichols takes a solo on his 1952 Gibson Les Paul, aka Dorothy.
Artists “A lot of people lost the plot”: Jared James Nichols on what's wrong with vintage guitar culture
 
 
Ibanez QX527B headless guitar shot on grey surface
Electric Guitars “For those who find Strandberg’s space-age designs a little too alien, Ibanez’s Q series is the perfect middle ground”: Ibanez QX527B review
 
 
Latest in News
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 01: Olivia Rodrigo performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 01, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Josh Brasted/FilmMagic)
Artists “They inspire me to be weirder and more myself”: Olivia Rodrigo names her current favourite band
 
 
Meris Ottobit X
Guitars Meris unveils the Ottobit X, a high-end purveyor of lo-fi guitar sounds inspired by the ‘80s
 
 
Harley Benton ST-Modern HH 2026: New models with metallic finishes.
Guitars Harley Benton unleashes a $185 shred-ready hotrod with a roasted maple neck and dual-humbuckers
 
 
American Pop Rock musician Christopher Cross plays electric guitar as he performs onstage at Greenwich Village's Bottom Line, New York, New York, May 28, 1980. His instrument is a Fender twin-neck, six & twelve string guitar.
Artists Christopher Cross admits that he "ripped off" Paul McCartney on one of his biggest songs
 
 
How to buy your first acoustic piano
Tech Scientists finally unravel the mysteries of a pianist’s ‘touch’ after measuring hand and finger movements
 
 
Fender Tone Master Pro & FR-15 cab
Guitars Fender gives the Tone Master Pro a mighty firmware update, adding some classics from its amp archive
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...