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
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Christine McVie's masterpiece
  • Macca vs Phil Collins
  • Music theory tricks
  • Kiss From a Rose
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Yes
  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
Charvel's Neo-Classic Series offers the San Dimas Style 1 with and without a Floyd Rose, with finishes including Robin's Egg Blue, Ivory Blitz, Gloss Black, Velvet Midnight and Racing Red
Guitars Dweezil Zappa shredding in a skate park? That must be Charvel’s all-new American Neo-Classic Series
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
Jackson and Charvel Sleep Token Signature Models: the Jackson Monarkh and Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass V are designed for low-end metal riffing.
Artists Jackson and Charvel’s Sleep Token signature models are officially here – and are officially kind of insane
 
 
Harley Benton Fusion-T II: these humbucker-loaded T-styles are packed with features and are offered with myriad hardware, pickups and finish options
Guitars Harley Benton throws a big ol' T party and you are all invited, as it debuts the Fusion-T II series
 
 
Harley Benton ST-62LA MN BK
Electric Guitars “Makes you realise just how good budget guitars have become”: Harley Benton ST-62LA review
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up July 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s July 2026 guitar gear roundup: featuring Orange Amps, Harley Benton, Epiphone and more
 
 
Latest in Electric Guitars
Guitar Center 2026 Exclusive Crossroads Guitar Collection
Artists The Blind Faith Tele returns as Guitar Center unveils Eric Clapton Crossroads charity collab
 
 
Harley Benton SC-Special Hybrid
Guitars Harley Benton’s new $195 single-cuts have got a touch of the Nik Huber boutique vibe about them
 
 
Jackson and Charvel Sleep Token Signature Models: the Jackson Monarkh and Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass V are designed for low-end metal riffing.
Artists Jackson and Charvel’s Sleep Token signature models are officially here – and are officially kind of insane
 
 
Gretsch G6134T-58 Limited Edition Penguin Pale Blue Pearl
Guitars Gretsch unveils a high-end dream machine: a Penguin refreshed in limited run Pale Blue Pearl finish
 
 
Harley Benton ST-62LA MN BK
Electric Guitars “Makes you realise just how good budget guitars have become”: Harley Benton ST-62LA review
 
 
Harley Benton Fusion-T II HH RW HT in Purple Metallic finish with gold hardware. Shot on white surface.
Electric Guitars “This is a difficult guitar to put a review score on”: Harley Benton Fusion-T II HH RW HT PM review
 
 
Latest in News
Britney Spears
Artists “The schoolgirl thing was hers”: The director of Britney Spears' Baby One More Time video looks back
 
 
Doja Cat and Ella Langley
Artists "I just don't like it": Doja Cat offers a refreshingly honest take on Ella Langley's Choosin' Texas
 
 
Guitar Center 2026 Exclusive Crossroads Guitar Collection
Artists The Blind Faith Tele returns as Guitar Center unveils Eric Clapton Crossroads charity collab
 
 
Jay-Z and Rick Rubin
Artists Jay-Z and Rick Rubin to team up for new documentary series
 
 
Two classic 1979 images of two icons: Ronnie Wood [left] plays a custom-made Zemaitis single-cut; Bob Marley wears a blue denim shirt and sings into the mic.
Guitarists Ronnie Wood’s strange encounter with Bob Marley when they jammed together in California
 
 
Joe Bonamassa and Tim Curry
Guitarists How Joe Bonamassa and Kevin Shirley took an obscure Tim Curry track to a whole new level
 
 

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...