Skip to main content
Become a MusicRadar VIP - it's free
- Join our community
SampleRadar
Access over 90,000 royalty-free samples
The MusicRadar app
Full access and custom feeds
MusicRadar Newsletters
The latest music and gear news inboxed
Earn Member Badges
Climb the MusicRadar charts
Coming soon: VIP-only Giveaways
Win pro-grade music gear and more
Join the conversation
Connect with other musicians and fans
BECOME A MUSICRADAR VIP
For the quickest way to join, enter your email below. We’ll send a confirmation email and sign you up to MusicRadar newsletters with the latest music news, gear reviews, tutorials and exclusive offers.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Get VIP Access Quick

Become a MusicRadar VIP for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to Become a MusicRadar VIP !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Start reading to unlock your first badge
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Hot music news

Hot music news

The latest news from the hottest artists.

Explore
Make better music

Make better music

Explore tutorials, tips and guides for creating music.

Explore

Your membership perks

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Explore now

Get the MusicRadar Newsletter

Get the latest music news, gear reviews, deals and tutorials delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up here

Sign Out
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Recording Week '26
  • Guitars
  • Software & Apps
  • Controllers
  • Buying Guides
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • About us
More
  • Rodrigo's Cure
  • California Dreamin'
  • "Apotheosis of mediocrity" - Rundgren vs Swift
  • 95k+ free music samples
  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
MusicRadar monthly guitar gear roundup, ft. Lzzy Hale's signature Epiphone Explorer Custom, plus new gear from Hotone, Gibson, JHS Pedals, Death By Audio and more
Guitars “His effects are bonkers in the best way possible”: The MusicRadar guitar gear roundup Aug 2026 edit
 
 
MusicRadar monthly guitar gear round-up September 26, ft. Matteo Mancuso's signature Revstar and more
Guitars The MusicRadar gear roundup Sep 2026 edit, featuring fresh drops from Taylor, Yamaha, ESP 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
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up July 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s July 2026 guitar gear roundup: featuring Orange Amps, Harley Benton, Epiphone and more
 
 
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
 
 
Latest in Electric Guitars
JHS Pedals Reverb Shop: Josh Scott waves hello to the camera.
Guitars Josh Scott of JHS Pedals is getting rid of a (literal) truckload of rare gear on Reverb
 
 
The Jackson Legends Collection, a limited edition run of classic Randy Rhoads, Marty Friedman, Scott Ian and David Ellefson signature models.
Guitars Jackson unveils classic Scott Ian, Randy Rhoads, David Ellefson and Marty Friedman signature models
 
 
Harley Benton Guitar Summit 2026 Launch
Guitars Harley Benton’s mega-drop: S-styles with VegaTrems and semis with BB King and Dave Grohl vibes
 
 
The Fender American Professional Series refreshes its US-made lineup with V-Mod III pickups, upgraded hardware and electronics.
Guitars Fender reboots US-made flagship lineup with the American Professional series: “You don’t evolve an instrument like the Strat or Tele by changing things just to make them new”
 
 
Gibson Custom 1957 L-5 CES
Guitars The Gibson Custom Shop brings back the 1957 L-5 CES with a meticulous VOS reissue
 
 
John 5 with his Custom Shop Phantom Telecaster
Artists How John 5 and Fender reinvented the Telecaster with the Mötley Crüe guitarist's new signature collection
 
 
Latest in News
JHS Pedals Reverb Shop: Josh Scott waves hello to the camera.
Guitars Josh Scott of JHS Pedals is getting rid of a (literal) truckload of rare gear on Reverb
 
 
Jimmy Page is playing a Gibson EDS-1275 double necked guitar.
Bands “This was a song that made sense to introduce the film to the world”: Stairway To Heaven is finally licensed to a film
 
 
Football: Super Bowl XXVII: Celebrity musician Michael Jackson performs halftime show during Dallas Cowboys vs Buffalo Bills. Pasadena, CA 1/31/1993 CREDIT: Damian Strohmeyer (Photo by Damian Strohmeyer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X43853 )
Artists The story of Michael Jackson’s game-changing 1993 Super Bowl performance to be told in new documentary
 
 
The Jackson Legends Collection, a limited edition run of classic Randy Rhoads, Marty Friedman, Scott Ian and David Ellefson signature models.
Guitars Jackson unveils classic Scott Ian, Randy Rhoads, David Ellefson and Marty Friedman signature models
 
 
(L-R) Paul McCartney, Gregg Allman, and Bob Dylan attend a party, marking the conclusion of a North American tour by Faces, at the Greenhouse in Los Angeles on March 11, 1975
Singers & Songwriters “I’m too nervous to ring him up”: So who is the music icon Paul McCartney is too shy to suggest a collab?
 
 
Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and Al Jardine
Artists Former Beach Boys star Al Jardine reveals his sadness over ex-bandmate Mike Love’s very public decline
 
 

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...