This Charvel So-Cal HSS Masterbuilt by “Big” Rob Knowles in 3-Tone Sunburst Relic is a high-end Custom Shop performance guitar that combines vintage-inspired aesthetics with the aggressive electronics and fast playability associated with Charvel.

Built around an alder body, graphite-reinforced maple neck and maple fingerboard, it features an HSS pickup layout headed by a powerful Seymour Duncan Invader bridge humbucker. A pair of single coils expands the tonal range considerably, while a 5-way selector, push/pull volume control for coil splitting and no-load tone control provide additional flexibility.

The carefully applied 3-Tone Sunburst Relic finish gives the guitar a well-played vintage character while retaining the high-performance feel expected from a Charvel Masterbuilt instrument.

This pre-owned example is presented in Very Good Condition, weighs 7.92 lbs, and is supplied with a hardcase.

At A Glance

Detail	Specification
Brand	Charvel
Range	Custom Shop / Masterbuilt
Model	So-Cal HSS
Master Builder	“Big” Rob Knowles
Finish	3-Tone Sunburst Relic
Body	Alder
Neck	Maple
Neck Reinforcement	Graphite
Fingerboard	Maple
Pickup Configuration	HSS
Bridge Pickup	Seymour Duncan Invader Humbucker
Middle Pickup	Single Coil
Neck Pickup	Single Coil
Switching	5-Way
Additional Switching	Push/Pull Coil Split
Tone Control	No-Load
Tremolo	Charvel Tremolo System
Tremolo Arm	Included
Weight	7.92 lbs
Condition	Very Good
Included	Hardcase
Main Appeal	Masterbuilt USA Charvel combining relic styling with modern HSS versatility

Condition Overview

Very Good Condition

This Charvel So-Cal Masterbuilt is presented in Very Good Condition.

Under the Fair Deal Music grading system, Very Good Condition means the guitar shows some cosmetic wear consistent with careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional.

Relic Finish Note

This guitar was intentionally produced with a Relic finish.

The aged appearance is part of the guitar's original aesthetic and includes deliberately simulated wear intended to recreate the look of a heavily played older instrument.

Factory relic characteristics should therefore be distinguished from genuine post-purchase wear.

What's Included?

✔ Charvel So-Cal HSS Masterbuilt “Big Rob Knowles”
✔ Hardcase
✔ Tremolo Arm

No additional accessories are included unless pictured or stated.

The supplied hardcase has not been confirmed as the original factory case, so no claim of case originality is made.

Condition Notes

• Very Good overall condition
• Factory-style 3-Tone Sunburst Relic aesthetic
• HSS pickup layout
• Seymour Duncan Invader bridge humbucker
• Push/pull coil-split functionality
• No-load tone control
• Tremolo arm included
• 7.92 lbs actual measured weight
• Hardcase included

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This pre-owned Charvel has been assessed for general operation and playability.

Checks include:

• Bridge humbucker operation
• Middle single-coil operation
• Neck single-coil operation
• 5-way selector
• Push/pull coil-split function
• Master volume
• No-load tone control
• Output jack
• Neck condition
• Maple fingerboard
• Frets
• Nut
• Tuning machines
• Tremolo system
• Tremolo arm
• General hardware
• Structural condition
• Overall setup
• General playability

Service / Setup Work

All pre-owned guitars at Fair Deal Music are checked for general setup and playability before leaving the shop.

Key areas assessed include:

• Action
• Neck relief
• Fret condition
• Intonation
• Tuning stability
• Pickup operation
• Electronics
• Tremolo setup
• Hardware
• General playing feel

Changing string gauge or tuning may require adjustment to the tremolo and overall setup.

What Makes The Charvel So-Cal Masterbuilt Special?

The So-Cal has long represented the stripped-back hot-rodded side of Charvel: familiar double-cut ergonomics combined with faster necks, powerful pickups and hardware designed for demanding lead and rhythm work.

This example takes that concept into Charvel's Masterbuilt Custom Shop, with “Big” Rob Knowles responsible for the build. Its 3-Tone Sunburst Relic appearance deliberately references an older, heavily played instrument, while the HSS electronics and Invader bridge pickup place the actual performance firmly in modern high-output territory.

Masterbuilt By “Big” Rob Knowles

Rob Knowles is one of Charvel's official Master Builders.

His background within Fender Musical Instruments dates back to 2004, and he earned the Master Builder title in 2021 after working across numerous areas of instrument production and developing expertise in high-performance Custom Shop builds.

A Masterbuilt Charvel represents a more individual level of production than a standard series instrument, with the builder having direct involvement in bringing the guitar's specification together.

Alder Body

The guitar uses an alder body.

Alder remains one of the classic woods for bolt-on electric guitars because of its balanced response.

It provides a strong foundation for an HSS pickup configuration, with:

• Defined bass
• Clear upper frequencies
• Present midrange
• Strong note separation

3-Tone Sunburst Relic Finish

The familiar 3-Tone Sunburst aesthetic is deliberately aged to create the appearance of a guitar that has spent years being played.

The combination gives this instrument an interesting contrast: visually vintage, but electronically much more aggressive and performance-focused.

Maple Neck

The bolt-on maple neck provides a direct, responsive feel suited to fast playing.

The neck is additionally graphite reinforced, helping provide greater structural stability.

This is particularly useful on an instrument intended for:

• Touring
• Regular stage use
• Frequent setup changes
• Technical playing
• Tremolo use

Maple Fingerboard

The maple fingerboard keeps the response immediate and complements the brighter attack associated with the So-Cal format.

Its light appearance also works particularly well against the darker 3-Tone Sunburst finish.

HSS Pickup Configuration

The guitar uses a versatile:

Humbucker / Single Coil / Single Coil

pickup arrangement.

This provides a broader tonal range than a conventional HH high-performance guitar.

The bridge position handles aggressive driven sounds, while the middle and neck pickups provide cleaner and more traditional single-coil textures.

Seymour Duncan Invader Bridge Humbucker

The bridge position is equipped with a Seymour Duncan Invader humbucker.

The Invader is recognised for its high-output design and bold ceramic-magnet response.

It particularly suits:

• Heavy rock
• Hard rock
• Metal
• High-gain rhythm work
• Sustained lead sounds
• Drop-tuned playing

Its substantial output gives the guitar a very different bridge voice from a conventional vintage-style Strat pickup.

Middle & Neck Single Coils

Single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions significantly increase the guitar's versatility.

They provide access to:

• Clear neck cleans
• Bright rhythm tones
• Funk-style sounds
• Blues tones
• Lower-output textures
• Combined pickup sounds

This allows the guitar to move beyond the high-gain focus suggested by the Invader bridge pickup.

Five-Way Pickup Selector

The 5-way blade switch provides fast access to the different pickup combinations.

This makes the guitar equally practical for complex live sets where the player may need to move quickly between heavy rhythm sounds, cleaner passages and lead tones.

Push/Pull Coil Split

The volume control features a push/pull switching function for coil splitting.

This allows the bridge humbucker to access a leaner single-coil-style response, further widening the available tonal palette.

It is especially useful for:

• Cleaner rhythm sounds
• Reduced-output passages
• Funk and pop
• Layered studio parts

No-Load Tone Control

The guitar uses a no-load tone control.

When turned fully up, the control effectively removes itself from the active tone circuit, allowing the pickups to operate with minimal loading.

This can provide additional brightness and immediacy when required.

Tremolo System

The guitar is equipped with a Charvel tremolo system.

The tremolo arm is included.

The system allows expressive pitch control for:

• Vibrato
• Lead effects
• Chord shimmer
• Rock and metal techniques

Because the exact bridge model has not been independently identified, no unsupported Floyd Rose, Gotoh or other specific designation is assigned.

Weight

7.92 lbs

This is the actual measured weight of this individual guitar rather than a generic manufacturer estimate.

It provides a comfortable balance between a reassuringly solid feel and manageable weight for extended stage use.

Relic Guitar vs Genuine Wear

A relic guitar intentionally leaves the factory with simulated ageing.

This can include:

• Finish wear
• Dings
• Scratches
• Hardware ageing
• Areas designed to resemble years of handling

These factory-created characteristics are part of the specification.

Any genuine marks acquired during previous ownership exist alongside the original relic treatment and are reflected in the guitar's Very Good Condition grading.

Masterbuilt vs Production Charvel

A standard production Charvel is manufactured around a repeatable catalogue specification.

A Masterbuilt instrument is considerably more individual, with a named Custom Shop builder directly associated with its construction.

For players looking for a more exclusive Charvel, the Masterbuilt designation is an important part of this guitar's appeal.

Who Is It For?

High-performance guitarists – HSS versatility, powerful bridge humbucker and tremolo hardware make it suitable for demanding stage work.

Rock players – The Invader delivers plenty of output and aggression for driven amplifiers.

Metal guitarists – High-output bridge tones suit tight rhythm and saturated lead work.

Fusion players – Single-coil positions and advanced switching add considerably more tonal range than a typical metal-focused guitar.

Collectors of Custom Shop instruments – Masterbuilt association with Rob Knowles gives this guitar additional individuality.

Players who love aged instruments – The 3-Tone Sunburst Relic offers vintage visual character without sacrificing modern Charvel performance.

Suitable Genres & Applications

Particularly well suited to:

• Hard rock
• Rock
• Metal
• Progressive rock
• Fusion
• Shred
• Alternative
• Blues rock
• Pop
• Funk
• Instrumental guitar
• Studio recording
• Professional live performance
• High-gain rhythm
• Technical lead guitar

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Brand	Charvel
Range	Custom Shop
Model	So-Cal HSS
Builder	“Big” Rob Knowles
Build Level	Masterbuilt
Finish	3-Tone Sunburst Relic
Body Material	Alder
Neck Material	Maple
Neck Construction	Bolt-On
Neck Reinforcement	Graphite
Fingerboard Material	Maple
Pickup Configuration	HSS
Bridge Pickup	Seymour Duncan Invader Humbucker
Middle Pickup	Single Coil
Neck Pickup	Single Coil
Electronics	Passive
Controls	Volume, No-Load Tone
Additional Control	Push/Pull Coil Split
Switching	5-Way Blade
Bridge	Charvel Tremolo System
Tremolo Arm	Included
Weight	7.92 lbs
Included	Hardcase
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good

Masterbuilt Specification Note

Charvel Masterbuilt instruments can feature highly individual specifications.

For this reason, the listing only assigns exact component details where they have been identified for this individual guitar.

No unsupported assumptions are made regarding:

• Exact neck dimensions
• Fingerboard radius
• Exact single-coil pickup models
• Fretwire specification
• Exact tremolo model
• Tuning machine model
• Finish chemistry

This avoids incorrectly combining specifications from another Charvel Custom Shop So-Cal.

Hardcase Note

A hardcase is included.

The case has not been confirmed as the original Charvel Custom Shop case, so it is described simply as a hardcase.

Power Requirements

None.

The Seymour Duncan and single-coil pickups use passive electronics.

No battery or external power supply is required.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 4.5/5

The Charvel So-Cal HSS Masterbuilt by “Big” Rob Knowles in 3-Tone Sunburst Relic is an unusual combination of vintage-inspired appearance and uncompromising modern performance.

Its alder body, graphite-reinforced maple neck, maple fingerboard and versatile HSS electronics provide a strong foundation, while the Seymour Duncan Invader bridge pickup gives it the power required for serious rock and metal work.

The single-coil pickups, push/pull coil split and no-load tone circuit prevent it from becoming a one-dimensional high-gain instrument, giving the guitar enough flexibility for clean, blues, funk and studio work as well.

At 7.92 lbs, it is comfortably weighted for a professional solidbody.

Presented in Very Good Condition and supplied with a hardcase and tremolo arm, this is a particularly compelling pre-owned Charvel for players wanting a genuinely high-level, builder-associated Custom Shop instrument.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

High-end Custom Shop guitars should be represented as the individual instruments they are rather than simply matched to a generic model specification.

Every pre-owned guitar at Fair Deal Music is individually assessed, with its condition, measured weight and included accessories clearly represented.

On this Charvel, the Very Good condition grade, 7.92 lbs measured weight, Masterbuilt specification, hardcase and tremolo arm are all clearly stated.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

When you buy from us, you benefit from:

• Family-run independent retailer established in 1987
• Birmingham's largest independent music store
• 6,000+ Trustpilot reviews
• Expert musician-led advice
• Extensive experience with premium and Custom Shop guitars
• Pre-owned instruments individually assessed
• Clear condition grading
• Secure ordering
• Fast UK delivery
• Large Birmingham showroom
• Friendly support before and after purchase

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Your existing guitar could help towards the cost of this Charvel.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges guitars, basses, amplifiers, effects, keyboards and other musical equipment.

Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation and find out what your existing equipment could be worth towards this Charvel Masterbuilt So-Cal HSS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What condition is this Charvel So-Cal in?

It is presented in Very Good Condition, showing some signs of careful previous ownership alongside its intentional relic finish.

Is this a Charvel Custom Shop guitar?

Yes. This is a Charvel Custom Shop Masterbuilt instrument.

Who built this guitar?

It was Masterbuilt by “Big” Rob Knowles.

Who is Big Rob Knowles?

Rob Knowles is an official Charvel Master Builder who earned the Master Builder title in 2021 after many years working within Fender Musical Instruments.

What finish does it have?

It has a 3-Tone Sunburst Relic finish.

Is the wear genuine or factory relic work?

Much of the aged appearance is intentional relic treatment. Some genuine signs of previous ownership may also be present and are reflected in the Very Good condition grade.

What is the body made from?

It uses an alder body.

What is the neck made from?

It has a maple neck.

Is the neck reinforced?

Yes. The neck uses graphite reinforcement.

What fingerboard does it have?

It has a maple fingerboard.

What pickup configuration does it use?

It has an HSS configuration: one bridge humbucker and two single coils.

What bridge pickup is fitted?

It uses a Seymour Duncan Invader humbucker.

What are the middle and neck pickup models?

They are confirmed as single-coil pickups, but their precise model designations have not been independently identified, so they are not guessed in this listing.

Does the Invader coil split?

Yes. The guitar uses a push/pull volume control for coil splitting.

What does the no-load tone control do?

At its maximum setting, the no-load control effectively removes itself from the tone circuit, allowing the pickups to operate with reduced loading and maximum brightness.

How many pickup positions are available?

It uses a 5-way blade selector.

Does it have a tremolo?

Yes. It has a Charvel tremolo system.

Is the tremolo arm included?

Yes. The tremolo arm is included.

How much does the guitar weigh?

This individual guitar weighs 7.92 lbs.

Does it require a battery?

No. Its electronics are passive.

Does it come with a case?

Yes. A hardcase is included.

Is the hardcase original?

The case has not been confirmed as the original Charvel Custom Shop case, so no claim of originality is made.

Is it suitable for metal?

Yes. The Seymour Duncan Invader bridge pickup provides more than enough output for high-gain metal and heavy rock sounds.

Can it also produce clean sounds?

Yes. The middle and neck single-coil pickups, five-way selector and coil split give it considerably more clean-tone flexibility than a conventional dual-humbucker shred guitar.

Can I request a video demo?

Yes. Our Request a Video Demo service is ideal if you would like to see the Relic treatment and individual condition or hear the Invader, single coils and coil-split sounds before purchasing.

Can I part-exchange another guitar against it?

Yes. Fair Deal Music considers trade-ins and part exchanges across a wide range of guitars and other musical equipment.