Unveiling the Legacy: Gary Moore’s Custom 1982 Charvel San Dimas
Gary Moore’s guitar collection showcases a blend of craftsmanship from iconic brands like Gibson, particularly from the revered 1950s and 1960s era of lutherie. Yet, among thes classic instruments lies a unique piece that embodies the rugged innovation demanded by forward-thinking musicians.
A Testament to Adaptability: The Modified Charvel San Dimas
One standout in Moore’s arsenal is his heavily modified Charvel San dimas, a prime example of how artists and their technicians frequently enough adapt instruments to fulfill specific needs that mass-produced guitars cannot meet, especially during the hectic schedules of touring and recording.
steve Clarke, the guitar’s authenticator, recalls the challenges he faced with this particular instrument. “it was malfunctioning right from the start,” he chuckles. “When I plugged it in, there was no sound. I had to remove the backplate to investigate. It was clear that it had been neglected, so I started cleaning the pots with contact cleaner since the volume control had seized. After that,it began to function again,but I discovered the jack socket was also faulty,which required resoldering.”
“The EMG pickup initially registered an output of 16.53k,” Steve continues. “Though, when I opened the battery compartment, I found a mess. The battery had corroded and leaked. Luckily, I had spare connectors, so I replaced the battery terminal, and just like that, it sprang back to life.”
Craftsmanship Under Pressure
upon further inspection, Steve was astonished that the guitar was operational at all. “the scratchplate looked like it had been hastily cut with a hacksaw around the pickup, lacking any finesse. It was evident that it had been assembled quickly for Gary,” he noted.
“The gap between the pickup and the scratchplate was uneven, the jack socket was misaligned, and the pickup itself was slightly angled, reminiscent of a Stratocaster’s bridge pickup but much subtler. You couldn’t help but wonder if it was intentional,” he added.
Interestingly, the guitar features a Jackson neck rather than an original Charvel neck. Despite the numerous makeshift modifications made under time constraints, Steve believes this guitar encapsulates a moment in time reflecting an artist’s evolving requirements.
A Journey Through Time: From G-Force to Solo Success
This guitar was first utilized during Moore’s tenure with the band G-Force from 1979 to 1980. It even appeared in an earlier configuration with dual humbuckers on the cover of his 1983 album, Dirty Fingers. Those original pickups were later replaced with the single EMG that it currently houses.
Gary later expressed his admiration for EMG pickups in an interview with Music Maker, stating, “For live performances, they are the best pickups I’ve ever encountered. They truly cut through the mix.”
Reflecting on the guitar’s journey, Steve Clarke concludes, “Ultimately, Gary must have plugged it in and thought, ‘This sounds fantastic.’ He wasn’t the type to dissect it or question if something was off. Musicians like him were a different breed altogether.”
