Industry Jul 24, 2026
Wayne Charvel, Guitar Luthier for Rock Legends, Dies at 85
The Charvel founder and legendary custom builder for guitar's biggest names has died, aged 85
Originally published by
MusicRadar
Wayne Charvel, the founder of Charvel Guitars and a renowned custom guitar builder, has passed away at the age of 85. Charvel was known for crafting instruments for prominent musicians such as members of Deep Purple, ZZ Top, and Eddie Van Halen. He is credited with pioneering the "hot-rod" guitar modification trend, which significantly influenced electric guitar design. Originally reported by MusicRadar.