Charvel Custom Shop Masterbuilt Red Dave 1H Custom Graphic by Craig Fraser Green Dragon

Charvel Custom Shop Masterbuilt Red Dave 1H Custom Graphic by Craig Fraser Green Dragon

Dave Nichols-nicknamed “Red Dave” for his long red hair and beard-joined the Charvel®/Jackson® Custom Shop in 2005 after a 16-year stint at the Fender® Custom Shop, advancing to master builder in 2006.

An avid woodworker since high school, Nichols has always been into “messing with stuff with my hands.” He’d never built a guitar before, though, until a friend’s suggestion led to his arrival at the Fender Custom Shop in 1989, where his love for music, natural talent and practiced woodworking expertise served him well.

Nichols rose through the ranks steadily as an apprentice instrument builder with a particular gift for inlay work, and when “an opportunity to build something new” arose at Charvel/Jackson in 2005, “Red” was ready.

“I love being the guy who makes dreams come true,” he said. “That’s our motto-making dreams come true. It’s awesome when people come through here and I can watch them turn into kids in a candy store.”