Guitar.com reported that the biggest signature guitar launch of 2026 involved two musicians who have never spoken publicly or shown their faces. Despite the four-figure price tag, the Charvel and Jackson instruments sold out completely within days of being revealed to the world. This was not a surprise given the masked collective known as Sleep Token has become a phenomenon with a huge presence and a devoted following built on intricate mythology.
Tim Hillier-Brook is the artist marketing manager for Fender’s specialty brands and helmed the collaboration between Sleep Token, Jackson and Charvel. It was the first ever joint launch for the two brands, with guitarist IV opting for a signature Jackson and bassist III creating his own Charvel bass. The team started with existing production models but moved to custom instruments after a year of discussions.
IV’s guitar is a 30-inch baritone fitted with an EverTune and custom tension modules, tuned E-E an octave down. III’s bass marks firsts as the first ever production reverse headstock Charvel and the only multi-scale Charvel bass. Both instruments reflect the ability to switch between different tunings used by the band.
For both instruments, the main word is clarity. The bass has multi-scale and active Fishman pickups to help things stay controlled, while the guitar has a mahogany body with a maple cap to add snappiness. The team ensured the price point was attainable for fans while getting the right specs for live use in large arenas.
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