Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I was a huge Savatage fan before they morphed into TSO.

I posted in the other thread about the Charvel guitar on one of their tour shirts.

I met Jon and Criss Oliva (RIP) at a very small bar in Dayton OH, in the Hall of the Mountain King era.
They were the nicest people. I spent the most time with Criss, helping him wind cords and pack up equipment.
IMO perhaps the most underrated guitarist of all time.
His style was very unique. They were really "groove metal" way before Pantera.
That meeting added to the inspiration for me to buy a guitar very similar to the one he used that night.

After Criss' death in 93 they started using that guitar on merchandise in his memory.
That made the transition to TSO, and they even still play "Hall of the Mountain King" at TSO concerts.
Shortly after I saw them, Savatage added Christopher Caffery as a second guitarist.
He still tours with TSO some years and is with them this year.

As it turns out, my 1986 Charvel model 2 has a lower serial number than any currently on record.
Not just a few digits, but MUCH lower.
I'm sure Criss' guitar was made in the US, but until proven otherwise, I have the earliest made in Japan Charvel out there.