Jackson Randy Rhoads

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Jackson Randy Rhoads

Rhoads 3.JPG
Manufacturer Jackson Guitars
Period 1981 - present
Construction
Body type Solid
Neck joint Neck-thru and bolt-on
Woods
Body Different, often alder
Neck Different, often maple
Fretboard Different, often ebony
Hardware
Bridge Fixed, Floyd Rose tremolo or tune-o-matic
Pickup(s) 1 or 2 humbuckers
Colors available
Various, including custom finish graphics

The Jackson Randy Rhoads is an iconic model of electric guitar, originally commissioned by guitarist Randy Rhoads and produced by Jackson Guitars. Rhoads' first Jackson prototype was the now immortalized white, pinstriped, asymmetrical Flying V built by Grover Jackson, Tim Wilson, and Mike Shannon of Charvel Guitars.[1] The guitar featured a maple neck and body (neck through body), ebony fretboard, medium frets, Stratocaster style tremolo, and Seymour Duncan pickups. The prototype was the first from the Charvel works to be labeled with Jackson's name. The guitar was originally slated to be called The Original SIN, but Randy nicknamed it Concorde.[2] after the sleek, white supersonic aircraft[3]

Randy re-designed the next prototype because he felt the shape of the 'Concorde' was not distinctive enough from the traditional Flying V. His solution was to elongate the top 'horn' of the instrument such that the body bore more resemblance to a shark's fin. The second prototype featured the revised body shape, was black with a gold pickguard, and fixed tailpiece with strings anchored in the body. The guitar featured Grover locking tuners and Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups (TB-4 bridge and a SH-2 neck). Two more prototypes were commissioned (four in total), another string through body example (later accidentally sold at NAMM) and another black and brass tremolo model with reversed shark fin inlays. Rhoads was killed in a plane crash before the second two guitars were completed, and before he could give Grover any feedback. These revised prototypes would become the first guitars sold to the public under the Jackson Guitars brand name. The ensuing popularity of the Randy Rhoads model put Jackson's name on the map.

Contents

[edit] Users

Vinnie Vincent, formerly of Kiss, was the first professional guitarist to be offered an early Rhoads guitar by Jackson after Rhoads' death, which Vincent used on the Kiss Creatures of the Night and Lick It Up tours from 1982 until 1984. Following Vincent's departure from Kiss, he modified the Rhoads V design by adding a second V at a slight rotation to the first such that it mimics a shadow. Jackson made at least 3 of these Vincent modified Rhoads Vs from 1985 to 1988 for Vincent, and about 25 others were custom ordered and sold. The design would later be copied by Carvin, Ibanez and Washburn Guitars, all for Vinnie Vincent.

In 2001, guitarists Alexi Laiho and Roope Latvala (of Children of Bodom and Sinergy) made a deal with Jackson to produce their own version of Rhoads models, which featured alder bodies, bolt-on necks, 24 frets, rosewood fretboard, black with yellow bevels, and a Jackson JT580LP Floyd Rose bridge. This model was called the Jackson Randy Rhoads L/L (L/L for Latvala/Laiho). Neither guitarist was allowed a guitar for his own use, and both played the guitar only for promotional purposes.

Other noted users of this model include:

[edit] Models

Jackson currently has 12 different Randy Rhoads models in production.

[edit] USA Select Series

Jackson rr shape.svg The basic model in the USA Select Series is the RR1. The RR1 is made of alder with a maple neck-thru design neck. The ebony fretboard has 22 jumbo frets. The RR1 is equipped with two Seymour Duncan humbuckers and a Floyd Rose original 2 point double locking tremolo at the bridge. The RR1 has four variations:

  • RR1 : The standard Randy Rhoads guitar
  • RR1T: The RR1 with an adjustable string-through-body bridge
  • RR1 Left-Handed: Left Handed version of the RR1
  • RR1T Left-Handed: Left Handed version of the RR1T
  • RR2 : Bolt on neck, USA made with japanese hardware, Jackson JT580LP bridge (produced 1995-1997)

[edit] Pro Series

The Pro series is the mid market series, made in Japan. There are currently five different models of the Jackson Rhoads in the Pro Series:

  • RR3: The RR3 has an alder body and maple neck. The neck is bolt-on type with rosewood fingerboard and 22 frets. This model has neck and bridge Seymour Duncan humbuckers and a Floyd Rose licensed, low profile, double locking tremolo. During 2006, a limited run of 100 were made in white with black pinstripes, similar to the finish found on the RR5. These featured the Seymour Duncan designed pickups and a tune o matic string through the body bridge which was different from the standard RR3.
  • RR5: The RR5 has an alder body and maple neck. The main difference between the RR5 and RR3 is the neck-thru design of the RR5 vs. a bolt-on neck for the RR3. The RR5 also features gold hardware and an adjustable fixed bridge.
  • RR5FR: The RR5FR is the same as the RR5 except it has a Floyd Rose FRT-O2000 tremolo bridge, black hardware (as opposed to gold) and is available in black, ivory or pink pearl finishes.
  • RR24: The RR24 has an alder body and maple neck. Its Ebony fretboard is fitted with Sharkfin inlays. This model differs from the RR3 and RR5 in that it is a 24 fret guitar. It has a neck-thru body construction and Original Floyd Rose tremolo. This model is fitted with only one pickup (EMG 81) in the bridge position and a single volume control. This model is also available in custom colors.
  • RR24M: The RR24M is the same as the RR24, but has a maple fretboard as opposed to the traditional ebony fretboard.

[edit] Pro Series Artist Signature

  • Kevin Bond Signature: This model has a mahogany neck-thru body and 22 jumbo frets. It is fitted with a Seymour Duncan "Iommi" humbucker, and adjustable string-through-body Schaller fine-tuning tailpiece. The Jackson logo is blood red.
  • Matt Tuck Signature; This model has an alder neck-thru body and maple neck (with scarf joint head stock), and 22 jumbo frets. It is fitted with an EMG 81 humbucker at the bridge, and EMG 85 humbucker at the neck. The bridge is a JT390 adjustable string-through-body type with Sperzel locking die-cast tuners. This is the only current model with a reversed headstock.

[edit] X Series

The X series RX10D has an alder body with a maple bolt-on neck. The Rosewood fingerboard has 22 frets, and pickups are both Seymour Duncan Designed humbuckers. The bridge is a Jackson double locking tremolo unit.

[edit] JS Series

The JS30RR is from the entry level group that is made in India. The body is Indian cedro, and has a bolt-on maple neck. It is fitted with two Jackson pickups and an adjustable string-through-body bridge, and the rosewood fretboard has 24 frets. This model was available with a Floyd Rose tremolo as the JS35RR, but was discontinued in 2000. The current JS series offering is the JS32T Rhoads. It's similar to the original JS30RR, with the addition of shark fin inlays on the fretboard.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/3547/Jackson-Custom-Shop-Randy-Rhoads-Limited-Tribute-Concorde-Relic/
  2. ^ http://www.guitarworld.com/article/randy_rhoads_flight_of_the_concordes
  3. ^ http://www.jacksonguitars.com/blog/?tag=randy-rhoads

[edit] External links

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