1982+ Jackson Randy Rhoads
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On December 23, 1980, while on a break from Ozzy’s Blizzard of Ozz tour, Rhoads visited Grover Jackson at his workshop at Charvel HQ. The guitarist pulled out a sketch he’d drawn on a cocktail napkin and asked Jackson to build him a guitar that looked something like a shark’s fin. The pair sat down, and by midnight, the design Randy had conceived was completed and ready to be built.
The resulting white, angular, asymmetric ax was nicknamed “the Concorde” as it looked like the supersonic airliner of the same name – although legend has it that Rhoads named the guitar after the aircraft because he actually flew home (from the U.K.) aboard the Concorde in late 1980.
Due to its futuristic, “pointy” aesthetic, Grover was worried that putting the Charvel logo on its headstock might possibly alienate some of the company’s more traditionally minded customers, and so the Jackson brand was born.
They designed a new headstock – an angular take on the Gibson Explorer – and made the first Jackson.
Jackson was acquired by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 2002.
History & Significance
Randy Rhoads, born December 6, 1956 in Santa Monica, California, was a prodigious guitarist known for his work with Quiet Riot and, especially, Ozzy Osbourne. From a young age, Rhoads showed exceptional talent for the guitar, fusing classical influences with heavy metal.
He formed Quiet Riot in the 1970s, but his real breakthrough came in 1979 when he joined Ozzy Osbourne’s band. With Osbourne, Rhoads co-wrote and recorded the albums “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Diary of a Madman,” which included hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.” With his distinctive style he revolutionized heavy metal and set new standards for guitarists. In addition to his impeccable technique, Rhoads was known for his humility and dedication to teaching music.
Tragically, his life was cut short on March 19, 1982 in a plane crash at the age of 25. Despite his short career, Randy Rhoads left a lasting and influential legacy, being remembered as one of the most innovative and talented guitarists in the history of rock and heavy metal.
1980 Jackson Randy Rhoads ”Concorde” Prototype (1st Jackson guitar) Never sold to public
The legend and legacy of Randy Rhoads’ iconic Jackson Concorde | Guitar World
1982 Jackson® RR3 PROTOTYPE "The Missing Rhoads Jackson Guitar"
- Randy Rhoads commissioned these Jackson® guitars and they were designed by both Randy Rhoads and Grover Jackson.
- Randy Rhoads didn't like several aspects of the white Jackson® offset V RR1, so he commissioned Grover Jackson once again to craft him another guitar, the black Jackson® offset V RR2. According to Rhoads, the fretboard went too far into the body of the white Jackson® RR1, making it much more difficult to reach the higher frets. The black Jackson® RR2 allowed for much more travel up the neck of the guitar. Secondly, the new RR2 would have more definition on the upper wing than the RR1 to avoid any confusion between Jackson's custom masterpiece and a Gibson V.
- The Rhoads family is in possession of the first Jackson® guitars, RR1 and RR2
- Grover Jackson had plans to build Rhoads two more guitars, but he waited until he received proper feedback from Rhoads about The black Jackson® RR2. Randy was able to call Jackson and give him his criticism on RR2, but due to his unfortunate passing on March 19th, 1982, Randy Rhoads never received the next two guitars. Grover put away the next two guitars, RR3 and RR4 until the NAMM show. At the 1982 NAMM show, the Jackson® RR3 Prototype was accidentally sold - this is the Jackson® guitar RR3 that is now being offered for sale.
- The RR3 Jackson® features innovations such as an Ebony fingerboard with a graphite nut, neck-through-body construction, Seymour Duncan pickups, strings through body construction, an angled headstock, custom brass hardware, high fret accessibility, Charvel/Jackson®'s neck radius, and one volume knob and one tone knob. This custom guitar has no serial number and has a hand-painted Jackson® logo. Custom-made guitar case included.
- #3 is among the first true shred guitars available to the public, with a number of innovations: angled headstock, neck through body construction, fret accessibility, Seymour Duncan pickups, Charvel/Jackson neck radius, 1 volume 1 tone knob. Ebony fingerboard, graphite nut.
- https://reverb.com/item/50222848-lost-randy-rhoads-jackson-rr3-prototype-featured-in-guitar-world?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=50222848
- https://www.analogr.com/l/lost-randy-rhoads-rr3-featured-in-guitar-world-april-2007/61f088c9-6cd0-4fb6-a1e1-d17a1a6e911f
Reissues & Replicas
- Jackson USA Select Series are manufactured by Fender in their Corona, USA facility
- Jackson Pro Series are manufactured by Fender in their Ensenada, Mexico facility
- Jackson JS Series and X Series produced by sub-contractors in Indonesia and China
2010 Jackson Randy Rhoads ‘81 ”Concorde” Limited Edition Replica MSRP $12,619.56
- In 2010, Jackson released an extremely limited edition in conjunction with the Rhoads family – an exact replica of Randy’s legendary Concorde. The original was painstakingly measured by the much-lauded pairing of Mike Shannon [Jackson] and Chip Ellis [Fender – the man responsible for the amazing limited-edition Edward Van Halen “Frankenstein” relics], and every single scratch, dent, ding and divot was replicated.
- As a bonus, the resulting 60 handcrafted relics came with a certificate of authenticity signed by Randy’s mother, Delores.
- The price? A seemingly random $12,619.56 that’s actually anything but random – The reason for said price tag? Randy’s birth date – 12/6/1956
USA SELECT SERIES RANDY RHOADS - manufactured by Fender in their Corona, USA facility
- RR1: The standard Rhoads USA made guitar. Alder with a maple neck-thru design neck. The ebony fretboard has 22 jumbo frets. Seymour Duncan humbuckers and a Floyd Rose original 2 point double locking tremolo at the bridge. The RR1 has four variations:
- RR1T: The RR1 with an adjustable string-through-body bridge
- RR1 Left-Handed: Left Handed version of the RR1 black
- RR1T Left-Handed: Left Handed version of the RR1T
- RR2: Bolt on neck, USA made, Jackson JT580LP bridge, pickup Kent Armstrong JJB-0 bridge, JP-11 neck. (produced 1996–1997)
- Jackson RR1T - SKU 2803060876 MSRP $4299 (Image #2)
- 25.5" scale alder body
- Quartersawn Eastern hard rock maple neck-thru-body Ebony fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets Pearloid Sharkfin inlays, white neck and binding
- Seymour Duncan® JB™ TB-4/Jazz SH-2N humbucking pickups
- 2 volume and 1 tone knob, three-way toggle switch
- FLOYD ROSE® ORIGINAL DOUBLE-LOCKING 2-POINT TREMOLO
- Available in Snow White or Gloss Black finish, with black head, pickguard, knobs and hardware
Mach Five Guitar
2021 Jackson JS32 Randy Rhoads SN CWJ2052253
Image Descriptions
1. The Mach Five guitar
2. Jackson RR1 Reissue
3 & 4. Randy Rhoads "RR3" Prototype
3. Jackson
Associated Music
Reference