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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Know-It-All


Never assume that because you know all about 50's Tele's and Strats, and once owned a 1987 Reverse Headstock Jackson in Road Cone Orange, that you have any chance at knowing about Jackson guitars...  until you put in all the time to study them.  They ARE a different animal... not just because the guys that played them had big hair most of the time.  The bridges were radically new at the time.  Heck... you could even lock the strings at the nut, using a hex key that was (most of the time) bolted (eek!) to the back of the headstock (when not in use).  Not only this... but Jackson literally horsebranded his fretboards with the serial numbers most of the time... by stamping the numbers deep into the fretboards (no actual heat involved really... and no horses... as far as I know).  I had purchased a 'totally original 1985 Randy Rhoads guitar' on EBay some time ago.  I paid around $1500, and was told (by the seller in the listing) that the case was 'a rare original case'.  When I went to sell it last week... turned out the case, bridge (?), pickups (?) and electronics and also the switches all came under scrutiny and questioning.  Jackson guitar people had a lot of questions about originality... and many reservations.  Apparently, the case is definitely not original at all (being form fit plastic).  So be warned... I am also a relative expert in PRS guitars... but had to take a loss of around $1000 on this guitar, to learn my lesson;  Be well read and learn about what you intend to buy... thoroughly... before you go to buy it! (the scammers are out, and want your money).

Monday, July 21, 2008

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Randy Rhoads Lives....



I am currently selling my Randy Rhoads V... Serial number 1130.  Up until I listed it, I really knew NOTHING about Randy Rhoads Guitars... other than that they are a cornerstone of the Glam Rock 80's equipment requirement for a guitarist.  At first I listed the guitar as a San Dimas guitar... only to have someone write and tell me I was lucky to have probably the 1st guitar off the Ontario assembly line.  My temporary muted excitement was destroyed by further news, from another Ebayer... that that is not true... that the guitar IS a San Dimas guitar... as the info on Jackson's site shows ...I have also copied the info from their site in the photo above (thanks Jackson).  I have yet to confirm the situation with the plastic vs. wood and tolex cases... but I think the originals did come with a black tolex & wood case.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Rob R.


Mr Rob R. wrote back... to tell me that the 'mystery guitar' I knew he could name might have been made at the Teisco factory (could be labeled anything from Teisco Del Rey, Conrad, Silvertone... and a few others).  Audition was one of their brands (he says)... but all made by the same folks.  Not a bad recording guitar according to Rob... twangy, surf-tones, and generally the neck plays poorly (he used a better word)... unless you have a real whiz set them up. 
Rob wants a Fender Jag with buckers and fixed/ addressed bridge... and pickups that split to single coil (just like MY Sadowsky Strat!).... sounds great Rob...!  Here's a 'Jazz' photo for you....