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tjon901 « An evolution of Randys original design »
Published on 05/24/11 at 16:03When Randy died he was arguably the most popular guitarist in the world. Shortly before he died the guys at Jackson offered to make him a custom V to Randys specifications. The original RR was slightly different but the basic design is the same. It is an offset V with the larger horn shorter than the lower horn. This design helps with the guitars balance. The guitar has a neck through body with a maple neck. The neck has a 22 fret ebony fretboard with Jacksons signature shark fin inlays. The neck and headstock are fully bound. It has a Floyd Rose double locking tremolo which is something the original didnt have. It has two Seymour Duncan humbuckers. It has an SH2 in the neck and a TB4 in the bridge with one volume and two tone knobs with a 3 way switch.
UTILIZATION
The frets arent as easy to reach on this guitar as on other Jacksons because the shape of the V. The ebony fretboard feels good under your fingers. The neck through design means there is no heel so that is good too. Jacksons at these levels come with compound radius necks. This means that on the higher frets the radius is flatter making it easy to bend but on the low frets its more curved making chords more comfortable.
SOUNDS
With the Seymour Duncan pickups the guitar has a huge versatile sound. The alder body with the maple neck give you the classic shred guitar tone. Not many companies put after market pickups in their guitars but Jackson does. Jackson knows if you are paying more than 1000 dollars for a guitar you should not have to change the pickups right after you get it.
OVERALL OPINION
Randy Rhodes was one of the most influential guitar players of the last half century. This model of Jackson guitar is a lasting tribute to his legacy. With Jacksons falling out of favor in use among the guitar players of popular music you do not see guitars like these being played as often as you would a few years ago. This is sad because its a perfectly fine and versatile guitar. When you play a Jackson RR you are playing and keeping a part of metal history alive.
UTILIZATION
The frets arent as easy to reach on this guitar as on other Jacksons because the shape of the V. The ebony fretboard feels good under your fingers. The neck through design means there is no heel so that is good too. Jacksons at these levels come with compound radius necks. This means that on the higher frets the radius is flatter making it easy to bend but on the low frets its more curved making chords more comfortable.
SOUNDS
With the Seymour Duncan pickups the guitar has a huge versatile sound. The alder body with the maple neck give you the classic shred guitar tone. Not many companies put after market pickups in their guitars but Jackson does. Jackson knows if you are paying more than 1000 dollars for a guitar you should not have to change the pickups right after you get it.
OVERALL OPINION
Randy Rhodes was one of the most influential guitar players of the last half century. This model of Jackson guitar is a lasting tribute to his legacy. With Jacksons falling out of favor in use among the guitar players of popular music you do not see guitars like these being played as often as you would a few years ago. This is sad because its a perfectly fine and versatile guitar. When you play a Jackson RR you are playing and keeping a part of metal history alive.