Randy's Guitars

ironface166 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:11 am

Here's the basic specs covering the guitars Randy played in concert (and some for recording) during his time with Ozzy Osbourne.

White/Cream Gibson Les Paul
*Used for recording of "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman" and all live shows*
Stock 1974 model (though he thought it was a 63 0r 64)
Stock pickups
Schaller machine heads
Engraved pickguard reads "Randy Rhoads"
Bell-shaped plate above the nut (added by Randy)

Polka Dotted Sandoval Custom Flying V
(Custom-built by Karl Sandoval)
*Used for recording of "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman" and all live shows*
Arrow-shaped headstock
Aluminum nut
Danelectro neck (shaved down)
Rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl bowtie inlays
Body-Mahoghany wood
Stock Fender bridge
Dimarzio Distortion Plus pickup (Bridge)
Dimarzio PAF pickup (Neck)
Chrome hardware
Strat input jack under upper horn/wing
2 volume, 2 tone controls (lower horn/wing)
Toggle switch (upper horn/wing)
Non-locking tremolo system

White Jackson Custom Semi-V
(Designed by Grover Jackson/Randy Rhoads)
*Used for recording of "Diary Of A Madman" and all live shows in 1981-82*
Binding around neck and headstock
Pearl inlay on the neck (Les Paul-type blocks)
Neck-through-the-body solid maple construction
22 fret maple neck
25 ½” scale
Seymour Duncan Jazz Humbucking pickup (neck position)
Seymour Duncan Distortion pickup (bridge position)
Charvel tremolo unit (set up by Doug Chandler)
Brass hardware
Pinstripe design on body

Black Jackson Custom
(Designed by Grover Jackson/Randy Rhoads)
*Used for shows on the US "Diary Of A Madman" tour 81-82*
Binding around neck and headstock
Shark-fin type inlays on the neck
Neck-through-the-body design
22 fret maple neck
Neck: 1 11/16” wide at the nut
25 ½” scale
Wings-Poplar wood
Seymour Duncan Jazz Humbucking pickup (neck position)
Seymour Duncan Distortion pickup (Bridge position)
Brass hardware
Controls (from front to back)-volume, three-way toggle switch, volume , tone
Brass pickguard
No tremolo unit

RandyRhoadsRiot · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:58 am

I thought Randy didnt use his les paul when recording because I remember hearing he used his polka dot v for most songs including crazy train

chasmcneal · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:27 am

RandyRhoadsRiot wrote:

I thought Randy didnt use his les paul when recording because I remember hearing he used his polka dot v for most songs including crazy train

i believe you are misinformed.

Whitewolf · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:47 am

Um, the nut on the Sandoval was not aluminum... however, the side dots were.

ironface166 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 6:28 pm

Whitewolf wrote:

Um, the nut on the Sandoval was not aluminum... however, the side dots were.

Oh, I got that from a Karl interview on the construction of Randy's pdv. Maybe he wasn't being totally specific.

"We had all chrome hardware, shower keys, the mini-showers were used, a combination of dark enlay and white mother of pearl for the bow ties, aluminum nut, Danelectro neck with the double I-beam thrashrod."

Nifareus · **Joined:** Sat Feb 19, 2005 4:57 am **Posts:** 245

Is the information on the Polka Dot V correct? I was always led to believe that the dimarzio distortion plus was in the bridge position and the PAF in the neck? this would make sense due to the fact the PAF is a lower output pickup right?

This is on the dimarzio website as a description for the PAF

Quote:

This is the sound: no gimmicks, just clean, open tone with enough top end for sparkle and low end for warmth. The best word for it is "balanced". It's loud enough in the neck position to pair with hotter bridge pickups like the Super Distortion® (a classic combination)

Whitewolf · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:53 pm

ironface166 wrote:

Whitewolf wrote:

Um, the nut on the Sandoval was not aluminum... however, the side dots were.

Oh, I got that from a Karl interview on the construction of Randy's pdv. Maybe he wasn't being totally specific.

"We had all chrome hardware, shower keys, the mini-showers were used, a combination of dark enlay and white mother of pearl for the bow ties, aluminum nut, Danelectro neck with the double I-beam thrashrod."

Well, it certainly didn't look like aluminum to me... and besides, according to the parts list of Randy's guitar that Karl gave me, the nut was in fact listed as bone.

And what exactly are mini-shower keys and a double I-beam thrashrod? :lol:

ironface166 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 8:26 pm

Whitewolf wrote:

Well, it certainly didn't look like aluminum to me... and besides, according to the parts list of Randy's guitar that Karl gave me, the nut was in fact listed as bone.

And what exactly are mini-shower keys and a double I-beam thrashrod? :lol:

I'm not sure, just going by the text I got, but since you also have a list of parts from Karl, I'd probably go with that. As for the mini-shower keys and double I-beam thrashrod..kind of hoped somebody could explain that one to me, as I'm not too up on guitar building. :lol:

Nifareus wrote:

Is the information on the Polka Dot V correct? I was always led to believe that the dimarzio distortion plus was in the bridge position and the PAF in the neck?

That's exactly what the specs above say about the pickups. :wink:

Maybe you misread it?

Nifareus · **Joined:** Sat Feb 19, 2005 4:57 am **Posts:** 245

I must have read it just before you changed it! thanks for clearing it up

shanic · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 8:59 pm

What about the shark fin inlays on the two black Jackson pictures which one is the reversed picture? Or is there a deeper mystery? lol

ironface166 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:11 pm

Nifareus wrote:

I must have read it just before you changed it! thanks for clearing it up

I never changed it, been that way since day 1, less somebody else hacked in. :lol:

But anyways, that part is straight. Now what's a shower key? :lol:

ironface166 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:14 pm

shanic wrote:

What about the shark fin inlays on the two black Jackson pictures which one is the reversed picture? Or is there a deeper mystery? lol

Good eye. Need to find out from Des, as he supplied the pic that is suppossed to have been the black Jackson in production. Odd.

Whitewolf · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:21 pm

ironface166 wrote:

I'm not sure, just going by the text I got, but since you also have a list of parts from Karl, I'd probably go with that. As for the mini-shower keys and double I-beam thrashrod..kind of hoped somebody could explain that one to me, as I'm not too up on guitar building. :lol:

Well, I think that should have read Schaller, not shower (on both counts)... and thrashrod should obviously mean truss rod. However, that makes no sense either, because these mid-60's Danelectro necks have no truss rod - but there is two solid steel reinforcement rods running up the neck (very non-adjustable). :lol:

And... according to the parts list right in front of me... Karl installed two DiMarzio P.A.F.'s in the guitar, as well as a chrome trem. plate and control cover.

Mod · **Joined:** Mon Dec 02, 2002 12:52 pm **Posts:** 6906

ironface166 wrote:

shanic wrote:

What about the shark fin inlays on the two black Jackson pictures which one is the reversed picture? Or is there a deeper mystery? lol

Good eye. Need to find out from Des, as he supplied the pic that is suppossed to have been the black Jackson in production. Odd.

Sorry guys, I read Nifareus
post and changed it. I didn't bother to proof read before it was posted as it was done by Iron

thanks for the heads up Nifareus
.

as for the black jackson, I think the inlays where put in wrong by mistake by i heard that Randy didn't mind and they left them like that.

shanic · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:44 pm

Wait a minute Des your saying that the picture of the jacksons lying over each other are not randys but are customs of some sort I feel ripped I have the guitar world with this picture in im sending it back lol.

You are actually saying that RRs black Jackson has the upside down inlays and in later productions the inlays are up the other way?

Mm rite time to find a picture of randy playin the black Jackson wait a minute what about the photo were there back stage on the coach.

Mod · **Joined:** Mon Dec 02, 2002 12:52 pm **Posts:** 6906

No no...
this:

This was made AFTER the black one he used on stage.
Thay's all I know and I'm not 100% sure of all this anyway, it's just something I heard that made sense.

ironface166 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:56 pm

shanic wrote:

Wait a minute Des your saying that the picture of the jacksons lying over each other are not randys but are customs of some sort I feel ripped I have the guitar world with this picture in im sending it back lol.

You are actually saying that RRs black Jackson has the upside down inlays and in later productions the inlays are up the other way?

Mm rite time to find a picture of randy playin the black Jackson wait a minute what about the photo were there back stage on the coach.

No, the picture of the two Jacksons laying down ARE Randy's guitars, not custom copies. If You look at any shots of Randy playing his black Jackson (or any of him in the same room with it) you'll see that the shark fin inlays that ended up on the guitar are reverse to what you see in that picture of the guitar in production. Meaning they were switched around before the guitar was finally finished.So, no, you were not ripped off. :lol:

See here:
http://www.randy-rhoads.com/plogger/ind ... re&id=1719

EDIT: Oh sh*t Des, when you put that pic up I thought it was to represent the original black Jackson, not one of the ones being made for him at the time or otherwise. :oops:

Nifareus · **Joined:** Sat Feb 19, 2005 4:57 am **Posts:** 245

Des wrote:

Sorry guys, I read Nifareus
post and changed it. I didn't bother to proof read before it was posted as it was done by Iron

thanks for the heads up Nifareus

No problem just trying to contribute. and Ironface, no hard feelings!

ReconMan · **Joined:** Sun Feb 12, 2006 6:57 am **Posts:** 1588

What about Randy's acoustics?

clifford · **Joined:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:15 pm **Posts:** 2

does anybody know how i could get a guitar like randys origional pinstripe jackson :?:

Tommy · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:03 pm

clifford wrote:

does anybody know how i could get a guitar like randys origional pinstripe jackson :?:

Use this: http://www.nobitching.com/board/search.php
Try typing in i. e. Jackal. Just a hint :wink:

[/url]

Mod · **Joined:** Mon Dec 02, 2002 12:52 pm **Posts:** 6906

clifford wrote:

does anybody know how i could get a guitar like randys origional pinstripe jackson :?:

Try Jackal guitars.
Review, audio clips and link here:
http://www.dsherwood-guitartuition.co.uk/jackal.html

LoQ · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:16 pm

clifford wrote:

does anybody know how i could get a guitar like randys origional pinstripe jackson :?:

Try the Jackson Custom Shop :wink:

http://www.jcfonline.com/resources/csge ... omShop.htm

jackson guitarist · **Posted:** Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:30 pm

that jackson custom shop is cool...

mxr2000 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 14, 2002 2:22 am **Posts:** 533

Whitewolf wrote:

ironface166 wrote:

Whitewolf wrote:

Um, the nut on the Sandoval was not aluminum... however, the side dots were.

Oh, I got that from a Karl interview on the construction of Randy's pdv. Maybe he wasn't being totally specific.

"We had all chrome hardware, shower keys, the mini-showers were used, a combination of dark enlay and white mother of pearl for the bow ties, aluminum nut, Danelectro neck with the double I-beam thrashrod."

Well, it certainly didn't look like aluminum to me... and besides, according to the parts list of Randy's guitar that Karl gave me, the nut was in fact listed as bone.

And what exactly are mini-shower keys and a double I-beam thrashrod? :lol:

umm that would be Tusq that make some sense ,tusq bring an acoustic feel and a brite sound

Whitewolf · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:49 pm

Were TUSQ nuts even around 29 years ago? I doubt it.

LoQ wrote:

clifford wrote:

does anybody know how i could get a guitar like randys origional pinstripe jackson :?:

Try the Jackson Custom Shop :wink:

http://www.jcfonline.com/resources/csge ... omShop.htm

A buddy of mine tried that route recently and was given the response from Jackson of "We can only build one if the Rhoads family gives us permission to build it."

RandyRhoadsRiot · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 4:29 pm

I know a girl whos getting one made just liek his by jackson

dannyahansen · **Posted:** Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:49 pm

As I worked for guitar center i have enquiered about
Randys pinstrip Vs. I was told everytime that it was
not an option for them to build. So its quit unlikely
anybody is having one built by jackson. Unless you have
an inside guy at Jackson. Witch i dont.

clifford · **Joined:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:15 pm **Posts:** 2

I just read on the dean uitars website that randy used Deans
is this true from what ive seen i have never seen him use one
http://www.deanguitars.com/deanartists.php

ironface166 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2007 12:44 am

clifford wrote:

I just read on the dean uitars website that randy used Deans
is this true from what ive seen i have never seen him use one
http://www.deanguitars.com/deanartists.php

Randy didn't use Deans, but played a borrowed one on two occassions.
That's where a few pictures of him came playing one came from. Here's Kevin Dubrow's explanation:

Kevin DuBrow wrote:

He did not play a Dean. He jammed with DuBrow twice and used our guitar player's Dean. At a NAMM show a few years earlier Randy tried to get a Dean endorsment and the guy didn'y want to know, A real asshole! Randy said "Firewood!"

Randy's Guitars

Who is online