Rhandy Rhoad's Second Jackson Concorde V
Chip Ellis and Mike Shannon inspect and measure Rhoads' second Jackson Concorde V.
Randy Rhoads' Original Jackson Concorde V
Shannon uses gauged calipers to ensure every aspect of the Rhoads Tribute Relic is true to the original.
Randy Rhoads' Concorde Vs
Randy Rhoads's two Jackson Rhoads guitars (initial and second prototype) appear together for the first time in decades, as depicted in the (now) vintage magazine feature.
Randy Rhoads' Second Jackson Concorde V
Rhoads' second V sits in its case awaiting inspection. Rhoads only had the second Concorde V for a few months before his untimely death.
Randy Rhoads' Original Jackson Concorde V
The headstock of Rhoads' original Jackson Concorde V. Note the early version of the Jackson logo.
Randy Rhoads' Original Jackson Concorde V
In preparation for the Custom Shop Randy Rhoads Tribute Relic, Jackson's Mike Shannon and Chip Ellis traveled to Delores Rhoads' Musonia School of Music in North Hollywood to meticulously measure every aspect of the original Concorde V.
Randy Rhoads' Second Jackson Concorde V
Chip Ellis and Mike Shannon inspect and measure Rhoads' second Jackson Concorde V.
Randy Rhoads' Second Jackson Concorde V
Randy Rhoads's second Jackson guitar featured a Seymour Duncan JB bridge pickup and Jackson brass tune-o-matic bridge.
Randy Rhoads' Second Jackson Concorde V
Randy's black Jackson utilized gold Gotoh crown head tuning keys.
Randy Rhoads' Second Jackson Concorde V
The headstock of Rhoads' second Concorde as it sits on the measuring table.
Randy Rhoads' Original Jackson Concorde V
Shannon carefully and closely examines the Concorde.
Randy Rhoads' Original Jackson Concorde V
Shannon (right) Ellis (who worked on Eddie Van Halen's EVH Frankenstein reissue) measure every aspect of the original Concorde V.
Randy Rhoads' Original Jackson Concorde V
Although Rhoads was often photographed with his first Concorde V, some players may be surprised to learn it has a 3-way pickup selector that was usually out of view in concert photos. Jackson's Mike Shannon isnÑ?t certain whether Rhoads made specific electronics requests, but the Tribute Relic features Duncan SH4 (bridge) and SH-2N humbuckers and Les Paul-style controls.
Randy Rhoads' Original Jackson Concorde V
Shannon makes detailed notes of each measurement.
Randy Rhoads' Original Jackson Concorde V
Shannon measuring the Concorde V at Delores Rhoads' Musonia School of Music in North Hollywood in 2009.
Randy Rhoads' Concorde Vs
After careful measuring, the iconic guitars were placed safely back in their original cases.
Randy Rhoads' Second Jackson Concorde V
Chip Ellis and Mike Shannon inspect and measure Rhoads' second Jackson Concorde V.
Want more Jackson? Check out our gallery inside the Jackson factory and our in-depth feature with Mike Shannon.
“The Player II Series represents our continued evolution in design and functionality,” said Justin Norvell, EVP of Product, FMIC. “We listened to the feedback from musicians around the world and incorporated their insights to refine and innovate our instruments. The re-introduction of rosewood fingerboards is a restoration of the ‘original Fender recipe’ and will no doubt be a fan favorite - but we didn’t want to stop there. We’ve also incorporated our rolled fingerboard edges for a broken-in feel, upgraded hardware, and have some new body options as well- which underscores our commitment to providing players and creators with the tools they need to express their unique sound and style. The Player II Series is not just an upgrade, it's a detailed re-imagining of our core silhouettes, highlighting our dedication to quality and the continuous refinement of our instruments.”
Additionally, Player II offers new options for chambered ash and chambered mahogany bodies for the Player II Stratocaster and Telecaster models, which will be available in October. Designed for musicians ready to elevate their craft, the Player II Series sets a new standard for quality and performance in the mid-price range.
Fender Player II Stratocaster HSS Electric Guitar - Coral Red
Fender Player II Jaguar Electric Guitar - Aquatone Blue
The 2018 CCL Deco Custom, in all its Pelham blue glory.
Anyway, we became friends and I started working on him pretty early—my 40th birthday was approaching, and that meant it was time for us to start designing his first solidbody build. If you stopped on this page, it’s because the photo of the finished product caught your eye. Beautiful, right? The 2018 CCL Deco Custom: Never shall there be another.
Old National Glenwood guitars were my design inspiration, but I wanted a slim waist like a PRS and the like. We used a solid block of korina to start, routed like MacGyver to get the knobs and switches where I wanted them. Dale builds all his own lathes and machines (usually out of lumber, y’all), as the task requires. This beast took some creativity—it’s tight wiring under that custom-steel pickguard. Many were the preliminary sketches. Four coats of Pelham blue, 11 coats of nitro. Honduran mahogany neck, Madagascar ebony fretboard with Dale’s signature not-quite-Super-400 inlays. He designed the logo; I just said, “Make it art deco.”
We sourced all the bits and bobs from StewMac and Allparts and Reverb and the like, mostly to get that chrome look I so adore. Graph Tech Ratio tuners, Duesenberg Radiator trem (had to order that one from Germany), TonePros TP6R-C roller bridge. The pickups were a genius suggestion from the builder, Guitarfetish plug ’n’ play 1/8" solderless swappable, which means I have about 10 pickups in the case to choose from: rockabilly to metal. And both slots are tapped, with the tone knobs serving as single- to double-coil switches. I put the selector on the lower horn to accommodate my tendency to accidentally flip the thing on Les Pauls—definite lifesaver.
Reader and guitar enthusiast, Cody Lindsey.
Dale offered to chamber this monster, but I said what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It weighs in at 11 pounds, if it’s an ounce. We carved the neck to match a ’60s SG, so it’s like the mini bat you get at the ballpark on little kids’ day. Easy peasy. 1 11/16" nut, 25" scale, jumbo frets, just 2 1/8" at the 12th fret.
Delivery in its lovely, hygrometer-equipped Cedar Creek case actually happened a month or two shy of my 41st, but hey, you can’t rush these things. We ended up with a studio Swiss Army knife; it does a bit of everything and does it effortlessly. A looker, too. Dale didn’t spend his career doing this kind of thing—he was in IT or some such—and I imagine he’s winding this “hobby” of his down these days, enjoying retirement with a bottle of Killian’s and a lawn chair at Duluth Blues Fest. But this guitar will live on as a marker of his skill and otherworldly patience. It sits at the head of the class in my practice room, welcoming any visitors and bringing a smile to my face every day. And Dale, my friend, I’ll be 50 before you know it....
Cody requested that Dale design an art deco logo for the guitar’s headstock.