Jackson is paying tribute to Randy Rhoads, Scott Ian, David Ellefson and Marty Friedman with a limited-edition collection of guitar models.
The Legends Signature series honors four players who helped define heavy metal, with new models faithfully recreated from the iconic guitars originally built for each artist:
- Limited Edition Legend Series Randy Rhoads CD1
- Limited Edition Legend Series Signature David Ellefson CB V Concert Bass
- Limited Edition Legend Series Signature Marty Friedman Kelly KE-1
- Legend Series Limited Edition Signature Scott Ian Rhoads RR22
Limited Edition Legend Series Signature David Ellefson CB V Concert Bass:
- Alder body and Three-Piece Through-Body Quartersawn Maple Neck with Graphite Reinforcement Rods – The stable, reinforced maple neck lets David dig in hard without losing tuning, while the alder body keeps his bass lines clear through a heavy mix.
- EMG 40DC and CS Pickups with 3-Band EQ – The pickups provide a noise-free signal that cuts through distorted guitars while 3-band EQ lets David shape his riffs on the fly without losing volume.
- Jackson HiMass 5-String Bridge – For David’s fast and percussive bass drive, this bridge adds extra mass which boosts sustain and tightens low end.
- Open-Gear Hipshot Tuners – The precise tuning adjustments and strong stability let David’s five string stay locked in through aggressive playing and touring.
Street Price: $2,499.99
“My Jackson Concert basses have always been the sleek, high-octane version of what I consider to be a great bass,” said David Ellefson. “Their slightly smaller body and fast action made them perfect for my aggressive playing style. My original 1987 Concert bass gave me the freedom to fully develop my playing without limitations from the instrument. Jackson basses have become an integral part of who I am and the music I’m known for.”
Limited Edition Legend Series Signature Marty Friedman Kelly KE-1:
- Alder Body with Three-Piece Maple Neck-Through Construction – For Marty’s fast and technical leads, the body and construction provide balanced tone, stability and excellent sustain.
- Seymour Duncan JB Pickup – Ideal for Marty’s precise, melodic shred style, this pickup delivers a tight, articulate punch with enough output to drive lead tones clearly.
- Kahler 7330 Fixed Bridge – Marty’s aggressive picking and bends stay locked due to this bridge’s rock-solid tuning stability.
MSRP: $2,299.99
“The KE-1 represents living the dream to me,” said Marty Friedman. “When I had the opportunity to create my own signature guitar, I went all out with Jackson to build the ultimate heavy metal guitar. No expense was spared, from the pickup and bridge to every detail and dimension. After thousands of concerts and countless recordings, the KE-1 remains a huge part of my journey and an iconic instrument that people associate with me.”
Limited Edition Legend Series Randy Rhoads CD1:
- Alder Body bound Ebony Fingerboard with 22 Jumbo Frets and 12"-16" Compound Radius – Suited to Rhoad’s expressive bends and effortless soloing, the body and ebony fingerboard provide balanced tone while the compound radius keeps chords comfortable near the nut while flattening out.
- Seymour Duncan® JB/'59 Humbuckers – For clean arpeggios to aggressive high-gain riffing, a hallmark of Randy’s playing, the JB (bridge) delivers punchy high output drive for leads, while the '59 (neck) offers warmer, vintage-voiced cleans.
- A Vintage-Accurate Six Saddle Tremolo – Classic to Rhoad’s dive-bombs, this tremolo allows expressive pitch bends and vibrato while maintaining reliable tuning.
Street Price: $2,499.99
“The Rhoads family is so pleased to see this new Randy Rhoads CD1 model from Jackson,” said Kathy Rhoads D’Argenzio, Randy Rhoads’ sister. “Randy’s historic legacy has remained in the spotlight for over 40 years. There is no doubt Randy would be so honored to know the impact he has had on Jackson Guitars and on the world of rock and metal guitar.”
Legend Series Limited Edition Signature Scott Ian Rhoads RR22:
- The Bold "Not" Body Graphics – This design was central to the band’s 1980s recording and touring era image.
- Neck-Through Construction – For Scott Ian’s aggressive, fast rhythm playing, this construction maximizes sustain and resonance transfer since the neck and body are one continuous piece, giving heavy riffs and power chords a tight, sustained punch. Plus, the graphite reinforcement keeps the neck rock-stable.
- Top-Mount Floyd Rose 1000 Tremolo – Critical for Anthrax’s high-intensity live sets, this tremolo locks the strings at both the nut and bridge, so even with hard strumming, dive bombs or pitch dips, the guitar snaps right back in tune.
Street price: $2,199.99
“My Not Rhoads was such an important part of my journey,” said Scott Ian. “I discovered my tone with it. It’s been used on every Anthrax record — it was the main guitar on those first five albums in the ’80s. It’s the guitar that kind of made my life. I love that people connect with it.”
For over 45 years, Jackson has crafted instruments that have helped shaped the sound of heavy metal. The Legend Series connects that history to what’s happening now, putting defining instruments from Jackson’s past into the hands of musicians shaping what comes next.
“Randy, Scott, David and Marty didn’t just play Jackson instruments — they helped define what Jackson became and pushed heavy music forward in the process,” said Jon Romanowski, VP of Product, Jackson. “You can hear and see their influence in heavy music today, across generations of artists and increasingly across genres. Making these instruments available to players isn’t simply about recreating the past; it’s about putting them into the hands of the players who will take that influence somewhere new.”
For more information visit www.jacksonguitars.com.
Jackson is paying tribute to Randy Rhoads, Scott Ian, David Ellefson and Marty Friedman with a limited-edition collection of guitar models.
