Without a doubt the two most influential and revolutionary guitar players from the late 70’s and early 80’s, were Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. While some argue that both Randy and EVH had similar styles, their contributions to music, and more specifically guitar technique, is undeniable and consequentially each is hailed as a guitar god by their devoted fans. Unfortunately, we lost Randy all too early at the age of 25 on March 19, 1982, but the music he created (especially with Ozzy Osbourne) and the guitar shape he help invent with Grover Jackson, both live on today as a testament to his talent.

This guitar is a version of the second guitar Grover Jackson made for Randy. The first was the white V with black pin stripes and the second was the black one (which this guitar is a replica of) that Randy received shortly before his death. Both guitars have the same body which was designed with Randy’s input. The story goes that Randy liked the V shape but wanted something more radical and toyed with shortening one wing to make the V body style less symmetrical. Grover Jackson apparently used a band saw to modify the “normal” V body style and eventually they settled on this unique body shape.

Like Randy’s guitar this PCS (player’s choice series) Jackson guitar has the smaller sized shark fin fretboard inlays, a gold “hand written style” Jackson logo, all brass hardware and a layout identical to that found on Randy’s guitar. This guitar is and always will be immediately identified with Randy Rhoads and like EVH, their guitars are as coveted as the music they created.

This particular guitar has serial number PCS0045 and was made during the first year that Jackson offered the PCS Rhoads model. Serial numbers on neck through Jackson guitars can be found stamped into the fretboard after the last fret in contrast to the serial numbers on Jackson bolt-on guitars which are found on the neck plate. While this guitar has been played and shows some wear, she remains in factory original condition. I really enjoy playing this guitar and no collection is complete without paying homage to Randy Rhoads by having at least one Jackson RR (Randy Rhoads) model in it.

While other Jackson models have enjoyed success, the RR model is arguably their biggest seller, which further illustrates how much influence Randy has had and will continue to have, on other guitarists.