Rhoads Rant

[Axewielder]

I used to be a 24 fret snob until I played a KE2 and saw how it threw off the balance.

[tcwil8]

I used to be a 24 fret snob until I played a KE2 and saw how it threw off the balance.

Cross thread references are cool.

[Axewielder]

Cross thread references are cool.

Hey I like to stir the maximum quantity of beans possible!

[RacerX]

I apologize RacerX, I wrote this without my daily coffee intake

Duheeeeeeeeee, I'm not even *in* this thread!

[Grim]

Wow, excuse the incoherence of my post above, LOL.

Let me simplify my 24 fret preference:

While I rarely use the 23+24th fret(s), Playing in D standard and having 24 frets means I can still have the 22nd fret of a standard-tuned guitar, which I find gets much more use than the 24th fret of an e standard guitar. Anyway. Makes sense in my head, LOL.

[toejam]

Duheeeeeeeeee, I'm not even *in* this thread!

He was sarcastically saying that to me. :ROTF: I'm honored... I think.

[MetalMedal II]

This has probably been covered about a gazillion times before, but that's okay. That's what the Back button is for.

So the USA Rhoads, the RR1, is only available in 22 frets. This is supposedly because, hey, "Randy designed it that way!"

Well, Randy also designed it with tiny little frets, yet Jackson puts the big jumbos on the RR1. Randy's preference for tiny frets is well documented.

So which is it? Are we 100% faithful to what Randy had to say 28 years ago or is this a mix-n-match deal? I think it sucks that the only way to get a 24-fret Rhoads is to go with an import or wait 18 months for a Custom Shop order.

I'll pile on: Randy never played a double locking or even single locking trem'd guitar. What about all these RR's with Floyds and Kahlers! ...Bait and switch, I'll tell ya! They are all abominations and should be disposed of ASAP! I will kindly provide this service for free, so please send me those RR's for proper disposal. Oh, I also like, err find fault with the stringthru, so better send me those too for safe measure!

[Grim]

I'll pile on: Randy never played a double locking or even single locking trem'd guitar. What about all these RR's with Floyds and Kahlers! ...Bait and switch, I'll tell ya! They are all abominations and should be disposed of ASAP! I will kindly provide this service for free, so please send me those RR's for proper disposal. Oh, I also like, err find fault with the stringthru, so better send me those too for safe measure!

Wait a minute...

[MetalHeadMat]

Duheeeeeeeeee, I'm not even *in* this thread!

He was sarcastically saying that to me. :ROTF: I'm honored... I think.

Shit, sorry!!! :ROTF:

[texasfury]

..................

[Newc]

They also had the neck profile of Randy's Les Paul Custom, according to Grover.

The thing I find with 24 fret guitars is that *usually* this requires a slight change in the neck/body joint, which puts the 22nd fret closer to the end of the body where it's easier to get to without a drastic change in hand position (i.e. you're not having to do a reach-around like on a Les Paul).

The SGs and Gibby Vs that were made where the 22nd fret is right at the edge of the body play a lot more smoothly than the models where the 21st and 22nd fret are "in" the body.


However, Jackson's idea of a 24 fret neck is usually the same as Warmoth's: add 2 frets to the existing board and move the neck pickup back, but don't move everything else forward to make those frets more accessible.

[PowerTube]

So all things considered, how much different do you guys think an RR1 will feel as compared to an SL2H/SL1? I also have a Charvel 22-fret and an older Kramer 22-fret. I can tell a noticeable difference in these as compared to a 24-fret guitar.

[Hellbat]

I can't really tell much difference bewteen upper fret access on my Charvel Model 5 (24 fret neck through) and my RR1's. I don't play much up beyond the 19th fret though. Access IS better on the Charvel but not like bolt on vs. neck through different. The neck to body joint is smoother on the M5. The RR1's have a definite "heel" to the neck/body joint.

[alex9152]

However, Jackson's idea of a 24 fret neck is usually the same as Warmoth's: add 2 frets to the existing board and move the neck pickup back, but don't move everything else forward to make those frets more accessible.

(my emphasis)

The X series Rhoads and King V models have the neck at the position for 22 frets (so the King V gets more frets into the body), while the JS versions have the neck pickup in the same position but the bridge and bridge pickup moved up a little.

[MetalHeadMat]

(my emphasis)

The X series Rhoads and King V models have the neck at the position for 22 frets (so the King V gets more frets into the body), while the JS versions have the neck pickup in the same position but the bridge and bridge pickup moved up a little.

I just compared the JS Rhoads to a RR1T, (both TOM bridge's), and it seems only the bridge pickup is moved. Do you know why this is?