What was/is wrong with the Kelly Star?

[Greg Crowe]

There were 2 neck-thru USA's that I know of, a Blood drip and an Erie Dess. I just almost got my hands on the Erie Dess but the guy selling it was difficult to deal with.

As for the import version. They screwed up in so many ways. 1st: That body style just doesn't look right with the reverse headstock. 2nd: It was way overpriced. The list price on it was like $200-$300 higher than a DK2 and the KS2 didn't even have a bound neck and headstock. Between those 2 things, it's was dead the day it came out. If they had made that guitar with the DK2 neck and priced it the same as the DK2 it would have sold well.

The KSXT's of 2001-02 were cheaper but then who wanted an Indonesian Kelly Star? The quality wasn't there.

I got my blue KS2 direct from the Jackson warehouse in Ft. Worth. They had lots of them leftover and just sitting there. At the time I had a local dealer pick one out for me at cost while he was there at the warehouse. Of course, now that I look back at it, I'm sure it wasn't at cost (bwhahahaahahah, inside joke for those in the know).

[bombtek]

Wow there's a blast from the past.

Greg how you been? Your appearances around here sure have been scarce.

[Sinistas]

I still would like one of these. I don't see any reason why they dropped it so quickly.

[Newc]

I still would like one of these. I don't see any reason why they dropped it so quickly.

Neckthrough snobbery, among other things.

If a product doesn't sell, you don't run back to the drawing board, you drop it before it costs you more money.


I'm surprised there were enough Custom Shop orders to even justify the import model.


As well, it was too similar in appearance (for me anyway) to a poorly-selling Kramer model.


Then there were the people who wanted it neckthrough for the same price as the bolt-on.


As for the price vs cosmetic features question: it had way more extra wood than the DK2, ergo, to keep it priced within range, it had to lose cosmetics - namely the binding. The reverse headstock was also a mystery to me. It looks great in pics but then again it doesn't appear that it would look so great in person. I'm sure there was extra cost for the reverse head since there were so few at the time on production models - it's not like they could just grab a neck from a Dinky Reverse.

To me that has been on of Jackson's biggest downsides - I've swapped so many necks on so many Jackson bodies only to find not all of them worked out, and they simply will not adopt a universal standard for neck heels and pockets and stick with it. That would facilitate the introduction of new models with absolute minimal added cost.

Right now Jackson can introduce a WRMG-M by putting a DK2M neck on a WRMG body. I did it 2 weeks ago with a recent (2008) body and neck. No sanding, no shaving, no hassle. Would it sell? Who knows? One thing's for sure, if it doesn't, you buy them back and put the necks on other bodies and other necks on the WR bodies and you try again.

Maybe a dealer needs to look into an exclusive like AMS did with the bengal Dinkys?

[Greg Crowe]

it's not like they could just grab a neck from a Dinky Reverse.

Actually, that's exactly what they did. The necks on the KS2's are stamped DR2 or KE3R, can't remember which but it was one of the current reverse headstock models.

[TreeFitty]

Jackson could sell the design to Dean, who could then photoshop some pictures of Dime playing it.

[MetalHeadMat]

Same with the Charvel star. Amazing guitar, love by a lot, terrible seller.

[Ben...]

Jackson could sell the design to Dean, who could then photoshop some pictures of Dime playing it.

Then claim he drew it on a napkin and signed it as he was being shot so they could claim it was "his last design". You know, like the previous 5 "last designs" they've released that they claimed he planned. I find that so disgusting to make profit off a person who died.

[Greg Crowe]

I find that so disgusting to make profit off a person who died.

.........cough cough......... eh hum, cough.........Randy Rhoads..........cough, cough.

[ihave27frets]

They just need an artist out there playin it to make a buzz about it.

[Mazz]

.........cough cough......... eh hum, cough.........Randy Rhoads..........cough, cough.

It was called the Randy Rhoads because it was designed by him, the guitar was called the concorde but since Randy died the model was a tribute to him, so they're not making money out of his name, they're just naming it after him

[VitaminG]

It was called the Randy Rhoads because it was designed by him, the guitar was called the concorde but since Randy died the model was a tribute to him, so they're not making money out of his name, they're just naming it after him

you don't think so? They use his image in their advertising. They trade on the fact that his was the first Jackson, so by buying a Rhoads, you're buying a piece of Randy and buying into the history of the company. Periodically they'll released high priced pseudo-replicas of that first guitar.

I think it's done with loving respect, unlike the exploitation of Dimebag, but they're still using Randy as a promotional tool and therefore making money off his name & image nonetheless.

btw, don't reckon Greg needs much schooling on Jackson lore. He's been floating around this forum longer than most of the active membership, and you see how long some of us have been here.

[Tekky]

btw, don't reckon Greg needs much schooling on Jackson lore. He's been floating around this forum longer than most of the active membership, and you see how long some of us have been here.

+1

[Mazz]

you don't think so? They use his image in their advertising. They trade on the fact that his was the first Jackson, so by buying a Rhoads, you're buying a piece of Randy and buying into the history of the company. Periodically they'll released high priced pseudo-replicas of that first guitar.

I think it's done with loving respect, unlike the exploitation of Dimebag, but they're still using Randy as a promotional tool and therefore making money off his name & image nonetheless.

btw, don't reckon Greg needs much schooling on Jackson lore. He's been floating around this forum longer than most of the active membership, and you see how long some of us have been here.

I guess...

[MetalHeadMat]

I wouldn't really blame Dean, after all Vinnie and Rita give the thumbs up to the guitars and cash the checks.

Also Jackson does use Randy as a marketing kinda person, but at least they didn't give hima bunch of signature models he never played