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I finally got around to photographing the entire Rand collection last week. For those of you who don't know what these are, I don't blame you. The most promonent use of these guitars was by Vivian Campbell who played two different ones in the "Still of the Night" and "Is This Love" videos.
Of the five that I own, two are preproduction models, one is an '87 model, and the "twins" are both from '88.
My original purple one (chrome hardware) was purchased new by me on 48th St (Sam Ash) back in '88. I went there to buy a Jackson Soloist or RR model, but once I played the Rands (they had 6 of them) I was blown away. To this day it remains the best sounding and playing guitar (for hard rock and metal) that I have ever had the pleasure to play. Still all original except for the pickup ring (original black one broke in half and is in the case). The Anderson H2+ in the bridge has become my favorite pickup model.
Recently I scored another very much like my first, the only differences being the electronics and black hardware instead of chrome. I had planned on using the new one for gigging so I could retire the original, but the new one is in such perfect condition (essentially its NOS...nothing so much as a ding or scratch to be found) that I can't bring myself to gig with it. This one sounds great and plays like a dream, but lacks some of the "balls" of my original.
Here are the "twins":
Next up is what is thought to be the very first "super strat" type guitar that Rand built. It is very different than the production models in that is is less angular, neck-through (production models have set necks), thicker bodied, and wider necked (1 3/4 vs. 1 5/8 for production) with no logo on the Explorer style headstock. It is very much like a one hum, 27 fret Soloist. This one sounds great but the wide neck keeps it in its case most of the time (I much prefer 1 5/8 or 1 11/16 neck widths). Tom Anderson confirmed that this is one of Rand's first pieces (all production Rands were built in the Anderson facility and had Anderson electronics...usually an H2+ and a proprietary single coil made specifically for the Rand line).
Here it is:
Interesting is his choice or tuners. I assume that he just used left over parts as they are original to the guitar (no other holes), yet the first three are different from the other three. Check it out:
Next up is a white '87 production model. This one has had its electronics changed (currently sporting a Duncan Custom Shop El Diablo wound with poles instead of blades and a hotrails in the neck) but will eventually get Anderson pickups like it would have had from the factory. This is a fantastic player and has seen some heavy use over the years as evidenced by the wear on the guitar. This one currently serves as the main backup to my original purple one.
Finally, I have the preproduction model that was used by Vivian Campbell on tour with Whitesnake as well as in the "Is This Love" video. It is very close to the production models in design. It still has a thicker body and neck through construction, but the production style contours really begin to take shape on this one, and the neck width was reduced to 1 11/16". The headstock has become pointier like the production models and Rand hand painted his name on the headstock. This guitar, as well as the blue one, has a nearly flat radius which makes soloing and sweeping easy, but makes rhythm playing a little more challenging (not bad though). It currently has a Duncan Distorton in it but I am trying to find out what it originally had when Vivian owned it. This one gets a lot of comments on the rare occasion that I take it out.
Viv prepro:
In action with Viv ("Is This Love" video stills):
And finally, a couple of group shots:
If anyone owns one or knows anyone else who does, please pass on my contact info (PM me) as I would like to start a database of these instruments. They built very few of them (approx 50 production models) but I currently only know of about 20 of them.
Of the five that I own, two are preproduction models, one is an '87 model, and the "twins" are both from '88.
My original purple one (chrome hardware) was purchased new by me on 48th St (Sam Ash) back in '88. I went there to buy a Jackson Soloist or RR model, but once I played the Rands (they had 6 of them) I was blown away. To this day it remains the best sounding and playing guitar (for hard rock and metal) that I have ever had the pleasure to play. Still all original except for the pickup ring (original black one broke in half and is in the case). The Anderson H2+ in the bridge has become my favorite pickup model.
Recently I scored another very much like my first, the only differences being the electronics and black hardware instead of chrome. I had planned on using the new one for gigging so I could retire the original, but the new one is in such perfect condition (essentially its NOS...nothing so much as a ding or scratch to be found) that I can't bring myself to gig with it. This one sounds great and plays like a dream, but lacks some of the "balls" of my original.
Here are the "twins":
Next up is what is thought to be the very first "super strat" type guitar that Rand built. It is very different than the production models in that is is less angular, neck-through (production models have set necks), thicker bodied, and wider necked (1 3/4 vs. 1 5/8 for production) with no logo on the Explorer style headstock. It is very much like a one hum, 27 fret Soloist. This one sounds great but the wide neck keeps it in its case most of the time (I much prefer 1 5/8 or 1 11/16 neck widths). Tom Anderson confirmed that this is one of Rand's first pieces (all production Rands were built in the Anderson facility and had Anderson electronics...usually an H2+ and a proprietary single coil made specifically for the Rand line).
Here it is:
Interesting is his choice or tuners. I assume that he just used left over parts as they are original to the guitar (no other holes), yet the first three are different from the other three. Check it out:
Next up is a white '87 production model. This one has had its electronics changed (currently sporting a Duncan Custom Shop El Diablo wound with poles instead of blades and a hotrails in the neck) but will eventually get Anderson pickups like it would have had from the factory. This is a fantastic player and has seen some heavy use over the years as evidenced by the wear on the guitar. This one currently serves as the main backup to my original purple one.
Finally, I have the preproduction model that was used by Vivian Campbell on tour with Whitesnake as well as in the "Is This Love" video. It is very close to the production models in design. It still has a thicker body and neck through construction, but the production style contours really begin to take shape on this one, and the neck width was reduced to 1 11/16". The headstock has become pointier like the production models and Rand hand painted his name on the headstock. This guitar, as well as the blue one, has a nearly flat radius which makes soloing and sweeping easy, but makes rhythm playing a little more challenging (not bad though). It currently has a Duncan Distorton in it but I am trying to find out what it originally had when Vivian owned it. This one gets a lot of comments on the rare occasion that I take it out.
Viv prepro:
In action with Viv ("Is This Love" video stills):
And finally, a couple of group shots:
If anyone owns one or knows anyone else who does, please pass on my contact info (PM me) as I would like to start a database of these instruments. They built very few of them (approx 50 production models) but I currently only know of about 20 of them.
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