Kevin Bond Signature Rhoads

[juka]

Hmm... strange. I know there have been several threads about this guitar in this forum somewhere in the past, but when I do a forum search on "Kevin Bond" I can't find them any more.
I would like to buy this guitar but I can only get it by mail order because no dealer in my vicinity has them.
So please (re)post your opinions/reviews. Who owns one or has played one? How does it play/feel compared to a US Rhoads? If someone had a chance to test several in a row, how consistent is their built quality?

[toejam]

Here's a thread from somebody who has one. http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48900

[Nuclear Vampire]

I thought the petagram inlays were kinda ghey, but the Long And McQuade here got one in (green) and it fucking rules. Plays real nice like too. Sadly, I don't have any $$$ to spend on geetars.

[straycat]

These are very light weight (mahogony body and neck) and very comfy to play.They are not neck heavy at all.Very ballsy in the tone dept, just a great guitar IMO.I WILL own one sooner or later.

[zebutcher]

Like straycat, i find it very light wieght. I don't like that. So i prefer to find an old RR pro.

[jcmktgguy]

The mahogany we use on both USA and import models is 100% real - not "nato" or some other look-alike species.

The mahogany we source comes from areas away from river beds, so it is not heavy from being water logged for years. You want the body to resonate...so we source the best in mahogany tone woods for this, the SLSMG, and the COW Signature model.

[shadowcat]

And with much success... my DK6 sounds great unplugged!

[straycat]

The Bond I played litteraly sang,very resonate. The pickup is a great choice for this guitar.Guitars don't have to be heavy to sound good.I like Les Pauls too don't get me wrong but there are L.P.s that sound like ass just as there are alder/ash guitars that sound like ass.IMO each guitar is different.The Bond I played sounded unlike any RR I had ever played before and I think it kicked ass.

[Sanctuary]

How about the original? http://cgi.ebay.com/jackson-guitars-...QQcmdZViewItem

[Izegrim]

I love my KBR. It resonates very well. When I practice I don't need to plug it in all the time as with my DXMG.

[DonP]

The mahogany we use on both USA and import models is 100% real - not "nato" or some other look-alike species.

The mahogany we source comes from areas away from river beds, so it is not heavy from being water logged for years. You want the body to resonate...so we source the best in mahogany tone woods for this, the SLSMG, and the COW Signature model.

I was on a trip to CA the past week, and stopped in GC Hollywood. The have a new USA RR1, and I was shocked at how light it was compared to my 1992 and 1995 USA RR1 models.

If you go on the Gibson Les Paul forums, everyone is always bending over backwards to find the lightest axes, comparing guitar weights, etc. So I agree with jcmktgguy, that this is good stuff (unless they are hollowing it out like Gibson LOL!).

But, on the other hand, with those older, heavier axes, you feel like you are picking up something really solid. I imagine it is the same with baseball bats. You have the lightweight aluminum that are like a toy, but (I guess?) perform better than the heavy old-style wood bats.

[Sunbane]

But, on the other hand, with those older, heavier axes, you feel like you are picking up something really solid.

Yeah, very true. I prefer guitars that have a bit of weight to them - maybe mostly because I'm used to them, but also because I think that super light guitars feel more neck heavy (?).

Btw, my shoulder is so used to supporting heavy guitars, that it will cramp up when I'm playing a lightweight one.

[straycat]

The KBRs balance very well not neck heavy at all.Thats what I noticed right off I 'm not a v fan but the KBR is a pleasant suprise to play.

[juka]

Thanks for all the input. I wanted one since the day the first pictures were published.
I ordered one today by mailorder and hope that the build quality is so consistent that you can buy it unseen...

[Widowmaker]

So why is Kevin selling his "main touring guitar"? Headed back to Gibson maybe?